Madrid—Portugal—Northern Spain—Barcelona by car, need an itinerary...
 

Hi, fellow Fodorites,

Our plans have suddenly changed due to some unexpected circumstances, and we need to make some QUICK decisions and book new accommodations for our trip to Spain that's starting less than 3 weeks from now...

Originally we were planning 15 days in Spain (after 10 days in Israel): 4 nights in Barcelona, 2 nights in Valencia and our last 5 in Madrid. That itinerary has not changed, we're still landing in Madrid in the morning but instead of taking the flight to Israel, we now plan those 10 days to be added to our original itinerary, all spent in Spain and Portugal. Also I already am taking advantage of the new situation, planning to arrive in Barcelona 2 nights earlier to enjoy more time in that fascinating city (already booked that accommodation).

So we have 8 days to "kill" between landing in Madrid and arriving in Barcelona, which I really want to use the best I can.... I thought to rent a car at the Madrid airport (please note: Jet lag would be an issue...) and travel to Portugal that I know has some fascinating places, and then travel to northern Spain, and then arrive in Barcelona. Truth is, I have to make some QUICK decisions, in order to book our accommodations ASAP, but being buried with work I simply didn't have time to spend researching Portugal or Northern Spain.

I'd appreciate some itinerary ideas... Thanks so much!

Confusing post.
You talk about 15 days in Spain then go on to how many nights allocated for each location.
So with 11 nights (as listed) makes for 12 days that gives you only 3 days spare.
To see Northern Spain and Portugal in those few days is impossible.

I'm with Ribe

I don't even know where to start to narrow down your choices.

Really sorry!!!.... Need new batteries in my calculator, maybe drink less coffee also :-)

Here it is: Our original plan was to land in Madrid mid August for our connection flight to Israel, where we planned to stay for 10 nights. Then we planned 11 nights/12 days in Spain: fly to Barcelona for 4 nights, 2 in Valencia (arrive by train), 5 in Madrid (train). Fly back home from Madrid.

The change is: instead of those 10 nights in Israel — we elect to stay In Spain.

Of those 10 nights I stole 3 (not 2, sorry again) to arrive in Barcelona earlier.

So we now have 7 nights/8 days left to enjoy, renting a car from MAD (I think better than hopping from one place to another by trains, which are also quite expensive) — to end up in Barcelona.

Based on my general knowledge, we want to see some charming places in Portugal (driving West from MAD) and northern Spain (driving North-East), before arriving at Barcelona.

I need a plan for those 7 nights/8 days.

Thanks!

Also, a note: Landing in MAD at 7:30 am (2:30 Central time) is gonna make it a bit uneasy, so the 1st day needs to be easy and short to overcome our fatigue and Jet Lag........

Sorry again, of course, 7:30 am in Madrid is 12:30 am Central... even worse.....

Since it is going to be very hot in the south of Spain, I'd head northwest to the coast. Seven days isn't enough to add Portugal.

If you head to Portugal by car you will need to fly from there to Barcelona. Many times in Spain a car is a burden rather than a help. The train system is excellent.

If you want to rent a car and drive think of heading to towns which are generally north ending in Bilbao or San Sebastian/Donostia and then flying down to Barcelona.

Other towns to consider are Salamanca, Burgos,Segovia, Soria, and Santander.

And remember, not all roads in Spain are equal. I have not done that route in a long time so I do not know how many lanes each has, but they are all not the same.

We're planning 1 or 2 day-trips from Madrid. Already booked the train to Toledo.

Spending couple minutes researching Google maps, Madrid to Porto in Portugal (spent 5 minutes looking for "must-sees" in Portugal, Porto was on the list) is 5.5 hours, with Segovia nearby that can serve as a layover for the 1st night...

Then I checked Porto - Barcelona and it's 10 hours drive in northern Spain, so it can be done in 2 days with couple stops, maybe 3 days... So generally it is doable, so it seems....

I'm open to ideas....

I think part of the problem is that Barcelona is not considered northern Spain and I think the driving is going to take you longer than you think.

A lot has happened over night!
The trip between BCN and Portugal maybe 10 hours on paper, but that leaves little time to really explore and the route will be on Autovias (highways) In Portugal you will need to know about how to pay the electronic tolls. On top of that you have to return the car to Spain or face a hefty reparation fee.
Go with then advice of heading to (max) Basque country
http://mugalari.wordpress.com/
or head up the Costa Brava http://en.costabrava.org/
http://www.girona.cat/turisme/eng/index.php

Here's to the point info about places and things to see and do in the Basque Country, a favourite part of the country during the summer months due to the cooler climate, the food and the landscapes. Both big cities and small towns and villages, great coastline and beautiful inland. http://www.euskoguide.com/

The Basque Country is the culinary heartland of Spain, and you'll find a local and distinctive culture that people take great pride in. A stark contrast to both Barcelona and Madrid: http://www.euskoguide.com/about-basq...e-country.html
http://www.euskoguide.com/basque-cul...ls-events.html

Not sure where you saw 10 hours for Porto to Barcelona, but Via Michelin says its twelve and a half, almost all on motorways, and you probably need to add a bit. I would not tie up two full days of a short trip on interstate driving, not to mention the driving to get to Portgal in the first place. If you really want to add Portugal I would take the night train from Madrid to Lisbon, and the train between Lisbon and points north, and then fly to Spain. But it would be simpler just to settle for northern Spain, where you will find plenty to see. And eat...

