Touring in a van from the north of Germany to Portugal has been fascinating, difficult, and adventurous. I selected my route alongside the Atlantic Ocean shoreline, the blue ocean guiding me like a trusted compass. I’ve completed this street journey 3 times in whole by now and have explored quite a few unbelievable spots and stops.
Every journey alongside this path confirmed me a variety of landscapes, from the rugged cliffs of Northern France to the limitless seashores of Galicia and Portugal. One focus of my journeys has been discovering wonderful waves to surf. This led me to some unbelievable locations with parking spots proper behind the dunes, a number of strolling steps away from probably the most stunning and peaceable seashores.
Diving into not solely the Atlantic Ocean nearly each day, however into a special tradition and delicacies with each different cease has been such a beautiful expertise. I might eat conventional French pastries, attempt tapas in Spain and scrumptious recent seafood in Portugal. Every day supplied not only a change in surroundings, however a complete new world of experiences, adventures and tales. This text options a few of my favourite locations that I’ve visited, both alone or with my good friend or boyfriend on the street.
Be aware: Every of the 3 times I did this street journey I used to be accompanied by both a good friend or my boyfriend. Some components I additionally explored on my own. On this article I’ll swap between referring to solely myself and the folks accompanying me on the street. I wrote an article about my first time road-tripping within the van.
France: Fairy Tales, Crashing Waves and Croissants
I’ll begin by speaking about the most effective locations I visited in France.
Mont Saint-Michel
Mont Saint-Michel made me really feel like a princess in a Disney Film, which is sort of spectacular when you will have been on the street for a couple of week with a complete rely of 1 bathe. However, it supposedly impressed the fortress of Rapunzel’s dad and mom within the film Tangled, so I shouldn’t be too shocked.
One of the crucial putting options of Mont Saint-Michel is its beautiful location. It’s a stunning medieval abbey on a rocky island. On low tide you possibly can entry Mont Saint-Michel by foot nonetheless with the excessive tide the Mont turns into surrounded by water, creating an impressive island rising from the ocean.
We arrived within the afternoon in a parking spot “Parking du Bec d’Andaine” which is situated half-hour north of Mont Saint-Michel. The car parking zone is crowded through the day, full of vacationers and teams of college youngsters that stroll to the fortress on foot over the Wadden Sea.
With the setting solar, it quiets down and provides an excellent spot for an in a single day keep. For us it was good to see the fortress from afar within the setting solar. I liked seeing the fortress from afar earlier than visiting the island itself. To go to the fortress you possibly can stroll from the parking spot to the island when the tide is low. Be sure to test the tide schedules earlier than your go to, because the tides can have an effect on entry to the Mont.
What we did as an alternative was drive thirty minutes to the designated parking lot by the island (12€ for a day) and take the free shuttle bus to the fortress.
You stroll throughout a bridge to the island. Seeing the Fort from the coast had been so picturesque however exploring the slim, cobbled streets that wind up in direction of the abbey on our personal was unbelievable. Strolling via the Medieval Village made us really feel transported again in time.
We explored the Abbey and realized a bit about its historical past whereas admiring not solely the structure of the place however the marvellous view as properly. The Abbey’s terrace provides a spectacular panoramic view of the encircling bay. We’d watch the teams of vacationers stroll over the disappearing Wadden Sea at low tide. Whether or not it’s the historic streets, the breath-taking views, or the distinctive tide phenomena, this island is actually enchanting. It undoubtedly introduced us a little bit of magic.
La Rochelle
La Rochelle was one of many few cities we visited. It’s recognized for its historic ports and delightful previous city. We loved the distinction to our nature spots. For us it was the right metropolis to spend a day in. It provides so many alternatives to buy, discover tradition and check out native delicacies. We parked someplace on the town and began strolling with no plan.
First, we noticed La Rochelle’s previous harbor (Vieux Port), which town is known for. It’s characterised by its medieval towers guarding the doorway – the Saint-Nicolas Tower, the Chain Tower, and the Lantern Tower. These towers are iconic symbols of town’s wealthy maritime historical past. They grew to become extra spectacular once we noticed them lit up at night time. We strolled via the charming streets of the city, stopping for postcards, espresso and ice cream.
