hello everyone, my friend and I are planning a weeklong trip in the Basque Country in mid-April. starting in Bilbao, bus to San Sebastian, bus to Biarritz (and will probably stop in Bayonne as well). besides transit and lodging, are there any activities that need to be booked in advance for these places? we're grad students, so no really fancy meals (although will definitely be doing the pintxos in San Sebastian!), or expensive tours. but museums, other sights that might need an advance ticket? just trying to decide if I should be my usual type-A planning self, or let this one be a little more chill.. muchas gracias!
Posted by
Jacksonville, Florida
137 posts
It depends on what you are planning to do. If there is anything specific, I would go online to that place's website and see if you need a timed entry ticket or a reservation of some sort. With the increase in tourism in Europe, it seems more and more places are requiring a timed entry ticket.
Posted by
Bilbao
868 posts
There are pintxos all over the Spanish Basque Country, you can have them in Bilbao or in any town. Donostia-San Sebastian is the famous place, but you´ll have no shortage of pintxos in any town in the Basque Country (by the way, never a meal for us!). Take into account that Holy Week starts on April 16 to April 21 included, bars and restaurants and sights will be open, but expect banks, shops and other amenities to be closed on Th, Fr and Mo. A very lively atmosphere in the Spanish Basque Country, the French side is much calmer (not that much to see in Biarritz, by the way, it´s also a famous name but not that much behind it). Book your bus tickets in advance for those days.
Posted by
Washington DC
28957 posts
I liked Bayonne a lot more than Biarritz, and Bilbao more than San Sebastian--but I know the Bilbao-vs-San Sebastian choice is a personal one.
I'm not aware of sights for which you'd need to buy tickets in advance. I see that the Guggenheim in Bilbao sells timed tickets, but only the first time block for tomorrow is flagged as having limited tickets available. Things could be busier in the period leading up to Easter, but I think you'd be OK to keep a careful eye on the Guggenheim website to be sure entry times aren't starting to sell out--assuming you want to go to that museum, that is.
The point about bus tickets during that busy travel time is a good one. Years ago I ran into a sold-out bus I wanted to take in Bilbao.
Posted by
Wengen
2925 posts
There are also trains on the routes you plan taking, and these do not "sell out". Euskotren is mass transit, and will get you till France. In France you would travel on SNCF TER trains, for which tickets can be bought on the spot, or on line.