Madrid to Bilbao
 

We have now decided to fly from Madrid to Bilbao, rent a car, go to San Sebastion. We will stay 1-2 nights and fly to Barcelona. Is it is it difficult to have a car in the area? Thank you

Unless you are going to travel outisde of San Sebastian you do not need a car in town.

I'd agree. There's a bus from the Bilbao airport that takes you directly to San Sebastian. If you only have 1-2 nights then you probably won't have time to see much outside of San Sebastian and if you do want to visit a nearby village public transportation is good.

Thanks for your replies. Is there a place to check luggage when we go the Guggenheim?

If you arrive in Bilbao but want to stop in Bilbao and visit the Guggenheim before heading to San Sebastian here's what you could do:

Take the bus from the Bilbao airport to the Termibus bus station in Bilbao. At the bus station in Bilbao there are storage lockers for your luggage and if the lockers are full there is a door you can go to and they will store your luggage in a storage room. The metro or the tram is just outside the bus station and either will take you very close to the Guggenheim. Alternatively it's not a long walk (less than 30 minutes) if the weather is nice and you want to stretch your legs. Bilbao is a great city to walk with excellent pintxos and restaurants if you happen to be visiting during lunch/dinner. When you're done with the Guggenheim just head back to the bus station and you can get a bus to San Sebastian. For 1-2 nights this is a bit rushed! Hopefully you have plenty of time alloted for Madrid and Barcelona.

Stay in Bilbao. There's more than enough to do and see for your very brief time. This old industrial city has a rich history and good walking tours operated by the municipality to explain it. Overshadowed by the Guggenheim, its older beaux-arts museum contains a significant collection worth at least a couple of hours (http://www.museobilbao.com/in/) And if the food doesn't equal the fame of San Sebastian, there are still plenty of tasty restaurants and tapas (or, as they say now, pinxtos) bars.

Thank you for your help.

Note that in spain anyone driving a car who requires glasses to drive per their driver's license must also carry a spare pare and this is apparently enforced in ubiquitous road side check points - checking not for this but many other things

I have never stopped and I wear glasses.

you may want to take a look at my blog as a local on the Basque Country...www.blogseitb.us/basquetourism

Thank you for all your comments
ejs

have never stopped and I wear glasses.>


not sure what your point is but I have read that that is an official law in Spain and some Spanish residents confirmed that it was - so pack a spare pare of specs along - could come also in handy in general if you lose your spectacles.

It is compulsory for those wearing glasses to have a spare pair in the car.