sepandee

I'm landing in Bilbao at the beginning of June, planning on staying there and in San Sebastian for 3 nights. Then about 5-6 days later I have to be in Barcelona and was wondering what to do in between. Finally, I have 4-5 days after Barcelona. Might rent a car if it's worth it, but slight preference not to.

We're a couple, in our 20s/30s. Prefer the cute towns on hills in the Italian Riviera as opposed to, say, New York City, though both have their time and places. Exploring the city/town by foot/bike, sitting at a cafe watching the people go by, gastronomic adventure, that's what we like as opposed to lining up in July to see the Sistine Chapel, mixing with crowded tourists in La Rambla in Barcelona, or going shopping in Champs-Élysées. One reason I loved Granada is because I could sit somewhere nice, grab a very delicious tapas with a drink for 2.50 euros, and move along to somewhere else.

A friend has suggested maybe staying longer in San Sebastian and doing day trips to san juan de luz, biarritz, and hondarribia. I'm thinking maybe I'll just stay in one of those places instead of doing a day trip. And based on some initial research, I have come up with a long list of places to visit. At the end of it, I hope I can visit two or three places between my stay in San Sebastian and in Barcelona:

ltafulla, Catalonia
Barbate, Cádiz
Hondarribia, Pais Vasco
Peñíscola, Castellón:
Roquetas de Mar, Almería
Santillana del Mar
Ainsa (betwen san seb and barcelona)
Daroca (south of zaragoza)
Alquézar (b/w SB and BCN)
Olite (b/w SB and Zaragoza)
Cudillero (b/w santander and A Coruna); Luarca
Santillana del Mar (next to Santander)
Jaca in Aragon (b/w San Seb and BCN)
Town in Valle de Baztan (near San Seb)
Comillas (NEAR Santander)

Before or after Barcelona: El Calatanazor, Monasterio de Veruela, the fortresses of Gormaz and Berlanga del Duero, Tarazona

Then after Barcelona:
Morella (b/w bcn and val)
Albarracin (b/w Madrid and valencia)
Besalú (north of BCN)
Sant Feliu de Guíxols (near Girona)
Cadaqués, Roses, Escala and Besalú (Costa Brava)

I know that's a long list to only choose two or three from, but I'm hoping someone knowledgeable can help me with this challenge.

I appreciate the help. Thank you.

kja

Should be wonderful, no matter what you choose!

You might find some useful ideas in my trip report -- just click on my screen name to find it.

kimhe

I'll also suggest you stay a couple of more days in Belle Epoque Donostia/San Sebastián, the food capital of Spain, if not all of Europe + tons of other qualities: http://www.euskoguide.com/places-bas...stian-tourism/

"Is San Sebastian the world's greatest city for foodies?": http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/de...y-for-foodies/

Plenty of other excellent small towns and villages close to San Sebastián.

Getaria, fantastic seafood down in the small harbour: http://www.euskoguide.com/places-bas...taria-tourism/
They still do it this way: http://www.thepauperedchef.com/2007/...-in-getar.html

The old regional capital Tolosa, a little inland. Perhaps experience the Saturday market, as genuinely Basque as it gets with the food, the music, atmosphere etc: http://www.euskoguide.com/places-bas...olosa-tourism/
Best steaks in the world, here in Casa Julian: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cOaLtnbKOos

Have lunch in one of the waterfront restaurants in tiny and beautiful Pasajes San Juan/Pasai Donibane just west of San Sebastian. You can walk her in less than two hours (incl a two min boat ride, runs all the time). https://www.euroresidentes.com/euror...s/san-juan.htm

The historic capital Guernica, now primarily known for the 1937 terror bombings and Picasso's masterpiece: http://www.euskoguide.com/places-bas...rnica-tourism/

Zugarramurdi with the witches: http://www.guiarepsol.com/en/tourism.../zugarramurdi/

Great and fun documentary about the Basque food culture. It starts here, takes you through San Sebastián, Getaria, Tolosa, the fish market in Pasajes, etc. etc: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Jbipbzoc1Y

And, above all, San Sebastian: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OwmBAvqa_0U

ekscrunchy

I'm curious as to why you included Barbate--for the tuna? How did youu come up withh all those names in theh first grouping?

The towns in Andalucia would not be a good idea between SS and Barcelona--take a look at the map to understand.

Bedar

Don't forget Pamplona. You can forget Roquetas and Barbate, both too far south.

HappyTrvlr

We traveled to Barcelona from the San Sebastian area via the French side of the Pyrenees. Hondarribia is about 20 min from SS. The French Basque villages are charming, Sare, Ainhoa, Ascain, Espellette, etc. and on tne coast St-Jean de Luz. We stopped two different nights in the mountains and then headed to Collioure, France on the Mediterranean. Next back to Spain, several days on the Costa Brava in Begur before going to Barcelona for a week.