What if the perfect plan for autumn was simply switching off your notifications and lighting a fire? As forests turn shades of ochre and gold, it's the ideal time to slow down and trade city streets for walking trails, vineyards or rugged coastlines. Across Spain, you'll find secluded retreats where the landscape takes centre stage, and silence becomes part of the experience. These six very different destinations, stretching from the Aragonese Pyrenees to the Costa da Morte, invite you to unwind with spa treatments, seasonal cuisine or evenings by the fire. The idea is simple: escape, breathe deeply and reconnect with the essentials, whether for a long weekend or an impromptu break.
- Why autumn is the perfect season for a nature escape
- Six hotels to truly disconnect
- Cantabria | Trasvilla Palace: a manor house with fireplaces and tranquillity
- Huesca | Hotel Santa Cristina Petit Spa: a former customs house in the Pyrenees
- A Coruña | As Garzas (Barizo): Atlantic tranquillity and seafood
- Girona | Cal Sastre (Santa Pau): volcanoes, beech forests and medieval charm
- Teruel | Torre del Marqués Hotel Spa & Winery: vineyards, olive groves and wellness
- Segovia | Posada Restaurante Fuenteplateada (Collado Hermoso): fireplace and jacuzzi
- How to choose the right option
- Quick tips for planning your getaway
Why autumn is the perfect season for a nature escape
Travel is generally free from the crowds, temperatures are ideal for walking, and forests are at their most colourful. The evenings also invite you to rediscover simple pleasures: reading by the fire, lingering over a meal or enjoying a spa circuit. Nature becomes an antidote to noise and rushing, and at this time of year it can be appreciated at a more relaxed pace. Rural and mountain retreats add the final ingredient, offering open views, few distractions and every excuse to switch off.
- Why autumn is the perfect season for a nature escape
- Six hotels to truly disconnect
- Cantabria | Trasvilla Palace: a manor house with fireplaces and tranquillity
- Huesca | Hotel Santa Cristina Petit Spa: a former customs house in the Pyrenees
- A Coruña | As Garzas (Barizo): Atlantic tranquillity and seafood
- Girona | Cal Sastre (Santa Pau): volcanoes, beech forests and medieval charm
- Teruel | Torre del Marqués Hotel Spa & Winery: vineyards, olive groves and wellness
- Segovia | Posada Restaurante Fuenteplateada (Collado Hermoso): fireplace and jacuzzi
- How to choose the right option
- Quick tips for planning your getaway
Six hotels to truly disconnect
This selection spans a variety of landscapes, including rural countryside, Atlantic coastlines, volcanic terrain and high mountain scenery, all with one thing in common: exceptional surroundings and a strong focus on relaxation. Below, each hotel is presented with its standout features, setting and the type of experience it is best suited to. As always, it is worth checking services and availability in advance, particularly if spa treatments or culinary experiences are a priority.
Cantabria | Trasvilla Palace: a manor house with fireplaces and tranquillity
Nestled in the heart of the Cantabrian countryside, this 18th-century manor house has been transformed into an intimate hotel while preserving its original stone walls and exposed wooden beams. The rooms overlook the surrounding landscape, and as temperatures fall, the lounge fireplace becomes the perfect place to unwind after a day exploring the area. The property also features an outdoor swimming pool and a range of peaceful spaces designed for unhurried relaxation. It is an ideal choice for travellers seeking history, green surroundings and the comforting sense of retreat that comes with escaping the city.
What makes it different:
- Well-preserved traditional architecture in a rural setting
- Lounge with fireplace, ideal for autumn evenings
- Outdoor pool and quiet relaxation areas
Huesca | Hotel Santa Cristina Petit Spa: a former customs house in the Pyrenees
Located between Canfranc and Candanchú, this hotel occupies a former 19th-century customs house and barracks, now converted into a welcoming mountain retreat. Guest rooms face the surrounding peaks, while El Boj restaurant focuses on seasonal ingredients. The hotel also features a small spa with a sauna, steam room, hydromassage pool and indoor swimming pool. Access conditions and opening times should be confirmed in advance. It makes an excellent base for high-mountain excursions followed by a restorative wellness experience.
