Northern Spain… Galicia
Discussion
We’re travelling to a function in June, south of S de Compostella via Santander ferry. Thinking of spending 4-5 days to drive over from ferry to Galicia, the function, then back eastwards to France for some southern France touring.
Any recommendations/ suggestions on routes, towns to visit, hotels, must-sees/ avoids etc etc. Should we stay in Galicia longer, or even drop down into northern Portugal, or spend longer in northern Spain in general?
Thanks in anticipation….
Any recommendations/ suggestions on routes, towns to visit, hotels, must-sees/ avoids etc etc. Should we stay in Galicia longer, or even drop down into northern Portugal, or spend longer in northern Spain in general?
Thanks in anticipation….
Edited by quarryman111 on Tuesday 23 April 21:54
San Sebastian is fabulous - it's the "wrong way" from Santander, but only about 2 hours drive. San Sebastian is all about the food.
Logrono is also fabulous - it's in the middle of the Rioja wine region. It's also about the food, but a bit more of a party atmosphere. If you're going early June then there's a festival on, but as it's a regional thing it doesn't seem to impact the price / availability of hotels
Parador de Fuente De. Get the cable car up the mountain and do a bit of mild hiking. There are some great driving roads around in the Picos de Europa.
Santander itself is worth a wander around
Bilbao is also worth a look. There's a famous museum if that's your thing (The Guggenheim)
I can't help with the rest as we've not been yet - however we are also going in May / June this year. Our itinerary is Santander -> San Sebastian -> The coast near Santander -> Logrono -> Gijon -> La Coruna -> Porto. We'll be in Logrono on 7th - 9th June, which is when the festival is on. We were there last year at the same time and really enjoyed it.
If you do decide to head back via France, then Biarritz and St. Emilion are the 2 places I would visit. Unless you have a massive budget, I wouldn't plan on overnighting in St. Emilion though.
Logrono is also fabulous - it's in the middle of the Rioja wine region. It's also about the food, but a bit more of a party atmosphere. If you're going early June then there's a festival on, but as it's a regional thing it doesn't seem to impact the price / availability of hotels
Parador de Fuente De. Get the cable car up the mountain and do a bit of mild hiking. There are some great driving roads around in the Picos de Europa.
Santander itself is worth a wander around
Bilbao is also worth a look. There's a famous museum if that's your thing (The Guggenheim)
I can't help with the rest as we've not been yet - however we are also going in May / June this year. Our itinerary is Santander -> San Sebastian -> The coast near Santander -> Logrono -> Gijon -> La Coruna -> Porto. We'll be in Logrono on 7th - 9th June, which is when the festival is on. We were there last year at the same time and really enjoyed it.
If you do decide to head back via France, then Biarritz and St. Emilion are the 2 places I would visit. Unless you have a massive budget, I wouldn't plan on overnighting in St. Emilion though.
omniflow said:
I can't help with the rest as we've not been yet - however we are also going in May / June this year. Our itinerary is Santander -> San Sebastian -> The coast near Santander -> Logrono -> Gijon -> La Coruna -> Porto. We'll be in Logrono on 7th - 9th June, which is when the festival is on. We were there last year at the same time and really enjoyed it..
Thanks for that. I am going back 23/05 to 09/06 so I will bear this in mind.My motorbike crew and I did a 3wk tour of France/Spain/Portugal about 12yrs ago, staying in a different town city every night.
One of the nicest places we stayed was Gijon, half way between Galicia and Santander. I've sadly not had the opportunity to return, but recall it being really lovely. A genteel sort of place, where everyone promenades through the old town square at night, about as far removed from the Costa del Sol as you can imagine!
https://www.danflyingsolo.com/things-to-do-in-gijo...
One of the nicest places we stayed was Gijon, half way between Galicia and Santander. I've sadly not had the opportunity to return, but recall it being really lovely. A genteel sort of place, where everyone promenades through the old town square at night, about as far removed from the Costa del Sol as you can imagine!
https://www.danflyingsolo.com/things-to-do-in-gijo...
quarryman111 said:
We’re travelling to a function in June, south of S de Compostella via Santander ferry. Thinking of spending 4-5 days to drive over from ferry to Galicia, the function, then back eastwards to France for some southern France touring.
Any recommendations/ suggestions on routes, towns to visit, hotels, must-sees/ avoids etc etc. Should we stay in Galicia longer, or even drop down into northern Portugal, or spend longer in northern Spain in general?
Thanks in anticipation….
San sebastian is a must do - incredible place, afternoon wandering round bars and enjoying tapas like nowhere else we've foundAny recommendations/ suggestions on routes, towns to visit, hotels, must-sees/ avoids etc etc. Should we stay in Galicia longer, or even drop down into northern Portugal, or spend longer in northern Spain in general?
Thanks in anticipation….
Edited by quarryman111 on Tuesday 23 April 21:54
omniflow said:
San Sebastian is fabulous - it's the "wrong way" from Santander, but only about 2 hours drive. San Sebastian is all about the food.
Logrono is also fabulous - it's in the middle of the Rioja wine region. It's also about the food, but a bit more of a party atmosphere. If you're going early June then there's a festival on, but as it's a regional thing it doesn't seem to impact the price / availability of hotels
Parador de Fuente De. Get the cable car up the mountain and do a bit of mild hiking. There are some great driving roads around in the Picos de Europa.
