Get under Spain's skin with the ultimate Spanish road trip

Before we dive into all the specific routes you’ve got to choose from, let’s start with the basics. The best times of year to road trip through Spain are spring and autumn. In spring, you’ll see the country at its greenest, festooned in wild flowers, and the autumn colours in the vineyards of the north or the Pyrenees are breathtaking.

If you’re sticking to the south coast, winter could be a great choice too, but the north can get surprisingly cold, and you don’t want surprise snowstorms derailing your plans. Summer is a popular time to travel, but you might be wisest to head north, seeking out lower temperatures, and brace yourself for tourist destinations to be busy.

Other than that, the best tip we can give you for planning road trips in Spain is to resist the temptation to cram too much in. Rather than trying to see the whole country, pick one of the routes below and take it slowly, soaking in your surroundings, and giving yourself time for spontaneous stops. Take your foot off the accelerator and enjoy the view.

Let’s start our driving tour of Spain in the north-west.

Green Spain will come as a surprise to anyone who’s only visited Spain’s south or east coasts, with unique architecture, weather and landscapes.

Start out in Santander, then wend your way through the dramatic Picos de Europa mountains before stopping off in places like Cangas de Onís, Covadonga and Ribadesella (fans of water sports, don’t miss kayaking down the Sella river). Base yourself in a hotel in Oviedo to explore more of Asturias.

If you’ve got another week on your hands, hit the road again and head for magical Galicia, the north-east corner of Spain. The windy coastline of this part of the country is incredibly extensive, so you’ll find endless deserted beaches. Make sure to indulge in plenty of local seafood to keep you fuelled as you go.

The very best road trips in Spain are those that take you off the beaten track. There’s so much to be said for exploring Spain’s great plains, its sparsely populated but starkly beautiful interior.

Start from Madrid and drive out to the depths of “empty Spain”, visiting the countless castles of Soria, sampling wine in the famous Ribera del Duero region, exploring the cities of Leon and staying in Valladolid , before marvelling at the spires of the historic university city of Salamanca.

Stop in tiny villages along the way for the most authentic and delicious food, and see a different side of Spain to what most tourists experience.

If you’ve still got time on your hands, head down to Extremadura for vast Roman ruins and stunning swimming holes.

The Basque Country is a part of Spain with its own, carefully guarded sense of identity, and is the perfect region for touring northern Spain by car.

There’s so much to see in Bilbao, and it’s well worth staying in San Sebastián, but don’t spend all your time in the cities, as the beauty of having a car is being able to explore out-of-the-way, authentic spots.

Wend your way along the coast from fishing village to fishing village, or head inland to explore more of this rural, mountainous region. Don’t forget to include plenty of stops for pintxos and txakoli (local white wine).

Sticking to the north, there’s no doubt that exploring the Pyrenees is one of the best road trips in Spain you can do.

We somehow don’t expect as much from the Pyrenees as from some of Europe’s other mountain ranges, and that means that when we discover them, we’re totally bowled over by their dramatic peaks and verdant valleys.

Head from west to east and explore as many of the high valleys as you can, mixing your scenic drives with long walks, keeping your eyes peeled for incredible wildlife, like marmots.

The highlights? Spending a night in the spectacular Royal Hideaway hotel at Canfranc, and hiking in the jaw-dropping Ordesa y Monte Perdido National Park, best explored on weekdays, and not during the height of summer, to avoid the crowds.

Once your stay in Barcelona has come to end, hop in the car and head north for a Costa Brava road trip. This golden coast stretches north-east from here up to France, and there’s something for everyone, from those looking for a party vibe in some of the famous resort towns to those who want to explore tranquil, historic fishing villages.

And it’s not all built up, there are plenty of places for getting back to nature, like the Espai Natural Protegit del Massís de Cadiretes or the Cap de Creus Natural Park way up in the north.

It’s best to avoid high season here, as the traffic and the parking would be interesting, to say the least, but you’ve got the rest of the year to bumble along the coast at your leisure.

It’s time to turn south and head for Andalusia, a vast, varied region that’s just crying out to be explored on four wheels, boasting some of the best driving roads in Spain.

Start with a stay in Seville, then head to Cordoba for the day to uncover its rich, many-layered history. From there, wind your way through the endless olive groves, stopping at historic towns along the way, until you reach the bewitching city of Granada. You’ll never forget watching the Alhambra glow as the sun goes down, before indulging in plenty of free tapas.

Having spent a few days in Granada, it’s time to hit the road again, this time to explore the south-east of Spain between Granada and Almeria.

There are two options here. Either you can take the inland route and visit the fascinating cave neighbourhood in Guadix, then marvel at the landscapes of the Tabernas desert. Or, you can head south to the coast and stop off on one of Granada’s pebble beaches like Playa de la Rijana, with beautifully clear water, before following the coast road to Almeria, then on to your hotel in Cabo de Gata.

From that base, you can spend a few happy days exploring the dramatic coastline of the Cabo de Gata Natural Park.

Coming to the end of our round-up of the best road trips in Spain, we’ve saved some of the best till last.

From the charming city of Malaga, head west and stop off in Marbella, Puerto Banús or Estepona. Make sure you swing by Gibraltar to experience the fascinating fusion of British and Spanish cultures.

From there, head to windy but wonderful Tarifa, or take your pick of any of the places to stop along the Cadiz coast, like Bolonia, Zahara de los Atunes, Barbate, Los Caños de Meca, Conil de la Frontera… the list goes on.

Stay in Cadiz, an attractive city almost surrounded by water and practically submerged in history, and then head back to Malaga, but this time take the inland route, visiting the sherry bodegas of Jerez de la Frontera, and perhaps heading north for a look around Ronda to round off your Andalusia road trip.