Madrid to basque region

Whatever you do, you will need to be back in Madrid the night before your flight if you fly out of Madrid.
Have you checked if flights to Bilbao or SS would work for you?
To see small villages, you would need to rent a car. It is easy to get between Bilbao and SS by bus though. You can actually do some great hikes out of SS and supplemented with train/bus.
First, I would plug all of the transport options into Google and see what works. Then you can make informed decisions. It would be ideal to fly open jaw if you want to include both places with this time frame.

We are doing a similar trip this spring, and are flying into Bilbao and out of Madrid. 3 nights San Sebastian, 3 nights Bilbao, 2 nights Segovia, 3 nights Toledo, 3 nights Madrid is the current plan. Taking a train from Bilbao to Segovia, although currently it is showing "sold out" but I can't imagine that is the actual case. So itinerary subject to change, depending on transportation...

Thanks so much. We can fly to Bilbao or San Sebastián from Madrid. Just wondering if the car ride from Madrid is worth it, maybe with an overnight in the rioja region.
Or, should we just concentrate our time along the San Sebastián and Bilbao area.

Although all are worth spending at least a night (if not longer), these are great day trips from Madrid if you have a bit of time but not enough to justify relocating:

• Toledo (relatively inexpensive express trains, but they sometimes sell out)
• Segovia
• Cuenca (you'll need to take an express train, probably pricey if bought late)
• Alcala de Henares (frequent and cheap commuter trains)

I haven't been to El Escorial. I have been to Avila and found it not worth the hassle by public transportation. It has a nice wall but not a great deal else.

Whether you want a car in the Basque country depends on what you want to see outside the two cities you mentioned, which are connected by buses as well as scenic but considerably slower trains. You will not run out of destinations accessible by train and bus over the course of five days, that's for sure.

From San Sebastian you can readily reach Hondarribia and the small coastal towns of Zarautz/Getaria/Zumaia by public transportation

From Bilbao you can readily reach Bermeo and Vitoria-Gasteiz. Probably also Gernika, but I haven't checked the schedule. Bilbao has a large historic district as well as the Guggenheim and other art museums, so it's worth some time. It is blessedly much, much less touristy than San Sebastian.

Well, it's a four hour drive, plus the time needed to pick up the car, etc.
I know you can fly once you are in Madrid, but can you get an open jaw flight so that you fly into Bilbao for example? I would do anything to maximize your time.

We can fly to Bilbao or San Sebastián from Madrid.

I'd suggest the train instead of flying.

Just wondering if the car ride from Madrid is worth it, maybe with an
overnight in the rioja region.

That sort of depends on what you want to see and do. If you just want to get to Bilbao or Donostia/San Sebastian, going by car would just mean a long and boring drive. But it can be useful if you want to make stops or detours along the way.

As a Bilbao local:

• Should we fly, drive or train to San Sebastian *. Is it helpful to have a car in San Sebastián *. what would be other towns to visit in the Basque region.

I´d either take the bus or train to Bilbao, stay there (here) two nights, and then take the bus to Donostia-San Sebastian. Public transport is excellent and you can do day trips from Bilbao to Getxo, for example, as you have limited time in this city. From D-SS you can get to Hondarribia and Getaria, very easily by bus (cheap, safe, clean, modern, efficient public transport system)
- does it make sense to base ourselves in San Sebastián and Bilboa, Yes, I´d stay in both cities. Bilbao has a beautiful old quarter, the Guggenheim is worth a visit even if just from the outside, and we also have a great Fine Arts Musem, as well as beautiful architecture all over the city. Donostia-San Sebastian is on an amazingly beautiful bay, with three beaches...but do not expect a resort-like type of town by any means.

Thanks. This is very helpful, particularly from locals. Are the day trips from San Sebastián equally accessible by train or bus. Is public transportation good in that part of the country. We generally rent a car when we travel for flexibility , but would certainly be open to public transport if it is easy. Thanks again

I stayed in SS without a car and for the amount of time you have, I think that will be fine. Acraven mentioned several that are on the train line, and bus service is good too.
A really excellent hike runs along the coast from SS to Pasaia. In the other direction, you could take train to Zumaia and hike, then take train back. (Look on map where it says flysch--that's a really cool part)
I look forward to returning one day with a car though, so it really just depends on what is on your list.

