Spain is a country that has many different landscapes and places to visit all year long. In the northern part of the country, coast, green natural landscapes, history and culture are the protagonists. Taking a road trip through the A-8 highway will allow you to stop at beautiful destinations in Galicia, Asturias and Cantabria, 3 places that will get you immersed in the essence of the north. Lucky for you, the Paradores at Vilalba, Ribadeo, Gijón and Santillana are amazing hotels to stay during your trip and to enjoy the destinations
Parador de Vilalba
We will start the route at the Parador de Vilalba, in the province of Lugo, Galicia. The airport of La Coruña and the airport of Santiago de Compostela are approximately 90km away from the Parador de Vilalba, so these are both good options to arrive to Spain.
Once you get to Vilalba, the Parador will welcome you and once you settle, you will be ready to start exploring Vilalba, a very historic and interesting town of Galicia. The Parador de Vilalba is housed in a medieval style-building with a fortified tower, comfortable guest rooms, a restaurant, bar and other common areas such as the garden and the terrace. In here, you will have the chance to explore a land filled with legend and nature, with many interesting and historic sights, and also natural spots like La Madalena, a river beach and more.
Walking around Vilalba, visiting the historic and cultural sights such as the church of Santa María, the museum of prehistory and archaeology and the town hall, and doing nature activities at La Madalena or the Ladra river are some of the must dos in Vilalba.
From the Parador de Vilalba, the next stop will be Ridabeo, which stands 75k away through the A-8. This ride can be done in approximately 45 minutes by car.
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Parador de Ribadeo
Continuing in the province of Lugo, you will find the stunning Parador de Ribadeo, a beautiful modern hotel housed in a large Galician style house with excellent views of the Eo River. Located right in the border between Galicia and Asturias, this is a perfect stop in the northern Spain road trip.
In Ribadeo you will also be able to explore historic and cultural monuments but also enjoy one of the most popular beaches in the north, the Playa de las Catedrales (Cathedrals beach), and many other natural spots in which water and land sports are available. Among the monuments and sights in Ribadeo, you cannot miss to visit the lighthouse of Isla Pancha, the Pazo de Ibañez, the tower of Los Moreno and more.
From the Parador de Ribadeo, the next stop will be Gijón, which stands 132km away through the A-8. This ride can be done in approximately 1 hour and a half by car.
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Parador de Gijón
Moving to Asturias, the next stop in this road trip is the Parador de Gijón, which occupies an old mill in the Isabel la Católica Park, close to the beach, with beautiful vegetation, comfortable guest rooms and an exquisite restaurant. Spend some days in Gijón and enjoy the Parador, explore Gijón and taste the exquisite gastronomy and cider in Asturias.
In Gijón, there are many things to see and do. Starting at the Cimadevilla Peninsula, you will find an area with pedestrian streets, bars and live at any time of the day. In here, you cannot miss to visit the Jovellanos House Museum, the Revilagigedo Palace, the Roman Baths and more. After exploring Cimadevilla, head to the Laboral University, the Botanical Garden and the Isabel La Católica Park, right next to the Parador de Gijón, where you can relax and enjoy.
From the Parador de Vilalba, the next stop will be Santillana del Mar, which stands 150km away through the A-8. This ride can be done in approximately 1 hour and a half by car.
Parador de Santillana
After Asturias, let´s head to Cantabria, where you will find a charming and beautiful village called Santillana del Mar, with two Paradores, Parador de Santillana del Mar and Parador de Santillana de Gil Blas, both gladly to welcome you in and host you during your stay in Cantabria.
At the Parador de Santillana del Mar you will find a newly-built mansion with traditional architecture and pleasant atmosphere, and the Parador de Santillana de Gil blas is housed in the former house of the Barreda-Bracho family, a villa that has been declared National Monument. From here, you can visit the old quarter of the village, which is only open to pedestrians, and you can also head to Santander, where many monuments, sights and beaches are located.
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What do you think about this northern Spain road trip? Beaches, culture, history, green, beautiful hotels and an awesome time. Book now, start planning your trip and get ready to have fun at Paradores Hotels. Let´s go!
