Transfers in northern Spain

The Spanish themselves call the north of the country Green Spain, for a climate that is closer to the Atlantic than to the Mediterranean. It is cloudier and cooler here than in the south, but in summer there is none of the exhausting heat. We drive from five airports: Bilbao, San Sebastian, Asturias, Santiago and Vigo.

Bilbao is the largest airport in the north: ~12 min to the centre, ~1 hr 13 min to San Sebastian, ~1 hr 1 min to Vitoria. San Sebastian has an airport of its own, but it is small and sits right on the French border: ~26 min to the centre, ~41 min to Biarritz, ~1 hr 27 min to Bilbao.

Asturias is served by one airport for two cities: ~41 min to Oviedo, ~34 min to Gijon, and Llanes on the eastern side of the coast is ~1 hr 27 min away. In Galicia we work with two airports. From Santiago: ~23 min to Santiago de Compostela, ~54 min to A Coruna, ~1 hr 22 min to Vigo. From Vigo: ~16 min to the centre, to Pontevedra and to Baiona - ~30 min.

The roads in the north are mountainous and winding, and journey times here are noticeably longer than the distance on the map suggests. We count them along the real route, not in a straight line. If you are planning several towns in one day - Oviedo and Gijon, or the coast around San Sebastian - it is easier to take a car with a driver for a few hours. The minimum booking is three hours.

The driver contacts you after landing and names the exact meeting point: the northern airports are small and there is only one way out. Waiting at the airport is free for 60 minutes, counted from the actual landing. The price is fixed when you book: per car, not per person, and it does not depend on traffic, the time of day or the number of passengers. Child seats are free in every class.

How the pick-up works. It is the same at all five airports. The driver follows your flight number and, once you land, writes in the app chat to say where he is waiting. With the paid meet and greet option he stands in the arrivals hall with a sign bearing your name. Stuck at passport control? Message him in the same chat.

Bilbao (BIO). The airport sits at Loiu, just north of the city, and handles almost all the air traffic of the Basque Country. Central Bilbao costs from €24, San Sebastián from €134 and Vitoria-Gasteiz from €111.

San Sebastián (EAS). The terminal is in Hondarribia, a walled fishing town on the river border with France. Flights are few, but queues are rare. The centre of San Sebastián costs from €42, Biarritz from €59 and Bilbao from €155.

Asturias (OVD). The airport lies on the coast beyond Avilés, west of Oviedo and Gijón, so every route heads east: Oviedo from €71, Gijón from €66, Llanes from €168.

Santiago (SCQ). Lavacolla stands right on the pilgrims' route, a few kilometres before the cathedral. It usually has more flights than Vigo and serves the rest of Galicia too: Santiago de Compostela from €37, A Coruña from €104, Vigo from €148.

Vigo (VGO). Peinador is the closest airport for the south of Galicia: the city centre from €32, Pontevedra from €52, Baiona from €53.

Basque Country. Central Bilbao is the shortest ride in the region, ~12 min on the BI-30 to hotels by the Guggenheim, in the Casco Viejo or near Abando; an electric Eco costs from €31. One of the busiest routes in the north, Bilbao airport to San Sebastián, takes ~1 hr 13 min on the AP-8 with no bus station on the way; a family Van costs from €204. Vitoria-Gasteiz, the Basque capital with a medieval quarter on a hill, is ~1 hr 1 min south on the AP-68, Business from €163. From Hondarribia it is ~26 min to central San Sebastián (from €42) and ~1 hr 27 min to Bilbao (Eco from €190), useful when that flight is cheaper or better timed. Biarritz, the French Basque resort of surf beaches and Belle Époque villas, is ~41 min over the border on the A-63; Premium costs from €164.

Asturias. Oviedo, the capital, is a compact stone city of cider houses and ninth-century churches: ~41 min on the A-8 and A-66, Business from €110. Gijón is a working port with San Lorenzo beach along its centre, ~34 min on the A-8; a Van for seven costs from €110. Llanes is the long ride, ~1 hr 27 min east to a fishing port beneath the Picos de Europa with dozens of beaches in the coves. There is no direct bus, so the car saves the most time here: Econom from €168.

Galicia. Santiago de Compostela is only ~23 min away on the SC-21, a ride families often book to meet pilgrims at the end of the Way; a Bus for a group costs from €132. A Coruña, home of the Roman Tower of Hercules, is ~54 min north on the AP-9, Business from €154. The same motorway leads south to Vigo in ~1 hr 22 min, Econom from €148. From Peinador, central Vigo and the Cíes boats are ~16 min away on the VG-20, Van from €63. Pontevedra, whose whole historic centre is car-free, is ~29 min north on the AP-9, Eco from €65. Baiona, ringed by the walls of Monterreal, is ~30 min on the AG-57 and the coast road; Premium to the parador costs from €151.

The motorways. The AP-8 follows the Basque coast from Bilbao to San Sebastián and the French border, and the AP-68 climbs inland to Vitoria. The A-8 runs the length of Asturias, with the A-66 branching off to Oviedo. In Galicia the AP-9 links A Coruña, Santiago, Pontevedra and Vigo, crossing the bay of Vigo on the Rande bridge.

Tolls. Some motorway sections charge tolls, as do the Artxanda tunnels on the quickest way into central Bilbao; the free road via Enekuri is a little longer, and you choose with the driver. Tolls are not part of the transfer price: you pay the driver back for them on the spot, against the receipt. The Asturian routes are toll-free.

Weather. Rain can come in any month, Galicia gets the most of it, and the sea stays cool even in August. Vitoria, on its high inland plain, has noticeably colder winters than the coast.

When to go. July and August are the peak. San Sebastián books out months ahead for the Semana Grande in August and the film festival in September, and Gijón celebrates its Natural Cider Festival at the end of August. Boats to the Cíes Islands run in summer, with visitor numbers capped and a permit needed in advance. Spring and autumn are quieter and greener. For festival weeks, book the car together with the hotel: the price is locked in at that moment.

Which class. Econom (Toyota, Hyundai or similar), Eco (an electric or hybrid business-class car, a Tesla or Lexus) and Business (Mercedes E-Class, BMW 5 Series, Audi A6) each take up to three passengers and two suitcases: Econom is the cheapest, Business the car for meetings in Bilbao. Premium, a class above Business, also seats three and suits guests you want to impress. Families of four to seven, or friends with skis, take the Van: seven passengers, seven suitcases. Groups of up to sixteen ride together with their luggage in the Bus minibus. Eco, Business, Van and Premium come with a bottle of water.

Luggage. Camino rucksacks, boots and poles take more room than you expect, so with extra bags choose the Van. The driver helps you load.

Children. A child seat is free in every class and mandatory up to and including 135 cm: tick it when booking.

Late arrivals. The pick-up follows the real landing time, and the price is the same at night. WhatsApp support answers around the clock.

Car-free old towns. In Santiago, Pontevedra and the medieval quarter of Vitoria the driver stops at the closest point the road allows and shows you the way. In Baiona the car goes right up to the parador inside the fortress walls.

To Biarritz. The border is inside Schengen and the car usually crosses without stopping, but spot checks happen: keep your passport to hand.

Booking. On the website or in the app, the price appears as soon as you enter the route.