Football, the great popular sport
Throughout Spain, soccer is the great popular sport and everyone rushes to their television sets when La Roja, the national team, is out. But the country also shines at the international level thanks to its two giants: Real Madrid and FC Barcelona. Without being at this level, Galicia, Asturias, Cantabria and Castilla y León have some good teams, especially in La Liga (the first division) with one team for Galicia, Celta Vigo, and one for Castilla y León, Real Valladolid.
Cycling, tennis or F1, great victories
Spanish cyclists are usually at the top of the world cycling rankings. In Spain, the Vuelta (Tour of Spain) dates back to 1935 and is usually held in September. These regions have seen the Tour before, including summit finishes: Alto de La Covatilla, La Camperona, in Castilla y León, and above all, las Praderas and the lakes of Covadonga, in Asturias.
Spanish tennis is best known for its clay court players and their numerous triumphs at the French Open. Starting with the king of clay Rafael Nadal (winner for the 14th time in 2022!).
Apart from these major sports, we can point out the gold medal in 2016 at the Rio Olympics of Cristian Toro, in canoeing, Galicia is regularly signaling in this area. And the performance of the Asturian born in Oviedo, Fernando Alonso, double world champion in Formula 1 (2005, 2006).
A famous spot for hiking
In Galicia, Asturias and Cantabria, it is easy to make regular forays from the coast into the heart of the more rural and mountainous lands. Castilla y León, on the other hand, is Spain's leading region for rural tourism, with its wide open spaces and natural parks, which is greatly facilitated by a network of warm and authentic rural casas.
In Galicia, your favorite place will be the province of Ourense, the only one without access to the sea. There you can follow the Sil river gorges and cross the wine production areas of the Ribeira Sacra. Far to the east, you can even go up to A Pobra da Trives to dive into a totally different atmosphere. On the program, sumptuous landscapes... You will also enjoy hiking in the region of Lugo, where your path will cross small villages, farms...
In Asturias, you will hike in the Picos de Europa Park, a sublime mountain range that is not to be missed, but the region also has others, such as the parks of Redes or Ponga.
In Cantabria, you will discover the beautiful park of Saja Besaya, a good example of Atlantic forest before hiking again in the Picos de Europa.
In Castilla y León, you will have a wide choice of natural parks to go hiking in. You can start with the Sierras Béjar y de Francia, in the province of Salamanca, which have been declared a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO. Other starting points are the Sierra de Gredos, in the province of Ávila, and the Natural Park of Las Hoces del Duratón, in the province of Segovia.
Many other activities possible
Cycling and mountain biking. If people walk a lot in these regions, on the occasion of a pilgrimage or for the pleasure of a walk, they also practice a lot of cycling. For the thrill-seekers, there are many marked mountain bike routes in the mountains and natural parks. Otherwise, you can go for a hike or just pedal to get around the city, since some cities, such as Gijón or Santander, have developed systems equivalent to the Parisian "Velib".
Mountain sports. For lovers of wide open spaces, the mountains of the Cantabrian and Asturian interior offer an ideal setting for climbing, canoeing, kayaking, canyoning or rafting. The Asturian school of canoeing is particularly noteworthy for its beautiful trips along lakes, coasts and rivers.
Fishing. The numerous streams and rivers in the territory allow amateurs to go fishing for trout and salmon. The fishing season runs from the first Saturday in March to August 31. Please note! Fishing is not allowed every day; ask at the town hall. The permit is issued on the spot without any problem.
Golf. The Spanish north coast has a large number of golf courses, all located in beautiful, green areas. For those who love the little white ball!
An ideal coastline for water sports and diving
In Galicia, the Coast of Death, very wild and tormented, may be difficult to access, even for the inveterate swimmers. But it has some very nice seaside resorts, especially in the region of Pontevedra. And above all, there are many islands (Cies islands, for example) and rías that give you the illusion of being alone in the world. Cruising off Cape Finisterre is an ideal place for boating and all water sports.
In Asturias, the beaches of Llanes and Ribadesella are particularly famous, but they are far from being the only ones. The Asturian coast is dotted with beaches, between the rocks. It will be a place of choice for those who wish to practice surfing. With the beautiful spots of Tapia de Casariego, but also of Avilés and Gijón. It is also the ideal place to go sea kayaking and to go up the coast.
Cantabria also offers beautiful beaches, first of all those of Santander, but also those of Suances, splendid golden beaches surrounded by sheer cliffs. The cape of Oyambre was once a golfing Mecca, but is nowadays a base for hiking and surfing. And finally San Vincente de la Barquera is another privileged place for summer holidays.
The Cantabrian coast is also an ideal place to practice scuba diving. Up to 15 meters and with good exposure, you can admire many species of fauna and flora, such as sea urchins, anemones, mullets, groupers and sponges. To practice this activity, you must be in possession of a license issued by the Spanish maritime authorities or an equivalent foreign license, which you will have certified by a member club of the Spanish Diving Federation.
