From France to Spain

Paris to Bayeux to Mt St Michel to St Malo to Guemene- Penfao to Bordeaux to San Sebastian to Bilbao to Gijon

Most of the Spanish coast west of San Sebastian is likely to have pleasant temperatures during the late summer; expect some overcast weather from time to time.

I haven't yet traveled in western France, so can only give suggestions for Spain. I'm listing these places roughly east to west, and certainly am not suggesting that you'll have time to see them all. I do recommend that you make a point of seeing at least a few inland spots rather than simply hugging the coast, for the sake of variety.

Hondarribia: interesting side-trip from San Sebastian
San Sebastian: foodie central, very touristy; pretty historic area
Zarautz/Getaria/Zumaia: former fishing villages, now with tourist infrastructure
Lekeitio: coastal town between S.S. and Bilbao, mentioned in many guide books
Bilbao: larger historic district than S.S.; art museums
Vitoria-Gasteiz: interior capital with large hilltop historic district and 2 museums
Laguardia: charming medieval hill town near La Rioja wine country (not on coast)
Burgos: pilgrimage stop, great cathedral, two monasteries, pretty old town with river
Santander: comparatively dull; rebuilt after 1940s fire; highly skippable
Santillana del Mar: almost-coastal medieval town, very touristy but worth a stop
Comillas: some modernista architecture
Altamira Cave replica at Altamira Museum (research advance-ticket arrangements)
Picos de Europa: dramatic mountain/gorge scenery
Potes: old stone town, gateway to Picos de Europa
Gijon: small old town plus some nice early 20C architecture; lively
Oviedo: historic inland city with some very old churches; quieter
Leon: large historic district now chock-full of restaurants and bars; great cathedral
Astorga: Gaudi site

If you're going as far as Galicia:

Betanzos: attractive town, worth several hours of wandering
A Coruna: nice historic area; tends to be sunnier than rest of this coast
Santiago de Compostela: large historic area and magnificent cathedral; much rain
Combarra: especially cute former fishing village; very touristy
Cambados: attractive former fishing village; less touristy
Vigo: imminently skippable
Pontevedra: interesting smaller historic district, sunnier

Great tips! Thank you! I love the ones no so well known the best. Yes we plan to go all the way to Galicia and then down to Portugal and who knows where :)

I should have mentioned this in my first response: There is likely to be a really, really large drop charge if you pick up a car in France and drop it off in Spain or Portugal.

Oh yes huge! That is why we plan to drop it in France, do Blah Blah car to some where in Spain and get another one there.

hey hayewe
my best friend is from the basque region of france, near saint jean pied de port, near bayonne (famous for their ham) and biarritz. small little villages esplette (red pepper) rhune train, a ride up into the mountains, famous black cherries in kanbo (cambo-les-bains), most of hotels have rooms and restaurants together. basque terrior has info. hotel eskuadi in esplette and alot of small villages to drive thru. saint jean de luz. check these places out before returning car in france and continuing to spain. happy travels
aloha

Thank you princes, sounds fabulous!