Please sign in to post.

Trip to Spain in May – Advice / Thought

Posted by on

I am currently planning a trip for my girlfriend and I to Spain in May for and would love peoples thoughts / suggestions for Rioja region / San Sebastian after a few days in Madrid. We are currently thinking:

  • Drive up to Abadia Retuerta Le Domaine for night (heard this place is amazing so thought we would splurge and do one night here)
  • 1-2 nights in Rioja region (thinking about staying in Briones)
  • 1-2 nights in San Sebastian (maybe do one day trip to a cool near by town)

We are hoping to explore some vineyards in Rioja and would love to find a cool hike or two to do either in Rioja / San Sebastian.

Would be curious for people thoughts on where to stay in Rioja and the best vineyards to tour? Additionally are there any cool day trips would should take (either in Rioja or San Sebastian) for a cool hike or adventure?

Open to any and all thoughts, just trying to brain storm.

Posted by
52 posts

3 places in 4-5 nights seems like a lot. I'd drop one of them, but not San Sebastian. Whichever one you drop, add the time to SS. So many great day trips to take from there-- Hondarribia, French Basque area (Bayonne, Saint Jean de Luz, Biarritz). You can even do a day trip to the Rioja region, but probably best to do a private or group tour so you don't drink and drive during the day.

Posted by
7383 posts

Nice place to spend a night. If you enjoy castles that’s a great location. There are castles nearby in Medina del Campo, Coca, Cuellar, Portillo, and Peñafiel. The castle at Peñafiel also has an on-site wine museum.

Briones is a nice town. We didn’t spend a night there and have no idea about hotels with on-site parking. Unlike Laguardia, there was no elevator to the hilltop. A nearby town with a castle worth a short visit is San Vicente de la Sonsierra. There are a number of bodegas in Cenicero, Haro, and Etciego.

Posted by
631 posts

Briones is a good place to stay for La Rioja, especially if you have a car.
Of course you have the Vivanco Foundation right below the town.

Just across the river is San Vicente de la Sonsierra. There are some nice walks around the town. Here is a list of some of the hikes. The hermitage of Santa María de La Piscina is worth the visit.

Bodegas Lecea is a good winery to visit.

Just a heads up, May 15th is Saint Isidore, and is celebrated in many towns, like Briones. The 10th to the 15th is fiestas in Santo Domingo de la Calzada.

Add Reply

Please do not reply to violations of our Community Guidelines.