Santander, Bilboa and/or San Sebastian?

[7238SM]

DH and myself have always wanted to go to Northern Spain but unsure where to stay, for how long etc. We love trying new foods, don't mind a museum or walking around seeing the sites. It will be in Mar, so not bothered about a beach. Would you fly to Bilboa and do day trips to SS and/or Santander or any other recommendations?

Anyone?

You will likely fly to Santander (if ryanair) and travel from there. San Sebastian without any doubt.
santander - very unremarkable.
Bilbao, busy, only Gugenhaim worth seeing.

san Sebastian is great, I would stay there. You can fly into Biarritz and get a bus to SS.

San Sebastián, Hondarribia and St Jean de Luz. I’d fly into Bilbao and spend a couple of days there.

DH and I went last year in March (annual no kids long weekend abroad). Did 2 nights in Santander (first and last night) and 2 nights in San Sebastián. Got the alsa coach between them. I loved both places but San Seb particularly amazing from a foodie point of view, albeit MUCH more expensive for hotel. The 2 nights we were in S/S were sat and Sunday and the difference was massive in terms of busyness - Saturday you were fighting to get to the bar in most places and Sunday was dead with v little atmosphere- a happy medium would have been nice, lol. Santander felt really chilled and the restaurant we went to on the last night was bloody amazing so with the hotel being so cheap, we left saying we’d probably do Santander again. The weather was proper shit half the trip (torrential rain) so we said we’d probably do it in summer next time. Happy to answer any questions you have re fav pintxos places etc

Not been to Santander but did Biarritz, SS and Bilbao on a trip and enjoyed all of them. Guernica worth a day trip.

We went in August time, so it was beach weather, we did 3 nights in Bilbao and 3 nights in San Sebastian. I enjoyed both places, In addition to Guggenheim in Bilbao you can go out to Gexto and visit the UNESCO world heritage gondola style bridge, I don't know what the technical term is. It's pretty cool though. There is also the funicular at Artxanda up to the big Bilbao sign and the old town. The sites in the old town were mostly shut when we visited as there was a big festival going on. I loved San Sebastian, somewhere I'd be happy to return to. I think it would only take you a day to see it in March. Lot's of good food places in San Sebastian, easier to enjoy child free (we had older kids with us). Definitely don't miss the basque cheesecake!

A lot depends on your UK starting point as to what flights you can get, for example from northern England, realistically you can only fly to Bilbao. We were booked but got cancelled by COVID and sadly have not returned (yet).

The plan was 3 nights in Bilbao, incl a trip to Guernica, also Gexto and just mooching around the city. Then get the coach to San Sebastian (look on alsa.es, I think it's about an hour and fairly regular) for the rest of the time there including Hondaribba and taking the little boat across the estuary into France, possibly also Biarritz before back to Bilbao to return home.

Fly to Bilbao, couple of days there, then head to San Sebastian. Absolutely wonderful!

Bilbao had a character all of its own. Definitely not as pretty as some, but it's great.

Coach- v easy to navigate.

Loved everything about San Sebastian.

I'd advise layers- we went in August and the weather wasn't as good as we were expecting. Still managed some wonderful beach days, just meant we were flexible with times of plans.

I go by ferry a couple of times and year with my dog to santander. It's very underwhelming.
Last year, me and DH went to bilbao. Another meg place.
I do love San Sebastian and the basque country.

Meh place.

We flew to Santander in September and did a city bus tour, actually all the beaches there are lovely, even if the town underwhelming. We drove around the local coastline no more than about 50 miles west, there were lots of pretty villages and bays, we booked airbnbs. Then we drove the short distance south to Picos de Europe which have amazing views and roads, assuming you have a hire car, and our final ight was at the Parador with the cable car.
It is very 'Spanish' I.e. restaurants open 8pm at the earliest, and little
English spoken (which obviously is fine, but just to mention).

My eye skated over the title of this thread, and I saw Bilbo and Sebastian, and for one moment, I thought this was a baby names thread, @7238SM - I must read properly!

Highly recommend San Sebastián, beautiful surroundings, fabulous food and great for walking around and some sightseeing. Went with two young kids at the time and they loved it

I liked Bilbao, not just the Guggenheim.

🤣🤣🤣🤣 probably a tame day for baby names!

You can get to San Sebastián from London by train - Eurostar to Paris then TGV to Hendaye and narrow gauge Euskotren Hendaye to San Sebastián. SS (or Donostia in Basque) to Bilbao better done by bus as the train is a bit long albeit very scenic.

We had a wonderful time in both places. The Guggenheim was a bit weird but I'm still glad to have gone. The transporter bridge in Bilbao and the Basque Shipbuilding museum out at Passaia were both wonderful, as was the cider museum (latter two both easy journeys from San Sebastián)

Food was amazing everywhere and the views from the hilltops and harbours absolutely stunning.

Santander is lovely. Great beaches. Altamira caves. Picos de Europa. Also cheaper for flights and accommodation.