Planning a short trip to the Basque Country with Madrid the start and end point by car

Just adding as I reserach here and other sites, thinking of staying 3 nights in Hondaribbia as a home base. Looking for reasonable rates at hotels or rental apartments. Comfort not high end. Also since we will have a car wondering about parking options.

Visit San Sebastián and Bilbao is there’s something you want to see, otherwise consider staying someplace else. There’s more to the Basque area than those two cities, such as, Vitoria-Gasteiz or Logroño (although it is in La Rioja).

There are plenty of vineyards in the Haro, Laguardia, Briones, etc., area. Whatever you do, don’t do a wine tasting and drive a vehicle. DUI limit’s are lower in Spain than in the U.S. Save the wine tastings to when you’re at your lodging for the remainder of the day, or hire a driver.

We spent a couple nights at the Parador in Hondarrbia. It had its own on-site parking area, but it is pretty pricey. If you get a hotel in the lower town there are a couple large free lots by the beach if your lodging doesn’t have places..

Finding "reasonable rates" during Holy Week/Semana Santa will be a tough task, it´s a huge vacation time in Spain and your trip fully coincides with the busiest days. Hondarribia is almost as expensive as Donostia-San Sebastian, but much smaller. It makes a good point to explore the area, but make sure you find a place with parking included (otherwise it´s metered parking). Very compact towns, vehicles are not very welcome inside the city centers.

You may find better options for lodging off the most well-known places. Towns like Hernani, Astigarraga, Tolosa, Deba, Eibar, Lasarte, the outskirts of Donostia-San Sebastian...will normally offer better deals. Public transport is excellent, but as you will have a car, distances are easy on a car ride, on very good roads.

Thank you. Some plans are taking shape. I looked at the towns close to SS recommended. Hernani looks the most interesting to me so will check out accommodations - both hotels and Air B&B. I thought leaving Toledo after the post wedding brunch on Friday with maybe a night in Vitoria to cut the drive to SS would be a good plan. There is a hotel or two that will book one night. It seems my friend would prefer to go back to Madrid on Friday (need to vacate the wedding venue hotel) with other family and then leave in the morning for Madrid so I think no overnight - just do the drive and stop in Vitoria along the way. Open to other suggestions.

Trying to settle that and move on to plan and book the second half which will be in or near Bilbao. Seems simplier to stay in just two places given it is a busy time and do day trips.

For us, Hondaribbia was a great base for the Basque country, Spanish and French. San Sebastian is easily accessible from Hondaribbia as are the French Basque villages of Sare, Ainhoa and Espelette; St. Jean de Luz; and the wonderful outdoor museum of Chillida-Leku. We stayed at Hotel Jauregi which was fairly basic but comfortable, conveniently located and economical. It is worth going to Hondaribbia if only to eat the best ever pinxtos, with txakoli, at Bar Gran Sol (multiple times, if possible!!). Enjoy your trip!

Thank you!