Basque region

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DC (11 and 8) would really like to go to Disneyland Paris this year, and I would like a coastal holiday near a sandy beach (as the last couple of years we've done more mountain type holidays.)

On top of that, DH doesn't want it to be too hot, and I'd like some culture or nice scenery.

So I've come to the conclusion that the Basque country is the only area that would work. We'd fly there and get the train to Paris and then Eurostar home.

Somehow I don't feel that excited. I don't know why. Perhaps it's the cost - the smallest Eurocamp cabins are coming out at £1500 for a week. Has anyone been to this area and would recommend it?

My other option would be to do Disney as a standalone trip, and then have a week camping in Devon or Cornwall.

Yes! I've been to San Sebastian and Bilbao and it was fantastic. We went in July, two years ago. It was warm and sunny but not too hot, with beautiful scenery, lovely beaches, and great food. You may get the odd rain shower some days. We drove and stayed in a mix of hotels and self-catering, which really kept the price down. We travelled into Asturias and visited the pre-historic caves too.

We stayed in the Sercotel Codina in San Sebastian, which I can recommend. The rooms were spacious and it was walking distance to the beach. I can't remember the name of the hotel in Bilbao, but I could look it up later.

We've also stayed on the French side, near Biscarosse, but you're really going to need a car to get anywhere. There wasn't so much to do either, except walking and swimming.

This is what is bothering me I think - most family campsites are on the French sides but then it starts to look quite flat and boring and away from the more interesting bits.

I've often tried to enthuse myself about this area for a family holiday as the climate seems perfect. I found it hard to work out what you'd do there with kids for a week.

Well, you've got the Pilat Dune, which is rammed with tourists.
It's worth going down the other side as the beach was beautiful and deserted but, oh my goodness, climbing back up was an effort!

Lived there when I was a student and loved it. It's not tourist Spain at all. San Sebastian (also referred to as Donostia by the Basques) is lovely, a very elegant seaside town with fab food. Zarautz which is further west along the coast is gorgeous. Further still are wee fishing towns like Ondarroa and Lekeitio, and the little hermitage of San Juan de Gaztelugaxte is spectacular.

We are thinking of going to San Sebastián for a long weekend with the kids. It looks like a good combination - great beach, lovely old town, fantastic foodie scene. Something for everyone!

We stayed at Ribadasella - Google some pictures absolutely stunning so much to do. Very active and family beach / river / mountain resort.

Try Cantabria a bit further on, gorgeous beaches, mountains and the food is amazing. Plenty of culture and the capital Santander is amazing.

This looks lovely

https://www.casarula.com/

If you do go to Ribadesella you could try this restaurant. I've not eaten there myself but DB says it's some of the best food he's ever eaten - and he frequents Michelin-starred restaurants.
We were in Poo de Llanes at the time and it was a bit too far.

Another vote for San Sebastian, we also combined with Bilbao, went in August 2024 weather was perfect. Not a cheap place to be though. Seems to be connected to Paris by train with a change of train at the border. Didn't try this as ed came by bus from Bilbao.

Not what you asked at all but we have had some great holidays on the Belgian coast near Bruges. Not hot, beaches, historic significance and easy access to Paris. Maybe not hot enough but similar to Cornwall I’d think. We have stayed in a Sunparks resort but there are other options. We went to near Bilbao when I was a child and it was beautiful scenery.

We fell in love with Biarritz and have been to Sylvamar campsite and Camping Il Biarritz - both Yelloh Village. The 2nd one was a much nicer location with great public transport right outside but Sylvamar has soooo much going on for kids.

Beaches were fab for body boarding and surfing.

We stayed in the Occidental in Bilbao. It's not in the centre but is only a short walk from the underground, which was cheap and easy to navigate. There's an outdoor pool, which was great after a hot day sightseeing.
I liked Bilbao a lot. It's fascinating and very different. It was a lot cheaper than San Sebastian too.

It’s gorgeous, we went to the Spanish Basque region and loved it! Maybe don’t do Eurocamp? We stayed at this campsite but with Venue Holidays instead as it was cheaper! https://www.venueholidays.com/uk/cantabria/camping_playa_joyel?utm_source=googleads&vt_keyword=&vt_campaign=21253697759&vt_adgroup=&vt_loc_interest=&vt_physical=9191162&vt_matchtype=&vt_network=x&vt_placement=&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=21253698431&gbraid=0AAAAAD3aiPW-tr86JEIovGNcWqmumBL0U&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIsYj0zvzFkgMVpJBQBh1b5QXUEAAYASAAEgIpQPD_BwE

We went to san sebastian and stayed in a cheap air bnb. Amazing holiday. So beautiful and the food and wine is amazing. Small theme park. Small aquarium. Lovely beaches. Couple of hills to climb. I would say you could entertain kids that age for a few days. Longer if they love cheesecake. But fairly easy to hop along to other towns.

That's not the Basque Country! 😆

I have to say that most people's immediate go- to destination for a beach holiday within easy reach of Paris wouldn't be the Basque Country! What about Brittany, Normandy, the mouth of the Loire, or the Vendee?!

Having said that, I love the Basque Country. We only spent a few days there (and in the Basque areas of Navarre- turns out the Basques aren't just in Euskadi), but I just totally love the cut of their jib. The only coastal place we spent time in was Bilbao, but I'd say it's a great city for kids (if not for drivers- scarred for life).

I've never seen so many public playgrounds! We had seen "giants" (huge human effigies) at a festival inland, and found a great exhibition of them in a museum in the centre of town. The central market is great for pintxos (Basque tapas), and we then went to the mouth of the river and crossed on one of the only surviving transporter bridges in the world. Oh, and of course the Guggenheim.

The Park of the Peoples of Wuropw in Guernika is amazing. Albeit a bit of a contrast with Disney Paris. That said, the Guggenheim in Bilbao could be your segue.

@crackofdoom said "we then went to the mouth of the river and crossed on one of the only surviving transporter bridges in the world"

This! Portugalete! Brilliant! Plus nice little beach at Getxo.

Northern Spain's fantastic. Would you consider a Brittany ferry? Fun for the kids. They go to Santander and Bilbao (Getxo.) I've stayed at Santander (no kids) and found the public transport along the coast fab. Coaches and trains. Altamira caves would be doable from Bilbao...

Oops. It's in Landes.

Thank you for the suggestion, yes I would be interested in this, we haven't really been to Belgium before. Do you have any suggestions of areas/resorts/accommodation?

Friends went to the Basque region last summer and raved about it. They stayed in an air bnb and it wasn’t expensive. It does seem an odd choice for a 2 centre holiday though!