The highlights of Northern Spain

It’s no wonder the Spanish kings chose to summer in this city of Cantabria, the thermal baths and beaches have a luxury feel and stately buildings line the bustling streets. The restaurants here are probably best described as avant-garde, but feature an excellent blend of traditional Spanish cuisine with the new and trendsetting dishes. This is definitely a city for the foodies amongst you.

Night life is best experienced at the taverns in Casco Viejo, which has many a winding street that feels like its been plucked from a movie set. In warmer weather, be sure to walk the coastline at La Concha beach – especially beautiful at sunset.

An industrial city reborn with the help of a thriving arts scene, Bilbao in Basque Country highlights just how impressive Spanish architecture can be. The Museo Guggenheim is a must-see, even if that’s just the outside, or you can select the more natural art of the city’s landscapes. The beautiful coastline around San Juan de Gaztelugatxe is about 50-minutes from the centre of Bilbao, but well worth the trip if you’re wanting to see the stunning Bay of Biscay.

The Casco Viejo comprises the quaint and totally original seven streets that once formed the Medieval town itself. Experience the historic Basque buildings and pop into one of the numerous taverns for a round of pintxos, a delicious type of local tapas.

An elegant city by the sea, this place is often overlooked in favour of Cantabria’s other gem, mentioned above, San Sebastian. The boardwalks and famous El Faro lighthouse here are both gorgeous to look at, and an important part of the city’s rich history. These are especially poignant as a huge fire struck in 1941, destroying much of the city’s previous historical sites.

Italian architect and Pritzker Prize-winner, Renzo Piano designed Santander's newest architectural masterpiece, Centro Botin, which opened in June 2017, this is a place to stop for any art lover.

Oviedo in Asturias has some of Spain's most impressive buildings including Santa María del Naranco, a pre-Romanesque church built for the Asturian king Ramiro I in the mid-ninth century and San Julián de los Prados, dating from the early ninth century. This tiny church has a vibrant interior richly painted interior inspired by Chinese culture and traditional designs – it’s not to be missed.

Oviedo is certainly lively, its Campoamor opera house (a classic 19th-century theatre) is always busy, plus it has a beautiful traditional market and plenty of local cider houses, some of which offer tours. It’s important to note that Oviedo routinely wins awards for Europe's cleanest city, its locals are extremely proud of this, as well as very friendly.

Translating to The Way of St. James, the annual Camino de Santiago pilgrimage ends here at the Saint’s tomb. The town and the pilgrimage are a symbol to the Spanish Christians’ struggle against Islam in the 9th and 10th Centuries, with many commemorative monuments and architecture devoted to the theme.

The cathedral, considered as a masterpiece of Romanesque architecture, showcases the remarkable Pórtico de la Gloria, an ornately structured gate. This is just one of the many testaments to how well this city preserves its history (it is, after all a UNESCO World Heritage Site). Stop here for a peaceful and authentic slice of Spain’s northern territories.

Settled in Basque Country, Hondarribia, or Fuenterrabía in Spanish, boasts some of the best bars and restaurants in the region, and, thanks to its riverside location, some great views while you dine. Stop here for cobbled streets and Basque houses, as well as a lovely local church set in a charming square.

This is a larger town in Basque Country, known for its maritime history. See the old port and try any seafood dish (they are all excellent) in this busier spot, or simply stop at one of its local bars for a drink and chat with a friendly local.

Nestled on the eastern side of Cantabria, this seaside village is a popular tourist destination. This can mean the beaches are busier during summer months but it also boasts a gothic-style church, castle, Roman bridge and a port – making it worth a visit any time of the year.

This little town in Asturias is probably most famous for the houses that are set into the mountain overlooking the sea. It’s port has two amazing restaurants, frequently recommended by locals and tourists alike, El Descanso and Bitácora. The latter offers spectacular views over the water.

An incredibly pretty fishing village, Cudillero is also very small, tucked away on the Asturian coast around 40 minutes from Oviedo. It’s known for its colourful houses and equally vibrant boats bobbing in the harbour, plus it doesn’t often get filled with tourists, so perfect for quiet day trip or afternoon.

With its harbour encircled by tall whitewashed buildings, Luarca’s harbour is particularly lovely at night, when the boats and buildings are lit up and twinkle in the moonlight. The beach here is backed by impressive cliffs which you can walk along – or stroll the river Negro which winds its way through the town with seven bridges to discover.

Capital of albariño wine country, the town of Cambados makes an excellent base for touring the Rías Baixas, a prestigious wine making area of Spain. Taverns and restaurants line cobbled stone streets and be sure to stop off at Martín Códax winery for a glass or two of locally made tipple. Visit on the first weekend of August for the famous Albariño Wine Festival.