Posted by: CathyM
Need help with Northern Spain Itinerary!!! - 08/29/04 01:54 PM
I haven't been around here most of the summer - traveling for business about 75% of the time. Now, I'm frantically trying to put together plans for my Northern Spain trip in less than 3 week! :o
This is just my first past, so I probably need to start cutting out cities and adding days to others so I have a couple of 3 night stays. Then I need to get my hotels!
I'm a solo female traveler and I'm using public transport (car is not an option for me).
I have 2.5 weeks and here's what I came up with today:
Day 1-2 - Arrive Madrid, bus/train to Zamora. 2 nights at the parador. Possible daytrips to Toro, Tordesillas.
Day 3-4 - Travel to Ourense; daytrip to Ribadavia and possibly Montforte de Lemos
Day 5-6 - Santiago de Compostela; visit Lugo on route from Ourense to SdeC.
Day 7-8 - A Coruna; daytrip to Betanzos and possibly Camarinas
Day 9-10 - Luarca; travel to Luarca on FEVE line commencing in Ferrol - visit Viviero en route as daytrip; daytrip to Cudillero from Luarca
Day 11-12 - Llanes; daytrips to Villaviciosa and Ribadasella
Day 13-14 - Cangis de Onis; 2 nights at the parador; daytrip to Covadanga
Day 15-16 - Leon; daytrip to Astorga and Cstillo de los Polvazares
Day 17 - return to Madrid; leave next am.
This seems like alot to me at first pass, but every night is a 2 night stay and there's not a substantial amount of distance between each city (other than the last and first days getting to Madrid).
I'm torn between spending the time in Ourense or Lugo but very much want to visit Ribadavia and this is very accessible from Ourense. I visited Galicia 2 years ago and spent time in Tui, Pontevedra, Cambados and Santiago de Compostela. I'd love to find a way to spend a night in Tui or Cambados but would have to cut a night somewhere else. I also could skip the 2 nights in Zamora, heading directly from Madrid to Ourense but it would be a long trip just after arriving in Spain and Zamora sounds like a beautiful place. I've visited Oviedo in the past and would love to find some time to get back there also! I spent 3 nights in Leon a couple of years ago (love this town) and really wanted to stay in Astorga this trip but I think the festival of San Frolan will be happening in Leon at the same time I am there and (1st weekend in October) and therefore I decided to do Astorga as a daytrip. I'm not quite sure if I'll really like Cangas de Onis but I've read so many good things about this area and the parador that I kept it on my itinerary. (I'm not a hiking person or nature type when it comes to vacations).
I'm also tempted to fly directly from Madrid to Santiago, cutting out Zamora and Ourense. I could also eliminate Llanes and Cangis. Ugh. It's last minute and I just need to make a decision!
Also, if anyone knows if there are luggage lockers in the train/bus stations in these towns it would be great feedback - Betanzos, Camarinos, Villaviciosa, Ribadesella, Cudillero, Ribadavia.
Thanks to everyone in advance for their assistance.
This is just my first past, so I probably need to start cutting out cities and adding days to others so I have a couple of 3 night stays. Then I need to get my hotels!
I'm a solo female traveler and I'm using public transport (car is not an option for me).
I have 2.5 weeks and here's what I came up with today:
Day 1-2 - Arrive Madrid, bus/train to Zamora. 2 nights at the parador. Possible daytrips to Toro, Tordesillas.
Day 3-4 - Travel to Ourense; daytrip to Ribadavia and possibly Montforte de Lemos
Day 5-6 - Santiago de Compostela; visit Lugo on route from Ourense to SdeC.
Day 7-8 - A Coruna; daytrip to Betanzos and possibly Camarinas
Day 9-10 - Luarca; travel to Luarca on FEVE line commencing in Ferrol - visit Viviero en route as daytrip; daytrip to Cudillero from Luarca
Day 11-12 - Llanes; daytrips to Villaviciosa and Ribadasella
Day 13-14 - Cangis de Onis; 2 nights at the parador; daytrip to Covadanga
Day 15-16 - Leon; daytrip to Astorga and Cstillo de los Polvazares
Day 17 - return to Madrid; leave next am.
This seems like alot to me at first pass, but every night is a 2 night stay and there's not a substantial amount of distance between each city (other than the last and first days getting to Madrid).
I'm torn between spending the time in Ourense or Lugo but very much want to visit Ribadavia and this is very accessible from Ourense. I visited Galicia 2 years ago and spent time in Tui, Pontevedra, Cambados and Santiago de Compostela. I'd love to find a way to spend a night in Tui or Cambados but would have to cut a night somewhere else. I also could skip the 2 nights in Zamora, heading directly from Madrid to Ourense but it would be a long trip just after arriving in Spain and Zamora sounds like a beautiful place. I've visited Oviedo in the past and would love to find some time to get back there also! I spent 3 nights in Leon a couple of years ago (love this town) and really wanted to stay in Astorga this trip but I think the festival of San Frolan will be happening in Leon at the same time I am there and (1st weekend in October) and therefore I decided to do Astorga as a daytrip. I'm not quite sure if I'll really like Cangas de Onis but I've read so many good things about this area and the parador that I kept it on my itinerary. (I'm not a hiking person or nature type when it comes to vacations).
I'm also tempted to fly directly from Madrid to Santiago, cutting out Zamora and Ourense. I could also eliminate Llanes and Cangis. Ugh. It's last minute and I just need to make a decision!
Also, if anyone knows if there are luggage lockers in the train/bus stations in these towns it would be great feedback - Betanzos, Camarinos, Villaviciosa, Ribadesella, Cudillero, Ribadavia.
Thanks to everyone in advance for their assistance.