Back in January 2023, Matt and I took our first big European road trip — from Barcelona to Andorra, to France and back to Spain. Literally 14 blog posts later, this is the last thing I had to say about it: What if you wanted to take a similar trip of your own? A road trip on another continent can be daunting, but having an itinerary can help take some of the pressure off of planning.
So, to help, here’s our exact road trip itinerary to help you plan your own!
Day 1: Barcelona to Andorra la Vella, Andorra
Drive time: 2 hours 45 minutes
The first part of your European road trip is picking up your rental car! We had spent the past week in Barcelona with family, so when that part of the trip was over, we headed over to the Barcelona airport to pick up the car we’d reserved. (RentalCars.com is a great option for that.)
If you want to start and end your trip in Barcelona like we did, hopefully you’re able to take a a few days before or after your road trip to spend some time in Barcelona. It’s a beautiful and vibrant city, and you’ll really be missing out if you pass it up!
After leaving Barcelona, you may feel like you want to stop at a gas station/rest stop for snacks. Personally, I love European gas stations/rest stops. They feel so special to me — I think because most of the time when I’m in Europe, I’m sticking to the cities and using public transportation for travel, rather than a private car.
If you’re looking for something to eat before getting into Andorra, there’s a restaurant/rest stop not far from the border called Área de Servicio Túnel del Cadí La Pausa.
Once you get into Andorra la Vella, find somewhere to park and check into your hotel. (We stayed at Hotel de l’Isard, which had a great central location.) For dinner, do yourself a favor and check out Barra Mar’s Gastrobar, which was definitely the best meal we had in Andorra.
Day 2: Andorra la Vella
If you’re like us, you may want to go skiing/snowboarding at one of the many ski resorts around Andorra la Vella. But unfortunately, when we were there, the weather didn’t quite cooperate. It was too warm and dry for snow. So, whether you’re able to hit the slopes or decide to check out the city, there’s plenty to do!
If you like learning about history and politics, you can visit Casa de la Vall, which is basically Andorra’s parliament house. It’s also a museum, and it only costs a few euros for entrance. Nature lovers can embark on a short hike called the Rec del Sola. This hike takes you up the side of a mountain, giving you amazing views of the valley below and surrounding mountains. The walk is a little steep, but it’s fairly easy. And once you’re up there, the trail is flat and you can walk as long as you want before coming back down.
If you like shopping, be sure to check out the Shopping Mile. Andorra’s status as a tax haven means you’ll find lots of duty-free type items like perfume, cosmetics, and cigars — along with typical European mall stores. The Shopping Mile starts at Avenida Meritxell and eventually turns into a pedestrian zone at Avinguda Carlemany, winding toward neighboring city Escaldes.
Les Escaldes is also home to Caldea Spa. Apparently spas and thermal baths are pretty popular in Andorra, and I guess we missed the memo because we didn’t even bring our swimsuits on this trip. But it’s impossible to miss the towering glass spire of Caldea Spa.
Day 3: Andorra la Vella to Carcassonne; Carcassonne to Toulouse, France
Drive time: 3 hours; 1 hour
Andorra la Vella isn’t a very big city, so a day and a half is plenty of time. On the morning of day 3, grab some breakfast and then head out of town. Try to get on the road at a decent time because the next stop on this trip is just for an afternoon — Carcassonne, France. Yep, like the board game! I wasn’t sure whether Carcassonne would be worth the stop, but I can now say that it absolutely was.
You’ll arrive in the ancient walled fortress of Carcassonne in the early afternoon, and you’ll want to be sure to get a ticket to go inside the castle/ramparts. Since we were there in January, it was easy to buy tickets online for just 30 minutes later without a problem. But If you’re booking for a visit during more traditionally peak travel season, I’d recommend booking in advance. Viator and GetYourGuide are both companies I’ve used to book experiences and tours in the past, so check them out.
You can probably expect to spend about 2 hours inside the castle exhibit and outside on the walls. If you haven’t eaten anything yet, there are plenty of restaurants within Carcassone’s fortress, though they may be a little bit expensive.
Otherwise, you might be able to wait until you make it to Toulouse, just an hour away. (Though be sure to stop at the Aire du Belvédère de la Cité, for an amazing view of the whole thing. It’s a rest stop 10 minutes from the center of Carcassonne on your way to Toulouse.)
By the time you make it to your hotel in Toulouse, it will probably be dinnertime. We went to Au Gascon, which was a great introduction to our week in France! The food was traditional French and very delicious, the waiters were friendly and helpful, and the price was reasonable.
Day 4: Toulouse
Toulouse is famous for its gorgeous pink buildings! And there’s plenty of things to see and do in “La Ville Rose.”
Start by checking out the Place du Capitole, which kind of reminded me of the big plazas I would so often see in Spain. But this one is — just like everything else — pink! Another iconic sight in Toulouse is the Basilica of Saint-Sernin with its tiered bell tower. It’s free to go inside (if I remember right), or you can just admire the view from outside.
