I am planning my first trip to Spain with my husband in late June through early July. We are planning to go for about 2 weeks. We have never been before and need help knowing where to go. We love exploring small towns, taking in the culture, food and the wine! I have heard that southern Spain (and Madrid) are very hot in the summer months. I have also heard that there are some great towns to see in these parts (Seville, Cordobu, Granada, Malaga). If it is too hot in the south, can you suggest places to see in the north. We are potentially thinking of flying into Barcelona.

The Spanish Atlantic coast in the north is wonderful. Both some medium seized cities that are among the most popular for the Spansih themselves during summer, as well as dozens of nice small cities and villages.

The coastal stretch roughly from San Sebastián via Santander to Gijón would make up a great plan for a two weeks trip. San Sebastián is the culinary capital of Spain and the cultural capital of Europe in 2016, fabulous city beaches, landscapes etc. A plain fantastic city, but many would also hold out Santander and Gijón as their favourites up here.

Also lots of wonderful smaller places along the wild coastline (with many small and large beaches that are among the best in the country). Here are four suggestions for small cities/villages:

Hondarribia: http://travel.nytimes.com/2010/08/01...pagewanted=all

Tiny Getaria, fantastic fish and seafood restaurants down in the small harbour: http://www.getaria.net/castellano.asp

Lekeitio: http://mugalari.wordpress.com/2009/11/23/lekeitio/

Llanes: http://en.llanes.com/

Thank you so much for the information. I assume I would need to rent a car from Barcelona to get to these towns. Do you know how long of a car ride it is from Barcelona?

It is hard for us to know what is too hot for you. You can read typical temps at a site like wunderground.
kimhe gave some excellent suggestions.

Also, you can get driving information on sites like google maps or viamichelin.
Spain has an excellent train network, check it out at www.renfe.com.
You'll get the most out of this site if you do some of this kind of legwork yourself and then ask here for more specific suggestions. good luck!

If I were you I would spend a couple of days in Barcelona THEN rent a car and head North on a road trip loop that would also cover some French towns. For example-- Barcelona to Girona to Carcassone to Pau to San Sebastian to Bilbao to Pamplona to Barcelona.

Too bad you are heading out in July because I always think any first timer to Spain ought to visit the South first...but not in the Summer months!

You can take a train from Barcelona to SanSebastian if you prefer not to drive - I don't like to move around alot, would rather "base" and do daytrips. You could easiley base one week in BCN and one week in San Sebastian.

also, you can fly ( cheap, Vueling) from Barcelona to Bilbao.
Rent a car in Bilbao to explore the North.

p.s
the South IS hot but some people are o.k.with it.
When I visited the first time (August), the temps were 90- over 100
I was young .... it did not matter.

I would spend two weeks on the North coast. If you must go to Barcelona, spend 3 or 4 nights there and either fly into Bilbao (very cheap and fast) and take a bus to San Sebastian, or take a train (5.5 hrs.) to San Sebastian. I could easily spend a month in Sna Sebastian but nearby great small towns include, Zarautz, Getaria, Zumaia, and Lekeitio. Bilbao is a great vibrant city. From there there are beautiful places in Cantabria, Asturias, all the way to Santiago. The North coast is beautiful and the beaches are world class. In the summer it can be 100 degrees every day in Andalucia. Most things close from 2 to 5 or 6. The heat is difficult. If it doesn't bother you Andalucia is the "old romantic Spain" of myth and legend. If you were going in April-May or Sep.-Oct. I would go to Andalucia.

I can vouch for the heat in the south. My girlfriend and I did just fine in Costa del Sol taking short day-trips for about a week, using a place right on the beach as our base.
However, when left the beach and drove up to Granada (without A/C), the temperature was around 100 degrees, and I experienced heat exhaustion. It was probably funny to see her at 5'1", 110 lbs, supporting me at 6', 190 lbs, as we walked to our hotel (and no, the sangria had little or nothing to do with it).