Active Spain: A Journey Between Mountains and the Sea

Your hiking itinerary in Spain begins in San Sebastián, close to the northern section of the Camino de Santiago. This seaside city sits between shell-shaped La Concha Bay and the Basque peaks of Urgull, Igeldo and Ulia.

You’ll hike a portion of the pilgrimage route following mountain trails past meadows grazed by wild horses. On the town’s seafront, kayak across La Concha Bay or hire a board at Playa de la Zurriola, the city’s best-known surfing beach.

Wander through the old town, where bar counters are lined with pintxos, including the classic gilda with anchovy, olive and pickled green pepper. And try Basque dishes such as kokotxas, made with hake or cod cheeks. San Sebastián’s superb produce and food culture have inspired some of Spain’s most celebrated Michelin-starred restaurants.

Spain’s capital, Madrid, is the country’s largest city and beating economic heart. It’s also a powerhouse of culture and music, fuelled by the Madrileños’ alegría de vivir, or lust for life.

Tapas restaurants, flamenco clubs and jazz bars sit alongside generous green spaces. In El Retiro, the city’s main park, take a boat across the lake and visit the glass-and-iron Palacio de Cristal, part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Hiking trails run through Casa de Campo, a former royal hunting ground, and along the riverside park of Madrid Río.

Diverse natural landscapes await just beyond the city. You can trek through the alpine meadows and pine forests of Sierra de Guadarrama National Park on a hike to Peñalara Lake. This glacial lagoon is one of several scattered across the slopes of Peñalara, the area’s highest peak. Along the way, you’ll enjoy sweeping views across the valley.

You’ll travel from Madrid to Seville by train, passing through the Sierra Morena Mountains, olive groves and oak-studded plains. Once an important centre for Moorish dynasties and the Castilian Kingdom, this Andalusian city is undeniably beautiful.

Wander past Regionalist Revival and Art Deco architecture in Plaza de España, then cycle through neighbourhoods including Santa Cruz, the former Jewish quarter. You can stroll along Callejón del Agua, an ivy-covered alley beside the gardens of the Real Alcázar. Together, the palace, Seville Cathedral and the General Archive of the Indies form a trio of UNESCO World Heritage Sites spanning more than a millennium of history.

Over several days, take in the city’s architectural grandeur and head into the Andalusian countryside for more active adventures. Cycle through pueblos blancos, or white villages, and float above Granada and the Alhambra on a hot air balloon ride.

Travel to Málaga by private vehicle with the option to stop in clifftop Ronda. Here, the Puente Nuevo spans the deep El Tajo gorge, linking the historic quarter with the newer district. Málaga is known for its art. Across the city, you’ll find galleries including Centre Pompidou Málaga, a branch of the renowned Paris museum and Museo Picasso Málaga.

The surrounding landscapes are equally absorbing. Think pale-sand beaches along the Costa del Sol, limestone cliffs, ravines and forests of pinsapo, or Spanish fir. Trails cross the pine-covered slopes, riverbeds and gorges of Montes de Málaga Natural Park. We especially love hiking through the park’s canyons and climbing peaks for views across the Alboran Sea. Then take in the beaches and mountains from the water on a yacht cruise.