First trip to Europe
 

I've always wanted to go to Europe, and have a yearning to experience Spain. I'm finally planning my first trip and cannot decide if I should spend the full two weeks touring all of Spain, or if I should limit my time in Spain and try to get to other nearby countries.

I know this is a very personal decision, but figured I'd request some opinions to help me with this decision.

Thoughts?

Thank you

Will you have time to do all the things you'd like to do in Spain in two weeks?

It really is a personal decision.

What about Spain attracts you?

You cannot tour all of Spain in two weeks. You could do justice to perhaps three locations but, depending on how far apart they are, your time in each will probably not be enough to more than scratch the surface. If you have 14 days, two days will be spent going and coming, and depending on how long your flight is, and how much you are affected by jet lag, you will probably only have 11 effective days on the ground. Subtract the better part of a day for traveling between cities and you now have three days in each town. A minimum, in my opinion.

I certainly do not think you have time to visit more countries in that length of time, unless it is one of those, "This Tuesday, it must be Belgium" sort of trips.

Two weeks is a lot of time. For me, it is all the vacation time that I will get this year. I understand wanting to see two countries, and of course no one can see all of one country in two weeks. That's where the prioritizing comes in.

I would recommend an open-jaw ticket into Madrid, doing day trips from there if it interests you, and then taking one of the many low-cost carriers to any of the other European countries you'd like to see -- nearby or not. Stay your second week there and then fly home from there.

It's vacation, not your thesis in living history. You can come back. See two places if you want. Many people can see 3 countries in two weeks and live to tell. People have different goals on vacation. I would never spend two weeks in Spain on vacation, yet I have taken probably 5 or 6 individual trips there in the last 15 years, studied abroad there and would tell you without hesitation that it is where I hope to retire.

But for my rare vacations from work, I would split up the two weeks and see more of what I could. Yes, everyone here has their own philosophy on this issue! We all have different situations, timing, resources and obligations.

A first trip to Europe is the best. Good luck!

I don't understand the 'need' to see several countries in one trip. Spain is so big and has so much to offer that you definitely can spend your2 weeks there. If you want to see different things go to different places ...

Anyway I don't think we can answer for you. Depends on you your age your tastes etc.

You can »be« in different countries in two weeks, but you can't »see« them. Spain is a large and very diverse country. Barcelona is totally different from Madrid, and Segovia is totally different from - let's say - Toledo or Cordoba. Why change a country while you can have so much change within one country?

Spain is truly many different countries. There are the Catalans, the heart of which is Barcelona and whose language Catalan is Occitan.

The Basque region, whose main cities in Spain are Bilbao and San Sebastian/Donostia speak a language of unknown origin.

And in the northwest corner is Galicia, they speak Gallego which is more Portuguese than Spanish and there is a heavy Celtic influence.

The south where many first timers have the strongest images of Spain has a Moorish influence.

The center of the country is where Madrid is located.

These are very different places with different architecture, histories, and cultures and variations on regional food.

We have spent considerable time in Spain over the years and two weeks, will just give you a cursory glance.

You should read a guide a two and see what appeals to you. The trains (including the AVE, a high speed train) and buses are generally excellent and their are a few cheapo but reliable airlines Vueling and Easyjet to get you around.

Many decisions for you.

Two weeks is not much for a country as large as Spain, and you will have to put your focus on not more than three regions in order to spend four or five days in one region. These regions would be my recommendation:

- Madrid and Castilla. This is a must-see. Madrid is the capital and a splendid city with lots of attractions. Castilla has beautiful scenery, the gorgeous Escorial and fine historical cities like Avila, Toledo, Segovia. You would need at least five days for this region.

- Andalucia. Another fascinating region, with a blend of Moorish, Christian and Jewish cultures, however not possible to visit in summer.

- Barcelona and Costa Brava. There you find magnificent coastline (esp. Cap de Creus), beautiful towns (Cadaques) and lots of art (Dali, Miro, Gaudi). If you are there, it is easy and recomendable to drive into France and get a feeling of French culture (Ceret, Collioure, Carcassonne).

- Basque country and Cantabria. Donostia and Santander are fine cities, and Bilbao hat the spectacular museum designed by Gehry. Also, many cozy little villages in the mountains and along the coast. Again, easy opportunities to drive into France (St.-Jean-de-Luz, Biarritz).

- Between Costa Brava and Basque country, you find the wine region Rioja with picturesque villages and the opportunity to visit wineries, some of them unique experiences (like Marques de Riscal with another Gehry building).

- The alternative would be driving north of the Pyrenees through France (from Carcassonne via Toulouse to St.-Jean-de-Luz and into Basque country). Or right through the Pyrenees on mountain roads.

So, these would be feasible itineraries:

Option 1 (still quite many destinations)

5 days Madrid and Castilla
2 days Barcelona
2 days Costa Brava
1 day France (eastern end of the Pyrenees)
2 days driving westwards (either northern or southern route)
2 days Basque country

Option 2

5 days Madrid and Castilla
4 days Andalucia
2 days Barcelona
3 days Costa Brava, maybe with a daytrip into France

You really need to decide what time of year you want to got (much of Spain is Very HOT in the summer - average high of 100 and possible 120 degree temps). If going to Andalusia - or even Madrid I reco April or early May at the latest.

You really need to decide what places - not just cities but also sights - that you really must see. For instance, do you want time at a beach resort, do you want the south with Moorish heritage, do you want Madrid AND Barcelona, do you ant to see the Atlantic coast (a charming and cool part of the country in the summer).

A little more research will help you decide if you can see what you want to see in Spain in 2 weeks (not long for this large country - we have twice done 3 week trips here and needed more time).

Like another poster said, a two week vacation means you have at most 11 days of time in Spain, add to that getting from one town to another and it goes down to 9.

I spent two weeks there a few years ago and saw 3 cities(Madrid, Granada, Sevilla) and was never bored. It took me a few days just to get acclimated to the time change and the cultural and linguistic difference.

That said it's all about your traveling style and whether you are a slow traveler or someone who just likes to see the highlights and move on.

I logged in this morning to ask almost this very question, so I will be watching the responses. There are some good ones so far (much appreciated)! I have been to Spain once for 2 weeks and absolutely MUST go back. There is so much to see and do. In my two weeks I spent 5 days in Barcelona, 2 in Madrid, and the rest of the time were single night stops along the northern coast and in the wine country. I feel like this time I must return to the northern coast and devote more time there (it was truly magical to me), and possibly venture into France. I will also spend some more time in Madrid, and since I'm finding myself with a few unplanned days, I was wondering whether to shoot down to southern Spain (I'll be going in June) or if it's worth going west. I may repost as a separate question, since I don't want to hijack this one. In any case, you can't go wrong, and as one poster suggested, Madrid is a very easy place from which to hop a flight to any other area of Europe--Italy and France are close and very easy too. You will love it all!!