Self-Launched Northern Spain: Green Coast, Camino Country & Galician Rías (8 Days)
8 days · Northern Spain
Click Tours charges £1,215
No-markup version: ~£728 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A DIY version of Click Tours' 8-day coach loop from Madrid through Zaragoza, Pamplona, San Sebastián, Bilbao, Santander, Oviedo, A Coruña, Santiago de Compostela, Vigo, León and Salamanca — but by train and local bus, staying in hostels and pensiones. You get the same cities with MORE time in each (no 40-strong group, no 7am luggage-hauling), a genuine overnight in San Sebastián's pintxo bars, and the freedom to add Finisterre or the O Grove mussel boat if you fancy. Costs are approximate backpacker/budget-traveller estimates in GBP and assume shared dorm or simple private pension rooms, one main meal out plus supermarket breakfasts, and second-class rail/bus.
Day-by-day
Madrid → Zaragoza → Pamplona
Pamplona
Take an early AVE/AVLO high-speed train from Madrid Atocha to Zaragoza (approx 1h20, £20-30 booked ahead on Renfe). Drop bags at the station lockers and walk the old town: the Basilica de Nuestra Señora del Pilar (free entry to the basilica, small fee for the tower lift), La Seo, and a coffee on the Plaza del Pilar. Mid-afternoon take the regional train or ALSA bus on to Pamplona (approx 1h45, £12-16). Check into a hostel in the Casco Antiguo, then do a self-guided pintxo crawl along Calle San Nicolás and Plaza del Castillo — the route the Camino de Santiago enters town by. In July check whether your dates clash with San Fermín (book far ahead and expect 3x prices).
🚌Renfe AVE Madrid–Zaragoza (~£25) + regional train/bus Zaragoza–Pamplona (~£14)
🛏Hostel in Pamplona old town (dorm approx £18-24)
- →Basilica del Pilar (free entry, tower lift ~£4)
- →La Seo Cathedral and Plaza del Pilar
- →Casco Antiguo pintxo crawl
- →Camino de Santiago city walls and Portal de Francia
Pamplona → San Sebastián (full afternoon & evening)
San Sebastián
Where the coach tour only 'passes through' San Sebastián, you stay the night. Take the morning ALSA bus or Euskotren/Renfe to San Sebastián (approx 1h50, £8-12) and check into a hostel in Gros or the Old Town. Walk the seafront promenade to Ondarreta and take the Monte Igueldo funicular (£4 return) for the classic bay panorama. Swim or sunbathe at La Concha, then hit the Parte Vieja for pintxos at 8pm like a local — Bar Txepetxa, La Cuchara de San Telmo and Gandarias are all budget-friendly with 2-3 pintxos plus a drink for £12-15. Optional splurge: one plate of grilled fish at a sidrería.
🚌ALSA/Euskotren Pamplona–San Sebastián (~£10)
🛏Hostel in Gros or Parte Vieja (dorm approx £22-30)
- →La Concha beach and promenade walk
- →Monte Igueldo funicular and viewpoint (~£4)
- →Parte Vieja pintxo bars
- →Optional: Peine del Viento sculpture walk
San Sebastián → Bilbao → Santander
Santander
Morning bus to Bilbao (ALSA/Pesa, approx 1h15, £7-9). Walk from the station to the Guggenheim — buy the exterior-or-ticket as you like (museum entry approx £14, or just circle the building and the Puppy for free). Then the funicular or a short hike up Artxanda for the city view, and lunch in the Casco Viejo (seven-street plaza, pintxos around £2 each). In the late afternoon take the ALSA bus along the coast to Santander (approx 2h, £12). Evening stroll on El Sardinero beach and a seafood supper around Puerto Chico — cheap menú del día options run £10-13.
🚌Bus San Sebastián–Bilbao (~£8) + ALSA Bilbao–Santander (~£12)
🛏Pensión or hostel in central Santander (approx £22-30)
- →Guggenheim exterior / optional museum entry (~£14)
- →Artxanda funicular viewpoint
- →Bilbao Casco Viejo pintxos
- →El Sardinero beach, Santander
Santander → Santillana del Mar & Altamira → Oviedo
Oviedo
Local bus (ALSA/Santander city bus) to Santillana del Mar, approx 45 min, £3-4 each way — a medieval cobbled village with the Colegiata church (small entry fee) and the Museum of the Altamira Cave replica at the Museo de Altamira on the edge of town (approx £3, book a slot online; the real cave is closed to visitors). Wander, have a long lunch, then bus back to Santander and take the afternoon ALSA/Feve route west to Oviedo (approx 3h, £15-20; the slow FEVE narrow-gauge line is scenic and cheap if you have time). Oviedo evening: cider house (sidrería) in the old quarter, glass of natural cider poured from height, £2.50.
