What To Pack For A Trip To Northern Spain

Northern Spain spans a vast array of landscapes and cultures, and comprises the regions of Galicia, Asturias, Cantabria, the Basque Country, Navarra, La Rioja, Aragon and Catalonia. Known for their mountainous green landscapes, unique cultures and languages, vibrant cities and food, these are great alternatives to popular Andalusia and the Costa del Sol. Here’s a list of what to pack for a trip to Northern Spain.

Boots

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.

Walking Shoes

A Mac Or Trench Coat

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.

A Fashion Scarf

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.

Layers

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.

1. A Swimsuit / Bikini

Yes we know we’ve said it’s cold and rainy in Northern Spain, but in summer, when the sun does shine, it’s the perfect place to hit the beach – and there are some spectacular stretches of coastline here. One of the best beaches in the whole of Spain can be found here – Playa de las Catedrales in Galicia (or As Catedrais in the local language). San Sebastian’s La Concha Beach and A Coruña’s Playa del Orzan also make great trips, while, the Costa Brava – the north eastern coastal region of Catalonia – has many small hidden coves to explore.

Remember to pack a bikini for the summer months / Max Pixel

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.