Santander itself is worth a wander around
Bilbao is also worth a look. There's a famous museum if that's your thing (The Guggenheim)
I can't help with the rest as we've not been yet - however we are also going in May / June this year. Our itinerary is Santander -> San Sebastian -> The coast near Santander -> Logrono -> Gijon -> La Coruna -> Porto. We'll be in Logrono on 7th - 9th June, which is when the festival is on. We were there last year at the same time and really enjoyed it.
If you do decide to head back via France, then Biarritz and St. Emilion are the 2 places I would visit. Unless you have a massive budget, I wouldn't plan on overnighting in St. Emilion though.
All of this!Logrono is also fabulous - it's in the middle of the Rioja wine region. It's also about the food, but a bit more of a party atmosphere. If you're going early June then there's a festival on, but as it's a regional thing it doesn't seem to impact the price / availability of hotels
Parador de Fuente De. Get the cable car up the mountain and do a bit of mild hiking. There are some great driving roads around in the Picos de Europa.
Santander itself is worth a wander around
Bilbao is also worth a look. There's a famous museum if that's your thing (The Guggenheim)
I can't help with the rest as we've not been yet - however we are also going in May / June this year. Our itinerary is Santander -> San Sebastian -> The coast near Santander -> Logrono -> Gijon -> La Coruna -> Porto. We'll be in Logrono on 7th - 9th June, which is when the festival is on. We were there last year at the same time and really enjoyed it.
If you do decide to head back via France, then Biarritz and St. Emilion are the 2 places I would visit. Unless you have a massive budget, I wouldn't plan on overnighting in St. Emilion though.
Plus amazing tapas places in the market square in Bilbao, its literally ringed with them.
Cider in Gijon and in particular the local way of pouring it
Potes is nice (can get busy) and the drive up the gorge to it is fantastic.
Look out for vultures circling around in the Picos, and stop in a mountain village for a lunch of pigs head............(actually don't have the pigs head, the ears are really really chewy)
its a fantastic part of Europe and make me really want to go again right now.
Look out for vultures circling around in the Picos, and stop in a mountain village for a lunch of pigs head............(actually don't have the pigs head, the ears are really really chewy)
its a fantastic part of Europe and make me really want to go again right now.
Did a Pyrenees road trip last year, the roads are all mega with good tarmac, very wide and mostly empty. Spent one night at the Canfranc station hotel, very cool place with some interesting history.
As everyone else has said, a day wandering around San Sebastian will be an excellent experience. No need to go to any of the Michelin starred restaurants there, just dip in and out of all the tapas bars. I know it's the other way but Andorra was a very weird and wonderful place, there's basically a hill climb route running through the country
As everyone else has said, a day wandering around San Sebastian will be an excellent experience. No need to go to any of the Michelin starred restaurants there, just dip in and out of all the tapas bars. I know it's the other way but Andorra was a very weird and wonderful place, there's basically a hill climb route running through the country
I've been along that northern coast a couple of times and love it. We stopped a night in Cudillero which is a little coastal town you drive down into. We like Gijon as well, and also stayed in Llanes. We went up to Sotres, and would like to base there for a few days walking. It's a lovely part of the world, enjoy your time there.
quarryman111 said:
Excellent…just the sort of info I’m looking for, thanks!
I should have said that on our sole previous trip to Santander we went up to the Picos and up the cable car and back, but no further east or west.
So San Sebastián, Bilbao, Logrono and Biarritz are definites so far.
I have spent a fair bit of time that way, and prefer Bayonne to Biarritz. St Jean du Luz also worth a visit in my opinion, stopping for lunch in one of the small places in the alleyways coming off the beach. I should have said that on our sole previous trip to Santander we went up to the Picos and up the cable car and back, but no further east or west.
So San Sebastián, Bilbao, Logrono and Biarritz are definites so far.
Having toured Northern Spain and part of Portugal last year we're planning a similar but extended trip for September.
Thursday night ferry Pompey - Santander (solo)
Saturday drive to Cudillero,2 nights, coastal hiking
Monday drive to A Coruna, 2 nights, mate flying out/back - on the lash
Weds drive to Porto, 3 nights (Lady VP flying out) - port, culture, exploring, port
Saturday drive to Pinhao (Douro valley), 4 nights - port, hiking, boat trip, port
Weds (long) drive to San Sebastian, 2 nights, food & drink (Lady VP flying back)
I've then got another week for some hiking and cruise up through France for a ferry TBC
I've only recently discovered this part of Europe and love it.
Thursday night ferry Pompey - Santander (solo)
Saturday drive to Cudillero,2 nights, coastal hiking
Monday drive to A Coruna, 2 nights, mate flying out/back - on the lash
Weds drive to Porto, 3 nights (Lady VP flying out) - port, culture, exploring, port
Saturday drive to Pinhao (Douro valley), 4 nights - port, hiking, boat trip, port
Weds (long) drive to San Sebastian, 2 nights, food & drink (Lady VP flying back)
I've then got another week for some hiking and cruise up through France for a ferry TBC
I've only recently discovered this part of Europe and love it.
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