abrianthodges

Hello-
My husband and I will be in Bilbao, Spain (end of October 2018) and would like to take a day trip to San Sebastian and Biarritz. I've looked at a few tour companies but, don't know much about them. Has anyone in the Fodor's community used any of these tour services? Feedback? What did you like? Not like? Thanks in advance!

kja

Have you considered going on your own? You have some wonderful public transportation options. Check rome2rio.com -- and just be sure to click through to the underlying links, as the main site is not particularly sensitive to seasonal variation in schedules.

abrianthodges

Hello. Yes, doing it on our own is a consideration as well. Honestly, we don't usually do tour groups however, we have a limited amount of time in this area (just 2 days in between Paris and London). We are using one full day to see Bilbao and the second day is set aside for San Sebastian/Biarritz. I thought something organized would give us the opportunity to see the most in one day. Thanks.

OReilly64

I am in Bilboa next week and will do a day trip by myself. it about 90 minutes by bus, costs about 7 euros each way. Book with Alsa.

https://www.alsa.com/en/web/bus/home

Here are some tourist links
Tourist Office : https://www.sansebastianturismo.com/en/

Walks: https://www.sansebastianturismo.com/en/come/maps

Funicular: https://www.monteigueldo.es/monte-igueldo-funicular

Palacio del Miramar : https://www.sansebastianholidays.com/ca/

Basilica: https://www.sansebastianturismo.com/...ious-buildings

Cathedral: https://www.sansebastianturismo.com/...ios-religiosos

Regards Ger

StCirq

We did a day trip to Bilbao from Donostia easily on our own on the Alsa bus. We didn't do Biarritz because we've already been there. I think trying to cram Donostia and Biarritz into a single day would be overkill.

mikelg

I´d visit Getaria, Orio and maybe Zumaia on the way to San Sebastian, and then the city (you can easily visit it in three or four hours). Biarritz would have to be another day. I think this town is much overrated and famous for the wrong reasons. St Jean de Luz and Bayonne, IMO, are much better and nicer options, with more things to see and enjoy.

chapla

I remember passing through Biarritz and thinking it reminded me of La Jolla!.St Jean de Luz no biggie- just a place for macarons! I'd skip both and spend the day in San Sebastian

StCirq

Macarons in St-Jean-de-Luz? You're kidding, right? Not that those infernal macarons aren't all over France, but S-J-d-L is hardly a mecca for them. Seafood? Yes.

It's one of the prettiest places in that part of France, like a miniature Donostia.

melaniebonilla

Maybe you can find an interesting day trip here > https://www.tiqy.com/tours-and-activities-in-spain/bilbao

I did the Gaztelugatxe Tour, Modern Bilbao, and the Between Culture and Wine.

mikelg

St Cirq, macarons were supposedly firstly made in St Jean de Luz, not the colored ones, but the real ones with almond color. The shop that makes and sells them is Maison Adam, established in 1660, as well as great Basque cake.

Melaniebonilla, I took a look at the web you mention...funny my company´s name is listed offering a tour...that I don´t offer and I´ve never heard of this people before!!

StCirq

I didn't know that, mikelg, but nonetheless (and I've been to St-J-d-Luz a half-dozen times), it's not something that stands out for me as a hallmark of the town. I did just google Maison Adam and recognize the storefront. I probably never went in because I dislike macarons and don't have a sweet tooth. Never tried the real ones, though. Will do so next time around.

melaniebonilla

No idea, mikelg. Try to contact them... I've booked trough their page about a month ago and the communication was good.

chapla

Louis XIV of France married Marie Therese of Spain in a very unique little church in St Jean de Luz in 1660 Macarons made by Maison Adam were then served at the wedding! The town is just streets filled with shops,restaurants and tourists.

kja

Oh no, mikel -- didn't you have a similar problem a few years ago? I had hoped you had found a solution.

mikelg

Well, I sent and email to them and they answered back. They´ve told me that they used my name and the description of one of my tours without permission. They´ve kind enough to offer to remove it immediately, which I have requested them to do. Not sure if I´d trust a company like this.

melaniebonilla

good to know you were able to get a solution.

abrianthodges

This is very helpful.... thank you!

abrianthodges

Thank you —- wasn’t sure if I was being overzealous by doing both towns in one day. Thanks for feedback.

abrianthodges

Thank you —- i’ll Look up the other options you mentioned. Very helpful.

StCirq

St-Jean-de-Luz is unlikely to be swarming with tourists at the end of October. We almost always go late fall, winter, or early spring, and to say the streets are full of tourists is just incorrect.