Motorhoming in Spain: Sensational Spanish Road Trip

MOTORHOMING IN SPAIN: THE GREAT SPANISH ROAD TRIP

Spain is synonymous with Flamenco music, siestas, paella and the iconic but controversial bullfighting. It is a land as diverse as the images conjured up by the very mention of its name.

Our quintessential motorhoming in Spain road trip begins in the northern city of Barcelona, (we arrived from Italy by ferry with our motorhome).

We take you through snow-peaked mountains and medieval towns, before heading south to the warmer climes of the historical Moorish region of Andalucia.

There, we visit some of its brightest jewels: Granada, Malaga, Seville, Cordoba and Ronda.

This Motorhoming in Spain article will help you plan your own perfect Spain road trip itinerary.

Below are all of the places we visited when road-tripping in Spain and recommend adding them to your Spain road trip itinerary.

ROAD TRIP IN SPAIN: QUICK VIEW OF AMAZING PLACES TO VISIT

1. Barcelona

2. Santa Coloma de Queralt

3. Valderrobres

4. Cuenca

5. Palencia

6. Sepulveda

7. Sierra Espuna

8. Granada

9. Malaga

10. Ronda

11. Seville

12. Cordoba

SPAIN MOTORHOME ROAD TRIP MAP

HOW TO USE THIS SPAIN ROAD TRIP MAP

To use this map, expand it using the square symbol on the top right-hand side and you will find the key on the left-hand side. By clicking each location you will find extra information. 

For example, each motorhome overnight stops on the map has the corresponding weblink to Camper Contact where you can see the facilities available, price, opening times, and useful user reviews on each motorhome campsite.

The Motorhome overnight stops are marked with an orange circle with a motorhome icon and the places we visited are marked with purple icons.

Planning Your Campervan or Motorhome Spain Road Trip

As well as including places to visit and various route options as you road trip Spain, we have also designed this FREE ROAD TRIP Travel planner for you.

With 23 pages, you can use all of them or pick and choose which ones you want to print. It also comes in 3 handy sizes, and if you want more of a certain page, just print extra.

It’s a really useful planning tool and also contains journal pages and pages for all your travel information.

Whether you plan on either touring Spain in a car or campervanning in Spain, this resource will be invaluable.

For more in-depth information, jump across to our article on How to Plan a road trip.

SPAIN ROAD TRIP ROUTE OPTIONS

Below are examples of possible Spain road trip route options that will help you calculate the timing and distances for your own road trip. 

The fourth option takes your motorhoming in Spain trip just that little bit further and includes driving up through Portugal.

Each has you starting your Spain road trip from Barcelona, as that’s most likely the easiest place to arrive at.

Northern Spain Road Trip

Northern and Southern Spain Road Trip

Northern and Southern Spain Circuit Road Trip

Portugal and Spain Road Trip

MOTORHOMING IN SPAIN

We were in a motorhome travelling through Spain which was a fantastic way to see the country. You’ll find a link to each motorhome stop at the end of each town and on the interactive map above.

If travelling by car, this road trip is just as suitable but you’ll just need to book accommodation along your route.

READ MORE: Check out our  Beginner MOTORHOME TIPS here

WHERE CAN YOU OVERNIGHT WITH YOUR MOTORHOME IN SPAIN?

We used the Camper Contact app (about 6 euros/year) when travelling through Spain to find our motorhome overnight spots. They have over 2000 campervan parking and motorhome service areas listed in Spain. Many motorhomers also use the Park4Night app.

To help you plan your Spain road trip, we’ve included all of our motorhome/campervan overnight stops on this trip.

CAN YOU WILD CAMP IN SPAIN?

There doesn’t seem to be a clear answer to this question but in general, you are only allowed to stay overnight at spaces designed for motorhomes. Wild camping may be allowed under some conditions and some regions are more strict than others.

However, note that wild camping is not permitted at all in any of Spain’s National Parks.

MOTORHOME RENTAL IN SPAIN

We recommend Motorhome Republic – they can search for the best deals for you with various pick-up points and countries. When we used them they were incredibly helpful and we saved more money going directly to them rather than to individual rental companies.

Spain Road Trip by Car

Although we motorhomed through Spain, this post is just as suitable if you are road-tripping Spain by car.