...and my suggested itinerary for seven nights in the Basque Country in summer would be
- 2 nights Bilbao: http://www.euskoguide.com/places-bas...ilbao-tourism/
- 2 nights in Lekeitio (and visit Guernica on the way): http://www.lekeitio.org/en/presentation
- 3 nights in San Sebastian: http://www.euskoguide.com/places-bas...stian-tourism/

Guernica: http://www.euskoguide.com/places-bas...rnica-tourism/

I'm grateful for the above ideas, which I will digest later this evening (buried in work right now). But when I claim that driving from Porto to Barcelona takes 10 hours (based on Google-Maps, but even 12) it doesn't mean I plan driving from Porto to Barcelona... It's just for the idea of size and distances, like checking Madrid—Bilbao = 4 hours.

I'm sticking to car rental, based on previous experience in Europe... We drove thru Switzerland, Provence, Italy (more than once), even Scotland... I like the freedom, and I hate schlepping luggage and being stressed adhering to train and flight schedules...

As I mentioned, I will study your ideas. But I already know, and as I mentioned, the first day we would have to take it easy after our long flight, so maybe drive first to Segovia (1 hour), spend our first night there.

Just a very generic suggestion..
As you assume (probably very correctly) that you will be somewhat exhausted and jet-lagged on your arrival day in Madrid, why not use that day to put some distance between you and the capital by rail?
You could go by train (with a sufficiently spaced buffer between your estimated arrival and the train's departure) to one of the cities in the North or Northwest, like Leon, Burgos, Santander or Santiago.
Stay one night.
Pick up rental car next day when you are fresh again.
And take whatever route towards Barcelona.

I'd go north into Rioja and the the Picos d'europa mountains, then follow the line of monestries and towns west coming back along the coast when you run out of time stopping off at Bilbao on the way and then across to Barcelona. It isnt a pretty route but all enjoyable. Much as I'd love to go to Portugal I cannot see you have time to do it.

Unless your flight lands on a Sunday or Saturday, I would not call driving on Madrid's maze of freeways during the morning rush hour a prime example of "taking it easy" after a red-eye flight ;-)

Driving with jet lag is not a suggestion I would make. Stay in Madrid first off.
Do not forget your IDP either.

We're landing Saturday morning, 7:30 am... As I mentioned, if we drive on that day, it would be a short drive to Segovia, rest, tour the city, spend the night there... The idea of taking the train up north is interesting... I'll look into it... But for that we need to get to the city first, right?

BTW, excuse my ignorance, what's IDP?

international driving permit

https://community.ricksteves.com/tra...-pay-250-euros

Woooops.... Thanks so much, ribeirasacra !!! I'd never think about it till this very minute.... Wow... OK, looking for the local AAA office.

kimhe, thanks for the info, checking those links definitely gave me an idea of what we want to see and can expect in Basque country...

However, assuming we prefer to see more charming locations, while spending less in each... What other cities/attractions would you suggest to add to our itinerary? I'm checking the map in two directions, West (Cantabria, Asturias, even Galicia?) or East, in the mountains...

And/or let me ask it in a different way, which one of the cities you already mentioned you (or other Fodorites) would describe as a must-stay for more than just one night?

...Thanks...

I would follow kimhe's suggestion, but I don't do one nighters.

I did follow Kimhe's idea, and bilboburgler's too...

An online marathon produced this itinerary so far:

-- Day 1: Land Saturday morning in Madrid. Pick up car at the airport, drive to Segovia (~1 hour), spend rest of the day and night in Segovia.

-- Day 2-3: Drive up north to Arenas de Cabrales, which is on the North end of Picos d'europa mountains (thanks, bilboburgler). It's a 4.5 hour drive on A-67. Spend 2 nights there (found a small, secluded and romantic hotel, "La Casa De Juansabeli"). Should we concentrate on the mountains, or drive up to the coast? Or have a taste of both?

-- Day 4-6: Drive along the coast to Bilbao, stay 3 nights at a small, very charming hotel (Agroturismo Iabiti-Aurrekoa) in Zamudi, a Bilbao "suburb" which is MUCH quieter and significantly less expensive than Bilbao. When one has a car, lodging in the city makes no sense...

-- Day 7-8: We have ONE MORE NIGHT TO SPEND, before heading to Barcelona.... AND I'M OPEN TO YOUR IDEAS....

...Thanks!

