Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Thanks all! Just to clarify, we aren't big fans of museums, which is one reason we thought to skip Madrid since its such a museum heavy city.

There are museums in most cities, unfortunately. If you really want to get away from museums you could stay in the countryside?

Or they could go to cities with other things to do...

I haven't been to a museum in the last 15 years (outside of DC). There are many ways to explore another culture.

Anonymous wrote:

Thanks all! Just to clarify, we aren't big fans of museums, which is one reason we thought to skip Madrid since its such a museum heavy city.

There are museums in most cities, unfortunately. If you really want to get away from museums you could stay in the countryside?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Consider San Sebastian with a trip to Bilbao to see the Guggenheim. A real gem, and amazing food.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/07/travel/36-hours-in-san-sebastin-spain.html?_r=0

+2

Consider Santiago as well.

Thanks all! Just to clarify, we aren't big fans of museums, which is one reason we thought to skip Madrid since its such a museum heavy city.

To clarify, my +1 earlier was for San Sebastián, not Bilboa.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Consider San Sebastian with a trip to Bilbao to see the Guggenheim. A real gem, and amazing food.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/07/travel/36-hours-in-san-sebastin-spain.html?_r=0

+2

Consider Santiago as well.

Thanks all! Just to clarify, we aren't big fans of museums, which is one reason we thought to skip Madrid since its such a museum heavy city.

madrid + segovia/toledo would easily fill up a week

I love Spain, and I know lots of people say Madrid can be skipped (especially compared to the other amazing places to visit in Spain), but I absolutely loved it. It's such a vibrant, awesome city and a great place to spend a few days. I personally liked it more than Barcelona, but YMMV. Just had to put it out there - I've already been twice, but even so if/when I go back to Spain, I definitely will do Madrid again.

We did a similar trip to Spain in 2012 for our 10th Anniversary. We only had 9 days or so. We decided to focus on 1 region rather than spend all our time on travel. We started in Barcelona and spent 4-5 days seeing the sights, eating amazing food and having fun. We then went up to a small city about an hour away called Girona. Girona is still a partially "walled" city. It is very cool to walk on the walls and wander around inside those places. We then drove down to the Priorat wine region, stayed in a B& B and did a wine tasting tour in that area. It was awesome, though by the end of the trip, I felt like if I ever saw another glass of red wine it would be too soon.

I love Madrid too. I've heard absolutely wonderful things about San Sebastian but I've never been. I don't think you can go wrong anywhere you go in Spain. You could also do a southern sweep with Granada, Malaga and Seville. You may be able to get to Morocco if you do that trip.

Anonymous wrote:Consider San Sebastian with a trip to Bilbao to see the Guggenheim. A real gem, and amazing food.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/07/travel/36-hours-in-san-sebastin-spain.html?_r=0

+2

Consider Santiago as well.

I loved Granada.

Anonymous wrote:Consider San Sebastian with a trip to Bilbao to see the Guggenheim. A real gem, and amazing food.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/07/travel/36-hours-in-san-sebastin-spain.html?_r=0

+1

One of our favorite spots in Spain.

We also loved Segovia. Barcelona was our favorite city.

Bilbao

Day trip to morocco is not worth it if you only have 1 week. Barcelona has great shopping and food, basque region has better food but not as cosmopolitan for shopping etc. you can do a few days in Barcelona and then go to one of the seaside towns?

Consider San Sebastian with a trip to Bilbao to see the Guggenheim. A real gem, and amazing food.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/07/travel/36-hours-in-san-sebastin-spain.html?_r=0

OP again - Morocco day trips seem to land you in a Tangiers port that's not very nice - which isn't as exciting to me. Boo.

I posted earlier about planning a trip to Europe, and we decided on Spain! We will be going for approximately 7-8 days (we haven't booked our flights yet). It will just be DH and me.

Our priorities are: 1) amazing food, 2) shopping, and 3) cities where you can wonder around and get lost, and feel like a local. We do some museums because we think we should, but stay no more than one-two hours so they are definitely not a priority....this is one reason I am considering skipping Madrid. Our priority is finding places that we can wander the city and eat amazing food/drinks and go into stores with local artisans. We will also be going in October, so do not want to go to a place solely for a beach to sit. I would also love some romanticism, as this is a trip away from kids! We also want authentic...I read on DCUM that Seville can feel like disneyland - I was excited about Seville until I read that!

I also really like the idea of taking a day trip to Morocco if possible (and would I need a visa?), although that is not a necessity.

Where should we go DCUM?!