We are staying several nights in Getaria to visit the Basque country. Thereafter we will spend 3 nights in Logrono to revisit Rioja wine area. Distances are pretty much even if we drive from Getaria to Logrono through Pamplona or through Vitoria. For any who have been to both, which would you advise as more attractive for a longish stop to have lunch and explore the city on our drive to Logrono? Thanks for your help.

The route through Pamplona will be a little quicker because of the new highway, the A12, from Pamplona to Logroño. There is only a short section as you near Logroño that still needs to be completed, but it's open to traffic all the way into the city.

Both Vitoria-Gasteiz and Pamplona have their charm and great restaurants, especially Pamplona.

There´s one visit in Vitoria-Gasteiz that I particularly like, the guided tour of the reconstruction of the Old Cathedral, which was "badly" built and rebuilt, so they are doing a great job "redoing" it from inside. The visit is very good for some understanding of how cathedrals were built. www.catedralvitoria.com. For great pintxos, Dato street, Sagartoki bar and for a great meal in a cozy restaurant, El Portalón, www.restauranteelportalon.com.

In Pamplona, I like Rodero restaurant, the old town and the Plaza El Castillo, as well as the walls surrounding the city.

Ken Follett, the author of "The Pillars of the Earth", was fascinated with the restoration of the Cathedral of Santa Maria in Vitoria.
http://www.kenfollettvitoria.com/home.html

A curious museum in Vitoria: The Fournier Playing Card Museum
http://www.whatsonwhen.com/sisp/inde...vent_id=159430

Victoria's historical area is beautiful. The church tour would be well worth it if you have the time.

thanks everyone. These are some excellent references. the playing card museum would be fun (and of course, the cathedral rebuild looks fascinating) We lived in Minnesota for a long time. Brown and Bigelow in St. Paul built their empire on playing cards and used to have exhibits.

Looks like Vitoria will be my pick--unless husband is very tired of driving and wants to shave a bit of time from the schedule. Nice to know we really can't lose with either pick. Thanks again.

Julie: I dream about traveling in Spain and you both dream and do the actual traveling! When are you going? Can you post the itinerary so I can begin sighing?? Thanks!

(Hoping to convince travel partner to do a week in Madrid next winter--I found great advance booking hotel rates)

for booking hotels I have found www.trivago.com is good. Workslike kayak, showing several websites. there has been a lot of publicity about it lately. So far it has been interesting. Depending on which website you book, the same price includes breakfast in many cases. Hope this helps someone.

eks, we leave Sunday. Flying in and out of Madrid. First night in Leon, then 3 in Ribadasella on the Asturian coast, then 5 in Getaria on Basque coast, 3 in Logrono to see more Rioja country, and a final 3 in Madrid before flying home. Love Spain. And the north is coolish at this time of year when it's really hot in Ft. Lauderdale.
lin, I will check out your website. Sounds good. I have usually used Booking.com if not returning to a place I have already stayed. Their prices seem reasonable and they have easy cancellation policies for most places so I feel very safe in booking a long time in advance.

Julie--I highly recommend dinner at Basilio's on the waterfront in Ribadasella. What a cute little town. Where are you staying?

Julie,
In Logroño don't miss a wine & tapas crawl on Calle Laurel. Bar Soriano (champignon), Bar Lorenzo (tio Agus), Bar Donosti (mushroom with cured ham), Bar Pata Negra (cured ham), Blanco y Negro (anchovies), Juan Y Pinchamé (kabab of pineapple with shrimp), Entremuros (stuffed pepper)...

Julie, I really hope you have a great holiday. If while in the Basque area you have any questions on places, just get in touch and I´ll be happy to help.

Julie-
In Logrono I actually prefer tapas hopping on Calle San Juan (around the corner from the Hotel Marques de Vallejo) versus Calle Laurel. It's full of tapas bars and has a more local feel - crowded but not so crazy as Calle Laurel.

Be sure to try Tastavin at Travesía de San Juan, 25. They have truly wonderful pintxos - as good as some places in San Sebastian!

