Torn - Northern Spain (Galicia) vs Croatian Coast
 

Early stages of planning a family vacation (just 2 adults and an older teenager) and I am struggling to decide between two options.

1. Northern Spain - Galicia / Basque Country, highlights of Asturias & Cantabria.
2. Croatian Coast with an emphasis on Split and Dubrovnik

Timing is 10 days in late June and early July. Budget is generous.

I would love to hear peoples opinions - pros and cons.

Croatia sounds less hectic than your northern Spain itinerary. The water is also likely to be warmer. But it might be more crowded with vacationers from northern Europe.

You have a pretty confined area selected for Croatia (town four hours apart by bus), but you have a lot selected for northern Spain, and I think you would have to refine it for 10 days.
Both areas are lovely--probably easier to escape crowds in Spain in July.
When all else is equal, I let flights help me decide.

Thanks - OP here. One refinement to my original post. I acknowledge that tackling Galicia, Asturias, and Cantabria is probably too much for ten days. Would probably just focus on the later two.

Honestly - I am leaning towards the Croatia option - but the specter of the GoT crowds scare me.

If you do Croatia, I hope you plan Galicia, Asturias, Cantabria and Badque regions in Spain and France another year when you have more time. It is so interesting and we found, less touristed.

Dubrovnik gets cruise crowds even without the GoT effect. But, it is very small and does not take a lot of time to see. Best strategy is to do day trips and enjoy am and pm for that town. Split is larger so I think a bit easier to avoid crowds. Amount of time there depends on day trips you are interested in, but I think the real meat of the trip in high summer would be the islands or coastline you enjoy in between the two. Only Hvar town gets truly mobbed, perhaps Bol on Brac. But both are large islands, so as long as you are willing to hoof it, take a boat trip, or drive, you'll be able to find respite. I would spend some time reading up on the islands or part of the mainland you would enjoy. In August or late July, I would have suggested northern Spain, but I think late June early July should be great for Croatia. Of course who knows how the effects of all the spring travel Covid disruption will affect crowds this summer--I am hoping to get a summer or fall deal at some point and help out the tourist areas that have been hit, even if my late May trip happens!

It really depends on what you want to see and do, but FWIW, I think with 10 days, you could see much -- but not everything of interest -- in southern Croatia. I would want at least another day or two, but I'm not you! The Rough Guide is an excellent source of information about that area.

As you have already learned, your plans for northern Spain are overly ambitious. Consult the Michelin Greens for the area, and you might find some information in my trip report:
https://www.fodors.com/community/eur...lunya-1047395/

I´m going to Galicia for 6 days, driving from Bilbao, where I live, next April 12. Lugo, Muxia in the Death Coast, Santiago de Compostela, Ourense and León are the places where we´ll sleep (two nights in Ourense, I want to enjoy the Ribeira Sacra, its monasteries and its wines and vineyards). It´s pretty hectic, even knowing already the area, so I guess that 10 days for such a large area is not too much. Take into account that it´s a very, very rainy area, green and with beautiful mountainous landscapes, and also wonderful, small beaches (but again, water is not that warm, specially in Galicia - freezing-) but sunny weather is not always an option. I´d stick either to the Basque Country and Cantabria or Galicia and Asturias, but not all of them.

Go to Croatia if you like rather small cities, average food, dry sunny weather and seawater warm enough for a swim.
Go to the Spanish Atlantic coast if you like bigger cities, very good food, rather rainy weather and cold seawater.

I agree that the food in northern Spain is one of the delights of visiting that area. I had some excellent meals in Dalmatia, but not every meal was outstanding.

In late June / early July, rain is not unlikely in the north of Spain, but not so much that it would deter me. The OP might check a good climate data source, like weatherbase.com or weatherspark.com

While northern Spain has more cities with a sizeable population than Dalmatia, it also has any number of charming small towns.

Agree with the assessment by nekervd

Photos of Croatia - https://andiamo.zenfolio.com/f244307974
trip report Croatia - https://andiamo.zenfolio.com/blog/20...nd-the-islands
Photos northern Spain - https://andiamo.zenfolio.com/p326887656
https://andiamo.zenfolio.com/p494569692
trip report Northern Spain - https://andiamo.zenfolio.com/blog/20...n-to-santander

Wonderful input - thanks!