Hello there! My BF and I are planning a trip to Spain in August and are having trouble coming up with a great itinerary, mostly because we have events dotted throughout the week and awkward gaps of time between each. Here's what we have planned so far:

Fly into Barcelona on Saturday morning (8/22)
Requena Wine & Water Festival on Tuesday evening (8/25)
Tomatina Festival in Bunol Wednesday morning (8/26)
Event in Valencia on Friday evening (8/28)
Fly out of Barcelona on Sunday morning (8/30)

I think we're happy to spend Saturday - Tuesday in Barcelona but if that's a day too many, we'd love suggestions on fun day trips or places we could visit on the way from Barcelona to Valencia. We're also not quite sure what to do with ourselves between Tomatina on Wednesday morning and Valencia on Friday evening since we've been told there isn't too much to see in Valencia for a tourist. Any suggestions for what we could do in that time? Perhaps a day trip or overnight suggestion?

To give you a sense of the things we like: Food (and cooking!), wine, hikes and outdoor scenes with beautiful views, dancing, cultural festivals, and charming cities.

We'd love any and all suggestions!

For Barcelona, we spent 6 full days there last fall and didn't run out of things to do. We did a day tour to 3 wineries on one day but spent the rest of our time in Barcelona.

You could also have ideas for a couple of day trips "in your back pocket" in case you find you have time while in Barcelona.

You might enjoy a day trip out to Montserrat to visit the monastary and do some hiking on the mountain. One place for some initial information.
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Travel-g1...ontserrat.html

You can also do day trips to Girona or even Zaragoza.

As for Valencia, I haven't been but I'm not sure the statement "there isn't too much for a tourist to see" is accurate. Maybe others who have been can offer some suggestions.

Check out Sagunto or Cuenca

Hi! IMO Valencia is a true jewel, and you will not run without things to do in three or four days. If you are interested, I wrote a report in the past about a memorable stay in Valencia.......planning to return in 2016 for FALLAS.

Please, asi if you need kore info.

Sorry!


Sould read: ask if you need more info.

Valencia is a beautiful city.... We stayed a week , made one day trip - to Xativa.
The beaches in Valencia a great.
Madrid is 1:40 min . by train.

With this itinerary i assume you are driving. Peñiscola is a great stop halfway between Barcelona and Valencia.

Surprisingly there is so much to see in Valencia i cannot take the time to write it all out. Check other posts and see that the number of museums, size of the covered market, World heritage Lonja building, new architecture will take up many more days than you have.. so.. save it for another time.

Careful driving after drinking.. Spain has many road stops for breath testing, especially near festivals.
Have fun at the Tomatina and take good care of any females with you. It can get quite vulgar.

I can't imagine that one week would be enough time for Barcelona AND Valencia, let alone anything else! But it depends on YOUR interests. I recommend that you get some good guidebooks (or spend some time with a few in your local library), identify the things you most want to see in each location, note their opening/closing times, and mark them on a calendar. Then pencil in your transportation, add some time on either side (for getting to/from your lodging, checking in/out, packing/unpacking, getting oriented, etc.). Then see how things fit together.

If you like food and wine then google Valencian Tuscany and you'll discover a wonderful place. It's one our by car from Valencia city and both the landscapes and wines produced are wonerful! Inland Valencia deserves a visit!