N Spain Quaint Central Location
 

Looking to book a trip in N Spain to see beautiful vistas and small towns.
I would to find a central location to do day trips, small town or village or 2 central locations for easy , stress less trip.
Could stay 2 weeks. Could begin in Barcelona, stay for 2/3 nts.
My hubby has no issues to driving but could train out of Barcelona and collect a car elsewhere.
This is crazy— I would like to go in 4-6 weeks.
Thank you in Advance!

Well, northern coast of Spain is 1200km (750 miles long), and Barcelona is 400 miles away from the most eastern city on the northern coast, Donostia-San Sebastian, so it´s a large area. Barcelona is Mediterranean and we would not call it "the north", so you probably need to be much more specific in your question for more accurate answers.

Truly open to any itinerary that makes sense.
I could consider another city to arrive from US or another destination.
I m not so versed on Spain; Northern Spain maybe too remote.
Originally, I considered Northern Italy, albeit, concerned with Floods.
Perplexed.

4-6 weeks is the start or middle of August.
This is core to when Europeans go on holiday, stuff already booked etc
The geography of Spain is a little odd with Madrid being very high up. So understanding if you want to go to the Med coast or the Atlantic northern coast is pretty significant.

If you're planning to stay in Barcelona for two weeks, there are plenty of interesting towns and cities nearby that you can visit on day trips or overnight stays. All accessible by train which is an excellent service. I would avoid the stress of hiring a car and enjoy the relaxation of a train journey.

Girona
-Distance from Barcelona: About 1 hour by train.
- Highlights: Medieval architecture, Jewish Quarter, Girona Cathedral, colorful houses along the Onyar River.

Tarragona
-Distance from Barcelona: About 1 hour by train.
- Highlights: Roman ruins, Tarragona Amphitheatre, Tarragona Cathedral, sandy beaches.

Sitges
- Distance from Barcelona: About 40 minutes by train.
- Highlights: Beautiful beaches, charming old town, vibrant nightlife, Sitges Film Festival.

Montserrat
- Distance from Barcelona: About 1.5 hours by train and cable car/funicular.
- Highlights: Montserrat Monastery, stunning mountain scenery, hiking trails, Black Madonna statue.

Figueres
- **Distance from Barcelona**: About 1.5 hours by train.
- **Highlights**: Dalí Theatre-Museum, birthplace of Salvador Dalí, Castell de Sant Ferran.

Vic
- Distance from Barcelona: About 1.5 hours by train.
- Highlights: Historic old town, Roman Temple, weekly market in the main square.

Blanes
- Distance from Barcelona: About 1.5 hours by train.
- Highlights: Beautiful botanical gardens (Marimurtra and Pinya de Rosa), beaches, relaxed atmosphere.

Castelldefels
- Distance from Barcelona: About 30 minutes by train.
- Highlights: Long sandy beaches, water sports, Castelldefels Castle.

Sant Cugat del Vallès
- Distance from Barcelona: About 30 minutes by train.
- Highlights: Monastery of Sant Cugat, vibrant cultural scene, local markets.

Vilanova i la Geltrú
- Distance from Barcelona: About 45 minutes by train.
- Highlights: Lovely beaches, old town, railway museum.

We prefer small quaint town to stay,
Just need to fly in somewhere.
I’ll look at towns suggested, perhaps stay in 1 or 2 of them.

I'd stay in Girona and then look at taking a train into France and stay say in Narbonne or Perpignon. Open borders, might as well enjoy.

Wherever you choose I'm sure you will enjoy, Northern Spain has some beautiful places to visit. Happy Holidays!

Starting in Madrid looks more feasible.
Could drive or train N to Northern area.
I would like to find 2 amazing places to stay in Northern region 4/5 nits ea.
Please know, I’m unfamiliar with Spain other than the Andalusia area.

To become much more familiar with Northern Spain, which as mikelg has explained is a vast area from west to east, from the autonomous regions of Galicia, to Asturias, to Cantabria to the Basque Country (and doesn't include Catalunya), it would helpful for you to secure a copy of the most recent DK Eyewitness Guide to Northern Spain to understand a bit more about this area. Then decide on a region where you would most enjoy spending your time.

Look up Cudillero in Asturias and Santillana del Mar in Cantabria. Both villages offer a picturesque and charming experience with their unique attractions and beautiful settings.

My vote would be Getaria. Fly into Bilbao or San Sebastián, both close to that coastal town.

But you would need to book NOW!!

Yes, good advice Biloa looks best, it’s actually cheaper than Madrid, unexpected.

Biloa is Bilbao? Yes, of course, much cheaper than Madrid or Barcelona.

At the risk of revealing an overlooked gem, Castro Urdiales was surprisingly enjoyable. Just don't tell anyone.....