Camino de Santiago by Car
This 12-day self-drive itinerary begins in the Spanish capital of Madrid and ends at the legendary pilgrim city of Santiago de Compostela. Along the way, you’ll pass through historic towns, hidden villages and breathtaking landscapes. And while you travel by road you’ll still be immersed in one of the world’s best known and iconic routes.
Highlights
Strolling through the bustling street of Madrid for some shopping.
Visit the historic cities of Toledo, Leon and Astorga in the Castillas provinces.
Witness the amazing landscape of great variety. From the lush, green hills of Galicia to fascinating high peaks of the Picos de Europa.
Taste freshly fished seafood from the coast and let your taste buds experience the local cuisine of northern Spain. This all accompanied with a fresh local Albariño white wine.
Get inspired and touched by the pilgrim route on the Camino de Santiago trail and feel the spirit of those having walked many weeks to reach its destination of Santiago de Compostela.
Day 1 | Madrid | Arrival to Madrid
Welcome to Madrid! A private taxi awaits you at the airport and accompanies you to the hotel.
For those arriving early, you’ll have an option to kick start the tour by diving right in. Walk about the center and grab your first impressions of the grand streets and bright architecture. You’ll soon discover a wonderful assortment of elegant boulevards, illustrious museums, royal palaces, manicured parks, and trendy eateries.
Its center is a collection of diverse barrios which each boast a distinct charm, and lay claim to architectural wonders including the 17th century Plaza Mayor and vast Royal Palace.
We also recommend a visit to Gran Via, the city’s most famous shopping boulevard, and Puerta del Sol, the so-called ‘Heart of Spain’ and home to the famous Bear and Strawberry Tree statue, which has become a symbol of the city.
There’s something for everybody here!
Day 2 - Madrid - Local Madrid or an excursion to Toledo
On your second day in the Spanish capital, you´ll really begin to soak up the culture with many diverse neighborhoods to visit, sights to see, and local products to purchase. Have a picnic in the gardens of the huge central park – Retiro.
Art lovers will rejoice in the city’s ‘Golden Triangle of Art’ comprising the art museums: Museo del Prado, Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza, and Museo Reina Sofía, which display works from many of the world’s artistic heavyweights.
Fashionistas looking for another retail hit should head to the barrio of Salamanca, home to glamorous avenues and the famed ‘Golden Mile’ of Calle Serrano with its upscale boutiques and stores of famous fashion houses.
Another option is to visit nearby Toledo. A fortified city once dominated yet blended peacefully by three cultures simultaneously: the Christians, the Arabs, and the Jewish, has infused it with a highly unique historical and architectural offering. Located atop a gorge above the Tagus river, this is a must for culture lovers who will revel in exploring the vaulted mosques, Sephardic synagogues, and Gothic cathedrals, as well as the artworks of El Greco with whom the city is synonymous
Day 3 - Madrid - Leon
Even though the road trip of Madrid to Leon is only 4 hours, there are dozens of tucked away places for a visit. All the places are related with the Catholic Kings, especially the Queen Isabel. We will give you the insider tips of where to stop and what to see on this exciting historic drive through the Castilla y Leon province.
Since today the whole itinerary is up to you, there is no optional activity, so you can relax without any time limit.
Day 4 - Leon and surrounding
In the morning you can relax and walk around the centre. There are a couple of must visits such as the cathedral, the basilica and the convent. For those who would like to explore its surroundings you can visit the historic city of Astorga or witness the natural wonders of Las Medulas at just 1,5 hours drive. To want to experience more of the gastronomy of the region, then I recommend to you our optional activity.
Day 5 - Leon - Picos de Europa - Gijon
Normally the road will take you from Leon to Gijon in just under 1,5 hours by car. However we will give you directions to take a detour and witness some of Spain´s prettiest landscapes.
While leaving Leon behind you enter the province of “Asturias”, one of the greenest provinces in Spain. This area is great for leisurely walks or intensive hikes.
Day 6 - Gijon - The 3000-year old coastal town of Gijon and the world of cider
The former fishing town of Gijon is now, 3000 years later, a picturesque city with a beautiful bay with beaches on the Atlantic Coast. The coast attracts both local fishermen and surfers who try their skills on the waves in the water. Gijon itself is a cosy city with some historic buildings and some Roman ruins. Besides you can make some short excursion to the towns of Oviedo and Aviles, that are just as worth visiting and gives you an extra insight into the Asturian towns and villages.
Day 7 - Gijon - Lugo
Take you time today to drive along the coast from Gijon to Lugo and definitely take your time to reach Lugo. There are several stop you can make in small pilgrim villages and some great viewing point along the way of bays and cliffs. Witness the local life in the villages where time has stood still for several centuries and see the elderly on the square playing domino´s while drinking a coffee.
Day 8 - Lugo - Visit the Roman fortified city and its Celtic surroundings
Lugo has a lot to offer. From its Roman fortified walls, the Celtic influence, its surrounding nature makes this visit to its surrounding nature to complete package. This town makes the perfect place for excursions to its beautiful surroundings. There are tons of excursions possible, from Celtic ruins, to natural fjords, to historic villages.
Day 9 - Lugo - A Coruña - Santiago de Compostela
In the final lapse of the Camino de Santiago we advise you to make stop in A Coruña, a pretty coastal town. From the peninsula you can see how the Atlantic Ocean´s waves break into its cliffs. with a stop in A Coruña. From here on it is another hour to Santiago de Compostela. Here you can enjoy the evening in one of the many restaurants and you can toast for having made it to the final destination with a local Albariño wine.
Day 10 - Santiago de Compostela
Today you have the time to walk around the historic centre and mingle with the pilgrims. Visit the cathedral , the most symbolic symbol of the Camino de Santiago. Do you want to feel how it is to talk the final trail? Take a bus to the penultimate village and walk the final 7 kilometres and get a real vibe of the pilgrims spirit. See how slowly you reach Santiago de Compostela watching its cathedral getting closer by the minute.
Day 11 - Santiago de Compostela - Day excursions to Vigo - Finisterre or Tui
Today there are many excursion you can undertake. You can visit Galician´s main city of Vigo together with the picturesque town of Baiona. Another trip you can undertake is to go to the Finisterra, the “end of the earth”, the most western point of Spain. You can combine this day with some cascades and retrieve yourself in nature. The final trip you can take is to Tui on the fortilised border town with Portugal and combine it with the other fortified town in Portugal called Valenca.
Day 12 - Santiago de Compostela - Home ?
You either fly from Santiago de Compostela to either Madrid for a connecting flight or directly home. You will drop off the car at the airport. Do you wish to extend your trip or add a few extra stops, let us know and we will taylor make this trip for you as you wish.
Price
Total Price: From € 895,- / $ 1075,- per person
Including
- 11 Nights in a 2- to 3-star hotel including breakfast (let us know if you prefer an upgrade to a 4- pr 5-star hotel).
- Car hire including full all-risk insurance.
- Pick-up and drop off from and to the airport.
- Insider tips from us from where to go and what to do.
Excluding
- Plane tickets (we can arrange these for you if you wish).
- Travel insurance.
- All other food and drinks not mention in the description.
- Tips and all other private expenses.
