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Natural region in Northern Spain
Photo: Fernando Losada Rodríguez, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Green Spain (Spanish: España Verde) is the region in northern Spain bordering the Atlantic and Bay of Biscay. It's cool, wet, green and culturally distinct from the rest of Spain. It's well-developed for tourism and has major attractions yet few foreign visitors discover it.
The furthest out from the capital yet the best-known internationally, for the pilgrimage centre of Santiago and the rugged Atlantic coast.
The most secluded part of Spain, behind the highest of the coastal mountains.
A mix of modern and ancient towns, backed by mountain pastures.
By train
High-speed RENFE trains fan out from Madrid Chamartin, taking about 3 hours to Santiago, 4 hours to Oviedo and Gijón, and 5 hours to Santander.
By road
From Madrid take A-6 (toll) north to Valladolid, where highways divide for Santander, Oviedo and Santiago.
Buses and commuter trains connect the towns, but some sights are at a distance from a public transport route. The gradients are challenging for cyclists, a car gets you out of the rain.
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La Virgen del Camino · Regional · LEN
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Santiago de Compostela is the capital city of Galicia in northwest Spain. It's named for Saint James, one of the twelve Apostles of Christ, and in legend is his burial site.
Vigo is a port in Galicia in northwest Spain. It's industrial but has an old town and lots of maritime heritage.
Ourense is a city in Galicia in northwest Spain, with a population of 105,000 in 2024. It's mostly modern and industrial but has a medieval quarter around its cathedral, a stop on the Via de la Plata branch of El Camino pilgrimage trail to Santiago.
A Coruña (Spanish: La Coruña) is a large port in Galicia in northwest Spain. Its sights reflect its heritage as a fortified harbour much battered by other nations.
Lugo is a city in Galicia in northwest Spain, encircled by intact Roman walls, a UNESCO World Heritage site. It's a popular start point for pilgrims on one of the trails to Santiago de Compostela.
Gijón (or Xixón in Asturian) is a port and metropolis in Asturias on the north coast of Spain. With a population of 270,000 in 2024, it's mostly modern but has an attractive old centre and many cultural attractions.
Oviedo is a cathedral city, capital of the Principality of Asturias in northern Spain. It's mostly modern but has a small old town, with monuments cited on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Santander is the capital and largest city of the province of Cantabria on the north coast of Spain, with a population of 175,000 in 2025. Its beaches draw Spanish visitors; most international visitors are just passing through via the ferry port, but its churches and museums are worth a longer stay.
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