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Madrid to Barcelona via Northern Spain

Thurs to Sun (4 days) in Madrid.

Sunday drive to Toledo.

Monday all day sightseeing in Toledo.

Tues drive to Avila for 3 hrs sightseeing then on to Segovia for the night.

Wed sightseeing in Segovia and then drive to Astorga to spend the night.

Thurs morning 2 hrs sightseeing in Astorga, drive to Ponferrada to see the Templar Castle 1 hr , drive to O'Cebreiro (sightsee 30 min.), onto Lugo (sighsee 1 hr) and finally drive to Santiago de Compostela.

Can all this be done in one day or should I eliminate a stop?
Friday all day in Santiago de Compostela.

Saturday drive to Oviedo, sightsee and spend the night.

Sunday drive to Covadonga (see cliff church) and drive thru Picos Europa Nat'l Park and spend the night in Potes. If time allows take the fuente de cable car.

Monday drive to Santillana de Mar - 3 hrs sightseeing (Altamira Caves are closed on Mondays),
drive to Bilbao and spend the night.

Tuesday visit the Guggenheim in the morning, drive to Zumia and then to San Sebastian. Over night in San Sebastian.

Wed sightseeing (4 hrs) in San Sebastian and drive to Pamplona. Overnight in Pamplona.

Thursday sightseeing (3 hrs) in Pamplona and then drive to Zaragoza, spend the night in Zaragoza.

Friday sightseeing (4/5 hrs) in Zaragoza and drive to Barcelona .

Must return car by 8PM on Friday.

Sat to Thurs in Barcelona.
Have booked all hotels close to major sighseeing places (old town, etc).

Pick up and return car at railroad stations for easy "find".

Apprciate any input on this itinerary - does it need to be "tweaked".

Have driven in Europe before but not Spain.

Will have our Rick Steves 2015 Guidebook with us.

WIll use Hop On/Off buses where available to get around for a quick overview.

Spain has so much to see, and we have so little time (22 days).

Thank you, and keep on traveling!

Posted by
7175 posts

I would add an extra stop between Segovia and Santiago de Compostela, plus a visit to Salamanca.
You may also wish for extra time in Oviedo and San Sebastian.

Madrid (4)
Toledo (1)
Segovia (1)
Leon (1) via Salamanca
Lugo (1) via Astorga & Ponferrada

Santiago de Compostela (2) via a Coruna
Oviedo (2)
Picos Europa (1)
Bilbao (1) via Santillana del Mar
San Sebastian (2)
Pamplona (1)
Zaragoza (1)
Barcelona (4)

Posted by
33 posts

Appreciate your input and will take your advise.
Thanks

Posted by
33 posts

Appreciate your input and will take your advise.
Thanks

Posted by
7175 posts

Others may have something to add, but in the meantime ... It's a pleasure Mark.
As an aside this is similar to a journey I have planned (and reworked) over several years but are yet to take.
So, love to hear how it goes.

Posted by
33 posts

adding Aranjuez as a stop before going to Toledo to see the Royal Palace.