Spain - looking for a historic town and beach town
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 498
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Spain - looking for a historic town and beach town
Going to Spain next summer for about 9 -10 nights. Plan on spending a 2-3 days in Barcelona and then 2-3 days in Madrid. I would like to spend a night or two at a quaint beach town near mountains/hills and a night or two in an historic town (preferably a walled in one) . Both should be located between Barcelona and Madrid since I need to stay on a fairly direct route. I may have a car but probably will travel by train. I looked at Toledo as the historic town but you may have a better idea.
#2
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 6,534
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Toledo is one of the great destinations of Europe and really a very moving place to see. There are many many tourists during the day but not at night.
People have various faves for a picturesque beach town in easy reach of Barcelona. I've not been to them all but of the ones I have been to Calella de Palafrugell was the prettiest for my tastes.
People have various faves for a picturesque beach town in easy reach of Barcelona. I've not been to them all but of the ones I have been to Calella de Palafrugell was the prettiest for my tastes.
#5
As I'm sure you realise, if you travel from Barcelona to Madrid you are moving from the coast inland, East to West, so no beach town is on a direct route. You will have to travel either North or South from Barcelona to stay on the coast, which will involve extra miles.
This is a very touristy area and quaint may not be obvious, but your choices are limited due to geography. As mentioned above, try Calella de Palafrugell or maybe Tossa de Mar.
This is a very touristy area and quaint may not be obvious, but your choices are limited due to geography. As mentioned above, try Calella de Palafrugell or maybe Tossa de Mar.
#7
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 34,858
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Toledo is great, if you've never been there, you can't go wrong with that as the side trip from Madrid.
What body of water would that beach be on between Barcelona and Madrid? Without going too far out of the way, I'd suggest Valencia.
What body of water would that beach be on between Barcelona and Madrid? Without going too far out of the way, I'd suggest Valencia.
#8
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 472
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Check out Tarragona, just 45 minutes outside of Barcelona and an original Roman outpost. The coliseum, forum, city walls as well as museums are great for checking out as well as the cathedral. The oldest areas are compact enough to see all in a day or two. We loved it there!
http://www.tarragonablog.com
http://www.tarragonablog.com
#9
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 8,827
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
"Both should be located between Barcelona and Madrid since I need to stay on a fairly direct route"
Valencia is between Barcelona and Madrid? Not quite... although you can take the train south to Valencia and then the high-speed AVE back up to Madrid. No mountains though. For that you wold have to head to the Basque Coast (Cantabria, Asturias, País Vasco), Galicia, Costa del Sol or Cadiz.
Valencia is between Barcelona and Madrid? Not quite... although you can take the train south to Valencia and then the high-speed AVE back up to Madrid. No mountains though. For that you wold have to head to the Basque Coast (Cantabria, Asturias, País Vasco), Galicia, Costa del Sol or Cadiz.
#10
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 7,561
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Uh, why doesn't Barcelona qualify as your beach town considering it's on the water and . . . wait for it . . . has a beach?
Plus, (1) Robert's right, Valencia isn't anywhere in, near, around, or convenient to your proposed route, and (2) 2-3 days in Barcelona is really short.
Plus, (1) Robert's right, Valencia isn't anywhere in, near, around, or convenient to your proposed route, and (2) 2-3 days in Barcelona is really short.
#11
"Without going too far out of the way, I'd suggest Valencia."
Sorry Christina, it's 220 miles out of the way. As BigRuss says, why not use the beach area in Barcelona and then head off to Madrid?
Sorry Christina, it's 220 miles out of the way. As BigRuss says, why not use the beach area in Barcelona and then head off to Madrid?
#15
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 1,710
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Possibly look at Mallorca, Palma old town is beautiful and around 25 miles away are some of the best beaches in Europe.
It is entirely feasible that the flights from Barcelona to Palma then Palma to Madrid would be cheaper than the train. Easyjet and Ryanair frequently offer one way flights for less than 50 euros. The flight to Palma is 25 minutes from Barcelona.
It is entirely feasible that the flights from Barcelona to Palma then Palma to Madrid would be cheaper than the train. Easyjet and Ryanair frequently offer one way flights for less than 50 euros. The flight to Palma is 25 minutes from Barcelona.
#16
Join Date: Apr 2003
Posts: 552
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Tossa de Mar or Calella de Palafrugell would fit the bill. Tossa is a bit easier to get to from Barcelona and is a bit more "touristy" but it's lovely and has a nice beach. Calella is quieter and also has a lovely beach but - as I remember - you have to get a bus to Palafrugell and then a bus/taxi from there to Calella.
Would highly recommend Toledo - a very easy daytrip from Madrid.
Would highly recommend Toledo - a very easy daytrip from Madrid.