Published in Lifestyle
Autumn Escapes: Spain’s most beautiful drives
Explore Spain’s best autumn road trips with Lucas Fox, from the Costa Brava to Mallorca, and discover scenic routes, lifestyle inspiration and luxury property locations.
As Spain eases into autumn, the light softens and the landscapes shift from sun-bleached to ochre and gold. It is the ideal season for a slower kind of travel, defined by good roads, quiet viewpoints and time to stop for a long lunch. From Catalonia to Andalusia, here are five routes that capture the quiet beauty of Spain in the cooler months.
1. Costa Brava coastline: Blanes to Cadaqués
In autumn, the Costa Brava returns to locals. The drive from Blanes to Cadaqués is a masterclass in coastal scenery with pine forests, coves and the occasional fisherman’s village. Cadaqués itself, with its narrow lanes and Dalí connection, is ideal for a weekend stay. The air is clearer, the sea a deeper blue, and long lunches on quiet terraces feel earned.
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2. Mallorca’s Northwest coast: Andratx to Sóller
The Serra de Tramuntana mountain range in Mallorca offers one of Europe’s most scenic coastal drives. The route from Andratx to Sóller curves past stone terraces, olive groves and viewpoints that open to the Mediterranean below. Autumn is an especially good time to visit, with quieter roads, clear skies and citrus groves beginning to fruit.
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3.The Pyrenean route: Vielha to Aínsa
A journey through the Catalan and Aragonese Pyrenees rewards with alpine air and winding forest roads framed by changing leaves. The route links Vielha, a mountain hub for hikers and skiers, with Aínsa, a hilltop village surrounded by the Ordesa National Park. Autumn brings a natural hush, perfect for a few unhurried days between valleys, old inns and hearty regional cooking.
4. Andalusian Hills: Ronda to Grazalema
The road through the Serranía de Ronda remains one of southern Spain’s most satisfying drives. Between Ronda’s monumental bridge and Grazalema’s mountain views are olive groves, vineyards and whitewashed villages built into limestone cliffs. By late October, the fields turn copper and ochre, and the cafés serve local stews under low sun.
5. Rioja Wine Route: Logroño to Laguardia
Autumn is harvest season in La Rioja, when the vineyards glow red and gold. The drive between Logroño and Laguardia takes in some of Spain’s best wineries and striking architecture, from small family bodegas to Frank Gehry’s sculptural Marqués de Riscal. Stop for a tasting, stay overnight and wake to mist rising over the vines.
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A slower season
Autumn road trips in Spain are not about speed but about space and a quieter way to experience the country’s varied geography. From Catalonia’s coast to Andalusia’s sierras, each drive reveals a different facet of Spanish life.
