Northern Spain - any tips on?

Question

I'm getting the ferry to Santander for a two week holiday, starting next week. Does anyone have any tips on 'must visit places' other than Bilbao, Santander itself, San Sebastian and St Jean de Luz? I am hoping to get some hot sunny weather and beach activity but currently I understand the forecast is rainy for the next few days. Is Pamplona easily drivable from Santander? What about all the way to the South Coast? Cheers!

Answer 1

Covadonga in Asturias, Santiago de Compostela (though I don't know if it will be a little bit far from where you'll be), you can also go to Cabarceno (its like a zoo but with animals in a wide zone where they can live), Altamira, or any of all the villages near the coast, thay are all beautiful. Pamplona would be great, because next week it's san fermines ans you will enjoy a lot, but it will be very overcrowded. You will get in about 4 hours from Santander (I have never done this trip but I'm from Spain and this places aren't very far from each other, but there is not a very good motorway joining these two places).

Have fun, you will enjoy in Spain wherever you will go.

Answer 2

Don't go to Costa del Sol...Costa de la Luz is better.  (West of Cádiz).

Oviedo is supposed to be nice...Santiago de Compustela is a must-see.  

Don't miss the caves!  (I think it's Altamira - the ancient cave paintings - it's near Santander).  

Driveable to Pamplona?  I wouldn't do it...lots of mountains and curvy roads, I think...Fly or take a train.

Personally, I wouldn't spend more than a day in Bilbao.  The only thing there that interests me is the Guggenheim, but it's definitely planned for my next Spain trip (I dream a lot).

You want Hot, sunny weather?  Go to Sevilla.  No beaches, but the most beautifu city EVER.  

We liked the Costa Dorada near Barcelona, but then, I wasn't really there for the beaches.  Not really my thing...I'm into the art, architecture, history, culture and language...beaches are beyond secondary for me...but if the north is rainy, head south (just take a plane) and skip the populated parts of the Costa del Sol, but I hear Nerja is really pretty...probably the best city on that coast.

Answer 3

Burgos is a very cool city in the North of Spain, but there's not all that much to do. But it definitely is beautiful.

Answer 4

I'm in Bilbao at the moment, it's really nice here (although the weather is rubbish today!).

Along with seconding the above recommendations, I'd recommend walking a bit of the Camino Norte which is part of the Camino de Santiago de Compostela -- a pre-Christian pilgrimage walk. Lots of interesting people and a nice slow-travel experience if you're not interested in the spirituality of it.

Answer 5

Hi,  northern Spain is a very nice area to explore, i recommend  Santiago DE Compostela,  and Lugo, Vigo and Orense areas, you could head south to Madrid and Zaragoza, then head back north to Pamplona then onto Santander,hope this can be some help to you.

Joe the trucker.

PS,  its a long treck to the south coast.

Answer 6

Picos de Europa (ultra scenic Mountains abut 50 - 60  miles form Santander). Santillana del Mar "the most beautiful village in Spain" (gets tons of tourists  but still worth it), about 12 miles from Santander, Santona -- beach and Nature Preserve, Caves at Puente Viesgo. You cannot get into the Caves at Altamira  unless you have reserved three YEARS in advance.

Castro Urdiales -- ancient fishing port , beach great seafood.

Pamplona is two hours from San Sebastian (very good road). La Rioja wine country is  about three hours from Bilbao. Estella is a nice little village on the Camino de Santiago in betwee Pamplona and La Rioja.

The south Coast is a LONG Drive.A lot places worth stopping at along the way (better for another trip).

I would focus on the area  around the Cities you mentioned.   There is really quite a lot to explore and enjoy within 100 to 150 miles of the coast.

I strongly suggest you get the Cadogan Guide "Northern Spain"  if you are going to rent a car and drive around that area.  Well worth the 15 pounds. Well illustrated, excellent, detailed maps.

http://www.cadoganguides.com/guide.asp?B...

Also, if you are going to drive across the coast mountain range, be careful  which roads you pick  -- the really twisty ones can get really backed up which can be frustrating if you are trying to make time but fine for enjoying the scenery.

The person saying to fly or train to Pamplona means well I suppose, but the Road to Pamplona from San Sebastian (A3) is an "Autopista" as good or better than anything you would find in the UK (M3 type) .