Has anyone driven from Madrid to San Sebastian area?

Question

I am interested in experiences anyone has had driving from Madrid to the Basque country. Are the roads okay? Are there any good places to see along the way? Please give me your input -- we are going in October.

Answer 1

I go that route at least once a year, actually we drive all the way from Malaga where we live, to near Paris where our daughter lives. From Madrid to San Sebastian you have excellent roads. The A-l road north from Madrid to Burgos, then there is a tollway from Burgos all the way to the french border. This is the road we always take.  There is another free route, but there are more curves and some parts are not too great, the tollway is best. As to what to see along the way. As you go north from Madrid, at160 kms. you have Aranda de Duero  (Also the food is great in that area of Spain (especially if you like roast lamb!..the local specialty. There is a service area just off the road the restaurant there is called TUDANCA).

50 kms. further on you have Lerma, there is a palace worth seeing in the main plaza of the town (I think it has been turned into a hotel).

The next place is Burgos, It was the first capital of Spain, (long before Madrid) and is very historic, it has a magnificent cathedral and many other things worth seeing.

If you like visiting cities, go to Bilbao before San Sebastián... They have the Guggenheim museum if you are keen on modern art..

The countryside in the Basque area of Spain is really green and beautiful. All the small towns along the coast from Bilbao to San Sebastián are worth a stopover, (Zarautz, Lekeitio, Getaria, Hondarribia, Pasai de San Pedro, etc) but, it depends on how much time you have..

Saint Jean de Luz, Biarritz and Bayonne on the french side are also very lovely....Definitely worth the time for a quick side trip

Whatever you choose, you will surely enjoy your visit!