You will be surprised to see how good, cheap, efficient, clean and convenient public transport is in the Basque Country in particular and in Spain in general. Bus is the best option from Bilbao to Donostia-San Sebastian, with many daily departures both ways; train ride is very scenic but as it stops in many little towns, it takes much longer. Public transport is widely used here and it´s an excellent option.

Thanks again for all of the advice. Which are the best towns to visit from San Sebastián and Bilbao. Thanks again b

From Donostia-San Sebastian to the east: Hondarribia and Pasai Donibane are a must, you may also want to cross to the French Basque Country or Iparralde, as we name it. St Jean de Luz and Bayonne, among my favorites. To the east, Getaria and Zumaia (the amazing flysch is a must here). From Bilbao, I´d visit Plentzia (easy metro ride), San Juan de Gaztelugatxe, Mundaka, Bermeo and Gernika (the Assembly Hall in this town is unique and a symbol of our liberties). Durango and Elorrio, inland, are also very interesting visits.

I'm contemplating a similar itinerary for our group of four travelers and already ruled out driving from Madrid to San Sebastian because of the lack of free parking in SS. I'm seeing rates of $25+ per night, which is an expense we don't need when we can easily take the train to SS and then the bus from SS to Bilbao. Our time will be limited so, if we have time to do a day trip, we can choose a town that's easily accessible by public transport like Hondarribia.

Mikebasque guide, are all these areas accessible by public transportation. All the towns sound great. How many days do you think we need if we skip Madrid and just concentrate on the basque region.

Mikebasque guide, are all these areas accessible by public transportation. All the towns sound great. How many days do you think we need if we skip Madrid and just concentrate on the basque region.
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Well, yes, you can get to all of them using public transport, but in order to optimize your time I´d use a vehicle. At least 5 or 6 days, the Basque Country is small but offers three different climates, a great variety of landscapes, 5 wine regions and many places to be yet discovered.

Based on all your great input we have revised our 10 day itinerary as follows: ( with still a few questions)

Day 1: fly direct to Bilbao.. arrive about 1:00

Day 2: spend the day in Bilbao

Day 3: either one more day in Bilbao or bus to San Sebastián
What do you think? Are there good day trips from Bilbao

Day 4(or3) to Day 7 stay in San Sebastián and explore city and take day trips by bus ( 4 or 5 nights)

Day 8 to Day 10 rent a car and drive to Bayonne. Spend 2 or 3 nights in Bayonne and see the French side of Basque Country and is Bayonne the best place to base ourselves
How many nights do you think we should spend on the French side of Basque Country

Day 10 fly to Madrid and stay near the airport to fly out the next day.

Thanks so much. You have been very helpful

Just one day in Bilbao seems too little and 4 or 5 nights in Donostia-San Sebastian seem too much. From Bilbao you can easily reach the Rioja Alavesa and Rioja Alta wine regions (Laguardia and Haro, for example), San Juan de Gaztelugatxe, Mundaka, Bermeo, Lekeitio, Gernika,...

I agree that one day in Bilbao isn't enough. There's a sizable historic district to explore as well as multiple museums (not just the Guggenheim). And the city is blessedly non-touristy when compared to San Sebastian.

So you think 3 nights in Bilbao…2 full days and a half day the day we arrive is a better plan. Sounds like The towns in Rioja are worth visiting

Then bus to San Sebastián day 4,
stay 4 nights in San Sebastián —-that gives us 3 full days in San Sebastián to explore the city and take day trips

Then on to Bayonne—-2 or 3 nights do you think
2 nights would give us a day and a half, 3 nights would give us 2. 1/2 days.

The recommendation on towns to explore is so helpful. Thank you again.

We now have an itinerary

3 nights in Bilbao
3nights in San Sebatian
Is Hondarribia worth visiting? Best towns to visit between SS and Bayonne?

3 nights in Bayonne/St Jean de Luz
Fly to Madrid (stay overnight) then fly to the US

Thank again for all your help

Hondarribia is one of the most beautiful towns in the Basque Country, its medieval upper part and the more popular, fishermen´s quarter in San Pedro street. Not to be missed. Also, Pasai Donibane on the way to Hondarribia is another must see, like St Jean de Luz, Gethary and Bidart in the French Basque Country.

Thank you... you have been a great help... I assume you now think the itinerary looks good... Thanks again