Trip ideas · Basque coast, Vitoria, Burgos and Cantabria

Basque coast, Vitoria, Burgos and Cantabria: a One-Week Road Trip in Spain

Checked 8 October 2026 against each tourism board's, city's and operator's own page · skynomad

Day by day

Most hours at the wheel in a day No limit3 hours4 hours5 hours6 hours

Kilometres and hours are motorway estimates between the cities named, without stops or traffic. Where you sleep in a smaller place nearby, the real place and its distance are given.

1. Day 1

   Bilbao → San Sebastián 104 km · about 1 h 20 driving

   La Concha bay and the Parte Vieja (old town) pintxo bars; Jazzaldia in July, Semana Grande fireworks in August. Source

2. Day 2

   A day out from San Sebastián No long drive

3. Day 3

   San Sebastián → Vitoria-Gasteiz 103 km · about 1 h 30 driving

   Basque capital with a medieval old town (Casco Antiguo) and Santa María cathedral. Source

4. Day 4

   Vitoria-Gasteiz → Burgos 123 km · about 1 h 30 driving

   Gothic Burgos Cathedral (UNESCO) and the Camino de Santiago city. Source

5. Day 5

   Burgos → Santander 221 km · about 2 h 15 driving

   Bay city with the Magdalena palace; base for Cantabrian beaches and a day trip to Picos de Europa (Fuente Dé cable car). Source

6. Day 6

   A day out from Santander No long drive

7. Day 7

   A day out from Santander No long drive

8. Day 8

   Santander → Bilbao 103 km · about 1 h 15 driving

Why go in July and August

• Donostiako Jazzaldia (San Sebastián Jazz Festival), 62nd edition: 21-25 July 2027. Source
• Semana Grande of San Sebastián: international fireworks contest over La Concha bay each night, 22:45: 8-15 August 2026 (2027 dates not published yet). Source

What to watch for

• San Sebastián LEZ: ALL foreign-registered vehicles must request prior authorisation (phase one 2025-2027: petrol/diesel cars registered after 1 Jan 2006 qualify); fine 200 EUR (Year-round; approval valid to end of 2027). Source
• Vitoria-Gasteiz ZBE (since 15 Sep 2025, medieval centre + part of Ensanche): only B, C, ECO, 0 labels; camera enforcement. Page says nothing about foreign cars (Year-round; zone grows 15 Sep 2027). Source
• Semana Grande week in San Sebastián (fireworks every night) (8-15 August 2026). Source

What the week costs to drive

Not included: AP-8 Bizkaia section (Amorebieta-Etxano/Iurreta/Abadiño-Ermua), Interbiak, light vehicles 2026 (operator); AP-8 Gipuzkoa (Ermua/Eibar-Donostia) and AP-1 Eibar-Vitoria (Etxabarri-Ibiña), Bidegi, light vehicles 2026 (operator); hotels, food and parking. For your own car and exact days, use the trip cost calculator.

The rules on this route

Driving in Spain

Use this route in my plan to get every vignette, zone, kit rule and deadline for these countries in one checklist, with dates. The speed limits and sign words pages can then show only these countries.