One of the best photo ops in Toulouse is looking toward the basilica’s bell tower while walking down Rue du Taur, a pedestrian street with lots of shops and restaurants. Along Rue du Taur, we ate lunch at Cafe Fika, a cute little Swedish restaurant with yummy Swedish meatballs.
Not far from the basilica, you’ll find the Jardin Japonais Pierre Baudis, or the Japanese Garden, which was a charming little park with water and greenspace that could almost make you forget you’re in a city for a little bit.
Day 5: Toulouse
Toulouse has enough to keep you busy for two full days without making you feel overwhelmed. On your second day there, start with breakfast at Cacou, which is a delightful, cozy little coffee shop/cafe that was near our hotel (Adagio Aparthotel – Las Ramblas).
If you haven’t yet ventured across the River Garonne, do it today! The Garonne cuts through Toulouse, but it’s easy to walk across one of the many bridges to the other bank. Pont Saint-Pierre will give you a great view of Hôpital La Grave, another of the city’s icons. The modern art museum, Les Abattoirs, is just behind it. You could spend a good few hours there, especially if they’re having an amazing exhibit passing through.
We can’t talk about Toulouse without discussing one of its most unique features: the Canal du Midi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Canal, which was built between 1667 and 1694, stretches from a lagoon south of Marseille to Toulouse, designed to connect the Mediterranean Sea to the Atlantic Ocean. The canal can be pretty to walk along, and for dinner, check out Museau Musette, which is right on the water.
Day 6: Toulouse to Bordeaux, France
Drive time: 2 hours 45 minutes
It’s a bit of a long drive today, so head out of Toulouse in the morning and make it to Bordeaux by early-mid afternoon. A disclaimer about our time in Bordeaux: It rained. The entire time. And it was January, so it was really cold and a lot of the stuff we may have normally wanted to do wasn’t necessarily a great option.
When you first get to Bordeaux, you’ll notice how different the vibes are from Toulouse. The old stone walls and architecture makes you feel like you’ve stepped back into medieval times. In the city, check out the iconic Place de la Bourse with its reflecting pool called Miroir d’eau, or “Water Mirror.”
Also, keep an eye out for the Grosse Cloche and the Porte Cailhau, both of which are former gates to the city, which used to be entirely surrounded by walls, back before the 18th century. Apparently you can go inside the Grosse Cloche for €5, but we just walked under it and admired it from the outside.
Day 7: Bordeaux
This would be a fantastic day for a winery or vineyard visit, if you’re not there in January. 🙃 Here are some suggestions:
- St Emilion Day Trip with Sightseeing Tour & Wine Tastings from Bordeaux
- Discover Bordeaux Vineyard : Special Wine Tasting with Two Cellar Men Brothers
- Medoc Region Wine Day Trip with Vineyard Visits & Tastings from Bordeaux
- Make Your Own Cuvée of Bordeaux Wine
Since we didn’t get to do that, we went to a wine bar one night for a wine tasting and some tapas.
Day 8: Bordeaux to Bilbao, Spain
Drive time: 1 hour 30 minutes
To make sure you have enough time in Bordeaux, I recommend leaving Bordeaux later in the day since it’s a fairly short drive over to Bilbao. So if you’re having a great time in Bordeaux and still have things you want to do, there’s no need to leave until dinner time or later.
On the other hand, if you’re done with Bordeaux and want to get on the road early, consider spending the afternoon in San Sebastian, Spain, which isn’t far from Bilbao. We may have done that if it hadn’t been still raining.
But here’s one more thing I highly suggest before leaving Bordeaux, even if you do it right before you head out: check out Darwin. Darwin is described as an “alternative and inspiring urban ecosystem,” and it was hands-down our favorite thing in the city! At Darwin, former military barracks have been renovated and repurposed into an ecosystem that promotes “collaboration, sustainable development and creativity.” They have a bakery, a fair-trade chocolatier, the largest organic shop/restaurant in all of France, a coffee shop, a co-working space, a massive skate park, a vintage resale store, and more.
When you’re finished in Bordeaux, it’s time to head back to Spain! (For me, it was a relief to know I’d be able to speak Spanish again soon after nearly a week of nothing but broken French.)
Day 9: Bilbao
Of course, there are two super important things to do in Bilbao. The first one is eating delicious food. Basque Country is famous for having a high concentration of Michelin-star restaurants, and while many of them are in San Sebastián, Bilbao has several, too. But there’s also nothing that says you’re not eating well if you’re not at a Michelin-star restaurant! In Bilbao, you’ll find plenty of pintxos, which are like a Basque version of tapas.
We ate at Aizan, which isn’t Michelin-starred, but it is Michelin-recommended. It was my first-ever fine dining experience, and I highly recommend it!