If you need to hire a car, check out and try Discover Cars. They won the World Travel Awards for World’s Leading Car Rental Booking Website in 2020, offer free cancellation and score 4.5/5 on Trustpilot.

PLACES TO VISIT ON YOUR SPAIN ROAD TRIP

These best places to visit in Spain include both well-known Spanish towns, as well as those a little more off the beaten path so you have a mix of options to choose from for your road trip itinerary. You’re sure to get plenty of road trip ideas here.

1. BARCELONA

Barcelona, a city founded in the 1st century BC, is renowned for its art and architecture and is a perfect place to begin your Spain road trip — especially if it’s off-season. The city sits in the region of Catalonia, an autonomous region of northeast Spain. Getting around is easy as the city has a well-thought-out public transport system consisting of the metro, bus and tram. 

Barcelona is a popular tourist destination and has suffered massively from over-tourism. Try to visit in the offseason, between September and May and mid-week to both avoid crowds and to also reduce the burden on this city.

EXTRA TRAVEL TIPS FOR BARCELONA

• The Metro and Tram city lines can be found here.
• For bus city networks, click here. 
• A good central location to start the days sightseeing is the underground central interchange Plaça d’Espanya 
• If you are spending more than one day in the city, consider purchasing the Barcelona card which gives free public transport  PLUS free entry to 25 museums and attractions AND discounts.

BARCELONA’S ATTRACTIONS

MONTJUIC AREA

There are a few attractions not to be missed in the Montjuic area:

• Four Columns: The grand entrance to the National Palace of Montjuic is walking past the Four Columns which symbolise the four coloured stripes on the Catalan flag.
• Magic Fountain of Montjuic: a musical water show with lights that sits just in front of the Four Columns.
• Les Cascades: a series of cascading waterways on the stairs, established in 1992 for the Olympic Games.
• National Palace of Montjuic: The prominent Montjuic Hill overlooks Barcelona and is home to the National Palace of Montjuic which houses the National Museum of Art Catalonia. 
• Barcelona Olympic Park: Behind the National Palace of Montjuic lies Barcelona Olympic Park which was used for the 1992 Olympic Games.
• Fountain Steps: Just off to the side of Les Cascades are the Fountain Steps with their beautiful tiers of decorative tiles and overflowing sculptures.
• Montjuic Castle: Situated at the very top of Montjuic hill. The ramparts offer panoramic views across Barcelona. 

LA RAMBLA

La Rambla is where all the action is.

This promenade is over a kilometre long and connects the centre of Barcelona to the old port. It runs between two streets with pedestrian-only access, leaving plenty of room for street markets, artists, food stalls and street performers.

Here, you’ll also find the fantastic marketplace, Mercat de Sant Josep – La Boqueria. This packed market has stalls with all sorts of edible delicacies. Fruit and fruit drinks, seafood, sushi, a myriad array of sweets and delicious treats of all kinds.

It’s the ideal place to buy some fresh fruit and veg and try your hand at making some classic Spanish food — such as berenjenas rellenas (Stuffed eggplant). 

CHRISTOPHER COLOMBUS MONUMENT

At the end of La Rambla, towards the sea, we found ourselves among a much-thinned crowd. Ahead of us was the mighty Christopher Columbus Monument, built in 1888 to honour his trip to the Americas.

GAUDI’S BARCELONA

Just off the La Rambla promenade, you’ll find Casa Batlló, built between 1904 and 1906 by designer Antoni Gaudi who was a Spanish architect and leader of Catalan Modernism. He is said to have gained his inspiration from forms within nature.  

Just four streets on, we spied another of Antoni Gaudi’s modernistic works of art. Built between 1906 and 1910, Casa Mila is much less colourful than Casa Batlló but still reflects that distinctive Gaudi styling.

SAGRADA FAMILIA

Probably the most famous of Gaudi’s designs is the Sagrada Familia Church, of which Antoni Gaudi was the chief architect. 

This is the largest, unfinished Roman Catholic church in the world.

Gaudi worked on this project until his death, in 1926.  At that time, only one-quarter of the build was complete.

The final completion date is predicted to be 2030.

BARCELONA’S PARKS

There are some beautiful parks to wander around in Barcelona. One of the most popular is Park Guell, another of Gaudi’s works. It has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1984 and covers 17 hectares.

