Camino del Norte: Baskenland

Northern Spain has so much to offer it is impossible to name everything so here we focus on the "Camino del Norte", an alternate route of the Camino de Santiago. If you always wanted to walk the "Camino" and do not like to be in big crowds, this beautiful pathway could be something for you. Even if it is relatively easy to walk on, we recommend preparation cause the daily stages are very long. But the astonishing views and stops are worth your while.

When we walked the trail in 2018, there were torrential rains pouring down, so we recommend proper gear (bathing clothes as well as trekking equipment for cold and stormy days) - in the North of Spain there can be rough weather compared to the hot South.

The most beautiful stops in Basque country are

• San Sebastian - main city of culinary trips (ranging from small cozy bars with a wide array of "Pintxos" - the tapas of Basque country - to a variety of excellent restaurants (home of one of the most Gault Milleau & Michelin-places)

• Zarautz with its beautiful beaches

• Getaria (home town of the designer Balenciaga - a visit to the museum is worthwhile)

• Zumaia with its dramatic rocky coast (Flysch) and of course

• Bilbao, still a cultural insider's tip (the architecture of the Guggenheim museum alone is worth a visit, for the exhibitions one should take a whole day).

From Bilbao the - in total 835km long - Camino continues at the coast of Cantabria and Asturia before it diverts to Santiago de Compostela via inland. Especially for newcomers planning ahead is key, so it is vital to start with shorter stretches (maybe also in more than one holiday) to enjoy it while it lasts. Buen Camino!