Northern Spain is a landscape of Atlantic mist and culinary thunder. In Galicia, granite cloisters frame the endpoint of the Camino de Santiago, the world’s most storied pilgrimage, while storm-battered capes and fishing ports plate up pristine seafood and Albariño wines.

Head east to the Basque Country, where culture is visceral—language etched in stone, traditions guarded fiercely, and food elevated to poetry. San Sebastián blends Belle Époque elegance with a surf culture, offering beach mornings and pintxo-bar nights.

Expect cool, changeable weather year-round on the Atlantic coast—pack a layer and good shoes. Book popular restaurants and cathedral tickets in advance, and remember many bars serve standing-room pintxos best enjoyed unhurried, one bite and one sip at a time.

Santiago de Compostela

Few skylines are as evocative as Santiago’s—spires of the Baroque cathedral rise above medieval lanes polished by centuries of pilgrims. The old town hums with market life, incense, and guitars, while the Parque de la Alameda frames the city in green.

• Top sights: Cathedral and Portico da Gloria, Praza do Obradoiro, Mercado de Abastos, University cloisters, Parque de Bonaval and the Galician Contemporary Art Center (CGAC).
• Signature flavors: pulpo a feira (octopus with paprika), empanada gallega, percebes (gooseneck barnacles), Padrón peppers, and tarta de Santiago with a glass of Albariño or Ribeiro.
• Local feel: Wander Rua do Franco and Rua da Raíña for tapas bars; mornings buzz at the Mercado de Abastos when chefs and abuelas alike shop for the day.

Where to stay: Base yourself in the historic center for atmosphere (near Praza do Obradoiro) or in San Roque/Belvís for quieter evenings. Browse apartments and boutique stays on VRBO or hotels on Hotels.com.

How to get there: Fly into SCQ (Santiago de Compostela) or arrive by train from Madrid/Barcelona. Compare flights, trains, and buses on Omio (flights), Omio (trains), and Omio (buses). For additional rail options, check Trip.com (trains).

Day 1 — Arrival in Santiago de Compostela

Afternoon: Check in and stretch your legs across Praza do Obradoiro to feel the cathedral’s vast façade up close. Slip into Parque da Alameda for the postcard \"As Marías\" statue and a sweeping city view.

Evening: Tapas crawl through Rua do Franco. Start with the famed tortilla slice at Bar La Tita; then O Gato Negro for razor clams and steamed mussels; finish at A Taberna do Bispo for Galician-style octopus and empanada. Dessert: tarta de Santiago at Confitería Mercedes Mora. Nightcap at Casa das Crechas, a folk-music tavern where locals gather.

Day 2 — Cathedral, Old Town, and Market Life

Morning: Coffee at Café Venecia, a local institution, then weave into the Mercado de Abastos. Nibble a warm empanada slice and seasonal cheeses; if you see oysters and feel adventurous, they’re shucked to order.

Afternoon: Dive deeper with a guided visit that unlocks the cathedral’s art and symbolism: Visit to the Cathedral of Santiago + Portico de la Gloria Option. Expect skip-the-line access and expert context for the Portico’s carved figures.

Evening: Choose your dinner mood: Casa Marcelo (tasting menu where Galicia meets Asia at a chef’s counter), A Horta d’Obradoiro (seasonal, produce-led plates), or O Dezaseis (grilled meats and hearty classics in a stone-walled space). Stroll Rua Nova by lantern light.

Day 3 — Full-Day Costa da Morte

Trace tales of shipwrecks and lighthouses on a dramatic coastal loop: Finisterre and Costa da Morte: The Most Complete Tour of Santiago (9–10 hours). Stops typically include Ézaro Waterfall, Carnota’s colossal beach and hórreo, Muxía’s sanctuary, and the Finisterre Lighthouse—once the “end of the world.”

Budget €55–€75 per person; bring a windbreaker and camera. Back in town, celebrate with grilled scallops and a glass of Albariño at Pampín Bar or keep it simple with caldo gallego in a snug taverna.

San Sebastián (Donostia)

San Sebastián is a seaside classic: scalloped bays, belle époque balconies, and bars that perfect a single bite. The city flows between surfing Zurriola, sunning on La Concha, and pintxos in the Parte Vieja.

• Top sights: La Concha and Ondarreta beaches, Monte Igueldo funicular, Monte Urgull fortress, Miramar Palace gardens, the riverside Kursaal in Gros.
• Culinary canon: the gilda (anchovy, olive, guindilla), txuleta (bone-in steak), txakoli (sparkling white), bacalao al pil-pil, and La Viña’s cheesecake.
• Neighborhood notes: Old Town for dense bar-hopping; Centro for shopping; Gros for surfers, specialty coffee, and creative pintxos.

Where to stay: For beach-and-bar access, base in Parte Vieja or Centro; surfers love Gros near Zurriola. Compare apartments on VRBO and seafront hotels on Hotels.com.

Travel from Santiago to San Sebastián (Day 4 morning): Fastest is a morning flight SCQ→BIO (~1h15) then bus to San Sebastián (~1h15, €8–€14). Expect total 3.5–4.5 hours door-to-door, €70–€160 depending on dates. Compare on Omio (flights) and Omio (buses). Trains via Madrid take ~8–9 hours; direct buses are ~9–10 hours. Driving is ~6.5–7 hours.

