Spain

6-Day Northern Spain Itinerary: From Bilbao to Santiago de Compostela by Train

November 3, 2023 by Bino 2 Comments

Spain is one of the world’s most visited countries. While the usual images that travelers associate with the Southern European nation typically revolve around Andalucian white towns, paella or the unique architecture in Barcelona; there is a side to Spain that travelers often miss – and that is its northern coast.

I recently went for a trip in the northern regions, starting in the Basque Country and ending in Galicia and the contrast between that and more popular regions such as Andalucia, Valencia, Barcelona or even Madrid couldn’t be any greater. The regional variations extend to the architecture, the cuisine and the landscapes. It is just so much greener in the north that I often had to pinch myself to convince I am still in Spain.

In this guide, I aim to share my Northern Spain itinerary from Bilbao to Santiago de Compostela, which can be done by train or bus. I personally went on a 6-day/5-night train ride through the Costa Verde Express which allowed for excursions in these places through a combination of train or bus. The below itinerary can also be done independently using a combination of public trains, buses and car hire.

When traveling by train or at the countryside, do note that the wifi onboard can be unstable so I also had roaming mobile data during my trip. Jetpac’s Globetrotter e-sim allows for data roaming in 50 destinations through an easy installation process.

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The Perfect Barcelona Itinerary

October 13, 2021 by Bino 4 Comments

Most visitors deem Barcelona as Spain’s most attention-grabbing city and it’s not hard to see why. Out-of-this-world designs, chic bars, a strong culinary tradition and a plethora of things to see and do all make Barcelona the usual first stop in Spain and for many, the preeminent impression of the country. A closer look however, reveals a complex heritage. For starters, majority of the signs in the city are not even in Spanish. They are in Catalan, the native language of Catalonia, the region where Barcelona is situated. In fact, whenever I made the effort of speaking to the locals in Spanish, I would be replied to in English. People here are staunchly Catalan in identity.

While Madrid is the political center of Spain, Barcelona is its commercial and financial heart. And while most European cities can be classified as renaissance, baroque or medieval, Barcelona appears to be more contemporary. Skyscrapers, which are less common in Europe than they are in America or Asia, are prevalent here in all shapes and forms. And of course, one cannot talk about Barcelona’s cityscape without mentioning Gaudi. Arguably one of the top reasons to visit the city, this architect’s unique vision means that many of Barcelona’s buildings appear like nowhere else in the world, leaving visitors in awe at how one man’s ideas can appear so intense, colorful and bursting with so much life.

This guide shows you how you can visit Barcelona for 2 or 3 days.

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3 Islands in Spain That Should Be In Your Bucket List

November 4, 2014 by Bino 2 Comments

Spain may not be known as an archipelagic country but with its famed sunny weather, laidback culture and varied nightlife, its islands are among the most renowned in Europe. I have visited Spain in the past but never ventured outside the main towns of Andalucia, the capital, Madrid and of course, Barcelona. Visits to Mallorca for instance, are often part of the most popular Spain tours. For my future trips, I will make sure to visit these islands:

the town of san cristobal de la laguna by Santiago P.A. | CC by 2.0

Tenerife
The largest of the Canary Islands, Tenerife is well-known as a resort destination, with plenty of stunning beaches such as Costa Adeje and Playa de la Arena to seek a tan from. Beaches aside, there is also a lot to keep cultural buffs busy, with charming old towns such as La Orotava and La Laguna, the latter being a UNESCO World Heritage Site. For lovers of the great outdoors, there is the opportunity to hike to Mount Teide, the highest point in all of Spain. Even non-hikers can enjoy the view by taking a 4×4 followed by a cable car that reaches up to 3,550 meters out of the 3,718 meter tall volcano.

cala santa galdana by paul stephenson | cc by 2.0

Menorca
All it took was that one picture of a lagoon surrounded by translucent waters for me to be smitten. Menorca, the lesser known of the Balearic Islands, is the place to go to escape the maddening crowds that one finds everywhere else in Spain. A unique feature of Menorca is the presence of prehistoric monuments – the island is said to be the best place in Europe to see ancient settlements. No one knows exactly why they were built but they serve as constant reminders of the diversity of Spain’s tourist attractions.

the cathedral at palma de mallorca by sba 73 | cc by 2.0

Mallorca
The larger of the Balearic Islands, Mallorca is well within the tourist radar but is very much worth a visit if you know where to look. For starters, its capital, Palma de Mallorca, looks just like any of the majestic cities lining the Spanish mainland. Its centerpiece is the impressive cathedral which was built several hundred years ago on top of a mosque. Mallorca is equally known for its stunning landscapes and a visit to Sierra de Tramuntana is not to be missed for those with a couple of days to spend.

As these islands are quite spread out, organizing a trip covering all may prove to be a hassle. Tour operators such as First Choice have plenty of experience in Tenerife or to the other Spanish islands, and cater to various budgets and travel styles.

