{"id":9419,"date":"2019-01-31T10:24:22","date_gmt":"2019-01-31T17:24:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/adventureswithinreach.com\/travel\/?p=9419"},"modified":"2019-05-19T07:44:52","modified_gmt":"2019-05-19T13:44:52","slug":"6-top-boutique-hotels-in-northern-spain","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adventureswithinreach.com\/travel\/2019\/01\/31\/6-top-boutique-hotels-in-northern-spain\/","title":{"rendered":"6 Top Boutique Hotels in Northern Spain"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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So, you have finished the Camino de Santiago Trek<\/a> and are looking for a little more laid-back adventure in the glorious provinces of northern Spain. Where do you go? Where do you stay? We\u2019ve got you covered! Add a week on to your El Camino de Santiago Trek (Portuguese Way<\/a> or French Way<\/a>) and from Santiago de Compostela, head east to explore our top four, must-see northern Spanish destinations:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  1. Parque Nacional de los Picos Europa\n(European Peaks National Park)<\/li>
  2. La Rioja <\/li>
  3. Bilbao<\/li>
  4. San Sebastian <\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    #1 PARQUE NACIONAL DE LOS PICOS EUROPA<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    The Picos de Europa National Park is located in the\nCantabrian Mountains, between the provinces of Asturias, Leon and Cantabria.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Different geological folds and glaciations have shaped a\ntortuous landscape sculpted by ice and the effect of water on the limestone,\nforming a magnificent karst mountain system. The three main massifs of this\nnatural wonder are bound by deep valleys and gorges, which arose due to the\nerosive passage of the sharp tongues of glacial ice and the force of the\nrivers’ waters which, even today, continue to dissolve the limestone, shaping\nthe rock at its whim. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The central massif is home to the highest peaks in the\nCantabrian Mountains in the form of the sheer-sided Urrieles, dominated by the\nmost emblematic reference in the Picos de Europa: the immense beauty of Naranjo\nde Bulnes or Urriellu Peak. Its 2,519 meters of difficult terrain have not\nprevented human settlements from emerging, the most famous being the village of\nBulnes. Until 2001, it was accessible only via a steep, narrow mountain path. Since\nthen, access to the village is easier thanks to the funicular railway that cuts\nacross the mountain from the town of Poncebos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    To the east of the Urrieles lies the eastern massif, the\nAndara, the smallest with a gentler profile, whose highest peak is Morra\nLechugales at 2,400 meters. The westernmost of the three massifs is that of the\nPicos de Corni\u00f3n, near the Royal Site of Covadonga, a place of pilgrimage\nvisited by thousands of people each year. There Lakes Enol and Ercina reflect\nthe high mountains where the legendary history of Asturias was forged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Between the Urrieles and the Corni\u00f3n and separating the\ncentral and western massifs from south to north, runs the River Cares, whose\ncrystalline waters rage throughout its course. Outstanding among the beautiful\npeaks of the western massif rises La Pe\u00f1a Santa de Castilla at 2,596 metres. On\nthe way to this peak, Ordiales Scenic Balcony can be found with a drop of\nalmost 1,000 meters down to the valley below, instilling awe in all who visit\nit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    WHERE TO STAY<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    Parador de\nFuente De<\/a>: <\/strong>In the midst of the imposing verticality and idyllic scenery\nof the mountains of Picos de Europa National Park stands the Parador de Fuente\nD\u00e9, located near this small town’s famous cableway. The Parador is a gateway to\nmagical forests, mountain slopes and scenic overlooks that make up a natural\nparadise of incomparable beauty. This modern mountain hotel is located in the\ndistrict of Li\u00e9bana, at the base of the cableway that climbs up to \u00c1liva\nviewpoint. The interior is warm and cozy, and traditional Cantabrian dishes\nsuch as cocido lebaniego (chickpea stew) and sirloin steak with Tresviso cheese\nare a magnificent way to recharge after returning from an excursion in the\narea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    #2 LA RIOJA <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    La\nRioja is a province and autonomous community in northern Spain with a renowned\nlocal wine industry. Below the stunning Cantabrian Mountains, vineyards occupy\nthe Ebro valley and surround the old town of Haro. There, the summer festival\nfeatures the messy Batalla de Vino (wine battle). Local wineries (bodegas)\nrange from small, traditional cellars to major commercial producers. Come taste\nsome of the best wines in Spain while tasting an array of local cheeses and\ntaking in the majestic mountains!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    WHERE TO STAY<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    Palacio Tondon<\/a>: <\/strong>The Ebro river\nbecomes tortuous as it runs through Bri\u00f1as, a little gem located in La Rioja\nwhich dates back to the Roman period. Narrow streets dotted with stately homes,\nincluding this 16th century palace with views of the Tond\u00f3n vineyards, from\nwhich it takes its name. Palacio Tond\u00f3n is a unique architectural complex\nsurrounded by vineyards and mountains where tradition and history are combined\nwith innovation and sustainability. It\u2019s a place where the word \u201ccharm\u201d really\ncomes to life and where time appears to grind to a halt. Just a few minutes\naway from the Barrio de la Estaci\u00f3n and its 7 century-old wineries, it\u2019s the\nperfect spot to delve into the passionate world of wine. Palacio Tond\u00f3n en\nBri\u00f1as. Discover everything.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    Marques\nde Riscal<\/a>: <\/strong>This stunning 2Ist century chateau was designed by\ninternationally renowned architect Frank Gehry and is a true masterpiece.