lymichie

We are starting the trip in Switzerland with a week of trekking. Then we have three weeks to get from Zurich to Lisbon where we are meet friends. We are considering the following:

Stay a couple of extra nights in Switzerland to take advantage of the mineral baths. Then head down to Liguria and stay a week in Levanto. We’re considering Levanto because it seems a bit off the beaten path as they say. And it looks like there are bike paths and hiking trails that go from town to town. And of course, to visit the beaches! We probably wouldn’t rent a car because the public transport and the biking/hiking paths seem to make visiting neighboring towns easy. Next we would venture off to Getaria, Spain in the basque region. Perhaps Zumaia or Lekeitio. None of which we are familiar with, but look a bit smaller/quieter and yet close enough to visit San Sebastián and the surrounds. We would rent a car for this week as public transportation doesn’t appear to be easily accessible. That would leave us with three or four days for Nazare, Portugal before meeting friends in Lisbon. Would like to travel from country to country via train, but not certain it’s viable.

All suggestions, thoughts, comments are appreciated! Especially any thoughts on travel via train… okay on town choices as well!
I will thank you all in advance and look forward to your rumination's!
Lisa

neckervd

There are sigmarked hiking trails along the whole Riviera (up to Marseille), not only around Levanto.
Levanto is the gate to 5Terre and can therefore get busy.

A train ride from Levanto to San Sebastian is easy, but very long:
Levanto dp 8.35 - Genova dp 10.58 - Nice Ville dp 14.40 - Marseille dp 17.28 - Toulouse ar 21.17
Toulouse dp 9.33 - San Sebastian ar 15.10, dp by bus 16.00 - Getaria Frontoia ar 16.43 - Getaria Kamineo Etxea ar 16.48

bilboburgler

It is a new fad, to come to Europe and randomly visit places far apart.

ok Trains
Use seat61.com to understand how they work
use rome2rio to get the basic planning done and check out alternative bus routes
bahn.de is far more detailed for final planning
buy your tickets from local country train companies or trainline.com
do not buy your tickets from the various US and China based train discounters who will stick a premium on your tickets or get the details wrong.

Sometimes flying looks cheaper and faster. Cheaper, well only if you don't believe in Climate Change. Faster well only if you think getting up early to get across town to wait in an airport etc etc is fast than just walking to the train at a sensible time.

But the great thing about trains is you can walk around, chat to people, see the countryside and take a picnic. Nearly all of which you cannot do in a cramped seat in an aluminium can.

neckervd

BTW: you don't want to visit anything in Portugal bu the (cold seawater) beach Nazare. Right?

San Sebastian - Lisbon by train and bus:
San Sebastian dp by train 5.32 - Valladolid 9.23/9.40 - Salamanca ar 10.46, dp by bus 12.30 - Lisbon ar 19.50

lymichie

Thanks for the heads up on the Levanto hiking being so busy. And the fact that the entire Riviera has hiking trails! Is there a specific sight where you can find a map of the hiking trails for the area? And in your opinion a better option to Levanto?

We considered flying to San Sebastián, but thought it might be an interesting train ride… better to fligh and just get there instead of traveling by train… Sounds like the flight might be a better option!

Thank you!

neckervd

If you don't want to visit places in France, the easiest flight solution might be the Vueling flight Genoa - San Sebstian with plaane change at Barcelona.
Otherwise check the direct easyjet flight Nice - Biarritz.
The most popular (long) hiking trails in the area are
Via Alta dei Monti Liguri https://e1.hiking-europe.eu/en/hikin...i-monti-liguri
Sentier GR Balcon de la Medierranée https://www.gr-infos.com/en/gr51.htm
But there are tons of other trails
Map of France: https://www.geoportail.gouv.fr/carte...&permalink=yes

lymichie

Thanks ask so much for everyone’s input!
Appreciate your time!

Obviously, we haven’t done enough research… time to rethink the three weeks and come up with a more viable plan!

Again, thank you all!