What makes it different:
- Historic building with authentic Pyrenean identity
- Mountain views and seasonal cuisine
- Intimate spa with thermal and water-based facilities
A Coruña | As Garzas (Barizo): Atlantic tranquillity and seafood
Overlooking the dramatic coastline of the Costa da Morte, this hotel enjoys views across the small port of Barizo, complete with gardens and terraces facing the Atlantic. Rooms are designed to make the most of the surroundings, while the restaurant focuses on fish, seafood, seasonal vegetables and local Galician produce. Here you can listen to the waves, walk the coastline and enjoy the Atlantic at its most peaceful. In autumn, the coast reveals one of its calmest and most photogenic sides.
What makes it different:
- Prime location on the Costa da Morte
- Rooms with sea views, gardens and terrace
- Cuisine centred on Galician and seasonal produce
Girona | Cal Sastre (Santa Pau): volcanoes, beech forests and medieval charm
In the historic centre of Santa Pau, two sensitively restored 15th-century houses have been transformed into a hotel that blends seamlessly into the medieval village. Nearby, the Fageda d'en Jordà beech forest and the Garrotxa Volcanic Zone Natural Park offer routes through volcanic craters, lava fields and forests that become particularly spectacular in autumn. The hotel's cuisine reflects local traditions, creating a well-rounded experience that combines landscape, heritage and gastronomy.
What makes it different:
- Historic accommodation in the heart of Santa Pau
- Direct access to the Garrotxa volcanic landscape and the beech forest
- Cuisine rooted in local traditions
Teruel | Torre del Marqués Hotel Spa & Winery: vineyards, olive groves and wellness
Set within an 18th-century tower surrounded by vineyards and olive groves, this hotel lies close to the Ports de Beseit Natural Park. Its 18 rooms combine comfort with contemporary design, while the wellness area includes a thermal circuit, sauna, Turkish bath and heated outdoor pool. The restaurant highlights locally sourced produce, complementing the relaxed atmosphere of the estate. It is an excellent choice for travellers seeking a refined escape surrounded by nature.
What makes it different:
- Surrounded by vineyards and olive groves beside a natural park
- Wellness facilities with a thermal circuit and heated pool
- Just 18 rooms and locally sourced cuisine
Segovia | Posada Restaurante Fuenteplateada (Collado Hermoso): fireplace and jacuzzi
At the foot of the Sierra de Guadarrama, this inn is surrounded by oak forests and trails that become particularly beautiful in autumn. The rooms combine fireplaces and whirlpool baths, while some also feature private jacuzzis and mountain views. Guests can also enjoy a spa circuit, massage treatments and a restaurant specialising in author-led cuisine. It is an excellent retreat for combining relaxation, walking and peaceful evenings.
What makes it different:
- Surrounded by oak woodland and peaceful Guadarrama trails
- Rooms with fireplace and hot tub
- Options including private jacuzzis, spa facilities and massage treatments
How to choose the right option
Before booking, think about the type of escape you're looking for: coast or mountains, heritage or volcanic landscapes, wellness or gastronomy. Having a clear objective helps narrow down the options and makes the getaway even more rewarding.
- For spa and wellness: Hotel Santa Cristina Petit Spa (Huesca) or Torre del Marqués (Teruel)
- For local gastronomy: As Garzas (A Coruña) or Cal Sastre (Girona)
- For history and traditional architecture: Palacio de Trasvilla (Cantabria) or Cal Sastre (Girona)
- For fireplaces and jacuzzis: Fuenteplateada (Segovia)
- For coastal scenery and seaside walks: As Garzas (A Coruña)
- For mountain routes and hiking: Hotel Santa Cristina Petit Spa (Huesca)
Quick tips for planning your getaway
Good planning greatly increases your chances of making the right booking and fully enjoying your surroundings. In autumn, some services operate on specific schedules, and weather conditions can change rapidly. These simple guidelines help you avoid unexpected problems and focus on what's important: relaxing.
- Book in advance and confirm availability of spa treatments, massages and thermal circuits
- Check weather forecasts and pack layers and comfortable footwear
- Request information on walking routes, access points and local recommendations
- Request information on walking routes, access points and local recommendations
- Respect the natural environment and local regulations in parks and protected areas
The editorial team independently selects and recommends destinations and services. If a purchase or booking is made through some of our links, a commission may be received at no additional cost to the reader.
Article seen in Spanish on viajes.nationalgeographic.com.es: 6 hotels surrounded by nature to escape the routine this autumn: cosy, charming and quiet
