bbrier

We have a week (8 days) in Spain in May. We like some hiking, food and wine and small beautiful historic villages. We don't mind driving. Suggestions for our itinerary would be most appreciated.
Thanks so much.

IMDonehere

The best area for food in Spain is that around San Sebastian/Donostia. There is no one wine region in Spain and the food varies according to how near to water they are.

For eight days, I would chose one, max two bases and use that to satisfy your criteria.

Madrid-you have access to many worthwhile towns for day trips.

Barcelona-a more interesting city also with access to towns for day trips, but not as spectacular as those within easy reach from Madrid.

kimhe

Second the suggestion of some days in San Sebastián, the food capital of Spain if not all of Europe. 16 Michelin stars in the small city (pop 180 000), but the best with the food crazy Basque region is the fabulous food quality in any place you happen to walk into.
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeands...rink.shopping2
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/de...y-for-foodies/
https://www.lonelyplanet.com/spain/b...basque-country

Excellent hiking in and around San Sebastián also. I especially like this walk over the Ulía hill and end up with a fabulous lunch in tiny and picturesque Pasai Donibane/Pasajes San Juan.
https://www.spain-holiday.com/San-Se...resque-pasajes
http://www.sansebastianturismo.com/e...ports/trekking

About Donibane and the great waterfront restaurants here:
http://www.oarsoaldeaturismoa.eus/en...ns/pasaia.html
Txulotxo and Casa Cámara are both Michelin guide restaurants, and you can have bargain lunches here:
https://www.viamichelin.com/web/Rest...o-222194-41102
https://www.viamichelin.com/web/Rest...a-222192-41102

Lots of small towns/villages with tons of history close to San Sebastián:
Guernica, the historcal capital of the Basques and tragically known through the 1937 terror bombings and Picasso's painting: http://www.euskoguide.com/places-bas...rnica-tourism/
The renaissance university town Oñati: http://www.euskoguide.com/places-bas...tzazu-tourism/
The tiny seafood paradise Getaria, home to the explorer Juan Sebastián Elcano, the first who completed a circumnavigation of the globe.
http://www.euskoguide.com/places-bas...taria-tourism/
The old regional capital Tolosa: http://www.euskoguide.com/places-bas...olosa-tourism/
And in Tolosa they make some of the best steaks in the world: http://www.forbes.com/sites/larryolm.../#47e8dccd51de

cdnyul

Madrid to Cuenca (1 night), to Teruel/Albarracin area (2 nights), to Zaragozza (2 nights) to Madrid loop.

Last two nights near Barajas, easy highway access for day trips to Toledo or Pedraza or Sepuvelda

Short distances between destinations, beautiful scenery, great hiking opportunities, castle ruins, good food, good wines, no crowds.

kimhe

Andalucía in May - especially Córdoba - is festival time. Most of the festivals goes way back in time and are primarily local events. Great opportunity to get under the skin of things and experience the history, culture, food, wine and Andalucian atmosphere.

And May is perhaps the best time of year to go to Andalucía, full spring blossom and the summer heat is still some weeks away. In Córdoba the Cruces de Mayo festival in the beginning of the month goes into the famous patio festival in the middle of the month, and at the end of the month you have the flamenco inspired Spring fair: http://www.andalucia.com/cities/cordoba/festivals.htm
http://www.andalucia.com/cities/cordoba/patios.htm
http://www.andalucia.com/festival/co...pring-fair.htm

And Córdoba is close to fabulous cities/towns such as Sevilla (42 mins), small Antequera (25 mins) and Málaga (50 mins) with the high speed AVE train. Córdoba is also only 1h 40 mins from Madrid with AVE, city center to city center: http://www.andalucia.com/cities/cordoba/festivals.htm

Antequera, the so called heart of Andalucía: http://wild-about-travel.com/2011/07...ing-antequera/

3000 year old Málaga by the Med, fabulous museums, historic sights and genuine Andalucian atmosphere: https://www.lonelyplanet.com/spain/andalucia/malaga

Sevilla, the undisputed queen of the cities in the South of Spain: http://www.andalucia.com/cities/sevilla.htm

And a fine intro to Córdoba itself, once the most advanced city in Europe: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GyfGdpF55Uk&t=24s

Sassafrass

Bookmarking

PalenQ

Trains are great for cities - cars a problem and with just 8 days you may not have time to drive much if you want to see the famous and nice cities like Barcelona, Munich or Cordoba/Seville.

I've been to San Sebastian four times and is a so-so city with I guess great cuisine but it is relatively remote from Barcelona and Madrid- trains go up to nearly 200mph must faster than driving- anyway for lots on trains check www.renfe.com; www.seat61.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com.

The Seville area to me has more of that old-world look Americans love but not found much in Madrid and better weather in May - maybe land in Madrid - spend a few days there and do a day trip to fantastic Toledo and then move in a few hours by AVE train to Seville and day trip to Cordoba.

bbrier

We had thought of the costa brava and some hiking in the pyranees, looping back through Aragon to Barcelona.

Thank you one and all, terrific suggestions to review further.

PalenQ

We had thought of the costa brava and some hiking in the pyranees, looping back through Aragon to Barcelona.>

Not practical in 8 days! those places are far apart- travel one day between each required.

PalenQ

well those places are not that far apart but driving in Pyrenees and along the coast can be very slow-thinking back on it you could do a quick ephemeral tour of those places by car but still a lot of travel.

Anyway good luck!