La Rochelle is famend for its well-preserved previous city which is gorgeous to stroll via. On one sq. folks have been dancing underneath pink umbrellas hung up within the sky. It has numerous cute cafes and eating places. We particularly loved trying via all of the little retailers full of souvenirs, decorations, video games, posters, and different cute gadgets.
Within the night, in any case our purchasing, we discovered ourselves in a small however crowded alley the place a band performed within the streets. It felt like a small get together, everybody singing and dancing within the streets. When the clock struck midnight we drove to a spot a bit additional out city the place we may park the van and sleep at night time.
Seashores and Biarritz within the Southwest of France
The Southwest of France is dwelling to a number of the most stunning and unspoiled seashores in France. There’s the Grande Plage in Biarritz or the distant seashores of the Landes area, the place you possibly can sunbathe or people-watch. It’s equally as well-liked for its surf spots, which is without doubt one of the most important causes I took my time exploring this area.
For surf lovers notably the Atlantic coast round Biarritz and Hossegor, is a must-visit. These spots are well-known for his or her surf tradition and host a number of worldwide browsing competitions. The waves right here cater to all ranges, from learners to professionals.
Even for those who’ve by no means stood on a surfboard, that is your time to attempt. My favourite spots embody Soulac-sur-Mer, Plage Surveillée du Gurp, Cap de L’homy and the Plage des Océanides in Capbreton. I liked the unbelievable seashores and waves but additionally the likelihood to park so near the ocean. At some you possibly can park proper behind the dunes or underneath excessive pine bushes, that are attribute of this area. The shoreline is dotted with expansive sandy seashores, and small seaside cities which gave me a way of peacefulness. Perhaps as a result of the seashores weren’t overrun by vacationers.
In summer time the seashores are packed and it’s will get too sizzling for my private choice. I discovered autumn and spring to be the right time to discover the Southwest of France. It isn’t as crowded as in however the climate remains to be largely sunny. Even in mid September we may nonetheless sunbathe and surf in bikinis as an alternative of wetsuits.
In conclusion, the Atlantic coast within the south west of France is a tremendous vacation spot to get pleasure from a shocking pure surroundings, scrumptious meals, and a vibrant surf scene. I particularly advocate visiting Cap De L’homy. It’s a bit much less crowded vacation spot for these looking for peace, serene seashores and pure landscapes and is good for browsing, sunbathing, swimming, and having fun with magical sunsets.
If you happen to’re in search of extra of a metropolis environment, you must go to Biarritz. Biarritz looks like a small seaside metropolis. I liked strolling across the streets, exploring the smaller retailers for jewellery, surf garments, information and souvenirs. My good friend and I purchased postcards. We wrote them whereas sitting in a cute cafe and having fun with an enormous brunch – a distinction to our common van life breakfast.
Town’s many eating places and bistros have a variety of numerous meals choices. We strolled via the native meals court docket, Halles de Biarritz, and purchased small treats – croissants, macarons and quiche. We ate them in entrance of the picturesque harbor. The large blue ocean creates a ravishing coastal surroundings.
SPAIN: Limitless Nature and Limitless Smiles
Galicia
Galicia is my all time favourite street journey vacation spot. Each time I drive from Portugal to Germany (or from Germany to Portugal) I be sure to spend a number of days alongside this unbelievable shoreline within the northwest of Spain. It provides many numerous hidden nature spots proper by unbelievable seashores. A lot of the instances you possibly can park proper by the seaside too.
I’ve woken as much as serene sunrises, seen breathtaking sunsets, surfed empty line-ups and explored stunning nature. All the things proper subsequent to my parked van. Galicia actually is a paradise for all seaside and nature lovers.
You could find sand seashores hidden between rugged coastlines, tasty seafood and welcoming folks, to not overlook concerning the breathtaking night time sky. I like exploring Galicia and might’t wait to be again quickly, to surf, to sunbathe, to discover its nature.
Bilbao and Sopelana
Sopelana remains to be certainly one of my favourite stops. We initially stayed right here to take a day journey to Bilbao however stayed longer for the wonderful surf and unbelievable views. I’m not an enormous fan of massive cities and staying in a van in a metropolis is relatively inconvenient, that’s why we felt so fortunate to discover a car parking zone in Sopelana, proper by the seaside. We drove into Bilbao sooner or later to discover it and in any other case loved the calm and beachy environment of Sopelana.