In fact to avoid the crowds even more — take a virtual tour right now here on the Park Guell website.

Another gorgeous park worth a visit is the Parc de la Ciutadella. It has a magnificent fountain and is full of statues, monuments and a stunning lake.

Barcelona’s zoo is also in the park. 

BARCELONA ACCOMMODATION

• Motorhome Campsite: Barcelona Campsite
• Hotels and B&Bs: Find Barcelona deals on Booking.com

2. SANTA COLOMA DE QUERALT

Santa Coloma de Queralt is a town that is off the normal tourist-ridden beaten path of Spain, and is well worth a visit. 

The old town has four medieval gateways, the Palace of the Counts of Queralt and Santa Coloma, and a 14th-century Gothic church. 

This was the first town in which we became intrigued by the number of yellow ribbons tied around statues, windows, fences and trees. The yellow ribbon in Catalonia represents support for the independence of the area as a separate entity from the governance of Spain. 

The town is small, but if you want to experience the feel of a real Spanish town, without hordes of tourists then this town full of gothic architecture is worth a visit. 

SANTA COLOMA DE QUERALT ACCOMMODATION

• Motorhome Campsite: Santa Coloma de Queralt 
• Hotels and B&Bs: Santa Coloma de Queralt area on Booking.com

3. VALDERROBRES

Valderrobes is another town off the beaten track to add to your Spain road trip and is such an interesting place to explore.

Crossing the medieval arched bridge of San Roque you arrive near the 16th-century City Hall. The tiny streets steeply rise around the town guiding you to its 14th-century castle and the 16th-century church of Santa María la Mayor, a Historic-Artistic Heritage.

The church has a beautiful rose window and the cemetery has decorative gravestones.  

VALDERROBRES ACCOMMODATION

• Motorhome Campsite: Valderrobres  — If you park in the Valderrobres campervan car park, you’ll find the old town just across the river.

• Hotels and B&Bs: Valderrobres area on Booking.com

4. CUENCA

Cuenca is known for its hanging houses or casa cogadas and is listed as a World Heritage Site due to it being a well-preserved fortified medieval city.

Set high on the edge of the River Huécar gorge, Cuenca reminded us of our visit to Matera in Italy; another city built on the edge of a gorge but with caves built into the steep gorge wall instead of wooden houses.

This short UNESCO video gives a great introduction to Cuenca and shows its hanging houses with their balconies literally hanging over the gorge.

 Although winter, on the day we explored Cuenca and its stunning surrounding landscape, we had a clear blue sky.

The next morning, a stunning white carpet of snow greeted us. We hadn’t expected snow in Spain, but high up in the mountains of mid-eastern Spain, it was chilly and this thin layer of snow made for picturesque scenery as we continued our Spain road trip. 

CUENCA ACCOMMODATION

• Motorhome Campsite: Cuenca Camperstop
• Hotels and B&Bs: Find accommodation deals in the Cuenca area on Booking.com

5. SEPULVEDA

Sepulveda was an absolute delight. Of all the small towns we visited, this one felt like you had really stepped back in time.

Located in the Sergovia region of Castile and Leon, Sepulveda has been a Historic-Artistic Site since 1951. Its architecture and monuments are built in the Romanesque style of the 11th and 12th centuries and its El Salvador Church dates all the way back to 1093. 

The small town is full of olde-worlde charm with several restaurants and cafes to sample traditional Castilian Cuisine. On one of the narrow streets, you’ll find a tiny restaurant, Figón Zute El Mayor. 

It has only one dish on the menu, Cordero (suckling lamb). Operating since 1850, this family-run business roasts its lamb in a traditional wood oven and has won several awards for its succulent local dish.

The World Heritage City of Segovia with its Roman Aquaduct is another interesting nearby city to visit, as well as the medieval town of Pedraza.

SEPULVEDA ACCOMMODATION

• Motorhome Campsite: Sepulveda Camper stop 
• Hotels and B&Bs: Sepulveda area on Booking.com

6. PALENCIA

Palencia is just 140 km northwest of Sepulveda, in northern Spain and is the capital of the Castile-León region.

