Avignon or San Sebastian?
 

If you had 3 days to spend in EITHER the Avignon region in France or the San Sebastian region in Spain, which would you choose and why?

San Sebastian.....fabulous city.

Sorry. The whys.....atmosphere, food, great scenery, great people, the food.

thanks! have you also been to Avignon?

I'm sorry, but the two are really not comparable under any circumstance.

Of course they are comparable, Robert. Everything is comparable.

If your premise is accepted then what should the OP do - visit neither, or both?

Back to the question - San Sebastian. Reasons; fabulous natural setting, beautiful architecture, unique culture (Basque), gastronomy.

And just what is your comparison of the San Sebastian to Avignon? Both have a beautiful, natural setting, architecture, culture and gastromomy, but are worlds apart in almost every aspect. Are they as different as day and night? Paris and just about anyplace else? No! But neither are they similar under many circumstances.

I would choose Avignon, San Sebastian deserves 5 nights minimum.

I've really had a lot of fun staying in San Sebastian for just 3 nights, and I that was with a day trip elsewhere (that I didn't find very interesting). San Sebastian is delightfully pretty, but for me the main attraction beyond the scenery is eating. I don't need 3 days to eat. Its cultural attractions are of very minor interest to me. If I stayed longer than 3 days, it would be because I wanted to be in a place where there wasn't much to do so I could relax.

On the other hand, the historic and artistic attractions of Avignon and towns so close by are incredibly rich when it comes to my interests, and I wouldn't book myself there for any less than a week, and even then I'd be busy every day.

And here's why there is chocolate and vanilla. Hub and I were lukewarm about Avignon. We had a day reserved to see it and left after only 1/2. We found we had no interest in the papal building and felt a little ripped about having to pay to go on the bridge (so I sang the bridge song on the the shore!). The main square and the walk back from the bridge were lovely.

It just didn't grab us the way Arles did. Haven't been to San S. but that's my feeling about Avignon.

You have to pay to go on the bridge at Avignon! Oh my. I've always wanted to return since I last visited during my college years in 1986 and we danced on the remnants of the bridge. I'm afraid I'd be disappointed if it were a tourist attraction you needed to pay to visit. We also visited Arles during this trip and I'm dying to return to see the bullring.

Thank you everyone for your comments. We appreciate the feedback. Obviously favorite cities are a very subjective matter, but its nice to get impressions from so many fellow travelers. We are planning to go to either place at the end of May, and can rent a car if that would be your recommendation.

Regarding Zeppole's comment , it reminded me of an old quotation about the virtues of travel - "how much a dunce that has been sent to roam excels a dunce that has been kept at home." (William Cowper)