Barcelona to San Sebastian, where to stop?

What time of year is your trip?

Seven nights for Barcelona, San Sebastian, and multiple points in between? It's certainly not what I would do. For one thing, two nights in Barcelona means really just one day if you're arriving from North America, due to sleep-deprivation and jetlag. I'd spend the whole time in Barcelona, taking however many day-trips I felt like.

I haven't seen the Spanish Pyrenees, but folks have reported that the area is lovely. I question whether you really have time to include it, however.

The Basque Country is very pretty (though I'm sure less dramatic than the mountains), so having some time to explore there would be good. I preferred Bilbao to San Sebastian and am sorry you won't have time for the former. There are also some cute little coastal villages (formerly fishing villages, now touristy) west of San Sebastian. Hondarribia is a bit larger and would probably be a pleasant overnight stop. It has a fishermen's district (the restaurant area) down along the water and a medieval center on the hill. But if you're looking for a lively food scene, I think you'd be better off in San Sebastian. Certainly for 2 nights, I wouldn't choose Hondarribia.

Not terribly far from Logrono (between Logrono and the very interesting Vitoria-Gasteiz) is the old hill town of Laguardia. Close to the Rioja area, and complete with wine bars. Very atmospheric. A one-night stopover there would be fine; I think it's too small for longer than that.

I stayed in Pamplona for a couple of nights because I couldn't find an affordable hotel in Vitoria-Gasteiz. Pamplona is OK; there is an historic center to wander around. I didn't think it was special at all; I preferred Vitoria-Gasteiz.

You can fiddle around with ViaMichelin.com to see estimated driving times (said to be optimistic). Getting into and around the Pyrenees on the Spanish side looks a bit slow. I see that if you ask for a routing between San Sebastian and Jaca, the route through France is an hour faster than the route through Spain.

I'd suggest leaving your time in Barcelona until the end of your trip so you don't have to rush back to catch your flight. Something can always happen on the road.

We stayed in Alquezar (Casa Alodia...just do it!) on our way back to Barcelona 1 1/2 years ago. It is a small medieval village in the middle of nowhere but the village itself is beautiful. If you stay at Casa Alodia you get a stunning view of the village. You can order a tray of local food and wine and sit on your balcony and watch the sunset over the village. In Alquezar there is a small church there with frescoes that date back to 12th century. I think there were 2 restaurants (the one we tried was fabulous). Not many opportunities for shopping but Casa Alodia displays crafts made in the area that are for sale. We bought some beautiful clay images of doors that are in the village. So special. For things to do there is hiking in the area, which we didn't have time to do. There is a beautiful river that runs thru the canyon below Alquezar. We did the canyoning tour (our 1st time....) It was amazing. Anything on the river would be worth doing. We spent 2 nights there....could've used at least another night. It was my favorite place we stayed in a trip thru South of France and North of Spain. I long to go back.....I encourage you to not miss it.

Thank you for the tips! The trip is in early March.

I agree that 7 nights is too short! I know most people will say stay in Barcelona but on every Europe trip we've taken we always enjoy more getting away from the crowds and into the countryside. I'm thinking maybe this plan...Thoughts?

Monday 7am- arrive in Barcelona
Wednesday AM- drive to San Sebastian (Michelin says 6 hours, stopping in Jaca or Pamplona for a meal)
(stay in San Sebastian or somewhere nearby)
Friday- possible day trip to Rioja
Saturday AM- drive to Girona, or somewhere in Catalonian Pyrenees (within an hour or so of Barcelona)
Monday AM- fly home

Thank you for your help!

Your plan is way too ambitious, and San Sebastián is most likely to be dreary and disappointing in March.

If you are looking for some country driving ...

Monday 7am - arrive in Barcelona. pick up hire car. drive to Girona
Tuesday - drive via Besalu/Figueres to La Seu d’Urgell
Wednesday - drive to Zaragoza. return hire car
Thursday - late train to Barcelona
Friday - Barcelona
Saturday - Barcelona
Sunday - Barcelona
Monday AM - fly home

It does sound a bit full :)

The weather in San Sebastian, in my opinion, is kinda like Ireland and Portland, Oregon -- Cool and rainy with some sun. So if you do go, make sure you've got layers and a rain jacket. And we were there in May!

That being said, we did enjoy all the tapas there. But I think there's more to see in other places, like Bilbao. Girona was on our list of places to go when we were researching, but didn't make it there. But would like too!

We drove from Bilbao to Barcelona and it was a nice, easy drive. I think we just stopped at one of the nice travel centers for lunch. (And if you haven't been to a European "rest area/travel center," you're in for a good surprise!)

I like David's suggestion to leave off San Sebastian and go the other direction. But if you do decide to go to San Sebastian choose Jaca over Pamplona for a stop off. Especially since you like to be away from crowds and up in the hills.