Its Cathedral, Palencia Cathedral (Catedral de San Antolín en Palencia), looks impressive enough from the outside, but the inside houses more than twenty chapels of artistic and historical interest. This is one of the reasons the cathedral is known as the Undiscovered Beauty.

In the square just outside the cathedral, you’ll find the monument dedicated to the ‘maestro’, created by Rafael Cordero.

As we walked to the centre of Palencia from the campervan stop we crossed a really pretty medieval bridge, Puenta de Puentecillas.   

One of Palencia’s main drawcards for us was the Castilla Canal which begins in the village of Alar del Rey.

The Castilla Canal is used as an irrigation channel, was engineered in the 18th century and stretches for 200km.  Its towpath is the perfect place to walk or cycle.

We cycled for miles along the canal, enjoying the picturesque bridges and aqueducts and it was a great way to appreciate the fauna and landscape of the area. 

PALENCIA ACCOMMODATION

• Motorhome Campsite: Palencia Camperstop
• Hotels and B&Bs: Palencia area on Booking.com

7. SIERRA ESPŪNA

Our Spain road trip now heads into southern Spain and begins in the hills of Sierra Espuna, the perfect place to start exploring the south, especially if you enjoy immersing yourself in nature.

Whether you are discovering this Regional Park on foot, cycling or driving, the area offers a stunning landscape. The Espuna mountains are carpeted with pine forests and the foothills are filled with farmlands and orchards. 

We decided to stay in a well-located, reasonably priced basic campsite, Camperstop Sierra Espuna, which was just a short five-minute drive from the town of Totana, also known as ‘Potter City’ because of its long history of ceramics and pottery.

There are numerous walks and trails in the Sierra Espuna National Park and we made the most of combining a hike in the mountains with searching for geocaches. In February the almond trees were displaying their beautiful white blossom and the orange trees were full of fruit.

We headed towards the Santa Eulalia de Merida Sanctuary.

On the way, as we were searching for a geocache, we came across the  White Virgin Viewpoint, (See Map). 

From here, we had magnificent views across the hills of Sierra Espuna. That’s what we love about geocaching — it takes us to places that are often not found on google and only locals know about. 

The Santa Eulalia de Merida Sanctuary dates back to medieval times when its purpose was to care for those coming to pray to the Martyr Saint Eulalia. 

Here, the gardens were abundant with vividly coloured orange and mandarin trees. The fruit looked so tasty that we plucked a couple to taste, but they were way too acidic to eat. Perhaps they were ornamental versions.

SIERRA ESPUNA ACCOMMODATION

• Campervan Campsite: Camperstop Sierra Espuna
• Hotels and B&Bs: Alhama Murcia area on Booking.com

8. GRANADA

Leaving the campsite in Sierra Espuna, we drove three hours southwest to Granada to visit the famed Islamic palaces and grounds of La Alhambra.

LA ALHAMBRA

The exquisite intricate facades, flowing waters, pools, tranquil gardens and beautifully themed structures within the La Alhambra grounds certainly create a memorable environment.

Originally a small fortress built around AD 900, La Alhambra was converted into a palace in the mid-13th century. Since then, various Muslim rulers of La Alhambra have extended sections of the palaces but still within the theme of creating what they called, paradise on earth.

Most of the buildings are rectangular in shape with rooms all opening onto a central court. The exteriors of the buildings were purposely left plain in contrast to the intricately designed interiors.

Within the grounds are many fountains, cascades and reflecting pools resulting in an ambience of serenity.

Alhambra buildings with intricate arched doorways and tranquillity pools

We bought a couple of online General Admission tickets which included entry to all the main areas. However, take note that the Nasrid Palace is a timed entry, whereas the other areas are at your leisure.

Following the walkthrough of the Nasrid palaces, you are then free to wander the grounds at your own pace.

We spent time just soaking in the beauty of this paradise on earth, peering through the numerous arches, gazing at the unbelievably intricate architectural details and strolling through the gardens.

GRANADA ACCOMMODATION

• Campervan Campsite: Camping Reina Isabel Granada
• Hotels and B&Bs: Granada area on Booking.com

9. MALAGA

We’d heard that Malaga was a busy seaside resort-type town full of high-rise apartments and hotels.

