We are starting to plan a trip of 23 days to Northern Portugal and Spain September 2025. We have a question as we try to sort out a couple of locations. Our agenda includes Santiago de Compostela and San Sebastián. Which city deserves more time? We are allotting 5 full days between the two cities.

Thanks in advance for your opinions.

I must admit that I was not a huge fan of San Sebastián— I far preferred Bilbao and other locations in that area. I know most people had a much more favorable impression of SS than I. You might take a look at my trip report from 2015– just click on my screen name and scroll through my TRs to find it.

BTW , I thought the Michelin Green Guide for the area outstanding.

Enjoy!

We were in San Sabestian in September of this year and we loved it but we didn’t love Bilbao like we thought we would but I have never been to Santiago. We spent 5 nights in SS and that felt like a perfect amount of time to see a lot but still have time to relax and just enjoy the town. I would highly recommend a Pintxos tour. Good food and wine and a good introduction into Pintxos.

Both Santiago de Compostela and Donostia-San Sebastian are small cities that can be easily visited in a day or two each. Food is great in both of them, quite different though, and climate tends to be rainy in both, too, so come prepared for almost any kind of weather. I´d do 2 days in Santiago de Compostela and 3 days in Donostia-San Sebastian, allowing one day for a day trip to Bilbao.

I agree with mikelg's advice.

Thank you very much for your replies. That was very helpful! We have now landed on 2 nights in Santiago and 3 nights in SS. We have also booked 2 nights in Bilbao. A Pintxos food tour in SS is defintiely on our agenda! Can’t wait!

And take also into account that pintxos are found everywhere in the Basque Country, not just in Donostia-San Sebastian, so you can practise this pre-lunch or pre-dinner activity during your stay in Bilbao, too. They are never a meal for us (it´s something done before lunch or dinner), it´s normally one per bar, standing and not seated, eaten with your hands (except those made on order, which I would not call properly "pintxos") and we have them while socializing with friends and family. As a helpful hint, lunch is the most important meal of the day in Spain, around 2pm, while dinner (for us, around 0930 0r 10pm) is much, much smaller and less important.

"We have now landed on 2 nights in Santiago and 3 nights in SS. We have also booked 2 nights in Bilbao"

Very good decision! If you find you have extra time in Donostia-San Sebastián (since you won't be using one day for a daytrip to Bilbao from there), you might consider a day trip to Baiona/Bayonne in the French Basque Country.
https://www.visitbayonne.com/en/

Or much closer to Donostia, take a bus out to the wonderful outdoor/indoor sculpture museum, the Chillida Leku in neighboring.
https://www.museochillidaleku.com/en/

To reach it,
BusBU05
Buses run every half hour. The stop called 'Chillida Leku' is directly outside the museum
For more information on the bus route see: Lurraldebus BU05

Or...spend a morning or afternoon in the atmospheric town of Hondarribia, with an evocative medieval upper quarter and in the lower town its Calle San Pedro in the fishermen's quarter lined with lively pintxos bars plus a little boat that runs back and forth on the bay to neighboring Hendaye in the French Basque Country. From Donostia's Plaza Gipuzkoa take the E21 to Hondarribia.

https://www.euskoguide.com/places-basque-country/spain/hondarribia-tourism/

Mikelg- Thank you for that explanation of pintxos and the eating customs in the Basque Region and Spain. We are looking forward to doing some bar hopping as we enjoy the food and drinks! Adjusting our eating patterns to the local customs is part of the fun of travel!
Maribel - we appreciate the suggestions for day trips from Donostia-San Sebastian and the bus information. The museum will go on our list.
We will be staying for two nights in St.Jean du Luz and plan to do a day trip to Bayonne from there. Thank you both for taking the time to send out a message! Your generosity is helping us to shape this trip into one amazing adventure!

What a nice itinerary you now have!

TransCantabrico Luxury Train from San Sebastián to Santiago de Compostela
https://eltrentranscantabrico.com/en/

Report in Spanish
https://elpais.com/gastronomia/2024-...500-euros.html

Interesting! I'd go along, if not for the price!!

My first thought, before reading the entire description, was "what a pity to have to dine on the train and not be able to try all the great restaurants along the route." But once I read through, Ii see that they visit Casa Fermin and at least one other outside restaurant. Not only that, but the train food sounds great--different than what I had imagined; the chef trained with Nacho Manzano.

The El Pais article does read like a press release, though.(Mind you, I probably missed a lot due to the language) Question: Do their gastro critics ever say negative things about a restaurant or food experience?

I know they mentioned a Spanish couple as passengers, but do you think most of the others are British of a certain age?

Yes, the gastro critics that I follow and that I trust do say negative things about a restaurant that they find lacking. My friend (the PR person for Arzak and owner of Tenedor Tours) just did the Transcantábrico, and when I see here next month at Tamborrada in Donostia/ San Sebastián, I'll find out all the scoop. Yes, they do take fine meals out during the day while on excursion. We've never splurged for it, because we can replicate that exact itinerary for much less money, but I'm eager to hear her experience.

Maribel, So glad to "see' you again!! I am also very eager to learn your friend's take on the train!! And to read about where you've been lately!!