🚌Local bus Santander–Santillana round trip (~£7) + ALSA/FEVE Santander–Oviedo (~£17)
🛏Hostel or pensión in Oviedo old town (approx £20-28)
- →Santillana del Mar old town and Colegiata
- →Museo de Altamira replica cave (~£3)
- →Oviedo old quarter and cathedral exterior
- →Sidrería cider tasting
Oviedo → A Coruña → Santiago de Compostela
Santiago de Compostela
Early ALSA bus or Renfe to A Coruña (approx 3h30-4h, £22-28). Do the self-guided version of the 'panoramic tour': walk the Paseo Marítimo from the Torre de Hércules (Roman lighthouse, £2 entry, still working) back into the glass-fronted old town, and lunch at the Plaza de María Pita. Late afternoon bus to Santiago de Compostela (approx 1h15, £6-8). Arrive into Praza do Obradoiro in the golden hour with the pilgrims — it's the same view the tour group gets, just without the megaphone. Pintxos and Albariño around Rúa do Franco, then sleep in the casco histórico.
🚌ALSA Oviedo–A Coruña (~£25) + bus A Coruña–Santiago (~£7)
🛏Hostel in Santiago old town (dorm approx £18-25)
- →Torre de Hércules and Paseo Marítimo, A Coruña (~£2)
- →Plaza de María Pita and A Coruña old town
- →Praza do Obradoiro arrival on foot
- →Rúa do Franco tapas and Albariño
Santiago de Compostela (cathedral + optional Finisterre)
Santiago de Compostela
Book a guided cathedral + rooftop tour through GetYourGuide or the cathedral's own ticket office (approx £15-20) to skip the queues; the Portico de la Gloria and the botafumeiro (if you catch a pilgrim mass, usually noon) are the highlights. Afternoon choice: (a) a free/DIY walking loop of the old town, Alameda park and the market, or (b) the optional Finisterre day trip — the Monbus to Fisterra takes approx 2h15 each way for around £6-8 one way, so it's very doable independently if you leave by 9am; walk out to the lighthouse at the 'end of the world'. Evening: pulpo a la gallega and a menú del día, £12-15.
🚌Monbus Santiago–Fisterra round trip if chosen (~£15)
🛏Hostel in Santiago old town (dorm approx £18-25)
- →Santiago Cathedral entry and rooftop tour (~£18)
- →Botafumeiro pilgrim mass (free)
- →Optional Finisterre lighthouse day trip (~£15 transport)
- →Mercado de Abastos food market
Santiago → O Grove / Rías Baixas → Vigo
Vigo
Take an early bus to Pontevedra or O Grove (ALSA/Monbus, approx 1h-1h30, £6-9) and book the mussel-and-oyster catamaran directly with a Rías Baixas operator (approx £18-25 including mussels, wine and a stop at a batea/raft — smaller local operators sell these at the harbour, or pre-book through GetYourGuide). This is the same optional excursion the coach group pays a premium for. Alternatively spend the morning on A Toxa island or the Santa Tecla hill fort near A Guarda. Late afternoon, hop the bus to Vigo (approx 45min, £4-6). Explore the Casco Vello, the seafood streets of O Berbés, and grab a cheap mariscada at the market.
🚌Bus Santiago–O Grove (~£8) + O Grove–Vigo (~£5)
🛏Hostel or pensión in Vigo (approx £20-28)
- →Rías Baixas mussel raft catamaran with tasting (~£22)
- →Isla de A Toxa or Santa Tecla optional
- →Vigo Casco Vello and O Berbés harbour quarter
- →Seafood market dinner
Vigo → León → (Salamanca) → Madrid
Madrid
Catch the morning ALSA bus or Renfe train from Vigo to León (approx 4h30-5h30, £25-32) — you're crossing the mountains back onto the meseta. Break the journey in León: the Gothic cathedral with 1,800 sqm of stained glass (£6-7 entry), Gaudí's Casa Botines and a free walk of the Barrio Húmedo. If time allows take the afternoon train to Salamanca (approx 2h, £15-18) for a quick loop of the Plaza Mayor and the golden-stone old town, then AVE/ALVIA on to Madrid Chamartín (approx 1h30, £25-35, book ahead). If you're tight on time, skip Salamanca and take ALVIA León–Madrid direct (approx 3h, £30-40). Arrive Madrid evening.
🚌Bus/train Vigo–León (~£28) + optional León–Salamanca (~£16) + Salamanca/León–Madrid (~£30)
🛏Not included — hostel in Madrid from approx £22 if staying the night
- →León Cathedral stained glass (~£7)
- →Casa Botines and Barrio Húmedo, León
- →Optional Salamanca Plaza Mayor and old town
- →Arrival Madrid
Self-launched vs. Click Tours
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Click Tours | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£728 | £1,215 |
| Duration | 8 days | 8 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £487 per person (40%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Click Tours-style trips? Check them out here.~£728
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Self-Launched Northern Spain: Green Coast, Camino Country & Galician Rías (8 Days) cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £728 per person for 8 days in Northern Spain. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with Click Tours?+
Yes — Click Tours charges around £1,215 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £728 — a saving of roughly £487 (40%) per person.
How long is the Northern Spain trip?+
This itinerary runs 8 days, covering 8 day-by-day stops through Northern Spain.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a culture, foodie, budget trip through Northern Spain, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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