Cheap 5-Day Spain Road Trip from Bilbao to Santander and Oviedo

Your exciting road trip through Spain starts when you reach the incredible city of Bilbao, where you'll stay for 2 nights. You'll pick up your rental car in Bilbao and begin your adventure in Spain.

Bilbao is a popular cheap holiday destination in Spain with something to offer every traveler. When you're ready to explore the city, stop at some of the best places to visit in Bilbao and get this road trip adventure rolling.

A trip to the amazing Federiko Moiua enparantza will make your cheap holiday in Spain truly special. This attraction is a fascinating must-see tourist destination that has an average rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars from 9,235 visitors.

When you're done sightseeing for the day, you'll check in at one of the best budget-friendly hotels or places to stay in the city.

When you're hungry and ready to take a break from your adventure, treat yourself to a delicious meal at one of the best restaurants in Bilbao. An excellent example is the popular Gure Kabi jatetxea. Serving a menu of mouthwatering dishes, this restaurant is rated an average of 4.4 out of 5 stars by 1,296 customers.

Another restaurant you should check out during your cheap vacation in Spain is La Barraca jatetxea. Rated 4.4 out of 5 stars by 842 customers, this famous restaurant is one of the city's most recommended places to eat.

If you wish to dine at a restaurant locals love, go to the wonderful Zurima jatetxea. This restaurant has an average rating of 4.3 out of 5 stars from 784 customers, and is an awesome place to satisfy your craving for good food and service.

El Globo taberna is a great bar to relax after a busy day. About 5,994 customers have given this spot an average rating of 4.3 out of 5 stars, making it one of the most popular bars in the area.

Another bar in Bilbao we recommend is Mugi taberna, an excellent place to meet new friends. This bar offers customers plenty of snack and drink options and is rated an average of 4.4 out of 5 stars by 986 customers.

Arpiku is also one of the best places to go to unwind and chat with locals. Over 571 bar-goers have rated it an average of 4.3 out of 5 stars.

Enjoy toasting the start of a terrific road trip vacation and cheap holiday experience in Spain!

On day 2 of your road trip through popular and cheap vacation spots across Spain, you’ll experience two places in one day. You’ll start your day in Bilbao and end your day in the city of Santander, where you'll stay for 1 night. How much time you’ll spend in each location is up to you.

One of the best places to visit in Bilbao is the amazing Guggenheim Museum. This travel destination is a museum building that has been rated an average of 4.5 out of 5 stars by 64,815 visitors. Up to 530,967 people visit this attraction yearly, so don't miss this opportunity to see the wonderful Guggenheim Museum with your own eyes.

This day is also your chance to stop at the incredible Doña Casilda Iturrizar park. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars by 9,643 travelers, a visit to this well-known park and sightseeing spot in Bilbao is likely to make your vacation in Spain even more memorable.

Cheap, budget vacations are nothing but incredible, especially when you’re in Spain. To have the best affordable travel experience in Spain, make time for some unique, challenging, or inspiring activities. Adding a tour to your travel plan promises a one-of-a kind adventure that will make your cheap vacation in Spain unforgettable. Fortunately, you'll find plenty of budget-friendly tours and cheap holiday deals in Spain.

At the end of the day, you will drive to the city of Santander. Santander is another cheap travel destination in Spain where you have access to hotels, restaurants, bars, and other conveniences.

After a long day of driving and exploring some of the best attractions a budget vacation in Spain can afford, treat yourself to a hearty meal. You’ll find many great restaurants in Santander that offer delicious food to help keep you going.

One restaurant we recommend you try in Santander is Cadelo Restaurante. This restaurant provides good food and service and has an average rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars from 855 customers.

When talking about the best restaurants in Santander, Restaurante Los Peñucas is a name locals often mention. This local favorite offers a variety of options, helping it earn an average of 4.4 out of 5 stars from 4,136 diners.

Another restaurant worth trying is Bodega del Riojano. Many locals and cheap holiday goers in Santander enjoy dining at this restaurant. This restaurant has an average rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars from 3,195 customers.

As the day is coming to an end, stop at some of Santander’s best bars to celebrate this day of your road trip vacation in Spain. For example, you can visit La Magnolia. Rated an average of 4.6 out of 5 stars by 1,129 customers, this bar is considered a favorite in the area.

Another great place to have a refreshing, celebratory drink is Little Bobby. This popular bar in Santander has an average rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars from 920 bar-goers.

Raise your glass in celebration of your incredible road trip adventure and cheap holiday experience in Spain!

On day 3 of your road trip through popular and cheap vacation spots across Spain, you’ll experience two places in one day. You’ll start your day in Oviedo and end your day in the city of Oviedo, where you'll stay for 1 night. How much time you’ll spend in each location is up to you.

One of the best places to visit in Oviedo is the amazing Palacio de la Magdalena. This travel destination is a royal palace that has been rated an average of 4.6 out of 5 stars by 27,158 visitors.

This day is also your chance to stop at the incredible Centro Botin. Rated 4.3 out of 5 stars by 14,508 travelers, a visit to this well-known art museum and sightseeing spot in Oviedo is likely to make your vacation in Spain even more memorable. This travel destination welcomes around 111,096 yearly visitors.

Another unforgettable sight in Oviedo is the outstanding Museo Marítimo del Cantábrico. This maritime museum has an average rating of 4.4 out of 5 stars from 6,771 visitors.

Cheap, budget vacations are nothing but incredible, especially when you’re in Spain. To have the best affordable travel experience in Spain, make time for some unique, challenging, or inspiring activities. Adding a tour to your travel plan promises a one-of-a kind adventure that will make your cheap vacation in Spain unforgettable. Fortunately, you'll find plenty of budget-friendly tours and cheap holiday deals in Spain.

