I have a pretty broad question about travel in Spain. I'm going to be studying in Salamanca next year, and because of the way our academic year is structured I'm going to be there from january to january (rather than october to june). This of course means that I am going to have about three months holidays over summer when I can travel around Spain, and I was wondering if anyone had any advice for what to do.

I'd like to spend some time at the beach, but not necesarily all the time, and I don't want to move around too much, so maybe spend a month each in three different places.

So, if you had three months to kill in SPain, where would you go and what would you do?

Hola sally b.

May be a broad question but sounds like a kick ass year you are going to have

Sounds like a Jan.-Jan. program is a great idea since it gives you the long summer rest right when you may need it most, in the middle. Way too cool !

I studied a Masters in Madrid from Sept.-May years ago and when schol ended my ex and I took 3 months to travel around Spain (all summer ). We did 2 routes with Madrid as the home base, a sounthern route and then a northern one. Man, what a time! Backpacking, staying in youth hostals, eating the best food on earth, etc...

We even made it to the Running of the Bulls in Pamplona in July for a few days (all we could handle!).

I would have stayed if I did not have to go home to NY and start looking for a "real job" topay off my student loans.

Well, that summer we hit every autonomous region of mainland Spain, at least 50 cities in just under 3 months.

Since I have returned to live in Spain, I have also added the islands to my list and not have been to all 17 of the Spanish regions and love them all.

I also lived in Granada for a month a few years back when I was working as a group leader for a group of American students there. Had a great Spanish family for my homestay there and I HIGHLY recommend your living in Granada for a month if you want to stay in one place that long . I am not a real world traveler and have not been to many different countries but I will venture to say that Granada is one of the most beautiful cities on earth.

If I were not living in Madrid, I would probably have chosen Granada. Can you imagine a multigranada.com ?

My being from NY, Granada is a bit small however for me to settle in but a month there was a perfect amount of time to get to know and love it!

Amongst my other all time favorite cities in Spain are San Sebasti�n (Pa�s Vasco) and C�rdoba (Andaluc�a).

You must get to San Sabasti�n in the summertime, it is AMAZING!

Saludos,
jer...

Hey Jer, not only do we have a love of Espa�a in common, but our favorite cities are exactly the same!!!!
I second Jer's vote about the month in Granada thing, though maybe in the beginning of the summer, it get's HOT!

Freaky laduque, that is way too uncanny. Yhe exact same cities huh!

Well, I guess we just both have "super chuli piruli" amazing taste

Actually, as a response to sall b's post above I wanted to put "EVERYWHERE" and then sign off but that would have been a very open-ended answer and when I get rolling on Spain, there is no stopping me

Saludos,
jer...

wow Jer! 50 cities in 3 months - that's a very impressive effort. Unfortunately I am a hopeless traveller, and once I find somewhere I like I have a terrible time leaving. Plus having to wake up in time to catch buses and trains, and then having to find accommodation is just too much work for me.

Last year I spent six weeks in Granada and fell in love with the city, it's one of my favourite places in the whole world. I'm planning to spend easter week there with my parents, because they're coming over to visit me in April, and I haven't stopped talking about how amazing Granada is ever since I got back, so they're dying to see it for themselves.

I also spent a week in San Sebastian which was beautiful but kind of strange as it was the middle of winter so it didn't feel quite right, so I think i'll definitely go back there over summer. But apart from that I'm thinking maybe Alicante, mainly based on what one of my friends who spent about a month there last summer has said about it, its oud pretty incredible.

Hey sally b, jer back again.

I too like to stay in a place for a while but that was my wild summer of travel after having completed a year of study here. So, I wanted to do and see it all! I knew I would probably not get another chance to do that type of trip. Instead of the usual Eurorail trip that many take throughout Europe after college I decided to do tha same but only in Spain.

I must admit ti was quite a whirlwind adventure but it was the most AMAZING 3 months of my life (even better than living here in the Plaza Mayor, well maybe not ).

I see we are in total agreement on Granada and you should definitely get to San Sebasti�n in the spring or summer . In winter the waether can be inhospitable and the sea can get nasty with very large waves but it is beautiful nontheless.

Hmmmmm... Alicante may be a great place for beach, sun & partying in the summer but not much in the way of culture nor sights so I would never spend a month there. Basically Alicante is where MANY Madrile�os and other Spaniards spend their summer vacations.

Saludos,
jer...

Hey sally b, you've gotten a lot of great advice, but i thought something was missing. I lived and studied in Sevilla for a six month period, and traveled all over Andalucia, and it's all beautiful. But, i'll have to go with Sevilla as being the greatest place to me. Though Granada is a magical place, and you absolutely should go, spending a long period in Sevilla and visiting Granada is what i would advise. If you're interested in those things that are uniquely Spanish--bullfighting, flamenco, and fiestas, Sevilla is at the heart of all of it. Just like my Senor said to me when i commented at the size and beauty of madrid's plaza de toros, "si, pero la plaza de Sevilla pesa mas." I can't think of a good English translation--"yes, but Sevilla's plaza holds more weight." The beauty of Sevilla is one thing, but i think the ambiente of Sevilla is something you would never forget and would definitely be able to experience in a month's stay. Of course, all of this is different for each person, but i thought i'd give you a different perspective...

Hello!

I love Donosti (San Sebasti�n in Spanish) and Salamanca. I have said "Donosti" because in the Basque Country, young people never say San Sebasti�n (it sounds quite odd). They call it "Donosti" (although in Euskera, the basque country language, it's really "DonostiA").

I prefer stroll through its streets at night, from Amara to the sea, all the time near the river Urumea. If you do this, you'll the 3 famous bridges of San Sebasti�n.

I suggest you to climb to Igeldo's hill at night. You'll find the best view of the city, all the street's lights, the beach, etc.

Of course, you must walk through "El Paseo Nuevo" beside the sea, and through the port and inner city.

I really love San Sebasti�n!.

If you want to eat the best sandwich of the world made of tortilla de patatas you must go to the bar "Juantxo", in the old part (parte vieja). I'm sorry but now I can't remember the street's name, the only thing that I know is that it is parallel to the "Ferm�n Calvet�n" street. More exactly, between Ferm�n Calvet�n and the Boulevard.

Ah!, By the way, I also love Salamanca. Find there the street Bandic and go to a bar called "La Parrilla". There are the best tapas of ribs and pork loin of the world, and they are free just if you drink a beer!

Bye.