I would drop the car in Bilbao and stay in the city centre to be close to the action and add the night there so I could do a day trip to San Sebastián.

We just spent 6 nights in SS and loved it. https://www.flickr.com/photos/pug_gi...7644330328153/

Then it's an easy Vueling flight to Barcelona.

I like road trips but you have too much time on the road already and no enough time actually seeing places for my taste.
The autoroutes are just large highways, not scenic at all so spending several hours a day driving rather than seeing sites seems like a lot to me.

****Should we concentrate on the mountains, or drive up to the coast? Or have a taste of both?****
Both.

The Picos is a very special place in Europe, parts of it were still being mapped in the 1890s and later, so certainly one day there. The coast is mainly made up of small coves often with some very lovely towns stuck at the head of them. Again worth a drive, each not fantastic but together a very pretty drive.

The idea is to use Bilbao (or it's 12-minute-away "suburb" hotel, which is quieter, easier to park overnight, and also much cheaper) as a base for our trips to the coastal cities and villages around...

The only long one-day drive is between Segovia to Picos. Between the coast and Barcelona we now have 2 days (1 night), so if there's nothing interesting to see in between (???), we might indeed stay one more night in Bilbao, and take that flight to Barcelona, need to look into that.

No no no.... Stop this please. Drive from Segovia. Then slowly head north there is loads to see.
http://www.guiarepsol.com/en/tourism...aritime-towns/
http://www.playascantabria.com/
http://www.guiarepsol.com/en/tourism...as-de-astorga/
http://about-spain.net/tourism/castile-leon.htm
http://www.picosdeeuropa.com/
Then head for The Basque country. Fly to BCN. You simply have not got enough time to do what you want to do and see something of Spain, unless you want to tick boxes.

OK, I extended the Picos d'europa mountains by one night, and moved Bilbao, ahead 1 night, take a Vueling flight to Barcelona.

Ok, sorry I was getting a bit frustrated for you. There are simply too many things to see and I know you cannot cover it all. I would hate you to have taken advice here and then driven past something and thought I should have stopped there!

ribeirasacra, you owe me no apologies, I found your info VERY helpful!!!

I did check briefly the cities on the way up North from Segovia, and - in a nutshell - they offer cathedrals and castles, which we're not as interested in... After a visit in Segovia (and before places like Barcelona, Madrid and Toledo) we're more interested in the mountains and the villages on the coast.

I was hoping to get some ideas (still open to them, before booking our Vueling flight to Barcelona) about an interesting drive thru some magnificent places that will take us 2 days between Bilbao and Barcelona, but if it's just one long, 7-hour highway drive, than yes, I'd stay one more night in Bilbao, and take the flight to Barcelona, which is only about $100 extra, compared to keeping the car for an extra day, plus gas and tolls expenses (according to ViaMichelin)...

****in a nutshell - they offer cathedrals and castles, which we're not as interested in.*** But so is Segovia and Toledo!
I only wrote about cities to give you some ideas. Maybe look around them for some inspirational ideas in the countryside.
look up things like Sierra de la Cabrera
Parque Natural del Lago de Sanabria
Cuevas de Valporquero
Arribes del Duero
plus many many more.

Thanks, ribeira, I will check later this evening... Yes, because we're gonna be visiting Segovia and Toledo I didn't think we need more castles and cathedrals....

I checked these names on Google Map, but each does show more than once in Spain... some are street names in different cities... Could you add the location of each?... Thanks!

They are areas so they do not show up on maps. I live in the Ribeira Sacra and that does not either. They are some suggestions to illustrate to you that driving from one location to another one can miss out on a awful lot. I do not say you MUST see them. Maybe you do not find them of any interest.

See, even when I search Ribeira Sacra in Google Maps, I get 5 listings, none of them seem like a place, they're streets in some towns, or a hotel in some remote place, or a restaurant...

The only listing that showed me a place to visit is Cuevas de Valporquero, those fascinating caves which are certainly worth a try...

Since we're discussing Northern Spain, would you be so kind and point out to me those coastal villages/towns, between Gijón and San Sebastián that are more worth visiting? And which ones we can skip?... Thanks!

<point out to me those coastal villages/towns, between Gijón and San Sebastián that are more worth visiting?>

My suggestion would be:

Genuine Llanes: http://www.whereisasturias.com/llanes-asturias/

Famous and touristy Santillana del Mar: http://www.santillana-del-mar.com/english/index-i.htm

"Big city" Santander: http://www.tourspain.org/santander/

(Then Bilbao)

Local favourite Lekeitio: http://www.lekeitio.org/

Charming Zumaia: http://www.spain.info/en/que-quieres...os/zumaia.html

Getaria, fantastic food in the harbour: http://www.thepauperedchef.com/2007/...-in-getar.html

Surfing Zarautz: http://www.turismozarautz.com/English.asp

Someone got here before me....thank you kimhe. In my post of the 22nd I gave a link to a website about beaches in Cantabria. These too will help you plan something along the coast.