We wouldn’t make San Sebastian a centerpiece of a trip, but if you’re in the area it’s a nice day or two. Rent bikes, eat a lot, go to the beach on the left side (as you face the water),
Bilbao is worth a two day stop. I didn't love it on our first trip (it felt very unsafe and grungy), but the Guggenhein, as intended, has had a major impact and it’s a rather nice place to be now. The
This was an ambitious driving vacation that we loved - starting in Madrid and then skirting the coastline down to Lisbon. Very diverse, packed with history, great food! Days 1 and 2: Madrid We hit the ground running - thankfully the city
On my list for a return visit. I remember it as very beautiful, very hot, very slow (starting late, up late), welcoming even on a student budget. Sites **Alcazar: 10th century Moorish palace. The interior decorations (mostly tile and wood) are beautiful.
In August 2023 we took a long road trip from Revonnas to the Spanish Pyrenees, to the Costa Brava, to the southwestern beaches of France. Here's what went right – and wrong – and how we'd adapt for an even
Cadaqués, one of the larger towns in the Costa Brava, was Salvador Dalí’s long term residence, with white-washed buildings wrapped in bougainvilleas lining the hills. The climate is near perfect - in August, the days were mid-80s and humid, but
Jaca is in the Pyrenees mountains of northeast Spain - a pretty spot with easy access to hiking, biking, and skiing. It’s known for the 16th-century Ciudadela de Jaca, a pentagonal fortress that houses the Museum of Military Miniatures. The
Granada is awesome, with a very unique personality. It’s gritty, full of life, a bit untamed. I’d give it two nights and a day. Tourists (lots of them) go to Granada to see the ***Alhambra. I'd highly recommend going there, but
Ronda is a tiny hill town in southern Spain, famed for its bull ring, gorge-spanning bridge, and 13th century walls. Orson Welles and Ernest Hemingway both frequented it (A Death in the Afternoon is based on experiences Hemingway had there). This
Barcelona was different than I expected. I was underwhelmed by the sights, but loved the city itself - getting to the destination was often the best part. Sites **Cathedral of Barcelona: very impressive, as something that took over 600 years to build