So, to be honest, we weren’t expecting much from Malaga but the old part of the city quickly won us over with its historical ramparts, cobbled laneways, historical architecture and beautiful gardens.

In fact, Malaga has built itself up from a beach resort to a city renowned for its 80+ museums and art. It has advanced so much that it was the winner of the 2020 European Capital of Smart Tourism.

CASTILLO DE GIBRALFARO

Overlooking Malaga harbour, at the top of a hill, you’ll find Castillo de Gibralfaro. This fortress has two rows of protective walls with multiple towers. It was built in the 14th century to house troops and to protect the Alcazar (a type of Moorish castle built during Muslim rule). 

It’s a steep walk up the hill to the entry point but it’s worth the short grind to enjoy spectacular views across Malaga.

Tip: There is free entry on a Sunday after 14:00.

PABLO PICASSO MUSEUM

The museum houses Pablo Picasso’s paintings, musings and other works showcasing his life. There is plenty on show to keep you enthralled.

However, be warned that the queue for the free opening times was extremely long so you may want to plan to be there before the free entry time to start queuing.

Tip: Free entry on Sundays for the last 2 hours of opening.

POMPIDOU CENTRE MUSEUM

 The Pompidou art museum hosts modern and contemporary art of the 20^th and 21^st centuries. The building is crowned by a distinctive multi-coloured cube, ‘El Cubo’, and is easily accessed via the pedestrian boardwalk along the seafront.

We had mixed views on the outside design but it definitely got us talking.

What do you think?

CATHEDRAL DE SANTA MARIA DE LA ENCARACION

Set in the centre of the old town, surrounded by relatively small gardens, is this huge cathedral. It took over 250 years to build and was completed in 1782. It represents a synthesis of both Gothic and Baroque architecture with ornate details on the facade.

Quite often these large cathedrals in Europe have big open spaces around them but here the streets are narrow, and it feels like it is just part of the village square – more personable than most cathedrals in Europe.

EL TEATRO ROMANO

This 1st century Roman Theatre lies in the heart of old town Malaga and about 200m from the Cathedral de Santa Maria de la Encarnacion. It was only discovered in 1952 when local excavation work revealed it.

This ancient theatre is free to visit.

There are many parks and gardens in Malaga, including; Jardines Puerta Oscura with scenic views and manicured gardens, Jardines de Pedro Luis Alonso with a rose garden and colourful residents (see below) and Parque de Malaga, urban botanical gardens near the palm-lined Portway Walk.

(All of these gardens are marked on the map above) 

MALAGA ACCOMMODATION

• Campervan Campsite: Malaga – Area el Rincon
• Hotels and B&Bs: Malaga area on Booking.com

10. RONDA

Ronda is a small but impressive town that looks like it might slide off off the top of its windy escarpment at any moment. Deep in the gorge runs the Guadalevin River and it is this that separates the old and new towns of Ronda.

PUENTE NEUVO

Ronda is most famed for its picturesque 18th-century bridge which towers 120m above the canyon floor.

The bridge has a chamber above the central arch which was allegedly used as a torture chamber whereby people were thrown to the rocks below. Not so much torture — rather a death sentence.

PLAZA DES TOROS DE RONDA

This plaza in Ronda is the oldest bull-fighting ring in Spain and you’ll find it by the Park Alameda del Tajo.

It is rumoured that Ronda invented bullfighting and the town became well known due to fans of its bullring, including  Ernest Hemingway and Orson Wells.

RONDA ACCOMMODATION

• Campervan Campsite: Ronda – Ciudad de Ronda
• Hotels and B&Bs: Ronda area on Booking.com

11. SEVILLE

Seville must be one of the few cities in the world that you experience through smell as well as any of your other senses.

 Orange trees adorn the streets, infusing Seville with their pleasant aroma. The fallen oranges gave the drab pavement a distinctive splash of colour enhancing Seville’s magic.

Seville was our favourite city on our motorhome trip through southern Spain. 

CATHEDRAL OF SANTA MARIA DE LA SEDE DE SEVILLA

Here in Seville, you will find the largest Christian Gothic cathedral in the world. It houses the remains of several kings and also the intrepid traveller of his time, Christopher Columbus.

Built over the site of a demolished mosque, it was completed in 1504 but the minaret still stands.

