Backpack around Spain?

Question

What is it like to backpack around Spain? I've done Barcelona to death and would only like to be in Madrid quickly, but I'd love to go to Extremadura (as well as to Andalucia and the North) and see parts that I don't hear about very often.

Is it hard to get around? Expensive? Are there accomodations anywhere? I assume it's relatively safe - am I right?

Any hints you can provide would be appreciated!

Answer 1

A woman alone?  be careful ANYWHERE.  Spain is generally safer than many other places.  Stick to lodgings that are secure...Youth hostels where available, and Hostales or Pensiones where you must, still, they aren't that different in price.  

Trains go almost everywhere, and anyplace you might want to go that the trains don't, you can usually get a bus.  

There are some WONDERFUL Roman Ruins in Extremadura, and you should go to Salamanca, and DEFINITELY participate in at least SOME of the peregrinaje de Santiago!

I could write a book about where to go in Andalucía, you can email me if you want ideas, and if you feel you've done Barcelona to death, just avoid it completely.  Once you've DONE it, there's really little to do, except check the progress of the Sagrada Familia, and maybe do some of the clubs.  

I lived in Sevilla, and did all sorts of day trips and weekend trips from there.  Here's the most important couple of things to do, in Sevilla:  You MUST tour the Cathedral, and climb the Giralda.  Take your camera, the views are spectacular!

After that, you tour the Alcázar, and then go to the Parque María Luisa.  There are TONS of cute little corners to the park, but the two most important stops are the Plaza de América, with its doves, and museums.  And the Plaza de España, which has been used, recognizably, in several movies...most popular being the palace of Naboo in Star Wars, episode II.  I practically shouted out in the theater at that scene (which embarrassed my husband and son, but, oh well).  You should stroll through the Barrio Santa Cruz, and have tapas at one of the little bars, and then shop down Calle Sierpes, ending at the North end, you stop at La Campana for sweets and coffee (or whatever...best confitería in the WORLD!)  

Side trips from Sevilla should include: Carmona, Arcos de la Frontera, and a tour of the Pueblos Blancos, ending in Ronda, and Córdoba.  If you like Sherry, you must go tour one of the bodegas in Jerez de la Frontera, and Cádiz is great, and merits only a day or two.   You can NOT miss Granada.  You can do it in a couple of days, without too much rush.  You must see the Alhambra.  It is a spectacular Arab palace, the last stronghold of the Moors, and well worth whatever time you must wait to get in.  (we waited an hour...not too bad, actually).

Madrid is really good to stay for a bit, and use as a base camp for all the small towns around it, that are hard and expensive to find lodging.

I suggest doing these from Madrid:  Toledo, Segovia, Guadalajara, Talavera de la Reina, and the rest of La Mancha (I'm pretty sure there's some way to get around the Quixote Trail, but I had planned to rent a car...it didn't work out this trip.   Rioja wine country is nice, and we had a blast doing a castle loop.  I would spend more time on that than a half day, if I had had the time.  

You should probably travel the entire northern coast, stopping, at the very least, at Bilbao, San Sebastián, Santander, and Oviedo, as well as Santiago.

This is what I would do if I had a backpack and all the time in the world.  You probably will have to pick the stops that most interest you, of course.