Northern Spain Itinerary
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2003
Posts: 315
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Northern Spain Itinerary
We have 15 nights and prefer to spend 3 nights in one place and do day trips.
We'll be traveling late May flying into Barcelona and out of Madrid. We have already been to BCN so not included in this itinerary. Husband lived in Spain for a year (over 30 years ago) and speaks fluent Spanish.
From our research it seems like it is a pain to have a car in San Sebastian so we are thinking of having the car for the first part of trip (Girona and Sitges) and then do trains after that.
We are open to the best order to do this and whether to use train or plane from Girona area (BCN) to San Sebastian/ La Rioja area.
fly home - BCN
pickup car BCN
Sitges - 3 nights
Girona - 3 nights
drop car in Girona or BCN
train or plane Girona or BCN to San Sebastian or La Rioja area
San Sebastian - 3 nights ( day trips via train or bus)
Laguardia, La Rioja - 3 nights ( visiting wineries via foot, bus)
Madrid - 3 nights
Thank you for any suggestions!
We'll be traveling late May flying into Barcelona and out of Madrid. We have already been to BCN so not included in this itinerary. Husband lived in Spain for a year (over 30 years ago) and speaks fluent Spanish.
From our research it seems like it is a pain to have a car in San Sebastian so we are thinking of having the car for the first part of trip (Girona and Sitges) and then do trains after that.
We are open to the best order to do this and whether to use train or plane from Girona area (BCN) to San Sebastian/ La Rioja area.
fly home - BCN
pickup car BCN
Sitges - 3 nights
Girona - 3 nights
drop car in Girona or BCN
train or plane Girona or BCN to San Sebastian or La Rioja area
San Sebastian - 3 nights ( day trips via train or bus)
Laguardia, La Rioja - 3 nights ( visiting wineries via foot, bus)
Madrid - 3 nights
Thank you for any suggestions!
#2
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 5,934
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
No pain to have a car in San Sebastian, easy to drive around in the city, but no need for it in the city itself as it's so small and very walkable. Could be a great advantage though to have the car for exploring the beautiful and interesting surroundings. The mountain areas and the rugged coast are very different, but everywhere you get the fantastic Basque food. An allow enough time for fabulous San Sebastian itself.
The surroundings: http://tourism.euskadi.eus/basque-coast/
San Sebastian itself: http://www.euskoguide.com/places-bas...stian-tourism/
But also great public transport in the area. And if you fly from Barcelona, go to Bilbao (one hour, affordable and frequent departures) and catch the direct bus from the airport to San Sebastian (70 mins).
The surroundings: http://tourism.euskadi.eus/basque-coast/
San Sebastian itself: http://www.euskoguide.com/places-bas...stian-tourism/
But also great public transport in the area. And if you fly from Barcelona, go to Bilbao (one hour, affordable and frequent departures) and catch the direct bus from the airport to San Sebastian (70 mins).
#3
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 22,985
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I would keep the car for the entire time. There is a lot to see between Barcelona and San Sebastian, including out of the way sights such as Taüll and San Juan de la Peña that would be reached more conveniently by car.
These pictures are the reverse of your trip, but might give you some ideas in terms of sights to see:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/mksfca...190654780/show
These pictures are the reverse of your trip, but might give you some ideas in terms of sights to see:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/mksfca...190654780/show
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2003
Posts: 315
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Our original plan was to keep the car the whole time and had thought of going via the Pyrenees to San Sebastian but it added too many nights. Need to keep at 15 and also trying to avoid one night stands.
Thanks for the replies.
Thanks for the replies.
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2003
Posts: 315
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Okay - your replies just made us rethink this again.
If we keep car, spend two days (1 night) driving from Girona to San Sebastian
via Pyrenees. Suggest an overnight stop?
Then 3 nights SS
And just two nights Laguardia, La Rioja and maybe drop the car in Logrono and train to Madrid.
Thanks!
If we keep car, spend two days (1 night) driving from Girona to San Sebastian
via Pyrenees. Suggest an overnight stop?
Then 3 nights SS
And just two nights Laguardia, La Rioja and maybe drop the car in Logrono and train to Madrid.
Thanks!
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2003
Posts: 315
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Now that we got the land itinerary figured out I ventured into the airfare and got quite a sticker shock. We usually travel in the fall but were thinking of late May this time. Fortunately we are flexible.
SFO-BCN / MAD - SFO
May 20 - June 5 roughly $1533.00
Sept 24 - Oct 10 roughly $1388.00
The hotels we want are available for both time frames and are very reasonable, assuming because of the weak Euro. As far as weather and crowds do you see any advantage to one time over another?
SFO-BCN / MAD - SFO
May 20 - June 5 roughly $1533.00
Sept 24 - Oct 10 roughly $1388.00
The hotels we want are available for both time frames and are very reasonable, assuming because of the weak Euro. As far as weather and crowds do you see any advantage to one time over another?
#10
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 23,115
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
If it matters, you'll probably have more daylight during the May / June time period:
http://www.timeanddate.com/astronomy/
http://www.timeanddate.com/astronomy/
#12
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 5,934
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
And if you are anywhere near Barcelona on May 22, you should go and see fabulous flamenco dancer Eva Yerbabuena at Mercat de les Flors. Part of the cutting edge Ciutat Flamenco festival, and Yerbabuena is one of the two-three greatest the past fifteen-twenty years. http://mercatflors.cat/en/espectacle...flamenco-ay-4/
Clip from the performance, here in Cordoba a couple of years ago: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=clCZYH5VNWw
Clip from the performance, here in Cordoba a couple of years ago: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=clCZYH5VNWw
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
SCgirl0218
Europe
20
Jun 24th, 2012 07:41 AM