Beric

Off for one week to Bilbao, Madrid and environs-
I would greatly appreciate itinerary suggestions, restaurants, and not too miss---

CathyM

Is this 7 full days/nights on the ground?
Have you purchased your airfare? If so, where do you fly into/out of?
When is this trip?

This would be helpful to know in order to plan the itinerary.

Beric

7 full days
no ticket yet
January or February

mikelg

you may want to take a look at my blogs as a local from Bilbao...http://mugalari.wordpress.com/2010/0...go/#comment-83

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

and http://www.blogseitb.us/basquetouris...o-my-hometown/

you may get some ideas to move around and visit this beautiful town, so unknown to many...

mikelg

also, in Spanish, www.365bilbao.com, for ideas on restaurants and places. Just started this one.

tdk320n

ttt

Nepenthe

<i>also, in Spanish, www.365bilbao.com, for ideas on restaurants and places. Just started this one.</i>

Love the new blog, mikelg. Love love love!

CathyM

It is difficult to answer your question on itinerary suggestions without knowing anything about your interests or even where you are flying from (I assume the US). The bottom line is that you your time is limited to 7 days. I would try to fly into Madrid and return home via Bilbao (you'll need to do a connection likely in Paris or Madrid if returning to the US) in order to avoid backtracking. I'd plan a minimum of 3 nights in Madrid and 3 in Bilbao (or the area).

If you have time during your Madrid stay you could do a daytrip to Toledo or Segovia.

For the Basque Country - You could stay in Bilbao or San Sebastian - these are the 2 cities I'd recommend. Most people would probably base in San Sebastian but depending on how much time you decide for the Basque Country it may be easier if you're flying to stay in Bilbao and do a daytrip to San Sebastian. It may also be nice to do a daytrip to a smaller fishing village if you have - Hondarribia, Lekeitio, Getaria, Bermeo for example.

cigalechanta

I haven't been to Madrid but did stay in Bilbao. I found it colorless and a stinky river. Only til I reached the French border did I see flowers.My one enjoyment was gong into the old quarters for going to bar to bar for tapas

CathyM

cigalechanta - when did you visit Bilbao? Much has been done over the last 15 years and the city is very vibrant and lively. You probably had pintxos, not tapas, in the old quarter as this is the Basque Country.

cigalechanta

Sometimes, a rose is a rose.

•In the Basque Country, you are served 'pintxos'. It is never written 'pinchos' and they are never called 'tapas'. This is the case regardless of whether it is served 'pinchado' to a piece of bread with a cocktail stick or not. Even if you're served a plate of risotto, it's still a pintxo. You will always pay for your pintxo. Find out about the best San Sebastian Pintxo Bars.
•In Salamanca, particularly on Calle Van Dyck, you are served pinchos. They are almost always a piece of meat served on a piece of bread. Though not actually 'pinchado' with a stick, this is still close to the original idea of what a 'pincho' is. However, here they are free.
•In Granada and Leon (and in some other nearby cities) as well as in some bars in Madrid, a small portion, whether served on bread or not, is a tapa. It is free.
•In Seville and other parts of Andalusia, all small portions are called 'tapas'. They are not free.
•In many cities in Spain, particularly Madrid, a large portion of, say, calamares, will be called a 'ración', with a half-size portion called a 'media ración' and a quarter-size portion a 'tapa'.
•In most parts of Spain, when trying to informally say 'a bit of', for example "Can I have a bit of tortilla please?" you will ask for a 'pincho' - so 'un pincho de tortilla'.

mikelg

http://www.blogseitb.us/basquetouris...-not-a-racion/, a explanation on what is what.

Cigalechanta, Bilbao has evolved tremendously in the past few years and it´s now one of the cleanest, safest and most interesting cities in Spain to visit. Of course, I may be biased, but what´s really true is that "colorless" and "stinky" cannot be applied to Bilbao. By the way, winner of the World City Prize, the Nobel for cities, for its spectacular evolution and quality of life.

danon

I visited Bilbao only foR a day ( a few years ago) and would agree with the PP

cruiseluv

I really like Bilbao. Was there for a second time this past August. Unfortunatly, it was just a quick visit since it was on a cruise stop! Nonetheless, we had a fantastic time. Loved the Mercado central( Mercado de la Ribera)!

Robert2533

Okay, I'm trying to figure out what our friend cigalechanta is all about... I've watched the city evolve over the last dozen years or so until it became one of my favorite destinations, a second, or third home away from home.

And yes, a rose is always a rose!

mikelg

where you´re always welcome, Robert...