5 days in the basque country
 

I will be in the Basque Country for 5 days at the end of Oct. Looks like there are so many great places to visit in the area. I will be taking the train to/from Biarritz. I would like to definitely visit San Sebastian, Bilbao to see the Guggenheim, St. Jean de Luz. Is Biarritz worth visiting? What other towns should I visit? Does anyone have hotel recommendations, don't want to spend too much on a hotel? Also, which towns should I spend the night at? I have no idea how far each town is from each other and how many places I can see in 5 days.
Thanks, Michelle

You may want to take a look at my blog as a local on the Basque Country, www.blogseitb.us/basquetourism, for some ideas on what to see and what to do.

It´s a small place, very well communicated by public transport. And rainy...

You may want to look at my June 2011 Bordeaux, Aquitaine, etc. trip report which includes French Basque country. But we traveled by car.

I am not an expert but loved my two short trips to San Sebastian, which was a good base for us. On the first trip we stopped in Bayonne, had a good lunch and tour of the small but very good Basque museum (closed 12 to 2:00). We also went to the Guggenheim and wished we could have stayed longer in Bilbao.

On the second trip we stopped in St. Jean de Luz which I did not like very much, at least not in comparison to Bayonne or San Sebastian. We will spend time in Biarritz on our next trip, so can't comment.

Love San Sebastian, both times we've stayed at the Hotel Parma, major pluses are the friendly staff, cleanliness and location on edge of the old town and by one of the two town beaches.

On the down side the lobby-level rooms are really below ground level with opaque windows which open only part way. We stayed in first floor rooms which have large windows. All room have AC. The breakfast is not worth the cost, lots of places in the old town for coffee, juice and pastries. High season Parma rate was €155 for a double.

A good mid-range restaurant in the old town is Atari. All the tapas bars we tried were good to excellent.

Be sure to stay in San Sebastián for a couple of nights. Beautiful Belle Epoque town, the culinary capital of Spain, some of the finest city beaches on the continent and a living culture that people take great pride in.

Hotel Parma is a good suggestion: http://www.booking.com/hotel/es/parma.en.html

I can also recommend great value Alemana 50 meters from the La Concha beach promenade and five mins walk to the Parte vieja/Old town. http://www.hostalalemana.com/

There are about one hundred small and more affordable pensiones/hostales. Often family owned and hotel standard, private bathroom etc. Bellas Artes is extremely popular, had a nice stay there a couple of years ago. http://www.pension-bellasartes.com/ingles.html
Tripadvisor: http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Rev...e_Country.html

All about going for the world famous pintxos in food crazy San Sebastián. Remember to ask for the freshly prepared warm house specialities, only the cold pintxos are on display in the bar. All pintxos are only 2-3€. http://www.todopintxos.com/home/home.php?lang=en

About San Sebastián in New York Times a month ago: http://travel.nytimes.com/2011/08/07...tin-spain.html

kimhe,

Great suggestions, thanks so much.

May try the Alemana.

Stay in San Sebastian 4 nights, spend one in Bilbao. There is no need to try to see as many places as you can. Take a day and travel to Getaria or Lekeitio if you must get out of town.

Alemana in C/ San Martín is just excellent. Several nice breakfast places in the same street. Nothing wrong with the breakfast at Alemana, but in all of Spain having breakfast in the local cafés/bars adds to the fun and helps much getting under the skin of things.

In Alemana, you will be close to one of the classical pintxos/tapas bars in town. San Marciál is outside the most frequented route but expect great food and atmosphere, especially in the week-ends: http://www.todopintxos.com/bares/bar..._bar&id_bar=99

You can't do much wrong when going for pintxos in the Parte vieja/Old town. People normally move from bar to bar, having a pintxo or two and a small glass (txikito) or two at each place. Packed at lunch-time (from some 1.30pm) at least in the week-ends and from early in the evening, from about 7pm. The local white Txakolí wine is very popular. Much of the charm of this "txikiteo" is having no fixed plans and just go with the pulse. I neverthess can't resist recommending some of my favourites:

Traditional La Cepa, the best cured ham in the world (litterally, you don't find anything better than the jamón from Jabugo in the Huelva province, one of those few things one must try in life) and great grilled peppers: http://www.barlacepa.com/en/

Tiny Goiz-Argi, fabulous shrimp-skewers and lots of other goodies: http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restauran...e_Country.html

Cutting edge Zeruko and Cuchara de San Telmo:
http://www.barzeruko.com/
http://www.todopintxos.com/bares/bar...0&do=vista_bar

Astelehena on the central Plaza de la Constitución, with a terrace, serves both tradional and innovative gastro-pintxos. http://www.todopintxos.com/bares/bar...1&do=vista_bar

You'll also find some of the best places in the Gros district, across the city river Urumea. Just a few minutes walking from the Parte vieja/Old town. Bar Bergara is an institution in town: http://www.pinchosbergara.com/

I also very much like Garbola, great spintxo and specializes in cocktails: http://www.todopintxos.com/bares/bar..._bar&id_bar=83

ttt

If you are in San Sebastián on the 19th of October, I very much recommend you to go and see the flamenco singer Estrella Morente in the concert hall of the Kursaal center. Flamenco has nothing to do with Basque culture, but there is a reason why Morente fills up theaters wherever she goes. I've seen her three times. Two of them were pure magic.