PLAZA DE TOROS DE LA REAL MAESTRANZA DE CABALLERIA DE SEVILLA

This bullfighting arena was built in the 17^th century and took nearly 100 years to reach completion. It has been called one of the most beautiful and elegant in Spain.

Free guided tours of the museum and the arena stands are scheduled each Monday afternoon from 15:00 to 19:00 in both Spanish and English. We aren’t advocates of bullfighting but it was interesting to learn the history.

MARIA LUISA PARK

Originally part of the Palace Royal Gardens, this beautiful urban park has fountains, ponds, monuments and numerous bird species. It is Seville’s main public park and stretches along the Guadalquivir River. Unfortunately, when we were visiting, recent storm damage had caused a temporary park closure.

ROYAL TOBACCO COMPANY

This building features an exquisite external façade. It now serves as the main building for the University of Seville, but in the 18^th century, it was used in the production of snuff (pulverised tobacco leaves producing dust that is inhaled) and for tobacco auctions.

We were only in Seville for a day, but if you have longer, you may like to check out this 3-day Seville Itinerary.

SEVILLE ACCOMMODATION

• Campervan Campsite: Seville – Area Sosta Camper Sevilla
• Hotels and B&Bs: Seville(Sevilla) area on Booking.com

12. CORDOBA

Next on our Southern Spain road trip was Cordoba. Bright blue flower pots decorate charming laneways, enticing you to wander further into the heart of the old town of Cordoba.

Surrounded by beauty, history and culture this city is one that doesn’t crowd you. It lets you discover it at your own pace and when you do decide to take a closer look, it does not disappoint.

MAZQUITA-CATEDRAL DE CORDOBA

The talk of the town is the Mezquita. Having been both a mosque and a church, the Cathedral of Cordoba represents a beautiful mix of cultures. With 856 columns and its characteristic arches of alternating red and white colours, it is an absolute marvel.

Hundreds of small oil lights hang from the ceiling and cast light on over 30 individual chapels.

Visitors wander around with mouths agape, hardly believing their eyes at such grandeur.

CALLEJA DE LAS FLORES

Close to the Cathedral-Mosque of Cordoba, you’ll find this pretty, flower-lined lane. It’s a popular spot and apparently, regardless of the season, always has flowers in bloom.

Check out the Taberna Los Geranios on the Calle de Comedias and the tribute on the Puerta del Rincon.

ALCAZAR DE LOS REYES CRISTIANOS

Next to the Mezquita in the historic part of the town is the Alcázar fortress, Alcazar de los Reyes Cristianos. It once housed Spanish royalty and was headquarters to the Spanish Inquisition tribunals for over three centuries.

The fortress boasts beautiful gardens and courtyards and even at the end of winter, the grounds were charming. In addition, thanks to it being winter, it was not crowded with tourists.

CORDOBA’S ROMAN BRIDGE

Originally built in the 1^st century BC, this impressive Roman Bridge has only two of its original sixteen arches remaining.

It only takes a few minutes to walk across this 250m long bridge and once on the opposite side, you get a fabulous view of the bridge with Cordoba old town as its backdrop.

PLAZA DE LA CORREDERA

This plaza is a 17th-century historical site, once used for bullfights and Inquisition burnings. Today, it’s enclosed by apartments, cafes and restaurants. 

CORDOBA ACCOMMODATION

• Campervan Campsite: Cordoba Campersite
• Hotels and B&Bs: Cordoba area on Booking.com

What’s the Best Time for a Spain Road Trip?

It’s useful to bear in mind that we campervanned through Spain in the winter months. We had mainly sunny days, as you can see from the photos, but still needed winter clothes and layers at times.

If you are on higher ground and further north, the weather will be colder than further south. The southern areas of Spain are likely to be warmer, but that brings with it, the increased likelihood of more tourists.

Spain’s southern coastline is a mecca for northern European travellers in the winter, chasing the sun. So if you are booking accommodation or campsites book ahead of time.

Motorhoming in Spain Road Trip … That’s a Wrap

The landscape you encounter, and the experiences you choose to have in Spain can be as diverse as you’d like. This road trip took you to ancient

Please let us know if you have any questions and please let tell us about any of the Spanish road trips you may have been on and what was your favourite place to visit. We love hearing from you

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