Once we drove to Bilbao, we parked someplace within the outskirts and took the metro into city. Our first cease was, in fact, the well-known Guggenheim Museum. We admired the spectacular structure of the Museum in addition to the 2 statues outdoors. Pet is the world’s largest flower sculpture. A everlasting set up created by the American artist Jeff Koons. In distinction to the gorgeous flower association you will discover Maman, the monumental metal spider that’s nearly 9 meters tall.
Despite the fact that the admission costs are cheap, we determined to spend our restricted time within the sunny streets of Bilbao. We wandered via the previous city’s charming streets.
The guts and soul of Bilbao, the Casco Viejo, provides a stark distinction to the modernity of the Guggenheim. Within the Previous City we walked via its seven unique streets (Las Siete Calles) and found charming boutiques, conventional Basque taverns (pintxos bars), and historic landmarks just like the Santiago Cathedral and the Plaza Nueva. It was a good way to expertise town’s conventional tradition and delicacies.
At Plaza Nueva we tried some pintxos (native tapas) which have been scrumptious. You will get them on the many bars and taverns which might be all over the place within the metropolis. One other place to attempt pintxos is the Mercado de la Ribera the place you can even purchase recent native merchandise like cheese, wine or fish. We loved strolling via Bilbao, absorbing its energetic environment and roaming round Casco Viejo.
I really feel like we acquired to see a number of the greatest components of Bilbao within the quick time that we visited. Nevertheless, there’s plenty of locations that we didn’t get to see. On my listing for subsequent time is Cafe Iruna for the good meals and delightful historic tiled partitions inside.
In distinction to the busy metropolis we have been grateful for the calm atmosphere of Sopelana. The car parking zone is on the cliffs proper by the seaside. We had a tremendous panoramic view of the blue ocean and surfers. In the course of the day the seaside and parking are packed so you need to be fortunate with discovering a spot however within the night it quiets down a little bit.
We felt secure and met plenty of different like-minded vacationers. We spent our time laying on the seaside, having fun with the sunshine, browsing, and skating a skate bowl on the cliffs.
I can advocate staying in Sopelana and visiting Bilbao for those who’re in search of the right mixture of metropolis and seaside.
Portugal: Small Fishing Cities, Ceramic Tiles and Waves
Porto, Portugal
Porto has an simple allure. I fall in love with this metropolis a little bit extra each time I go to. It’s famend for its colourful structure, world-famous port wine, and a energetic culinary scene. I don’t advocate driving into town with a van or motorhome. The streets are busy and slim and a few on-line evaluations counsel that parking a van on the town will not be secure.
As an alternative, I prefer to park at one of many tenting websites within the district of Madalena, that are fairly well-liked even within the off-season. I do know that after a busy time exploring town I can return to a secure campsite. There’s a bus connection into town middle, I nonetheless desire to take an Uber or Bolt which takes me on to the Jardim do Morro. T
he small hill provides breathtaking views of the cityscape and offers a ravishing first impression of Porto. From there you possibly can cross the Dom Luís I Bridge into the Ribeira District. The bridge is an emblem of town’s industrial heritage. The Ribeira District, with its slim, cobbled streets, colourful homes, and energetic squares overlooking the Douro River, is quintessentially Porto.
I like to recommend simply strolling via and taking within the metropolis’s vibrant environment. It’s my favourite solution to discover any metropolis.
Be ready to stroll a number of stairs. The realm is bustling with conventional eating places, cafes, and bars the place you possibly can attempt native delicacies. I like to recommend doing a Port wine tasting and attempting the Francesinha sandwich in addition to a Pastel de Nata.
If you wish to see some extra sights you possibly can go to the São Bento Railway Station for its azulejos (ceramic tiles), the Clérigos Tower as town’s most iconic landmark or the Livraria Lello, which is ranked among the many most stunning bookstores on the planet. Positively stroll alongside the riverbank to soak up the beautiful views of town.
Nazaré, Portugal
Nazaré, is a picturesque seaside city in Portugal, famend for its majestic sea cliffs, expansive sandy seashores, and vibrant cultural heritage. Despite the fact that the city has a quaint allure and scrumptious seafood, that wasn’t what initially drew me to it. As an alternative I visited Nazaré for its world-famous huge waves. The underwater Nazaré Canyon creates record-breaking swells that entice surfers from across the globe.
