Hi. I'm trying to plan a trip to Spain for approximately 10-12 days. I was thinking of flying into Madrid and out of Barcelona. The debate is between the Northern and Southern parts of the country. I know one is not better than the other, but if anybody could give some pros and cons of both. this trip will be in late december/early january, so weather is definetly an issue. Bilbao and Sevilla both sound wonderful, and it breaks my heart that I won't be able to see everything. Comments???
Posts: 2 | Location: Boston, MA, USA | Registered: 05 October 2003
Hi Samanthia, I can�t be of much help, but I am going to be watching this thread with great interest, as I am going to start my "Grand Trip" next April. From my point of view at the time of the year you are travelling, I would head south as I am very miserable when I am cold and Bilbao could be chilly. As you say everywhere is beautiful, but I just think I will appreciate the cities I visit much more if I am not worrying about the weather!
________________________________________ Growing old is mandatory; growing up is optional
I would personally choose the north over the south no matter what the season. The ocean, the mountains, the air... even the rain! I studied in Andalucia from January until June and honestly I didn�t like it in the winter. It was pretty miserable without the flowers and the weather would get cold one day and hot the next. At least in Galicia you know it�s always cold hahaha
If you want to see nature and visit the villages that make espa�a verde so beautiful, I would choose the north. If you want to do sight seeing and see the Spain that comes to mind when most people say the word, head to Andalucia. But I think the best option is to just plan a second trip next year and see one now and the other next year!
Hi! As you said, no one of the parts is better than the other one, but every place is quite different. The place you should go depends on what are you looking for. If you want warm weather go South, since North is very cold in Winter. But if you don't mind 'bout the weather, and you cannot afford both North and South, I recommend you the North. Northern parts of Spain (Galicia, Asturias, Cantabria, Pa�s Vasco, Arag�n and Catalu�a) are mountainous and greener than Southern ones, where landscapes use to be flat and dry.
About the cities. I strongly recommend you (as well as Madrid, of course!) Barcelona (great!), San Sebasti�n (one of the BEST cities in Spain), C�diz, Santander and Salamanca. Sevilla and Bilbao are nice, but I didn't like them as much as the others above.
If I only could visit a few places, I wouldn't miss Madrid, Barcelona, Salamanca and San Sebasti�n.
Enjoy your trip and tell us when you're back!!
My name is Lucca, I live on the second floor...
Posts: 51 | Location: Madrid | Registered: 31 August 2003
madsue is right, stay away from the north at that time of year, its bitter cold up there.
Go to Sevilla, Jerez, Cadiz, Granada, Malaga, Cordoba, Cartagena. All nice and warm & sunny, you'll have more than enough to keep you entertained in those places, and especially at christmas, the atmosphere down there is really good, the people are happier.
I usually advise people to see northern Spanish cities in the summer, and southern spain in the winter, because it gets powerfully hot enough in the north during summer, but down south, my god, its tooooooooooooooo hot, it was 54 degrees "c" in Sevilla in August, A freind of mine called me from there on that day and said they could not go out even. But in the winter, its fine.
I am a bit biased but I would vote for the south as Iberian did. I do love the north, especially Galicia, but I liked it much better in the spring (milder) than the winter. October is the true rainy season, but it's likely you'll see some in December and January. That said it's also much more likely you'll have warmer temperatures than the north, which could be nice that time of year. And there are sunny days in the winter here! I also like all the cities you can see in Andalucia (as mentioned above) without much travel time in between.
My heart is in the north. But if it's winter, see the south first. (Galicia and Asturias and even Castilla are bone-chilling in winter!)
While in the south don't miss Malaga and Cadiz..Joselito's in Cadiz has the best calimari on the planet, and any of the beach guys in Malaga will provide fabulous fire-roasted sardines.
Spain is SO addictive, I guarantee you will be back and can take your time in good weather up north, where Leon and Santiago de Compostela and A Coruna and Avila and Salamanca will totally steal away your heart!
I envy you, having your first taste of such an intoxicating place. Enjoy!
Rebekah
Posts: 385 | Location: a pueblo in Palencia, via Pittsburgh USA | Registered: 15 February 2003
Leon and Santiago de Compostela and A Coruna and Avila and Salamanca will totally steal away your heart!
I compeltely agree with you Rebrites :ks: The North is great. It's true that it is really cold in winter but it's worth a visit.
Samanthia, if you like art and history you can�t miss these cities. They are not the typical places you have in mind when you think of Spain (as opposed to those in the South). For info about Le�n see this thread
I�m afraid you will need to come at least twice to Spain Samathia. There are too many places and things you can�t miss!
Cuiusvis hominis est errare, nullius nisi insipientis in errore perseverare
Sooooooooooooooooooooooo many things to consider here samanthia but since you wrote...
quote:
"... weather is definetly an issue."
... I am going to have to recommend you head south!!!
Iberian is on the right track with his suggestions that you should "Go to Sevilla, Jerez, Cadiz, Granada, Malaga, Cordoba, Cartagena" but that is a LOT for 10 days. If you are flying into Madrid and out of Barcelona, also keep in mind that you MUST spend AT LEAST 2 days in each (Madrid and Barcelona). That leaves only 6 days to see the south
So, land in Madrid and spend a few days, then go to:
All of your comments are very helpful!! Everybody seems to talk of the weather in very vague terms however... I don't mind the cold that's above freezing. Is it below freezing in the north? anything above freezing will be better than Boston at that time of year.
The north seems to be a bit more artsy and modern, while the south is more historical and a different type of culture??? Am I getting it right?
Posts: 2 | Location: Boston, MA, USA | Registered: 05 October 2003
Depends on where you go in the north... My best friend lives on the coast of Galicia in a village in Pontevedra and has only seen snow once in her life. I�ve only seen Galicia in December and January and I never found it any colder than NY... But I thought Sevilla was freezing because at least in Galicia when the temp goes down people have HEAT to turn on. In Sevilla there�s just the space heater under the table!
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