At the end of the day, you will drive to the city of Oviedo. Oviedo is another cheap travel destination in Spain where you have access to hotels, restaurants, bars, and other conveniences.

After a long day of driving and exploring some of the best attractions a budget vacation in Spain can afford, treat yourself to a hearty meal. You’ll find many great restaurants in Oviedo that offer delicious food to help keep you going.

One restaurant we recommend you try in Oviedo is Casa Fermín. This restaurant provides good food and service and has an average rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars from 671 customers.

Many locals and cheap holiday goers in Oviedo enjoy dining at this restaurant.

As the day is coming to an end, stop at some of Oviedo’s best bars to celebrate this day of your road trip vacation in Spain. For example, you can visit Per Se Café. Rated an average of 4.5 out of 5 stars by 2,642 customers, this bar is considered a favorite in the area.

Another great place to have a refreshing, celebratory drink is La Finca Sidrería Agrobar. This popular bar in Oviedo has an average rating of 4.3 out of 5 stars from 1,955 bar-goers.

You can also go to Mala Saña as an alternative. More than a bar, the popular Mala Saña is also a place for fun or relaxation. Around 1,642 customers have given this city bar an average rating of 4.4 out of 5 stars.

Raise your glass in celebration of your incredible road trip adventure and cheap holiday experience in Spain!

Day 4 of your road trip across Spain offers you the chance to visit the wonderful Santander and the enchanting Cantabria, two of the most popular cheap holiday destinations in the country. You'll begin sightseeing in Santander and end the day in Cantabria, where you'll stay for 1 night.

Buckle up because day 4 of your affordable vacation in Spain will take you to some of locals’ and travelers’ most recommended travel spots!

One place travelers keep coming back to in Santander is the magnificent Mafalda statue. Around 7,537 visitors have rated this excellent monument and travel destination an average of 4.6 out of 5 stars.

We also recommend you explore the amazing El Fontán Square on this leg of your self-drive tour in Spain. This attraction is a well-known square that has an average rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars from around 6,309 travelers.

The remarkable El Fontán Market is known to be one of the best places to visit in this cheap vacation spot in Spain. This attraction, an amazing marketplace, is rated an average of 4.4 out of 5 stars by 5,436 travelers.

Start your sightseeing in this cheap holiday destination with a visit to the unforgettable Cabarceno Natural Park. This popular site is a valued zoo in Cantabria and is rated an average of 4.5 out of 5 stars by 45,839 visitors.

Exploring one unique site after another provides you the much-needed variety during your self-drive tour across Spain. But to satisfy your curiosity or need for adventure, we recommend you add excursions in today’s agenda. You have a great selection of popular and low-cost activities to choose from in Spain. Make your cheap holiday experience in Spain more memorable by doing something new, bold, or inspiring.

Bilbao offers many top-rated accommodations suitable for travelers on a budget vacation in Spain. So anytime you need a break from your activities, you’re guaranteed a comfortable and affordable place to rest and stay in the city.

As this adventurous day progresses, satisfy your hunger at one of the best restaurants in the city. Many restaurants in Bilbao offer good food at even better prices, the perfect combination for travelers on affordable vacations in Spain.

Nura jatetxea is a must try. This restaurant serves a mouthwatering selection of meals and has an average rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars from 586 diners.

Another popular eating spot in Bilbao is Zarate jatetxea, a local favorite. Serving diners fresh, delicious, and affordable meals, this restaurant has been rated an average of 4.6 out of 5 stars by 525 customers.

Ágape jatetxea offers customers flavorful food and good ambiance, making it one of the best places to eat in Bilbao. With an average rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars from 1,513 customers, this restaurant can get packed very quickly. Make sure you get to the restaurant early to save yourself a seat.

When night has fallen and you feel like enjoying a drink, head to some of Bilbao’s best bars. There are plenty of bars in the city where you can order a few drinks without compromising your budget.

Marzana taberna is an excellent example of a great bar in Bilbao offering drinks at reasonable prices. This popular bar is rated an average of 4.3 out of 5 stars by 934 customers.

You can also hang out and have a drink at Iñakiren Taberna, another of locals’ go-to bars in Bilbao. Iñakiren Taberna is among the best city bars offering various beverages at different price points, with around 697 customers having rated it an average of 4.3 out of 5 stars.

Aralar jatetxea is for you if you’re curious about bars that give you a taste of the nightlife scene in Bilbao. This bar has an average rating of 4.3 out of 5 stars from more than 678 bar-goers.

Celebrate another day of your adventure-filled road trip through Spain with a toast. Cheers to a memorable cheap vacation experience in Spain!

It’s soon time to say goodbye to Spain as your road trip vacation is about to end. Day 5 is your departure day and your last chance to capture the beauty of Bilbao.

Depending on how much time you have before your flight back home, we recommend doing some last-minute shopping or sightseeing to make the most of your cheap holiday experience in Spain.

If you'd rather pass time visiting some attractions, this is your chance to go to places you may not have had the chance to explore yet.

One fantastic attraction you could visit on your last day in Bilbao is the remarkable Zubizuri. This footbridge and popular place of interest has an average rating of 4.3 out of 5 stars from 10,295 visitors.

If you have an appetite for one last delicious meal in Bilbao, consider a top-rated restaurant like Restaurante Pentxo. This restaurant has a menu of appetizing and affordable meals and is rated at an average of 4.3 out of 5 stars by 1,466 customers.

You’ll then say farewell to Bilbao and begin your journey home. You’ll leave filled with unforgettable memories from your terrific and affordable travel experiences in Spain!