There are several routes for backpacker in Spain, for those daring travellers who want to know places, enjoy and save a lot of money, because one of the advantages of backpacking is the savings it represents. According to statistical data provided by Hostelworld Booking Center, which brings together some 33,000 youth hostels in 170 countries, Spain is the worldwide tourist destination that backpackers most seek, followed by Italy, Thailand, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Starting from this premise, next we will present the best routes for backpackers in Spain with the purpose of guiding those people who wish to undertake a trip with these characteristics in a country that offers endless advantages, from beautiful beaches to enjoy the sun and sand to the most beautiful and green mountains, wonderful villages with a lot of history and culture, unique architecture and gastronomy, so that they are motivated to undertake a trip as backpackers in Spain.
Routes through Andalusia: This great route offers excellent tourist attractions since in the area that includes the coast and passes through the cities of Huelva, Cádiz, Almería, Granada or Málaga, you can enjoy beautiful beaches and splendid landscapes. But, if you want to opt for the cultural aspect, this route through Andalusia offers tourist places like the mosque of Cordoba, the Alhambra of Granada, or the Giralda of Seville, Ronda, Moguer, as well as Baeza and Úbeda, which have been declared as World Heritage.
The Routes of the Way of Santiago: Some routes recognized by backpackers in Spain are those of the Way of Santiago, which can be travelled by walking, riding or cycling; so we will explain below the different options that exist to make this route acknowledged worldwide for being a mystical road where you can travel through wonderful places along hundreds of kilometres.
French Way Route: This route crosses 114 towns from east to west of the peninsula; it is the longest of all and we highly recommend it since in it you can enjoy an imposing nature, dreamlike landscapes, culture and history in heaps.
Northern Way Route: In this route, about 19 towns of the Galician and Asturian coast are walked, where you will also find fabulous landscapes and architectures, as well as a lot of history and culture. The French Way is the busiest road, with greater facilities and services at each stage.
Primitive Way Route: If you want to go along the oldest route of the Way of Santiago to feel the sensation of perceiving history, then you can select this route that goes through 19 locations.
If you like mountains, loneliness and silence, then the Northern or Primitive Way suits you; but there are other options such as the English Way Route, that unites La Coruña with Santiago de Compostela, and the Portuguese Way Route, which comes out from Portugal and crosses 12 locations.
But the choice of the route will depend on the experience when walking, the physical condition, the training, the preferences, the season, the time and the budget you have to make a trip as a backpacker in Spain.
It is important to note that if you are one of those people who can choose the time to enjoy your vacation or is a nomad with a very flexible schedule, we recommend you to travel as a backpacker in Spain during the spring, between April and the end of May, or during the fall, between mid-September and the end of November.
We recommend these periods because in summer these routes are busier, and it is very difficult to find shelter; especially in the last 100 kilometres to get the Compostelana. On the other hand, walking in the hot summer sun is complicated and is much more tiring, and in winter cold can be a problem, especially for those people who come from other countries where it is not so cold.
Route of Barcelona and the Costa Brava of Spain: Undoubtedly a wonderful route to go as a backpacker in Spain, it is the one that passes through Costa del Sol, where you can enjoy the coves hidden among pines and fabulous landscapes in places like Figueres, Tossa de Mar, Roses, Sant Feliu de Guíxols, Ampurdán Marshes Natural Park, Cadaqués, among others. On this route it is almost mandatory to visit the Sagrada Familia, the Gothic neighbourhood and all the architecture of Gaudí.
Route of the two Castiles: It is a route travelled by backpackers in Spain where there are many places that surely delight thousands of tourists such as the walls of Ávila, León Cathedral, The Alcazar and the Aqueduct of Segovia, and Burgos Cathedral.
The backpackers in Spain frequently arrive in Castilla-La Mancha, where you can visit cities that are Cultural Heritage of Humanity, as Toledo and Cuenca are. Likewise, if the findings that have been made over time draw your attention, then you should visit the archaeological parks located in Segóbriga, Carranque or Alarcos-Calatrava.
ALFA