Late October trip, we expect to rent car in Barcelona for four days travel before returning to Barcelona for additional five nights. Proposed itinerary of Collioure, Sarlat, San Sebastián, Pamplona. If this is too ambitious, what changes do you suggest? What is "not to be missed" that could fit into four nights Barcelona-San Sebastián-Barcelona?
Posted by
Granite Bay, CA
1930 posts
Have you checked the distances between the locations? Use viamichelin.com
Barcelona to Collioure is 2: 30 hours
Collioure to Sarlat is 5:00 hours
Sarlat to San Sebastian is 5:00 hours
San Sebastian to Pamplona is 1: 15 hours
Pamplona to Barcelona 5:45 hours
That would be too much for me in four days of travel.
I've been looking around that area myself since I'd like to visit southern France and dip into Spain. But, I don't want a ton of driving. That is always a hard choice - see what you want to see, but not have it be too much.
I'm sure others can help you more, but I was looking at Cadaques ( 2:20 from Barcelona) and Besalo (1:45) I have never been to Spain and just came across these two areas so I don't even know if they are good. They looked pretty though!
Happy planning!
You may want to post this on the Spain forum instead??
Posted by
Rick Steves' Europe
16895 posts
I don't think of either Sarlat or San Sebastian as a one-night town. Rick suggests that Pamplona can be, especially if you get an early start on driving there.
Posted by
shingle springs, CA, USA
782 posts
For four days I would go to Collioure and Carcassone then back to Cadaques and maybe time for Montserratt,San Sebastian is a long ride and deserves at least two days,it is the cullinary capital of Europe.
Mike
Posted by
Myrtle Beach, USA
12313 posts
I'll give you my take on the parts I've seen.
Pamplona is an okay town only - really nothing special. If not for the running of the bulls in July, it's probably not a town anyone would visit. I think it's worth a short stop to see where the bulls run.
In the area, however, are two better choices. On the French side of the border, not far from Pamplona, is St. Jean Pied de Port. It's a starting point for the Santiago de Compostela pilgrimages and a nice little town. South of Pamplona is the town of Olite. Olite has maybe the nicest castle I've toured anywhere. It was home to Kings of Navarre (here and part of France). The castle is partly restored but not furnished - which means you can explore, climb towers, at will. They give you a nice audio guide with your ticket.
San Sebastian (known to locals as Donostia). This is a beautiful beach town but I would only choose to visit during high summer months when they have nice weather. Outside of those months, it's pretty much rainy and chilly. If you're there during nice weather, you could enjoy it for a night or two and see most of the sites or stay longer and relax on the beach.
If you are going during Easter week, be sure to stop in Zaragosa to see some of their processions. I was there on a Holy Thursday and consider it one of the greatest experiences of my life. They had something like 25 processions put on by different fraternal organizations. I'm sure Seville is similar but Zaragosa had zero tourists (so food and lodging are priced for locals).