Wow. Thanks for all of these great suggestions.
Marija, we're staying at Villa Rosario. We stayed there on our other visit to the area and loved it. One of our top 5 or so favorite hotels anywhere and love the town as well. We'll look for Basilio. Thanks.

Revulgo, we did a tapas crawl on Calle Laurel and loved it, hence our decision to stay in Logrono on this trip. Will look for the specific bars you mention. The only one I recall for sure was the mushroom place. Such great taste for one tiny grill.

mikelg, Thank you. I may be sending a message your way as we proceed. Our plan is to spend the five days in Getaria thus: Bilbao enroute on first day, coastal villages to west on second day with lunch at Etxebarri, San Sebastian on day three, coastal villages to east and into France on day 4 and repeat what we enjoy most with further exploration on day 5 or move into the interior to the west a bit per Maribel's guide. Any advice on this plan? Thanks.

CathyM, This makes my day. We're staying at Marques de Vallejo. Sounds like we can dine and crawl home if necessary. Happy, too, to hear of a place within walking distance that may be as good as the places in San Sebastian since my reading about those places is making me wonder if I did the right thing in booking outside the city rather than in it. I was really torn between the lure of the city and its pinxtos and our love of small fishing villages. the latter, coupled with location in the middle of many things we want to explore enabling us to stay in one place for 5 days won me over, but I still waver. This eases some qualms. Thanks.

Have a great trip, Julie. We enjoyed Villa Rosario too.

Julie, your plan seems fine to me. From Getaria to Bilbao (on the motorway) it´ll take about one hour, and in Bilbao you may easily spend the whole day. Don´t forget to visit the Hanging Bridge, if you´re around let me know and I´ll show it to you (I live very close by), if you don´t have any inconvenience. The rest of the trip is perfect, roads are good but curvy, so drive carefully. Maybe a quick trip into the Rioja region or Vitoria...(just posted in www.blogseitb.us/basquetourism on this area). Hava a great trip!!

Julie-
When exactly are you leaving? I am so behind in updating my personal trip notes. I have some great places in Logrono from last year but haven't documented them (yet). I may have time to informally skim my notes before you leave.

Where are you staying in Getaria?

In Vitoria don't miss Sagortoki for their award winning innovative pintxos. They even had a lunch special that was around 10 euros for 4 or 5 pintxos and a nice wine.

http://www.sagartoki.es/

In Bilbao we spend a late morning visiting the Hanging Bridge.
I absolutely loved not only the bridge but the neighborhoods on both sides of it. We timed our pintxos crawl for lunch to begin after our bridge visit and enjoyed the local feel of this area.

http://www.puente-colgante.com/

I think she is staying at Saiaz Getaria hotel. I remember this from another post as I am staying there in Sept, also a lover of small villages.

This is wonderful. Thank you so much for such great info.

mikelg, your blog is terrific. I'll check it out from my mini-computer while I'm in the area. I intend to make a side trip to Vitorio while we're in Rioja staying in Logrono so that I can see both Vitorio and Pamplona (which we'll see enroute between Getaria and Logrono) I'd be delighted to have your guidance in Bilbao. I'll give you a heads up when we're approaching and perhaps we can meet so you can show us the hanging bridge.

CathyM, we leave tomorrow morning but will fly to Madrid, then to Leon for a night, then to Ribadasella for 3 and only then on to Getaria and the Saiaz, staying from 18th to 22nd. I will be checking internet often, so if you have info to pass on, I'll be available to pick it up. Thanks for any guidance you can pass my way. Thanks for the info on Sagotori. Sounds swell. We'll find it.

Jubilada, I'll let you know how we feel about Saiaz. I'm very excited about it. Saw it recommended in some special about good hotels in Food and Wine or Travel and Leisure--after I booked, based on a Maribel recommendation.

Thanks, that would be great. I am interested in hearing about how it is is to get into San Sebastian, and also about your choices amongst the famous fish restaurants in Getaria, as well as extabarri, where we also plan to go..Have a great time!