OregonMaiden

Greetings,
We are seasoned travelers in our 60s who spent 6 weeks driving the periphery of Spain when we were younger. Because my husband has never seen Madrid, we have booked ourselves into a hotel near Plaza Santa Ana for the first 8 days of our May trip to see the museums, eat ourselves silly and visit Toledo on a day trip.

We are now mulling how to break up the next week.
Here are my questions:
1. We'll head to Bilbao and would appreciate some sense of how long to spend in that area to see the Guggenheim and experience the gastronomic excitement of the "new" Basque food. Any suggestions for restaurants and possibly hotels would be welcome.
2. What might be other nearby interesting places? We will be on public transportation initially but can easily rent a car.
3. Lastly, when we return to Madrid for 1-2 days before our return flight on June 8, what are people's thoughts about a neighborhood in which to book a hotel that would provide a complementary perspective to that we will have experienced earlier with Plaza Santa Ana? (Guidebooks only go so far in helping make a decision

Thanks for any ideas.

CathyM

Do you have 7 days total after the initial stay in Madrid making it actually 5-6 days since you need to return to Madrid for the final nights?

I'd spend the entire time in the Basque country. You could spend a couple of nights in Bilbao, 3-4 in San Sebastian an dif you have time 1-2 nights in a smaller village along the coast to get another feel for the area (Getaria, Hondarribia, Lekeitio, etc..). This would be easy using public transportation.

Maribel's guides are incredible for this area:
maribelsguides.com

Graziella5b

l Going north towards Bilbao you can stop in Burgos, a fascinating city. Its cathedral is an example of gothic architecture it is also one of the main stopovers for Pilgrims
on the road to Santiago de Compostela.The Monastery Cisterciense de las Huelgas is fantastic,In its museum
it has tunics kept almost intact from the Middle Ages from tumbs of noble Castellanos.
There are tons to see in Burgos I can recommend a Melia Boutique Hotel Fernan Gonzalez.
This is a jewel money wise. And has an excellent restaurant for a ridiculus set price including
good wines from Toro.
Then you can continue north to Bilbao or indulge in many fascinating destinations near
Burgos like Santo Domingo de Silos or a little old town , one of the oldest medieval towns which name I cannot remember now. You will not regret visiting in detail Castille, There is a very nice Parador in Lerma, in the old palace of the Duke from where we visited the
areas.

Revulgo

We are on the cider season til late April/early May. I'd go to a 'sidreria' (cider house) at Astigarraga (nearby San Sebastian) to enjoy the 'menu de sidreria': Cod omelet, large steak, Idiazabal cheese, walnuts and draught sweet cider.
Also, I'd try to attend a weekly farmers market, at Ordizia on Wednesday or at Tolosa on Saturday. Easy transportation from San Sebastian by train or bus. Recommended restaurants: TXINDOKI at Ordizia and CASA JULIAN at Tolosa.
http://www.gipuzkoa.net/turismodocs/.../index_en.html

Graziella5b

If you decide to visit Burgos and nearby areas going on your way towards Bilbao, the little town I mentioned before near Santo Domingo de Silos, is Covarrubias, ( I could not remember its name) this tiny village can be considered a living museum, including the tumb of Fernan Gonzalez , the same guy in whose honor is named the hotel I recommended in Burgos.
One option : if you plan to continue to Bilbao could be to take the train to Burgos from Madrid
after visiting the city of Burgos without a car, rent one and you can go around visiting Santo Domingo de SIlos, highly recommended and Covarrubias. you can return the car and take a train or keep driving north towards Bilbao , the Guggenheim and its delicious food...

OregonMaiden

Thanks very much for the great ideas.

In answer to Cathy M regarding the number of nights: We have seven (May 31-June 6) before we have to return to Madrid on June 7, the night before our flight home.
Cheers,
Diane

ekscrunchy

Since you are interested in food, when you visit Burgos you could make it your mission to try some of the roast lamb that the area is famous for!

A few nights in the Salamanca area would be one option for another Madrid neighborhood.

OregonMaiden

Thanks...good food is certainly an enormous part of the fun we have in traveling...and lamb is one of my all time favorites.

Salamanca area looked like a good possibility, but I couldn't tell from the assorted printed resources just how chichi most places are. While my husband will have a sportcoat & tie with him since we're planning to dine at La Terraza del Casino on his birthday, I suspect he might balk at "living" in a jacket ;-)
Diane

ekscrunchy

On a recent trip, we ate at restaurants that I would call moderate upscale. Male travel partner did not wear, or bring, a sportcoat and he looked right in line with other diners.

We ate dinners in the Retiro area, east of the park, which is actually considered part of Salamanca, I think. The eating in that area is truly excellent. I have lots of food info in my ongoing trip report and I am happy to discuss our experiences, limited though they may be!

I believe there is currently a good deal on the Hotel Wellington; it was discussed on another Madrid thread.

http://www.hotel-wellington.com/


http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...otel-opera.cfm