I'm heading to Spain for 3 weeks starting June 30 and could use some suggestions. I have already visited the major cities in Castile and Andalusia, so I'm trying to concentrate on the north and east of the country. A friend is joining me in Pamplona for the last two days of the San Fermin festival, the jazz festival in Vitoria and Barcelona. And I'm definitely doing a couple of days in Valencia, Zaragosa and San Sebastian. But I have a few days left over. Are either Tarragona or Biblao worth a few days stop off? And any thoughts on renting a car to drive along Costa Brava vs. the coastal towns of Navarra near San Sebastian? Any suggestions for the itinerary (i.e. - too long in Valencia, too little time in Zaragosa) would really be appreciated! Valencia: 4 days/4 nights Zaragosa: 2 days/2 nights San Sebastian 4 days/ 4 nights
Pamplona: 2 days/2 nights Vitoria-Gastiez: 2 days/2 nights Barcelona: 5 days/ 4 nights 3 days/3 nights - Taragona/Costa Brava/Navarra (?)
Posted by
Pensacola
9110 posts
Most of your ideas look pretty good. Taragona and Valencia must hold some kind of special interest - - I wouldn't give a plugged nickle for either - - maybe a half-day for each if I were passing through. Most of the Costa Brava south of Barcelona is wall-to-wall condos interspersed with dust nothings. Four nights will wear San Sebastian out, two or three is fine. Bilbao doesn't have much of tourist interest except the museum - - but if you want to poke around I know every pig path and alley for fifty miles - - it can get interesting. A really good drive is the old coastal road from San Sebastian to Bilbao - - chinch down you seat belt, it's a twister. If you really want to explore the northern part of Spain, work the whole coast from Bilbao west (but skip the Bilbao to Santander segment (use the freeway). You can drive from Bilbao to Coruna is six or seven hours, or spend a month at it and not get bored. Heading back a day or two in the Picos will knock your socks off.
Posted by
OP
Washington DC
2 posts
Thanks for the advice, Ed. I was under the opinion 4 days in San Sebastian may have been excessive. I may try to do a day trip to Bilbao instead. Unfortunately, I don't think I'll make it out to Coruna, since I'll have to turn around and head back to Pamplona to meet up with a friend immediately after San Sebastian. I had planned on saving Galicia for part of another trip (or if I can pull it off, going to try to do the Camino at some point).
Posted by
Portland
3643 posts
If you like archaeological sites, Empuries, on the Costa Brava, has both Greek and Roman remains, as well as a small museum recounting its history and displaying artifacts from the excavations. We found Girona much more interesting than Tarragona. We researched Valencia for our trip last year and didn't find anything appealing enough to make us want to stop there even one day.