Grilled octopus served at a restaurant in San Sebastian, Spain.

Food Tour of Northern Spain: San Sebastian to Pontevedra

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Customizable Itinerary

This is a sample itinerary to inspire a personalized trip designed with your travel specialist

Countries Visited

Spain

Places Visited

San Sebastian, Pamplona, Haro, Sotres...

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Suggested Duration

9 Days

Cultural and gastronomic heights know no limits in Northern Spain because culinary prowess and cultural capital are paramount in the daily lives of the inhabitants of this inspiring land of passionate effort and lifestyle. Feed your soul and your inspiration as you visit the prideful and independent regions of Asturias, Galicia, and the Basque Country. Pintxos, seafood, cider, and cheeses await as master chefs are ready to delight you with otherworldly techniques that set a gold standard in the...

Customizable Itinerary

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Trip Highlights

  • Embark on a Pintxos tasting tour of San Sebastian, which is the culinary capital of Europe
  • Immerse yourself in an artisanal food and cider tasting tour in the writer-beloved city of Oviedo
  • Discover Ernest Hemingway’s beloved destination of Pamplona and the history of the running of the bulls tradition
  • Delight in a tour of the Cathedral of Santiago De Compostela, which is the burial site of an apostle of Jesus and the final destination for thousands of pilgrims each year
  • Explore the Hermitage of San Bernabe, which is an ancient dwelling place within a cave that is complete with an immaculate, natural setting
  • Venture to the cheese holding caves of Asturias and receive a lesson of the prized calabres cheesemaking process
  • Unwind and dine in La Rioja, which is the leader in Spain’s wine production as experienced sommeliers teach you the intricacies of this area’s winemaking
  • Indulge in the delicacies of the Galician province and its trademark dish: the pulpo and seafood fare
  • Traverse the ruins of a 14th-century gothic cathedral in the seaside city of Pontevedra

Detailed Description

Northern Spain has become a witness to its own testimony as a world-leading destination for food. An appreciation of craft is a requisite when traversing here as your guides will be ready to indulge and enlighten you on the historical roots and tradition that goes hand in hand with the food that will reach your taste buds. You will taste the different flavors as they come to life on your tongue and explore the backstage craft of the culinary hubs of the Basque Country, Asturias, and Galicia. You will begin day one in the Basque Country, which is said to possess some of the most delicious foods in the world. You will also explore the world-class culinary scene in San Sebastian, which is a city that emphasizes eating well before other expenditures. Here, you will dine and sip down wine like a true local at a Michelin star restaurant. The following day, you will receive a private tour of the city’s best pintxos, which are the delectable appetizers in which this seaside city specializes. A private car will then take you to the famed city of Pamplona where the running of the bulls festival is synonymous with the city’s celebratory ideals. You will then receive a tour of the town and stop along Ernest Hemingway vestiges.

On your fourth day, you will arrive in the country’s prized La Rioja region, which is Spain’s leading wine producing valley. Once you arrive in this tantalizing region, you will become immersed in its wine tradition and technique that dates back to ancient Roman times. You will receive a grand tour of the area’s best bodegas or wineries, including ones that have been in a family’s care for over a century. On your fifth day, you will arrive in Oviedo but not before stopping in surreal and unique cultural sites on your way. You can stop at the Monumento Natural Ojo Guarena, which is a stunning series of caves that have been converted to hermitages in a majestic setting.  Later, your driver will take you on a small cheese tour as you enter the artisanal Asturian province. You can marvel at the Queseria de Main and La Cueva de los Quesos. Both of these cheese stores are unlike any that you will ever visit. You will receive backstage access to the caves that store cabrales cheese, and your guide will acquaint you with the cheesemaking process that has been in place for generations.

On your sixth day, you will wake up in Oviedo and settle in this opulent town that holds treasures around every corner and where quirky sculptures are paired with sophisticated artisan products that have been made here in Asturias. Your guide will lead you on an artisan tasting tour of the city, visiting its charming stores. In the evening, you will then go on a cider tasting tour of the area’s best ciders, which is Asturias’ most treasured, cultural export. On your seventh day, you will travel to the nearby Santiago de Compostela and delight in meeting other travelers who have just made a similar trip like you around North Spain. A golden scallop-shelled path has led them to this location on a cultural journey unlike any other in the world. European travelers will arrive here with a look of astonishment as they lay their sight on the Cathedral of Santiago De Compostela.

On your eighth and last day, you will arrive in the tranquil city of Pontevedra, which is an ancient and refined city that has been made distinguishable by its open-air museum and old cathedrals. You will spend your day at your leisure and explore the timeless ruins of the Church of San Domingos before finishing your last night of this trip at a Michelin-starred restaurant where freshly caught seafood is sure to be on the menu.

Looking for more recommended Spain travel inspiration? Consider browsing our Spain travel reviews page.

Starting Price

$3,600 per person (excluding international flights)

Your Zicasso trip is fully customizable, and this sample itinerary is a starting place for your travel plans. Actual costs are dynamic, and your selection of accommodations and activities, your season of travel, and other such variables will bring this budget guideline up or down. Throughout your planning experience with your Zicasso specialist, your itinerary is designed around your budget. You can book your trip when you are satisfied with every detail. Planning your trip with a Zicasso travel specialist is a free service.

What's Included

The starting price is based on travel during the low season for a minimum of two travelers staying in shared 3-star accommodations. Please inquire for a custom trip quote based on your travel preferences and travel dates.

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