Spain

Hiking in the Pyrenees means walking along the border between France and Spain, from the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea, with Andorra in the middle. The range offers granite peaks and hundreds of high-altitude lakes in the Catalan Pyrenees, green valleys and dramatic cirques on the French side, and mountain huts where you sleep high above the valleys. This guide covers the long-distance routes GR10, GR11 and HRP, the hut-to-hut circuits you can walk in three to six days, the best season, how mountain huts work, how to get there and what it costs. For a first overview, browse our 5-day hut-to-hut hikes in the Pyrenees.

The Camino de Santiago is a network of historic pilgrimage routes through Spain, Portugal and France that all end at the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, where according to tradition the remains of the apostle James are buried. You do not have to walk the whole route: many people walk only the last 100 km, which is the minimum distance to earn the Compostela certificate and fits into one week of holiday. This guide answers the main practical questions about walking the Camino de Santiago: which routes exist, how long they take, what they cost, the best months to go, how the pilgrim passport works, what you eat, how hard it is and whether you need to carry your own luggage. One thing to plan for now: 2027 is a Holy Year on the Camino, which means more pilgrims and earlier bookings.

Picos de Europa hiking starts where most Spain travel guides stop. Just inland from the green Cantabrian coast — a short flight or an overnight ferry from Britain — limestone peaks rise above 2,500 metres, high pastures stretch between refugios and shepherds' villages. Our self-guided hut-to-hut trek links them stage by stage. On this page you will find honest answers to the questions that matter most if you are planning a trip from the UK or the US: how hard is it really, three or five days, when can you go, where do you fly into, which town should you base yourself in, and what does it all cost. You will also find the best day hikes in the Picos de Europa, including the Ruta del Cares through the Cares Gorge, for those who would rather walk from a base. For a broader overview of walking holidays in Spain, we have a separate guide to help you compare regions and routes.