Madrid—Portugal—Northern Spain—Barcelona by car, need an itinerary...
Jul 21st, 2014, 04:08 PM
#21
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Jul 21st, 2014, 05:07 PM
#23
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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...
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...
Jul 21st, 2014, 08:46 PM
#25
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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!
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!
Jul 21st, 2014, 10:10 PM
#26
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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.
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.
Jul 21st, 2014, 11:49 PM
#28
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.
Jul 22nd, 2014, 06:58 AM
#29
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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.
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.
Jul 22nd, 2014, 12:07 PM
#30
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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.
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.
Jul 23rd, 2014, 01:23 AM
#32
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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!
Jul 23rd, 2014, 06:57 AM
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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)...
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)...
Jul 23rd, 2014, 08:44 AM
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****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.
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.
Jul 23rd, 2014, 11:01 PM
#37
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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.
Jul 24th, 2014, 06:45 AM
#38
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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!
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!
Jul 24th, 2014, 11:08 PM
#39
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<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
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
