Northern Spain: Basque Country to Madrid
12 days | 14 days with Madrid extension | Estimated monthly payments as low as $281
Discover diverse landscapes, delicious food, and provinces bursting with personality.
Travelers who venture to northern Spain will discover well-preserved medieval villages, postcard-perfect mountains and beaches, and some of the best food the country has to offer. On this tour of the region, you’ll explore historical, cultural, and culinary treasures in Bilbao, San Sebastián, Santander, Oviedo, and Santiago de Compostela. Then, head south, to the Castilla and Leon region, where you’ll explore Salamanca’s 13th-century university and marvel at Segovia’s imposing Roman aqueduct before making your final stop in bustling, cosmopolitan Madrid.
Your tour package includes
- 10 nights in handpicked hotels
- 10 breakfasts
- 4 dinners with beer or wine
- 1 cider tasting
- 8 sightseeing tours
- Expert Tour Director & local guides
- Private deluxe motor coach
Included highlights
- San Sebastián
- Guggenheim Museum
- Altamira Cave Museum
- Oviedo Cathedral
- Cidery visit & tasting
- Lugo
- Santiago de Compostela Cathedral
- University of Salamanca
- Alcázar of Segovia
Itinerary

Overnight Flight
Day 1: Overnight flight
Board your overnight flight to Bilbao today.
Bilbao
Day 2: Arrival in Bilbao
Included meal: Welcome dinner
Welcome to Spain! Arrive in Bilbao, an industrial port city in the Basque Country that’s home to the iconic, Frank Gehry-designed Guggenheim Museum, as well as a world-renowned dining scene. Get to know your Tour Director and fellow group members at tonight’s welcome dinner.
Reviews
Overall rating based on 6 traveler ratings
Showing 1-6 of 6 traveler reviews
Beautiful places! Above-excellent tour guide, Alberto! Great bus drivers! And --- a nice group of fellow travelers!
Hotels: mostly ok but one (Santander) was terrible and way out of the city center. I always felt rushed. We were in Spain during many holidays but they were not taken into account and planned around. Included meals were satisfactory. The tour felt disjointed. Very...
EF Go Ahead Tours
Mary Ann, thank you for your review. We are so disappointed that hotel accommodations and itinerary organization fell short of...
It was a nice overall trip. I learned a lot about Spain. Loved learning about the history and see all the historical sights in this country. I really enjoyed the people on the trip, we had a great group of people.
Search YouTube and learn some greetings and courtesies in Euskara, the Basque language and use them in Bilbao. Try txakoli, a white wine of the region. Visit the Guggenheim Museum and modern Bilbao! Next, off to San Sebastian, Guernica (Gernika), and take a photo of the sunset...
This was our 8th EF TOUR AND OUR LAST. Was poorly planned and exhausting even tho rated as Moderate. Without taking optionals, city walking tours were difficult with all cobblestone streets and numerous hills. Arrived on a Sunday in Bilbao. Everything closed. Scheduled to...
EF Go Ahead Tours
Thank you for taking the time to leave a review. We were able to speak with you directly about your tour experience. It was a very...
Tour Director, Alberto, was excellent. He is a very kind, patient and compassionate man in addition to being fully informed and enthusiastic about the tour. Bus drivers, Diego and Vanesa, were outgoing and helpful.
Hotels
We handpick every hotel to strike the balance of comfort, location, and local charm. Specific accommodations will vary based on your departure date, but these are frequently used hotels for this tour and we're confident you'll be satisfied.
Flights
Round-trip flights are one more thing we handle to make your journey as smooth as possible. Our team of travel experts will find the best flight itinerary for you at a competitive rate, thanks to our partnerships with top airlines.
FAQ
Select tour date
Date | Extension | Price |
---|---|---|
2025 | ||
6 left at this price | Available | $2,989, $500 off $3,489 |
Available | $3,309, $150 off $3,459 | |
Available | $3,439 | |
2026 | ||
Available | $3,559 | |
Available | $3,589 | |
Available | $3,689 | |
Available | $3,579 | |
Available | $3,389, $150 off $3,539 | |
Available | $3,539 | |
Available | $3,659 | |