joday

We are taking a full day on a three week trip to Spain to drive from Cordoba to San Sebastian. We are early risers and will get an early start. We need some suggestions on a few interesting places to stop along the way. Caceres, Salamanca. Any suggestions for some east to reach sites or good places to eat?

PalenQ

caceres is exceptional and so is Salamanca - two of the niecst towns in Spain - I also liked Burgos and its famous momastery - Segovai and Avila coud also be stop if going via Salamanca. toledo is another - to me the finest place I've been in Spain.

Man a long long day though - why on a three-week trip drive from one end of Spain to the other so quick.

joday

Thanks for the suggestions. We're spending several days in Toledo, which I'm excited about. We understand it's about a 7 hour drive from Cordoba to San Sebastian. Is that correct? That's an easy drive for us with several interesting stops. We will probably start at about five in the morning because we're up and going by then. I would be interested to know if the drive from Cordoba to San Sebastian is actually longer than 7 hours. If it is, we might choose to stay at one of the places you mentioned.

Michael

A good deal of these photos reflect your trip in reverse:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/mksfca...975757180/show

They might give you some suggestions of what to see.

Robert2533

One would not normally drive from Córdoba to San Sebastián by way of Cáceres unless they where going to spend the night in or around Valladolid, It's around 1000 kms. It may not seem like much, but you will quickly find out it is.

Stopping to eat (dine and not a fuel stop) would add anywhere from 2-1/2 to 3 + hours to the trip. You'll have to plan your dining stop to coincide with dining hours in Spain, lunch is between 1:30 and 4:00, unless you want to stop at one on the Autogrills (www.autogrill.es) along the highway. There are Autogrills on the A-1 and N-1 near Burgos and the AP-6 near Segovia, but none on the route that would take you from Cáceres through Valladolid.

As far as places to stop along the way, there are just far too many including both scenic and historical "must sees" to try to see on such a road trip.

Bedar

Perhaps it would be 7 hrs with NO STOPS and if you're prepared to pay speeding tickets, but why would you want to do this ?

joday

We were meeting friends for dinner in San Sebastian at 10:00 PM. Since we were going to leave at 5:00 AM, they said we would get there in plenty of time, with time to stop a few places along the way. We can always change our plans and stay overnight in Caceres or Salamanca, and from the trusted information given on this post, perhaps we will.

Michael, beautiful pictures. I wish they were labeled.

Robert2533, not really interested in Autogrills, although I did have a great meal at one in Italy. I must have been really hungry!

Michael

They are labeled. Click on "show info". They are also geo-tagged, but for that you need to leave the slide show function.

Robert2533

I've done the drive a few times, but never is less than three days. The stress of being behind the wheel for 8 to 9 hours, plus stops, would, IMO, make dining is Donostia less of a thrill then a good nights rest.

Cáceres would be too early in your drive for stopping overnight. Valladolid or Burgos would make more sense and give you a little time to enjoy the trip.

joday

Thanks to all. We live in the western part of the US, and an 8-9 hour road trip is really nothing to us. However, since we're not familiar with western Spain, we'll heed your concerns and advice.

Michael, I see the tags now. Thanks

annhig

joday - you aren't the first and won't be the last to think that driving on the west coast of the US is good practice for driving in Europe. Experienced people here will say that you're mistaken and I would agree with them.

google maps [which I'm sure you've consulted] says that it's a drive of more than 8 hours. There is no direct/obvious route - it's not like sitting on a californian freeway for hour after hour. it also says that it's a 10 hour train journey - you can get a train from Cordoba at 9.25am and with one change in Madrid, you can be in San Sebastien for 19.51, well in time for dinner at 10pm.

you could also fly from Malaga to Bilbao on Vueling - it's about a 90 min drive, and the flight leaves at 16.50, arriving at 18.30, giving you plenty of time to get [to San Sebastien. [the drive that end is about an hour]

Given the distance involved, flying would be my preference.

if you decide to drive, my vote for a stop would be Valladolid with a visit to the museums of polychromatic sculpture - it's unlike anything you'll see anywhere else.

Bedar

Spend one less day in Toledo and put that toward your trip to SS. Dinner with friends can wait.

joday

I'm from the west, not the west coast. We've driven in just about every country in Europe, but this will be the first drive in Spain. Thanks for some good ideas!

Robert2533

We recently drove from Bolder through southern Wyoming on I-80 (bleak), which makes Extremadura look like a slice of heaven on a bad day. There was nothing much to see, outside of SLC, until we finally reached Idaho. The only stop between Bolder and SCL was for fuel.

It's quite different driving in Spain. There is ancient history all around you, and if you don't think you want to stop for more then a few minutes, then by all means, fly.