The other thing you have to do in Bilbao is visit the Guggenheim Museum. The giant, metallic Guggenheim sits on the edge of the Nervión River. If you decide to go in, expect to spend at least a couple of hours in there. Though there’s plenty to see outside the museum, too!
Day 10: Bilbao
Be sure you set aside some time to visit the Casco Viejo. Its literal translation is the “old quarter,” and for me, there’s always something so exhilarating about wandering between the narrowest streets in the city, checking out the shops and restaurants nearby and never knowing what you’ll find around the next corner. You may stumble across the Catedral de Santiago, which is hidden well by the maze of streets. And as you wander, don’t forget to look up at the eclectic façades adorning the apartments above.
Not far from the Casco Viejo is Plaza Nueva, an open plaza that’s basically brand new when you compare it to a lot of other plazas in Spain… it was only built in the mid-1800s. It’s a good place for people watching, enjoying nice weather (if you’re lucky enough to have it), or check out the restaurants surrounding the plaza.
And the more you walk around Bilbao, the more you’ll find things to do. Whether it’s walking across one of the city’s many aesthetically interesting bridges, doing some shopping on Gran Vía, or checking out Mercado La Ribera, Bilbao will keep you busy.
Day 11: Bilbao to Logroño, Spain
Drive time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Logroño may seem like a somewhat random choice for the next stop on the trip. For me, it was somewhere I really wanted to visit (for personal reasons) but if you’re trying to stick to larger cities, it may not appeal much to you. Feel free to just pass through and spend more time in Zaragoza, the final city of this road trip.
We had more we wanted to do in Bilbao — it finally stopped raining on the last day — so we didn’t leave there until the early afternoon. Honestly, a day and a half or two days in Logroño should be plenty of time.
One area of the city you can’t miss is Calle Laurel, a winding, narrow street full of tiny restaurants and people spilling out the doors, enjoying tapas/pinchos and drinks and conversations with friends and family.
Day 12: Logroño
Depending on what time of year you’re visiting, a winery or vineyard visit would be super fun! Here’s one that picks you up in Logroño and takes you to two wineries in La Rioja.
Day 13: Logroño to Zaragoza, Spain
Drive time: 1 hour 45 minutes
If you want basically two full days in Zaragoza, head out of Logroño as early in the morning as you can for the almost-two-hour drive to Zaragoza. (As long as you have your rental car for the entire next day.)
While Zaragoza is a fairly big city, a lot of its major sights are within a 20-minute walk of the Old Town, which is basically the town center. You can find lots of cute shops, restaurants, and cafes in this area.
Of course, the most iconic sight in Zaragoza is the Basilica de Nuestra Señora del Pilar, a stunning baroque cathedral situated next to the Ebro River. The cathedral is free to enter, and you can even go up into church towers!
Also, from the Puente de Piedra and Puente de Santiago bridges, you can get some really great shots of the cathedral.
Besides the cathedral, there are other things to see, too! One such place is the UNESCO World Heritage Site Palacio de la Aljafería, which is a former Islamic palace built during the 11th century. While there are palaces such as these littered throughout Spain, many of them are in the southern region of Andalucía, which makes this one unique.
Day 14: Zaragoza to Barcelona
Drive time: 3 hours
At this point, we’re on the home stretch of the trip. You’ll have to make the three-hour drive back to Barcelona from Zaragoza and return your rental car. Don’t forget to fill up with gas before dropping it off! If you’re returning it to the airport, I recommend stopping in the town of Castelldefels, which is only a few miles from the airport. We got gas there and also stopped at a random mall food court for the very traditional Spanish meal of McDonald’s. 🙂
Trip Overview
- Day 1: Barcelona to Andorra la Vella (AM); 2h 45m drive
- Day 2: Andorra la Vella
- Day 3: Andorra la Vella to Carcassonne (AM); 3h drive; Carcassonne to Toulouse (PM); 1h drive
- Day 4: Toulouse
- Day 5: Toulouse
- Day 6: Toulouse to Bordeaux (AM); 2h 45m drive
- Day 7: Bordeaux
- Day 8: Bordeaux to Bilbao (PM); 1h 30m drive
- Day 9: Bilbao
- Day 10: Bilbao
- Day 11: Bilbao to Logroño (AM); 1h 30m drive
- Day 12: Logroño
- Day 13: Logroño to Zaragoza (AM); 1h 45m drive
- Day 14: Zaragoza to Barcelona (PM); 3h drive
Plan Your European Road Trip
Best Hotels in Europe: Book Europe Hotels
Book Your Rental Car: Rental Cars Booking Link
I hope this road trip itinerary helps give you some ideas for planning your very own road trip through Spain, France, and Andorra! Let me know your thoughts, and feel free to leave me a comment below.
-Cathy
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Originally Published on May 22, 2023.
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