Basque Country or Tuscany?
 

My husband and I are in the process of planning our mid-July vacation and are trying to decide between Basque Country (probably San Sebastian) and Tuscany. We've never been to either place. By way of background, we're 31, no kids, and our favorite places that we've been thus far are Dijon, France and Sorrento, Italy due to the great food & wine, beautiful scenery, and walkable city centers. In other words, I want a destination that is relaxing but also has more to offer than just sitting on a beach or by a pool.

If we go to Basque Country, we'll fly in and out of Madrid and spend a couple days there (I would like to see Guernica). If we go to Tuscany, we'll fly in and out of Milan as it is currently much cheaper than flying into Florence. (I wouldn't mind seeing the Last Supper, but otherwise, I've not heard great things about Milan). We'll have 9 days total, which really equates to 7 days of vacation and 2 full days of travel.

I would be interested to hear your thoughts. Any advice is much appreciated!

Your dates in mid-July would be better spent in the cooler Basque country, particularly in San Sebastian.

HappyTrvlr - thanks for your quick response! One thing I should have mentioned is that I'm actually not deterred by hot weather. Cold weather is much more of a deal breaker for me. So if you have any other thoughts on the destinations aside from the weather, I would love to hear them.

I love both, but am partial to Tuscany. I am assuming a car for either. Check out Pisa for your flights---Delta has a non-stop from JFK some days.

Never been to Basque Country, but Tuscany would meet your requirements. Rent a car, as Bob says.

We've been to both areas and you can't go wrong. I can't stand heat thus my earlier advice.

If your primary interests are beautiful countryside, small hilltop villages, art - go to Tuscany.

If it's food - the Basque country - hands down!!

We like Madrid a lot more than Milan.

Stu Dudley

The weather in the San Sebastián-Donostia area is very much like what you'd find between Seattle and Vancouver, BC, but with a little more rain (it's why its called Green Spain). It will rain at least once every three to four days, but the temperature can be in the upper 80s to mid-90s by mid to late July.

Since it's general knowledge that the cuisine of the Basque country is among the worlds best, and it would be difficult to visit Gernika (Basque) from Tuscany without a long overnight, San Sebastián would be your logical choice.

I greatly prefer the Basque Country for scenery than Tuscany -- and I live in Italy! I also wouldn't want to eat or drink the most famous foods of Tuscany in July.

People will make up seemingly "objective" reasons for comparisons, but apart from the difference in weather, people are only telling you, subjectively, what they like. They can't possibly tell you what you will like. You can indeed go "wrong" with a trip to either place. Plenty of people go to both places have no plans to ever return to one of them.

San Sebastian/Donostia is a beautiful and compact town with Belle Epoque architecture and the best food in Spain. Tuscany is beautiful and Florence is the tourist epicenter of the world even in the off-season.

About Donostia-San Sebastian, my favourite city on the planet: http://www.euskoguide.com/places-bas...stian-tourism/

About the Basque Country: http://tourism.euskadi.eus/en/

Thanks everyone for your thoughtful feedback! I think we're going to go with Spain, since we've never been before, and my husband has really wanted to go to Spain for a long time. Now it's just a matter of figuring out an itinerary!

As a side note, our last couple trips to Europe have included London and the Amalfi Coast, so researching hotels in Madrid and San Sebastian has been a pleasant surprise - it looks like Spain is much more affordable in that regard.

Thanks again for your help!

Best meals I've had anywhere were in Madrid at Michelin 2 star restaurants. And just a tad below that were the 7 Michelin 1 star restaurants in the Pays Basque (Spain & France - we stayed on the French side). Spain is a great place to splurge.

Stu Dudley

You need not go to the most expensive or rated restaurants in Donostia for excellent food. In fact I would encourage you to learn about and gorge on pintxos.

"Best" meal is just as subjective as "best" scenery, and if you think the French Michelin-system lands you a "best" meal, then of course you should eat that in Spain. But much of what is unique and -- to me -- delicious and memorable about eating in Spain is not the hours-long, excruciatingly intellectual food of Michelin stars, but in the bars and traditional eateries of the Basque culture.

All about going for the famous pintxos in San Sebastian: http://www.todopintxos.com/home/home.php?lang=en

A great video intro to the food culture in San Sebastian: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OwmBAvqa_0U

StuDudley - How did you like staying on the French side? I read an article about Biarritz on the Travel + Leisure blog, and it definitely piqued my interest.

We stayed in a gite in Sare for 2 weeks & loved it. About 5 years ago we stayed in a gite for 2 weeks in Osses just west of St Jean pied du Port & really like that area also.

Stu Dudley

Stu, you are my hero---I love your travels.

Here is my wife's Shutterfly book of our 5 weeks in the Pyrenees, starting with the Pays Basque.

http://share.shutterfly.com/share/re...=1EYt2Llw1ZMok

click "View photo book" and then "full screen"

Stu Dudley