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North Spain

I will be in San Sebastian/Bilbao in mid-October. I'm interested in Pamplona and Burgos and wonder if you all have any info on those places or the surrounding towns? Are they worth a trip? What's good to see etc. thanks! Peggy

Posted by
16893 posts

Both are covered in Rick's Spain book and shown in his Northern Spain TV program (which you can watch online). Burgos has the better cathedral. I only saw Burgos as a half-day stop but am sure it would have rewarded a full day and a night or two.

Posted by
513 posts

I will be travelling in northern Spain in mid-October also and I am planning on two days/nights in both Burgos and Pamplona as well as two in Leon. From Pamplona I am going on to Zaragoza for a couple of days also. I am beginning the trip in Madrid and flying home from Barcelona.

Posted by
12172 posts

Burgos is a nice size city with a really impressive center. Between Burgos and San Sebastian (locals prefer to call it Donostia, the Basque name) is the city of Vitoria - Gasteiz, it's the center of the Rioja wine region. The Bodegas aren't open to the public without a call ahead a day or two in advance. If you would like to visit a winery/Bodega, it's worth a call.

Pamplona is worth a short look. Near Pamplona is one of the nicest little castles I've visited in the town of Olite. You can also cross into France from Pamplona and see a nice small town St. Jean Pied de Port, one of the starting points for the Santiago pilgrimage.

Posted by
1189 posts

Hello,
We stayed four or five nights in Doneztebe Santesteban, This is a small place north of Pamplona. We found it great. A couple groceries, a nice cafe named Julia. And a cluster of restaurants that gave you a choice.

What makes the area really nice is a walking trail which connects at least three villages. Each cuter than the previous.

There is a place to stay across from the church.

In the region is the witch's cave, and some megalithic stones.

Wayne iNWI