\nLocated in “The City of Wine,” this 5-star hotel is truly an\nadventure of a lifetime. Prepare to savor a one-of-a-kind experience of all the\nsenses at Hotel Marques de Riscal. New delights await. Enjoy local cuisine and\nfine wines at 1860 Tradici\u00f3n or Marqu\u00e9s de Riscal Restaurant, both overseen by\nMichelin-starred Chef Francis Paniego, or soak up the benefits of the grape at\nthe Vinoth\u00e9rapie SPA Caudalie Marqu\u00e9s de Riscal. Welcome to the only hotel\ncreated by Frank Gehry where each of the unique 43 guestrooms and suites\npromises to enchant with exceptional designer touches and enviable views of the\ncountryside, medieval town of Elciego or the striking architecture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    #3 BILBAO <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    Bilbao,\nan industrial port city in northern Spain, is surrounded by green mountains.\nIt\u2019s the de facto capital of Basque Country, with a bustling downtown. It\u2019s\nfamed for the Frank Gehry\u2013designed Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, which sparked\nrevitalization when it opened in 1997. The museum houses prominent modern and\ncontemporary works, but it\u2019s the curvy, titanium-clad building that receives\nthe most attention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    WHERE TO STAY<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    Gran Hotel Domine<\/a>: <\/strong>The Gran\nHotel Domine is the only 5-star hotel in front of the Guggenheim. Having been\ncompletely newly renovated in 2018, luxury can now be found in its spacious\nambience, its extraordinary service, the passion for art and design, as well as\nan elegant and cosmopolitan style.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    #4 SAN SEBASTIAN <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    San\nSebastian is a resort town on the Bay of Biscay in Spain\u2019s mountainous Basque\nCountry. It\u2019s known for Playa de la Concha and Playa de Ondarreta, beaches\nframed by a picturesque bayfront promenade, and world-renowned restaurants\nhelmed by innovative chefs. In its cobblestoned old town (Parte Vieja), upscale\nshops neighbor vibrant pintxo bars pairing local wines with bite-size regional\nspecialties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    WHERE TO STAY:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    Hotel\nMaria Cristina<\/a>: <\/strong>Since opening in 1912, the restored Hotel Maria\nCristina has been closely linked to the history and cultural life of San\nSebastian. Experience gracious hospitality on a grand scale in the hotel\u2019s\nrooms and suites. Decorated in a sophisticated palette of greys and white, the\nrooms are a quiet haven of luxury, style, technology and a dazzling range of\nservices which, combined, make for an unforgettable stay. Discover Dry Bar, a\nsophisticated space where you can enjoy afternoon tea, classic and signature\ncocktails, and a wide variety of traditional Spanish tapas or main courses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    Lasala Plaza Hotel:<\/a> <\/strong>The\nsea in San Sebasti\u00e1n is not only blue. It changes from deep turquoise to lead\ngrey. The bay can change in a flash from almost tropical calm to the wildest of\nAtlantic squalls. And it\u2019s there, facing a port dating back hundreds of years,\nthat you\u2019ll find the Lasala Plaza Hotel. A space where luxury doesn\u2019t stop in\nthe rooms. A luxury that embraces a love of local art and culture, sharing it\nwith their guests. Lasala Plaza aspires to be a hotel that embraces and\nhighlights the best of Donostia-San Sebastian: its culture, its love of\ngastronomy and the sea, the art of knowing how to live and, above all, its\npeople. A San Sebastian they want to share with their guests, so that they too\ncan experience the city like a real local.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Want to plan your trip to Northern Spain and trek the Camino\nde Santiago? Contact us!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Your friendly Spain expert,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Gretchen<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    So, you have finished the Camino de Santiago Trek and are looking for a little more laid-back adventure in the glorious provinces of northern Spain. Where do you go? Where do you stay? We\u2019ve got you covered! Add a week … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":9424,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[808,9,14],"tags":[45,944,349,945,942,940,947,941,939,943,946,866,251,282],"class_list":["post-9419","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-camino-de-santiago","category-europe","category-luxury","tag-beaches","tag-bilbao","tag-boutique-hotels","tag-camino-way","tag-el-camino-de-santiago","tag-la-rioja","tag-northern-spain","tag-parque-nacional-picos-de-europa","tag-san-sebastian","tag-santiago-de-compostela","tag-self-drive","tag-spain","tag-trekking","tag-wine"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/adventureswithinreach.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/north-spain-blog-3.jpg?fit=1091%2C746&ssl=1","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p2Xxsg-2rV","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/adventureswithinreach.com\/travel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9419","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/adventureswithinreach.com\/travel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/adventureswithinreach.com\/travel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventureswithinreach.com\/travel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventureswithinreach.com\/travel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9419"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/adventureswithinreach.com\/travel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9419\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9758,"href":"https:\/\/adventureswithinreach.com\/travel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9419\/revisions\/9758"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventureswithinreach.com\/travel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9424"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/adventureswithinreach.com\/travel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9419"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventureswithinreach.com\/travel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9419"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventureswithinreach.com\/travel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9419"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}