shadobeni

We (9 or 11 pers/10 till 80 years) have just booked our airfare for a trip to Basque Country this July. We will be flying in and out of Bilbao. We arrive on a Tuesday 10.30 in the evening and depart the next Tuesday 5.45 in the afternoon.

Our itinerary is like this:
Tuesday: Bilbao Airport 10.30 PM – taxi or bus to the city. Stay the night in Bilbao

Wednesday: morning –Bilbao, pick up the car around 2 PM and drive to San Sebastian

Thursday: San Sebastian

Friday: San Sebastian – Pasai Donibane-San Pedro – Hondarribia – Saint Jean de Luz – San Sebastian

Saturday: San Sebastian – Zarautz – Getaria – Lekeitio – San Sebastian

Sunday: morning – San Sebastian, drive back to Bilbao around 1 PM – Guggenheim – Old town

Monday: Shopping in the morning and in the afternoon Hanging Bridge – by bus/metro

Tuesday: take taxi to airport 3.45 PM

What are your thoughts/recommendations where to eat and what to see ? What can we do or see on Tuesday morning in Bilbao ? Is it possible to get a metro or bus to go to the Hanging Bridge ? And what can we see more in this area ?

Thanks

ira

Hi shad,

>What are your thoughts...<

You will put a lot of mileage on the van.

Enjoy your driving.

ira

PS,

Have you considered a daytrip to St Jean le Vieux & St Jean Pied de Port, the Santimamiñe Cave in Kortezubi, the Fine Arts Museum in Bilbao?

Egbert

What about relaxing for 4 or 5 days in San Sebastian?

Robert2533

You might want to read Maribel's Guides to the Basque country (www.maribelsguides.com) to see what she recommends. You can also check out EiTB (www.eitb.com/en/) to see what's going on in the area. And be sure to check out www.basquecountry-tourism.com/

Hopefully you're planning on renting more than one vehicle for this trip. Trying to put that many people in one van (a 9 passenger is the largest available), with luggage, will be rather difficult. If you wan to save a lot of headaches in trying to find a place to park in Donostia, you might want to consider using a transfer service like Suital.

mikelg

For what to do in Bilbao,

http://mugalari.wordpress.com/2010/0...ar-the-basics/

For ideas on the Basque Country from a local´s point of view, http://www.blogseitb.us/basquetouris...asque-country/

kimhe

This can be a great trip! My favourite corner of the world for some 25 years.

But perhaps leave a bit more time in plain fantastic San Sebastián itself? The whole area is crazy about food, but San Sebastián is the food capital of Spain if not all of Europe. You can't do much wrong here. The world's most famous chef for the past ten years, Ferran Adria of El Bulli, have said that San Sebastián is the best place to eat in the world "in terms of the average quality of the food, in terms of what you can get at any place you happen to walk into".

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

Fabulous fish and seafood in all of the restaurants down in the harbour area in tiny Getaria just west of San Sebastián. Had the meal of my life here, something like this: http://thepauperedchef.com/node/255

I also always take first time vistors to the area to a lunch in pictoresque Donibane/San Juan some 5 km east of San Sebastián. Excellent seafood restaurants at the waterfront with great value three course lunch menus with wine included for some 15-20€. The local fish soup is to die for. The bus leaves from Plaza de Guipúzcoa in Central San Sebastián about once an hour and takes some 30 mins. http://www.euroresidentes.com/eurore...s/san-juan.htm

Restaurante Txulotxo: http://www.restaurantetxulotxo.com/index.html

All six restaurants in Donibane: http://www.etxekar.net/donigastronomia.html#

Cathinjoetown

We have had good meals at Atari in Parte Viaje, the old town, San Sebastian. It's small so you must book ahead. Weather permitting, the outside tables are great for people-watching.

tdk320n

Bookmarking for my trip this spring
Thanks

kimhe

Some of my favourites in San Sebastián:

In the Parte vieja/Old town:

Traditional La Cepa, among other things fantastic Jamón ibérico (cured ham) from Jabugo. An institution in town:
http://www.barlacepa.com/en/index.html

Laid-back and friendly La Cueva: http://www.restaurantelacueva.org/

Gourmet pintxos at Cuchara de San Telmo: http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restauran...e_Country.html

Fine dining at La Muralla: http://www.restaurantelamuralla.com/
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restauran...e_Country.html

In the center:
San Marcial (Alustiza) is a classic: http://www.todopintxos.com/bares/bar..._bar&id_bar=99

In wonderful Ondaretta/Antiguo I've had some superb meals in Restaurante Chomín: http://www.restaurantechomin.info/


And remember, many of the best places are in the Gros district across the city river Urumea.