The Underrated City of Malaga

December 9, 2012 by Bino 2 Comments

Malaga, despite being one of Spain’s largest cities (it is the 2nd largest city in Andalucia) and a transport hub for those heading to the historical sites in Seville, Granada and Cordoba, is one of the most underrated destinations in Spain and often relegated to the obligatory one-night transit. I came here expecting nothing but was pleasantly surprised by the chill vibe, pleasant coastal scenery as well as the preponderance of great eating places across the city.

the city’s seaside is a great place for a paseo (or a stroll)… it’s lined by lots of bars and chic restaurants serving spanish fare focusing on seafood

The city is located in the costa del sol, near the southern tip of Spain. Geographically, it is closer to Africa than it is to Madrid. As Malaga is situated on the coast, its weather is milder and more pleasant than Granada or Seville, where it can get unbearably hot. This city is also the transport hub of Andalucia so getting here is a breeze. Tons of budget airlines fly to Malaga from all over Europe. In that sense, lots of people do make it here but few ever get to see the city. Those who do often stay just to sleep before transiting to beach getaways like Marbella or to Granada. I made my way to Malaga after Granada, and like most visitors, did not expect much aside from the customary transit stop. But as I discovered, Malaga does have its charms and deserves at least a day of exploration.

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What to See in the White Town of Ronda

November 6, 2012 by Bino 1 Comment

Ronda is a classic Spanish white town and is a must-see for those seeking a change of pace from bigger cities such as Seville, Malaga and Granada. Through the years, it has captured the interest of various rulers and like much of Andalucia, has changed between Christian, Muslim and Roman hands. More recently, it has charmed the likes of Ernest Hemingway and other writers and has served as the backdrop for many seminal novels. With a strong bullfighting heritage and an unbelievably scenic setting around a deep gorge, Ronda deserves at least a day or two to be appreciated.

Like Cordoba where we came from previously, Ronda is also a popular daytrip destination, and the tourists come here in hordes due to the town’s proximity with the beach resorts of the Costa del Sol . We stayed overnight, after arriving by train from Cordoba . Ronda definitely was not the sleepy town that I had imagined. Despite having only 35,000 residents, it did feel like a much bigger city with the crowds and well-known Spanish brands having opened shop there.

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Wandering About the Historic Old Town & Grand Mezquita of Cordoba

October 20, 2012 by Bino 5 Comments

Cordoba is not a city that’s easy to forget. From the winding cobblestone alleys of the Jewish Quarter to the whitewashed walls of the houses around the old town that seemingly paints a cooler picture to the sizzling summer heat, this is a town that takes the slow lane and is mighty proud of it.

the ceiling of the mezquita in cordoba

The city is a popular pit stop for those doing the Andalucia circuit. But it’s a shame that this is mostly relegated to just a few hours’ stop. Busloads of tourists come here for just one reason, and that is to see the magnificent Mezquita of Cordoba. Personally, this was also my primary reason not just for coming to Cordoba but for going on this 2-week trip across the Iberian peninsula.

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Spanish Stereotypes in Seville

October 3, 2012 by Bino 2 Comments

Despite coming from a country (or maybe because of it) with heavy Hispanic influence, Spain really fascinated me. This interest – no, obsession – stemmed from what I thought Spain was. Bullfighting. Flamenco. Tapas. Siesta. Fiestas. There are many countries where stereotypes are just that; stereotypes. Spain however, seemed like a stereotype come alive. But of course, one gets to dig deeper and finds that there are other facets to the things we think we know about this complex European nation.

plaza de espana

Going back to the stereotypes, perhaps there is no better place in Spain to witness these than in Andalucia, or to be even more specific, in the city of Seville. It was thus just right that we started our trip down the south of Spain in Seville, one of Spain’s most important cities and one which is jampacked with things to see and do. We arrived very early in the morning after a 7 hour bus ride from Lisbon the night before.

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Hola From Salamanca

September 27, 2012 by Bino 9 Comments

“Hola!,” I awkwardly muttered to the immigration officer as I handed him my passport. Without any acknowledgement, he took a 5-second look at it, flipped to my visa page then stamped my arrival. That was fast – I was officially in Spain! In the middle of the scorching summer no less. Indeed, the warnings were very apparent, even from the beginning. August was supposed to be a bad time to visit Spain , especially Central and Southern Spain but I took it with a grain of salt. Well, I got my very first taste of the Spanish summer upon exiting Madrid ’s Barajas Airport . An oven-like heat permeated in the air. My phone’s weather app told me that it was 41 degrees in the shade. A false sense of consolation went to my head, since we were going to Salamanca , and it was only 36 degrees.

view of salamanca at night

Fortunately, there was a direct bus to Salamanca from Madrid’s airport, and the search for the bus stop allowed me to practice more Spanish than just “hola.” The trip to Salamanca lasted for around 2.5 hours. During the ride, we passed by the medieval town of Avila , with its UNESCO World Heritage city walls in plain view. Salamanca itself is not a very big town. But what it lacks in size, it more than makes up for in terms of attractions and reputation. The city is well-known as a university town and thousands of students all over the world come here to learn Spanish, where the language is considered to be in its purest form.

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