The large wave season is between October and March in which you’ll see waves that common about 15 meters (50 ft) excessive and if the circumstances are distinctive even as much as 24 meters (80 ft). Watching surfers navigate the monstrous waves is a such a particular expertise that’s each exhilarating and humbling. It’s unbelievable to see.
When the waves are huge and an occasion is on, there are huge crowds of individuals watching. You’ll be able to watch the spectacle from the seaside, Praia do Norte, nonetheless the most effective place to look at is on Sítio da Nazaré. It’s by the lighthouse – Fort of São Miguel Arcanjo, which you’ll go to the inside of all year long. It homes a small exhibition devoted to the surf tradition in Nazaré and the historical past of massive wave browsing.
I discovered it very fascinating to dive a little bit deeper into the background of the Nazaré huge wave browsing. To summarize, Nazaré is unquestionably value seeing. The seashores are stunning and it’s an enthralling city to walk via. If you happen to’re in search of a little bit of thrill ensure you time your go to based on the swell. That means you get to expertise the colossal waves at Praia do Norte.
Ericeira, Portugal
Ericeira is definitely my favourite vacation spot, in all probability as a result of I’ve spent probably the most period of time right here. It’s recognized for being one of many few World Browsing Reserves, a testomony to its distinctive waves and surf tradition. It attracts surfers and vacationers from all world wide. Regardless, I discover that it doesn’t lose its conventional Portuguese allure.
It’s proper by the ocean with quite a few stunning seashores and a vibrant social life on the town. The previous city is a labyrinth of cobbled streets, conventional white homes with blue trim, and quaint squares. Wandering via, you’ll uncover distinctive retailers, cafes, and seafood eating places that serve recent seafood dishes.
At Praia dos Pescadores, or Fisherman’s Seashore, you possibly can typically watch native fishermen launching their boats, sustaining the village’s lengthy standing maritime traditions. Praia dos Pescadores is simply one of many many unbelievable seashores all alongside the shoreline. There are a number of well-known surf spots, together with Ribeira d’Ilhas and Coxos. Whether or not you’re a seasoned surfer or a newbie, the varied surf spots provide circumstances for all ranges.
Even in case you are not into browsing there are lots of different actions to attempt. You’ll be able to skate, observe Yoga, attempt bouldering or climbing. Particularly in summer time there’s a energetic get together scene to get pleasure from. It’s additionally a improbable place for a metropolis stroll, a nature stroll, sunbathing, or just soaking within the vibrant environment and delightful views of the Atlantic.
One be aware: Whilst you can keep at quite a few wonderful hostels and accommodations, it’s a bit much less straightforward when looking for an in a single day parking spot with a van. I like to recommend the campsite on the town or discovering a parking spot a bit additional alongside the shoreline.
Nevertheless, Ericeira is unquestionably value visiting. It’s such an enthralling seaside village with distinctive points of interest and actions. Whether or not you’re drawn in by the waves, the attract of conventional Portuguese village life, or the straightforward pleasure of exploring a ravishing coastal panorama, Ericeira is a memorable escape.
3000 km and a Pocket filled with Seashells Later: A Conclusion
I’ve traveled up and down the coast with my van 3 times now. I do know the final time wasn’t truly the final time as I’m already planning my subsequent street journey. I like coming again to those locations and exploring new ones. Each time is one other distinctive expertise filled with adventures. I accumulate moments and recollections in addition to pockets filled with seashells and sunshine.
My journeys from Germany to the shores of Portugal depart me in awe of the range and richness of the Atlantic Coast. Every vacation spot, with its personal historical past, tradition, and nature, has proven me such distinctive magnificence. From the majestic silhouette of Mont-Saint-Michel, to the limitless seashores within the South of France, to the fantastic thing about Galicia; from the cultural vibrancy of Bilbao and Sopelana, to the allure of Porto; and at last, the exhilarating waves of Nazaré and the surfer paradise of Ericeira.
This street journey alongside the Atlantic Coast is greater than only a journey; it’s an invite to find the tales etched into the landscapes and cities of the shoreline. I hope my tales can encourage you to embark by yourself street journey journey, whether or not it’s the historic cities, the blue of the ocean, the beautiful cuisines, or the fun of browsing that pulls you.
See you on the street.