Northern Spain-TIPS, por favor!!
Jul 21st, 2015, 07:10 AM
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Northern Spain-TIPS, por favor!!
I am planning a bus/train journey from Zaragoza,to San Sebastian (tips about places I can get to on bus on the way would be good) then Santander, car pick up,a few days in the Picos near Panes, then heading west, I think just as far as Oviedo and back to Santander.(for Oviedo and back, I have 6 days). like quiet! Thankyou in anticipation!!
Nic
Nic
Jul 21st, 2015, 09:25 AM
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Personally, I don't find Donostia (San Sebastian) not so overwhelming - but this might be a minority opionion. Here my list of must-dos:
- The Guggenheim in Bilbao is a must, at least from the outside. The architecture is spectacular. The art exhibition is dominated by large Serra sculptures of rusted steel, otherwise provincial. When you walk from the museum into town you find a lot of bars serving excellent pintchos (tapas).
- Santander is a fine city with lots of gardens, parks and stately buildings.
- The coastline is spectacularly scenic - with wide sandy beaches surrounded by rocky cliffs. It is a bit like the Californian coast along highway nr. 1. Look on the map or use Google Earth to find them, e.g. Orinon, Playa de Noja, Liencres.
- Santander has a city beach, but better take the passenger ferry across the lagoon to Somo which is a wide natural beach.
- There are many scenic drives through the mountains south of Santander. You will find a lot of picturesque villages there.
- You find quite a few charming villages, the best one is Santillana del Mar.
- The Guggenheim in Bilbao is a must, at least from the outside. The architecture is spectacular. The art exhibition is dominated by large Serra sculptures of rusted steel, otherwise provincial. When you walk from the museum into town you find a lot of bars serving excellent pintchos (tapas).
- Santander is a fine city with lots of gardens, parks and stately buildings.
- The coastline is spectacularly scenic - with wide sandy beaches surrounded by rocky cliffs. It is a bit like the Californian coast along highway nr. 1. Look on the map or use Google Earth to find them, e.g. Orinon, Playa de Noja, Liencres.
- Santander has a city beach, but better take the passenger ferry across the lagoon to Somo which is a wide natural beach.
- There are many scenic drives through the mountains south of Santander. You will find a lot of picturesque villages there.
- You find quite a few charming villages, the best one is Santillana del Mar.
Jul 21st, 2015, 02:23 PM
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I recently traveled to many of these places. You might find some useful information in my trip report; just click on my name to find it.
The Rough Guide usually has excellent information on transportation, including the locations of bus stations. The Lonely Planet usually does, too.
The Rough Guide usually has excellent information on transportation, including the locations of bus stations. The Lonely Planet usually does, too.
Jul 22nd, 2015, 04:08 AM
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Perhaps stop in Pamplona or Vitoria-Gasteiz on your way to San Sebastian. Both are on the route and very well worth a visit. This gives you an idea:
Pamplona: http://www.euskoguide.com/places-bas...plona-tourism/
Vitoria: http://www.euskoguide.com/places-bas...toria-tourism/
If you like quiet, I recommend the elegant and local feel Ondarreta/Antiguo district in San Sebastian on the western edge of La Concha bay. Spectacular 20-25 mins walk along the bay into the center of town, but more than enough to keep you out here also.
The Ondarreta beach: http://tourism.euskadi.eus/en/beache...aa30-12375/en/
Have stayed many times in tranquile Chomin, in a typical Basque house 100 meters from the Ondarreta beach. We've loved it out here: http://www.booking.com/hotel/es/chomin.en-gb.html
And the area in and around Calle Matia, 100 meters from Chomin and 200 meters from the Ondarreta beach, is as local feel and down to earth as it gets. Here are some pintxos bars and restaurants within a hundred meters in Calle Matia.
Bar Antzara in Calle Matia 14: http://www.tripadvisor.es/Restaurant...e_Country.html
Vasco-Japanese fusion at Txubillo in # 5: http://www.txubillo.com/bar-carta.asp?Idioma=en
Bar Oliyos, just around the corner: http://www.tripadvisor.es/Restaurant...e_Country.html
Trikuharri Taberna in # 35: http://www.tripadvisor.es/Restaurant...sque_Coun.html
Albistur cider house in # 52. http://www.sidreriaalbiztur.com/
The Antiguo district is also close to the university, so there are also many students in the area as well. And the university itself is well worth a visit, spent a fabulous half year here a hundred years ago, but things are very much the same. Lots of greens and fine cafeterias/bars around campus where you can have a hearty three course lunch with wine incl. for some 5-6€. http://www.ehu.eus/es/web/gipuzkoa/aurkezpena
Pamplona: http://www.euskoguide.com/places-bas...plona-tourism/
Vitoria: http://www.euskoguide.com/places-bas...toria-tourism/
If you like quiet, I recommend the elegant and local feel Ondarreta/Antiguo district in San Sebastian on the western edge of La Concha bay. Spectacular 20-25 mins walk along the bay into the center of town, but more than enough to keep you out here also.
The Ondarreta beach: http://tourism.euskadi.eus/en/beache...aa30-12375/en/
Have stayed many times in tranquile Chomin, in a typical Basque house 100 meters from the Ondarreta beach. We've loved it out here: http://www.booking.com/hotel/es/chomin.en-gb.html
And the area in and around Calle Matia, 100 meters from Chomin and 200 meters from the Ondarreta beach, is as local feel and down to earth as it gets. Here are some pintxos bars and restaurants within a hundred meters in Calle Matia.
Bar Antzara in Calle Matia 14: http://www.tripadvisor.es/Restaurant...e_Country.html
Vasco-Japanese fusion at Txubillo in # 5: http://www.txubillo.com/bar-carta.asp?Idioma=en
Bar Oliyos, just around the corner: http://www.tripadvisor.es/Restaurant...e_Country.html
Trikuharri Taberna in # 35: http://www.tripadvisor.es/Restaurant...sque_Coun.html
Albistur cider house in # 52. http://www.sidreriaalbiztur.com/
The Antiguo district is also close to the university, so there are also many students in the area as well. And the university itself is well worth a visit, spent a fabulous half year here a hundred years ago, but things are very much the same. Lots of greens and fine cafeterias/bars around campus where you can have a hearty three course lunch with wine incl. for some 5-6€. http://www.ehu.eus/es/web/gipuzkoa/aurkezpena
Jul 22nd, 2015, 09:43 AM
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If you're taking the train fom Zaragoza,to San Sebastian, it's best to stop in Pamplona, enjoy the cuisine and history of Navarra's capitol and then take the bus into Donostia, less then an hour's travel.
