Yes, we would like to go to Barcelona, Basque Country (San Sebastian / Vitoria ) and Portugal over a 3 week period. We can rent a car, ok with driving or trains, and could fly to Barecelona and leave from Portugal (or vice versa)! We are traveling from Oregon, with 3 adults. Too ambitious? Spain is the preferred destination.
Posted by
Brisbane, Australia
7175 posts
Make it simple ...
Start in Madrid (4 nights)
- days to Toledo & Segovia
Train to Barcelona (4 nights)
Fly to San Sebastián (6 nights)
- hire car for Pamplona, Vitoria, Bilbao
Fly to Porto (3 nights)
Train to Lisbon (4 nights)
- days to Sintra & Cascais
Posted by
885 posts
I'm no expert, but with 3 weeks I think you could make that work. How do you intend to get to Portugal from Basque country? Fly? Do you want to see anything in between? I would work that out first, because it is the farthest transition and you probably don't want to pick up a rental car in one country and drop it off on another. What do you want to do in Portugal? That may impact how you decide to get there (or where exactly in Portugal you want to get)
Posted by
OP
19 posts
Wow! That sounds like a great plan, thank you for your advice! We are thinking of leaving out the Portugal part of the trip this time, so with that difference what would you add / substitute for that?
Posted by
Washington DC
28084 posts
What time of year is your trip?
What are you interested in seeing/doing?
Posted by
Tel Aviv
15788 posts
Like acraven, my suggestions would depend greatly on your travel dates, and of course, your interests.
Posted by
OP
19 posts
We are going at the end of July through mid August, peak time I know, but it's our only time available. We like to be off the beaten track a bit, taking time to relax in a place a few days. We like wine, food, hiking, art. We want to see some of the important buildings and cathedrals, but will burn out quickly I do believe. We have decided to NOT do Portugal in this trip, but will focus on Mardrid Barcelona Coata Brava Bilbao and Vitoria. The Basque Country
Posted by
Brisbane, Australia
7175 posts
•Start in Madrid (4 nights)
- days to Toledo & Segovia
•Train to Bilbao (2 nights)
•Hire car for Basque Country (5 nights) - Vitoria, Laguardia (Rioja), Pamplona
•San Sebastián (3 nights)
•Fly to Barcelona (4 nights)
•Hire car for Costa Brava (3 nights)
•Depart from Barcelona
With adjustments you could include a stop in Salamanca, or Valladolid, or Burgos to break the train journey from Madrid to Bilbao.
Posted by
OP
19 posts
By hiring a car, do mean rent one? We have decided that Portugal will be left for another trip. There's just so much we want to see and do in Spain, with some days to just see what happens!