Day 4 — Transfer to San Sebastián, Beach Stroll, Pintxos Tour

Morning: Depart Santiago after breakfast. Fly to Bilbao and connect by coach to San Sebastián’s main bus station; taxis and local buses are right outside.

Afternoon: Check in and stretch along La Concha promenade to Miramar Palace gardens. If you prefer surfer vibes, cross the river to Zurriola Beach and watch the lineup with a flat white from Sakona Coffee Roasters in Gros.

Evening: Join a curated crawl to hit the city’s can’t-miss bites without guesswork: San Sebastian Old Town Pintxos & Wine Tour (Small Group) (3–3.5 hours). Learn how to order like a local, sip txakoli, and taste hot, made-to-order specialties beyond the counter displays.

Day 5 — Bikes, Bays, and Big Views

Morning: Roll the city’s bike lanes on an engaging history-meets-scenery ride: San Sebastian E-bike tour: Basque History and Culture (2.5–3 hours). It’s a relaxed way to cover Miramar Palace, the riverfront, Gros, and Monte Urgull’s base.

Afternoon: Ride the 1912 funicular up Monte Igueldo for grandstand views over the bay. Lunch ideas: Bodega Donostiarra (the \"Indurain\" pintxo and tuna ración), or Rekondo for serious wine and grilled fish near Igueldo.

Evening: Classic bars to target: Ganbara (wild mushrooms with egg yolk; spider-crab tartlet), La Cuchara de San Telmo (slow-braised veal cheek), and Txepetxa (anchovies in inventive sauces). Save room for La Viña’s just-set cheesecake; then cocktails at Sirimiri or a glass of cider at Atari beneath Santa María church.

Day 6 — Day Trip to the French Basque Coast

Hop the border for a coastline of Belle Époque villas and fishing ports: Biarritz and French Coast Small Group Tour (8–9 hours). Expect Biarritz’s Grande Plage and Les Halles market, Saint-Jean-de-Luz’s royal church and harbor, and corniche viewpoints near Hendaye.

Budget €85–€120 per person. Snack on gâteau basque, nibble oysters at the market if in season, and be back in Donostia by evening. For dinner, book a cider-house feast at Petritegi in nearby Astigarraga: cod omelet, txuleta steak, Idiazabal cheese, and cider straight from the barrel (txotx!).

Day 7 — Market-to-Table Morning, Departure

Morning: Cap your week with a hands-on Basque cooking class that starts at the market: Basque Cooking Experience: Market Tour & Hands-On Class (English) (3–4 hours). Learn the secrets behind pil-pil sauces and seasonal pintxos—and eat what you make.

Afternoon: Depart from San Sebastián (EAS) or Bilbao (BIO). Coaches to BIO run about every 60–75 minutes and take ~1h15; compare times on Omio (buses) and flights on Omio (flights). If you’ve got minutes to spare, pick up tins of anchovies from Getaria and a bottle of txakoli.

Dining short list to bookmark

• Santiago de Compostela: Bar La Tita (tortilla), O Gato Negro (shellfish), A Taberna do Bispo (tapas), Casa Marcelo (tasting menu), A Horta d’Obradoiro (seasonal), Pampín Bar (grill and seafood), Confitería Mercedes Mora (tarta de Santiago), Café Venecia (classic espresso).
• San Sebastián: Ganbara (mushrooms), La Cuchara de San Telmo (hot pintxos), Txepetxa (anchovies), Bar Nestor (tomato salad and txuleta), Bodega Donostiarra (Gros staple), Casa Urola (grilled fish), La Viña (cheesecake), Sakona Coffee Roasters (specialty coffee).

Costing notes (per person, typical ranges): Pintxos tour €95–€130; e-bike tour €45–€65; French coast day trip €85–€120; Galicia coastal day trip €55–€75; cathedral tour €20–€35 (depending on options). Intercity flight + bus €70–€160 total depending on season and how early you book.

Practical tips: Many bars close one day weekly (often Monday) and kitchens break in mid-afternoon—plan lunch on time. For cathedral visits, shoulders covered and backpacks restricted in some zones. Coastal walks can be windy; wear gripping soles.

Bookable links at a glance

• Stay in Santiago: VRBO | Hotels.com
• Stay in San Sebastián: VRBO | Hotels.com
• Transport in/out and between cities: Omio (flights) | Omio (trains) | Omio (buses) | Trip.com (trains)
• Key activities in Galicia: Cathedral tour, Costa da Morte day trip (links above).
• Key activities in Basque Country: Pintxos tour, e-bike tour, French coast day trip, cooking class (links above).

In one week you’ll trace pilgrims’ footsteps in Santiago, taste the Atlantic on the Costa da Morte, and cross into the Basque world for beach days and unforgettable pintxos. With smart travel connections and pre-booked highlights, this itinerary maximizes flavor, views, and time on the ground.

Return home with cathedral bells in your ears, sea-salt on your lips, and a pocket notebook of pintxo bars you’ll dream about until your next Northern Spain escape.