What to Pack for a Trip to Northern Spain

The Spanish love their boots, mostly leather and ankle-or-shin-length – perfect for staying stylish during the cold winter months. As soon as the weather begins to turn, around October time, you’ll start to see boots everywhere, pounding the streets of cities across Spain. Since Northern Spain is one of the coldest areas of Spain, especially in winter, they’re the ideal fashion accessory to keep your feet dry and toasty during a city break.

If boots are for the cities, then walking shoes are for the countryside. Due to its mountainous terrain and spectacular landscapes, Northern Spain offers a wide array of picturesque hiking routes across the region. One of the most famous of course is the Camino de Santiago – starting from just across the French border to the city of Santiago de Compostela, along the coast.

Unfortunately, ‘the rain in Spain, does not fall mainly on the plain’, it falls in the northern provinces of Galicia and the Basque Country, and the areas known as ‘Green Spain’. Be prepared for some wet and windy days, whatever the time of year, and make sure you pack something to keep you dry. The most style-conscious options are a rain mac or trench coat – perfect for cities like Bilbao, San Sebastian, Pamplona and Santiago de Compostela.

Spanish people love to accessorise with colourful scarves, both in winter and during the warmer months of the year. As well as adding a splash of bold print to any outfit, it will ensure your neck is warm during winter, and act as a light shawl for the evenings in spring and summer.

It can get quite chilly in Northern Spain, due the unpredictable weather and cold winds that move in from the Atlantic, so remember to take extra layers. When the sun does come out however, it can get pretty hot, so you’ll want to pack layers you can take off quickly too.