Can anyone help me connect the dots for my trip to Spain. Going in May. Have 26 days. Can't do Rick's route exactly as I'm flying in and out of Madrid. Would like to stay in the following places but don't know the best order. Madrid, Granada, Nerja, Ronda, Seville, Toledo, Segovia, San Sebastian, Barcelona, Santiago de Compostela, Salamanca, and finally Madrid again for a few days before flying home. For the Southern loop is it better to go clockwise or counter-clockwise? And for the North -- Barcelona, San Sebastian, Santiago, Salamanca, Segovia -- what's the best way to connect these places? The North is really what's giving me trouble.
Thanks in advance for any advice.
Posted by
Pensacola
9110 posts
Madrid, Segovia, AVILA, Toledo, CORDOVA, Granada, Nerja, Ronda, Salamanca, Santiago, SANTILLANA, BILBAO, GUERNICA, San Sebastian, PAMPLONA, Barcelona, ZARAGOZA, Madrid. Caps are my add-ons for things not listed but you shouldn't miss and are along the way. All are worth a few hours or a half day. Spending the night in Santillana would be great and is a good logistical stopping point. I'd drop Nerja in a heartbeat and not bother to spend the night in Ronda unless it was a good stopping point. Jerez is better than Ronda; so is Arcos. My druthers would also be to drop Barcelona (all after San Sebastian on my list, actually) and substitue for it a loop through mid-eastern Portugal (Evora and Elvas for hill towns and the prehistoric area). Alternatively, the little bit of Portugal could take the place of the Spanish hill towns and you could still get to Catalonia. The great thing is that you have plenty of time and you won't be rushed.
Posted by
OP
San Francisco, California, USA
162 posts
Ed -- thanks for the very interesting reply. Santillana really looks great but I forgot to mention I don't drive so I'm limited up that way. But I really would like to get there. Drop Nerja? Hmmm.... you've given me a lot to chew on.