Discover the wilderness and wine regions along the Atlantic coast from your holiday home in Northern Spain



For a holiday in Northern Spain, you’ll need to make conscious choices in advance, as the region is renowned for its wealth of impressive nature and sights! From your holiday home, you’ll have plenty of lush greenery ahead, as well as rugged mountains and cliffs that resemble cathedral buttresses. Along Cantabria’s coast, the foothills of the Picos de Europa stretch to the sea, creating a unique backdrop of ocean and snow-capped peaks. Want to visit wine regions and enjoy superb gastronomy? Follow a legendary hiking trail or take a meandering road trip from your holiday home in Northern Spain!

Explore the Asturian coast from your holiday home in Northern Spain

Cliffs, wild waves, and verdant slopes that stretch as far as the eye can see—Asturias offers a coastline any hiker will love. Known as the Costa Verde, or Green Coast, its landscapes may be rugged, but that doesn’t mean sandy beaches are missing! Near the town of Llaves lies Cuevas del Mar bay, where you walk along a beach lined with cliffs carved with caves. A unique inland beach is Gulpiyuri: a sinkhole beach with water supplied from the sea through underground tunnels.

Take a road trip or hike in the Picos de Europa

From your holiday home in Northern Spain, options aren’t limited to beaches—the spectacular natural landscapes abound. You can take a road trip through the Picos de Europa, a mountain range of jagged granite walls and alpine meadows. Hiking trails here reveal forests, lakes, rugged outcrops, and distant snowy summits. Because the peaks are close to the coast, some viewpoints offer vistas of both sea and mountains.

Tip: Visit the village of Arenas de Cabrales—it’s charming, with colorful homes and stunning mountain backdrops, perfect for photos.

The paradisiacal beaches of the Cíes Islands

Thanks to the Atlantic climate, you might not expect an exotic island vibe on Spain’s northern coast—but the Cíes Islands prove it possible. Their beaches rank among Europe’s finest. Playa de Rodas, a horseshoe‑shaped bay, is idyllic and often uncrowded. Visits are strictly regulated to protect its rich flora and fauna, so mass tourism is virtually non-existent. Several hiking routes, like the Monte Faro trail, wind through the islands, ending at a lighthouse with panoramic ocean views.

Walk along Playa de las Catedrales from your holiday home in Northern Spain

Playa de las Catedrales (“Cathedrals Beach”) isn’t for swimming, but it’s unforgettable. At low tide, you can walk beneath huge rock arches that resemble cathedral buttresses. Feeling inspired to see an actual cathedral? Visit nearby Mondoñedo for riverside cafés under colonnades and views of its historic basilica.

Tip for gourmands: Try the local almond tart! Another must-visit nearby town is Lugo—you can walk along its intact Roman walls.

Visit outstanding sights in Comillas

Comillas by the Bay of Biscay may be modest in size, but it packs a punch. The Gaudí‑designed summerhouse “El Capricho” is a colorful mosaic‑tiled gem. Though it looks small from the front, it expands into an almost palace‑like structure. Wander through its gardens and admire the elegant interior of plastered walls and rich woodwork.

Also notable is the papal university near the shore, with an impressive entrance on a hillside overlooking the sea. Stroll through its adjacent park and discover the Oyambre nature reserve, a lovely coastal area of dunes and pristine beaches.

The vineyards of Rioja

Beyond the Picos’ peaks and wild coastlines, Northern Spain boasts another treasure for lovers of scenic landscapes and gastronomy: Rioja. Vineyards blanket the valley, interspersed with bodegas where you can tour and taste, or enjoy dinner amid vines. The autumn scenery here is stunning, with vines turning vivid reds.

Tip: Visit one of the ancient monasteries! Nestled against the mountains and vineyards, they make for breathtaking historic scenes.

Rent a holiday home in Northern Spain

If you’re heading to Northern Spain, prepare to be impressed by its wild landscapes and stunning beaches. In the Picos de Europa you’ll feel like you’re in the Alps; in Rioja you’ll descend into picture‑perfect vineyard valleys. Architectural marvels await in Comillas—mosaic palaces and university buildings—while the unspoiled Cíes Islands offer true serenity. Instead of crowded hotels, enjoy a secluded holiday home on these islands. Northern Spain’s wild beauty awaits!