Bilbao and San Sebastian
- Thread starter quimcunx
- Start date
JHE
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Bilbao is great.
I stayed at Hotel Bilbi last year, booked through Travel Republic and paid about £212 for 7 nights. I'd recommend the place. It's just a couple of minutes walk over the river from the Casco Viejo.
http://www.hotelbilbi.com/
I stayed at Hotel Bilbi last year, booked through Travel Republic and paid about £212 for 7 nights. I'd recommend the place. It's just a couple of minutes walk over the river from the Casco Viejo.
http://www.hotelbilbi.com/
Weather - September is as dry as it will get.
Cheap accommodation - both San Sebastian and Bilboa have a few 'unofficial' backpackers places if that is what you're after. Other than that, it's expensive.
San Sebastian is a lovelly city. Two huge beaches. Great seafood. Boulevards, cafe culture etc etc etc, but it isn't cheap. Popular with surfer dudes. It's possibly as about beach culture oriented as Europe gets. Lots of Australians
Bilbao is a bit disappointing beyond the great art galleries. Very small city centre with little to explore. The river walk is good, and most of the best stuff (re; night time) is on the other side of the city. You can find cheap pensions there for €20/night, but they are cheap!
Just go and explore. Do it your own way. Even in Bilbao you can get a nice room in the centre for €35/night.
I like Pais Vasco.
Cheap accommodation - both San Sebastian and Bilboa have a few 'unofficial' backpackers places if that is what you're after. Other than that, it's expensive.
San Sebastian is a lovelly city. Two huge beaches. Great seafood. Boulevards, cafe culture etc etc etc, but it isn't cheap. Popular with surfer dudes. It's possibly as about beach culture oriented as Europe gets. Lots of Australians
Bilbao is a bit disappointing beyond the great art galleries. Very small city centre with little to explore. The river walk is good, and most of the best stuff (re; night time) is on the other side of the city. You can find cheap pensions there for €20/night, but they are cheap!
Just go and explore. Do it your own way. Even in Bilbao you can get a nice room in the centre for €35/night.
I like Pais Vasco.
quimcunx
imprimeo, lamino, distribuo
I was going to go to Athens and country summer house, where I would have free accommodation (bar treating my host) but flights were nearly £250.
When I was looking again tonight and playing about with dates I idly put Bilbao into the flight thingy as I quite fancied it at some point for a weekend and i've been to Athens before, and it came up at £60. I thought if I could get accommodation for cheapness it might be worth going there but I've now got Athens flights for £187 so actually maybe I wouldn't be able to get decent accommodation for the difference or a little bit more than the difference after all.
Hmm.
When I was looking again tonight and playing about with dates I idly put Bilbao into the flight thingy as I quite fancied it at some point for a weekend and i've been to Athens before, and it came up at £60. I thought if I could get accommodation for cheapness it might be worth going there but I've now got Athens flights for £187 so actually maybe I wouldn't be able to get decent accommodation for the difference or a little bit more than the difference after all.
Hmm.
...and...
If you're a hiker. Follow the yellow arrows of the 'Northern way' to Santiago for just a few Kilometers and you will be absolutely gobsmacked at the beauty of the coast. Little coves with woods running down to the beach. fresh water waterfalls running onto secluded beaches.
Nudity is very accepted.
If you're a hiker. Follow the yellow arrows of the 'Northern way' to Santiago for just a few Kilometers and you will be absolutely gobsmacked at the beauty of the coast. Little coves with woods running down to the beach. fresh water waterfalls running onto secluded beaches.
Nudity is very accepted.
I just wrote you a really long reply, but my internet timed out.
Lo Siento.
Second As Farce
I love the Basque Country, I wanna go back there. And unlike the Catalans, they don't get pissed off if you don't speak Basque. (But saying Caixo for hello, and agur for goodbye might go down well 
)
)
King Biscuit Time
Well-Known Member
Thread title sounds like a Spanish Indie-Pop band.
