Looking to improve your Spanish while travelling abroad? Northern Spain is the ideal choice for both language immersion and sightseeing. City Lit Spanish tutor Julie Ricci takes you on a tour of one of Europe’s best-kept secrets…
When you think of a holiday in Spain, what do you think of — a sweltering, overcrowded tourist beach on the Mediterranean coast? While this kind of holiday can be fun, a growing number of travellers are being drawn to the quieter, greener and cooler regions of Northern Spain.
It’s an ideal place to practise Spanish as it offers you a chance to explore at a slower pace and truly immerse yourself in the country. You’ll also find off-the-beaten-track routes, beautiful landscapes, a rich cultural scene, fantastic food, and welcoming locals. Indeed, the part of the country that encompasses mainly Galicia, Asturias, Cantabria, the Basque Country, La Rioja, and Navarre is full of hidden gems.
So, get your travel guides ready, as here are my favourite destinations in Northern Spain.
Northern Spain — the perfect destination to learn and practise Spanish
Although Northern Spain has been trending for quite a while, it has become increasingly popular over the past 10 to 15 years. Aside from the scenery, delicious cuisine and opportunities for sustainable travel, it’s also an affordable option. No wonder more and more travellers are choosing this region.
Northern Spain offers an incredible range of landscapes, including beaches, mountains, alpine lakes, forests, valleys, and vineyards. What’s more, temperatures are much more bearable in summer than in the south.
Why is Northern Spain ideal for learning Spanish?
As Northern Spain is filled with beautiful places not grazed by many tourists, you’ll have many opportunities for authentic and natural conversation. Take the time to browse markets, linger in cafés, visit small museums, and go on guided tours.
It’s also less crowded than Madrid or Barcelona, meaning locals are often more willing to mingle and welcome travellers who show a genuine interest in their region. You will find that it’s a friendly and relaxed environment, which should give you the confidence to practise Spanish. And as a bonus, fewer international tourists mean that you will be around fewer English speakers, giving you more incentive to brush up on your conversational Spanish.
But where should you visit in Northern Spain? Well, why not try…
Top 5 destinations to discover in Northern Spain
Santander (Cantabria)
Welcome to Santander! I asked a friend of mine from there to describe it in three words, and they said, “The real Spain”. Tempted yet?
For my part, I recommend this coastal city for its beauty, clean beaches, and rich history and culture. I remember eating some amazing ‘croquetas de jamón’ and looking at an incredible sunset while sipping a glass of sangría on a warm July evening. If you’d like to learn Spanish, you can practise small talk in the town’s friendly cafés while enjoying great food. And, thanks to the very clear accent of the locals, you will also be able to increase your confidence in conversational Spanish
Oviedo & Gijón (Asturias)
Why not stop by Asturias? It has everything: beaches, nature, culture, history, cider...any traveller interested in immersing themselves in Spanish culture and wonderful scenery will enjoy it immensely. While there’s a lot to see, two unmissable destinations are Gijón and Oviedo.
Gijón offers a sandy coastline, charming cobblestoned streets, and a rich history. Oviedo, with its UNESCO heritage buildings, many museums, cider houses (siderías), and cheap restaurants, is a perfect place to practise Spanish and enhance your cultural knowledge. And these are only the more well-known towns. If you’re keen to go deeper, then both the seaside village of Cudillero and the Somiedo National Park are must-sees.
La Rioja Region
We can’t talk about La Rioja and not talk about wine. So why not see where the nectar actually comes from? Wine towns like Logroño, Laguardia or Haro are brilliant places for Spanish learners to spend time, enjoy delicious tapas and engage in easy conversation. You’ll also feel inspired by the mesmerising vineyard landscapes.
Furthermore, gentle tourism growth in that region makes it accessible and great value for money, which is why it’s ideal for budget travellers.
A Coruña & Santiago de Compostela (Galicia)
Ever dreamed of walking the Camino de Santiago? Then head to Galicia. Not only is it a powerful experience, you will also enjoy terrific culture and food. The tourism atmosphere is softer there, meaning you will want to take your time, meet the locals, and get involved in activities.
A Coruña is also well worth a stop. In this impressive seaside town located right in the top-left corner of the Iberian Peninsula, you will have a front-seat view of the Atlantic Ocean.
Note: Galician is spoken alongside Spanish here, but Spanish is widely used and easy to practice. Why not learn a few typical Galician phrases?
The Basque Country (Bilbao and Vitoria-Gasteiz)
At the foot of the Pyrenees AND nested on the coast, the Basque Country is an unmissable spot. The cities of Bilbao and Vitoria-Gasteiz are trendy, creative, modern, and home to a strong food culture. These towns delight travellers who enjoy industrial-turned-cultural cities with lots of history and places to eat. Order pintxos (savoury nibbles) and join a friendly conversation, as this is a perfect setting to practise Spanish.
Note: The Basque language is also spoken here and it’s worth getting interested in its history as it is like no other European language. But not to worry, Spanish is spoken everywhere too and you can definitely practise easily.
How to improve your Spanish in Northern Spain
- Learn Spanish phrases to use on arrival. Basically, phrases that will get you where you need to go and will allow you to buy food and drink.
- Before arriving, check online for any events. Then aim to join a walking tour, take a cooking class, or attend local festivals.
- Stay in family-run guesthouses where Spanish conversation comes naturally.
- Keep a little notebook (or use a note-taking app) for writing down new Spanish vocabulary. Then try to use it in conversation.
- And maybe… eavesdrop? Listen to people talking in the street, on the bus, and at cafes. Be attentive to how people interact with each other, as that will help you to interact with them and improve your conversational Spanish.
When is the best time to visit Northern Spain?
Northern Spain is beautiful any time of year, but the best time to visit is probably late spring or early autumn. And thanks to regional trains and buses, travelling around is easy and cheap.
Take a Spanish course before travelling to Spain
Northern Spain really is worth a visit. If you’re curious about the culture, keen to stay away from crowds and want to experience the real Spain while practising Spanish, why not plan a short study-travel break? You won’t regret it!
And to get you started, watch City Lit Spanish tutor Juan Mario discussing his favourite things in Spanish. How many new words and phrases can you learn?
City Lit Spanish tutor Juan Mario discussing his favourite things in Spanish
Get ready for your adventure by taking a Spanish course at City Lit. We offer courses in London and online, from beginner to advanced.
Study at City Lit
Discover more courses. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Nunc lacus tortor, dignissim a velit eu, blandit molestie velit. Aenean convallis, lectus ac dapibus ornare, massa.
