One last look before finalizing
 

we have been working on planning a month long trip in may to visit spain and portugal - with great imput by fodorites. as i plan i find that even a month is not enough time - totally skipping barcelona and southwest spain. when we travel we tend to avoid staying in big cities. we plan to visit 9 regions, run into cities (cordoba, seville, lisbon, santiago de campostele, bilboa and san sebastian) for a day to explore the highlights. we usually then take a day trip or 2 to explore the mountain and coastal villages. now that you know our style of travel here is our possible/probably itinerary. would love suggestions and comments. thanks
3 days in Madrid
walking tour, day trip to Toledo
picking up car at airport as we depart
3 days using Antequera as a base
visits to El Torcal Natural Park & festival in Archidona
day trip to Cordobia
1 day Granada (wander at night, early morning reservations for tour of Alhambra)
4 days using Arcos de la Frontera as a base
day trip to Seville
day trip to Ronda & other white villages
day trip along the atlantic coast and southern most spain
3 days south portugal - Salema (explore coasts and mountain villages)
3 days Obidos (day trip to Lisbon, explore coast)
3 days Douro Valley - Lamego as base (staying on a vineyard)
stop in a Schist village or 2 on the way
train/car to explore the eastern valley
3 days in Galicia (Negreira)
day trips to Santiago de Composte and NW coast
2 days in Pico de Europa region
explore Parque Natural de Redes on the way then spend day in Pico de Europe
3 day on Basque coast (Getaria)
day trips to Bilboa and San Sebastian
drop off car at Madrid airport and spend night

thanks for all the help in previous postings.

Much moving around, but sounds like a fabulous trip. Like the idea of staying in small towns and do day-trips into Sevilla, Bilbao etc.

kimhe: thanks for your response. usually i get a lot of chiding for not spending more time in the big cities

it would be far too much moving around for me, but if it suits your style it should be a terrific trip. [I don't mean that to sound critical, it just isn't how I would choose to use a month in Spain as i ind moving around so much very tiring, more so as i get older].

it would be great to read a TR if you have time to write one.

I suspect it won't work for you, but FWIW, I thought a visit to the Alhambra's Nasrid Palace in the evening (in addition to a visit to the larger Alhambra during the day) absolutely magical.

Enjoy!

kja: still considering nite visit but so much more to see in a short time. perhaps in the future. thanks

Looks great, I am wondering though, why don't you go straight to Granada for a night, then on to Antequera? That would save you backtracking to Granada, and shorten up your drive from Antequera to Arcos de la Frontera...
Another suggestion...when you day trip to Ronda, the road through the mountains, Grazelema, El Bosque, is very picturesque and only takes about an hour longer, with stops. Stop in Grazelema and buy some great artisan cheese. On your return, take the highway back to Arcos at night for the quicker route.

In Asturias, besides seafood, look for the local specialty, Il Cachopo, a veal cutlet using Asturian ham and cheese. It is delicious! Local friends in Ribadesella took us out for this treat.

In the Picos, it looks like you are headed for Covadonga, but if you're wanting to drive through, Potes is a nice little town to overnight.

Have a great trip!

your mentioning Potes, sundried, reminds me of the visit that we made there about 30 years ago. My abiding memory is of hunting dogs tattooed with numbers - we never did find out why.

sundried: that ronda loop is the one that i was considering. thanks for the food recommendations in asturias. hope to buy some cheese to bring home. last year in southern italy we brought home 10 kilo, just finishing it up now.

Suggestion for a day-trip to San Sebastian in May.

Have a cup or something in Cafe de la Concha with the best views of the bay and the beach. http://www.yelp.com/biz/caf%C3%A9-de...sebasti%C3%A1n

Walk along the La Concha beach promenade and up on Monte Urgull, fabulous views of the city and the sea. Have had may fine picnics up here: http://www.sansebastianturismo.com/e...f-mount-urgull
On the top of the hill, you'll find the small Castillo de la Mota museum, dedicated to 800 years of San Sebastian history: http://www.sansebastianturismo.com/e...f-mount-urgull

Or continue the La Concha walk around Monte Urgull along Paseo Nuevo where the wawes hit the rocks. Can be spectacular, bit if rough sea, you should be cautious. http://www.sansebastian.co.uk/the-new-promenade/

Have lunch in the Parte vieja/Old town. Go for the famous pintxos, do as the locals and visit some three-four bars and have a pintxo or two in each. This is a good route, but you can't do much wrong here: http://www.todopintxos.com/ruta/ruta...cha_rutas&id=5

Or, if you prefer a sit down meal, I recommend Casa Urola and La Muralla among many great options:
Casa Urola: https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaura...e_Country.html
La Muralla (they serve some great value menus here): https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaura...e_Country.html

If you want to lunch outside, I have had many nice meals in La Cueva. Not ravig reviews, but I have always been happy here, great fish soup and lovely people running the place. http://restaurantelacueva.org/index_ingles.htm

Round off lunch with a cup of something on Plaza de la Contitucion in the heart of the old town. http://www.basquecountry-tourism.com...nstitucion.php

Perhps visit the great and recently renovated San Telmo museum, a "museum of Basque Society and Citizenship". http://www.santelmomuseoa.com/index....mid=10&lang=en

Stroll the newer, pedestrian and elegant Ensanche (widening) area with all the exclusive shops, many fine bars and local atmosphere restaurants, the cathedral, the San Martin market etc. http://www.sansebastianturismo.com/e...ious-buildings
http://www.msanmartin.es/

Round it all off in one of the cafes in beautiful and tranquile Plaza de Guipuzkoa: http://tourism.euskadi.eus/en/cultur...aa30-12375/en/

And you should perhaps also check the San Sebastian European Capital of Culture 2016 agenda: http://www.sansebastianturismo.com/e.../donostia-2016

kimhe: thank you so much for the very detailed itinerary for san sebastian. sounds like you have spent a lot of time there. now i just have to do the same for myself in other areas. thanks again

<sounds like you have spent a lot of time there> Lived and studied there and visited almost every year since 1987, so just ask if you have some more spesific questions, had to hold back another ton of tips ;-)