Pais Vasco is where all Spain's money is. The countryside is beautiful, but very industrial...
...my second attempt at places to stay around Bilbao...
I love the area despite the rain. Some fellow hikers I've met during visits found the 'industry' a bit of an eyesore. I didn't - it just added interest.
There are many small towns around Bilbao worth a visit. Most have a pretty vibrant nightlife also even they they may look very quiet by day. A regular event is to meet on Friday evening to go on a march and then go for drinks
Makes me laugh at how routine this is.
Other than San Sebastian and Bilbao the rest of Pais Vasco is all about small industrial towns and fishing villages. Vitoria is worth a day trip. Not that pretty, but interesting.
If it wasn't for the rain (and, they get lots) I would consider living there. Pretend to be Welsh and they will love you
John Toshack is a well known local hero who apparently still lives close to San Sebastian.
...my second attempt at places to stay around Bilbao...
I love the area despite the rain. Some fellow hikers I've met during visits found the 'industry' a bit of an eyesore. I didn't - it just added interest.
There are many small towns around Bilbao worth a visit. Most have a pretty vibrant nightlife also even they they may look very quiet by day. A regular event is to meet on Friday evening to go on a march and then go for drinks
Makes me laugh at how routine this is.Other than San Sebastian and Bilbao the rest of Pais Vasco is all about small industrial towns and fishing villages. Vitoria is worth a day trip. Not that pretty, but interesting.
If it wasn't for the rain (and, they get lots) I would consider living there. Pretend to be Welsh and they will love you
John Toshack is a well known local hero who apparently still lives close to San Sebastian.
Lo Siento.
Second As Farce
they all speak spanish, and are happy to speak it to you
Unlike Catalans who all speak spanish, but many of whom get irritated when they have to speak it.
Smokeandsteam
Working Class First
I'm going to Bilbao and San Sebastián next month for 4 nights.
Does anyone know if there are any tours or does anyone have recommends to explore/discuss Basque politIcs? In particular we are interested in the mondragon collectives and community political initiatives as well the obvious ETA interest.
Does anyone know if there are any tours or does anyone have recommends to explore/discuss Basque politIcs? In particular we are interested in the mondragon collectives and community political initiatives as well the obvious ETA interest.
planetgeli
There's no future in England's dreaming
I've just returned after spending five weeks driving to Finisterre and back. I spent a lot of time in Basque regions in both France and Spain, on campsites. In Spain I mainly stayed around an industrial town (but in the hills) called Legazpi. In France I stayed in Suhescun. That's not the Basque spelling. You can tell from the lack of Ks, Xs and Zs.
What I will say is that ETA politics were FAR more evident and prelevant in French Basque Country. There were "free all Basque prisoners now" posters everywhere around Suhescun and St Pied de Port. By contrast, Legazpi seemed big on museums about lathes. All campsites and scenery were stunning.
Camp Etchimendigaraya, Suhescun, Pyrénées Atlantiques, at sunset
What I will say is that ETA politics were FAR more evident and prelevant in French Basque Country. There were "free all Basque prisoners now" posters everywhere around Suhescun and St Pied de Port. By contrast, Legazpi seemed big on museums about lathes. All campsites and scenery were stunning.
Camp Etchimendigaraya, Suhescun, Pyrénées Atlantiques, at sunset
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planetgeli
There's no future in England's dreaming
Asturias is amazing...Ribadesella, if I'm thinking of the same place, is just posh. You can tell how the prices of the campsites go up, as well as the yachts laying around everywhere. But Asturias, yeah. Great place. Los Picos du Europa. Fine mountain range.
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Pic from June
DSC00732.JPG by john11100110 - Photo 157191047 - 500px
La Arena, near Bilbao. There's some guns above La Arena which you wonder around, you might need a torch.
DSC00732.JPG by john11100110 - Photo 157191047 - 500px
La Arena, near Bilbao. There's some guns above La Arena which you wonder around, you might need a torch.
