FrancoS88

Hey all, hoping we can get some help planning a 2-week trip to Spain at the end of August. We're a foodie couple (late 20s and early 30s) so we're hoping to soak up a lot of culture while eating a lot of great food.

Places we definitely want to visit...
-Barcelona
-San Sebastian

Places that we'd ideally like to visit...
-Seville
-Málaga
-Valencia
-Bilbao
-Andalusia

I'm guessing that we won't be able to visit all of these places in 2 weeks so any advice on must-visit spots and an itinerary suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks you!

littlebella777

In Barcelona you will find a lot of great restaurants. I ate at Cinc Sentits, it was an extremely memorable meal.
http://cincsentits.com/en/

You must of course visit La Boqueria Food Market in Barcelona. Go early and plan on eating there.

Bourdain recently was in Spain. Granada and Andalusia look like great places to visit. They are now on the bucket list.

danon

Seville and Malaga are in Andalusia.

kimhe

At the end of August, perhaps stay along the coast? Inland and Andalucía (the South) would be very hot.

Barcelona and San Sebastián are ecellent choices, food heaven and fabulous cities. I would suggest you then go to Bilbao close to San Sebastián,very different than its sister city but the food scene is just as crazy as in Donostia-San Sebastián. http://www.euskoguide.com/places-bas...ilbao-tourism/

Then you could og further along the coast into Galicia, also known for great food, epecially seafood (more than 300 gastronomic ferias/events in Galicia every year): http://www.spain.info/en/que-quieres...a/galicia.html

Or for something completely different, go to 3000 year old and geuine and laid-back Andalucian atmosphere Málaga city by the Med.
The new gastro market: http://www.theguardian.com/travel/20...odie-traveller
The old and brilliant Atarazanas food market: https://eastofmalaga.net/2014/07/25/...ry-perception/
Food scene in general: http://www.theguardian.com/travel/20...taurants-tapas
"Spain's bst kept Secret": http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/de...pt-secret.html


You should also know that there are major city festivals in August in both Barcelona, San Sebastián, Bilbao and Málaga.

kimhe

Festivals along "your route" in August.

Barcelona:
Festa Major de Gràcia, 15.-21. August:
http://www.timeout.com/barcelona/fes...racia-festival http://www.barcelona-tourist-guide.c...barcelona.html

And the Sants district festival starts two days later: http://www.timeout.com/barcelona/fes...sants-festival

San Sebastián:
The Aste Nagusia/Semana Grande/Big week goes on August 13.-20.: http://www.euskoguide.com/basque-cul...semana-grande/

Bilbao:
Thee Bilbao Aste Nagusia starts when it ends in Donsotia-San Sebastián, goes on from August 20.-28: http://www.euskoguide.com/basque-cul...semana-grande/

Málaga:
The Feria goes on August 13-20:
http://feria.malaga.eu/
http://www.andalucia.com/festival/malaga-feria.htm

Food festivals in Galicia: http://spanishsabores.com/2014/04/03...ood-festivals/

FrancoS88

Thanks everyone! kimhe, this is fantastic!

We are currently debating doing either Barcelona > Seville > Malaga > San Sebastian (then back to Barcelona to fly home), or Barcelona > San Sebastian > Lisbon (or the reverse order). I'm a bit worried about the heat in August if we do souther Spain...

kimhe

I would have done Barcelona, Sevilla, Málaga, San Sebastián, four plain fantastic and very different cities with fabulous and very diverse food scenes. But I have no problem with the heat, and especially Sevilla will most probably be hot, Málaga by the Med normally not so much.

Statstics for late August says highs around 95F in Sevilla ande 86-90F in Málaga (wetteronline.de)

inspiredexplorer

If you are concerned about the heat, I would rethink Andalusia at this time of year. Know yourself: some people can handle the heat, some cannot. I myself would probably go to Seville and around in August, but I like hot temps. If I were you though, I'd save Andalusia for a different time of year and alleviate any concerns/worries about the heat.

Are you into wine as much as food? Maybe look into connecting Barcelona and San Sebastian by way of La Rioja or Navarra, especially if you're open to renting a car.

Really like seafood and shellfish? Look at Asturias or Cantabria west of San Sebastian (probably best by car/bus) or fly from Bilbao to Santiago de Compostela.

Other threads here that could be helpful to you on Northern Spain:

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...-catalunya.cfm


http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...-to-bilbao.cfm

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...-barcelona.cfm

Egbert

And I would skip Barcelona and go to Seville, Granada, and San Sebastian.