Madrid is like the DC Mall. Museums, Government buildings

99 degrees really!
August is delightful in Scandinavia
Must it be Spain?

Anonymous wrote:We visit family in Galicia every year with our young boys, and it’s nowhere near as hot as DC, gorgeous (tons of amazing beaches, islands, beautiful parks, and coastal trails) and lots of outdoor stuff to do. Very close to Portugal if you want to do a short side trip there. Lots of old castles and coastal towns that are fun for kids to explore. Anywhere inland, away from the coast, will be very hot.

So jealous, it's the only part of Spain I haven't visited and I really want to go!

Anonymous wrote:We spent 10 days in Spain this past August. I love Madrid and we spent a few days there, but it was very hot. We dealt with it and still enjoyed it.

We spent the rest of the time in San Sebastian, Bilbao, Oviedo (Asutias), and Salamanca. We saw a soccer match in Bilbao which was awesome. Another favorite was a bike ride down the Senda del Oso. It was definitely cooler in these regions.

Sorry I can't type. That should stay Asturias.

We visit family in Galicia every year with our young boys, and it’s nowhere near as hot as DC, gorgeous (tons of amazing beaches, islands, beautiful parks, and coastal trails) and lots of outdoor stuff to do. Very close to Portugal if you want to do a short side trip there. Lots of old castles and coastal towns that are fun for kids to explore. Anywhere inland, away from the coast, will be very hot.

We spent 10 days in Spain this past August. I love Madrid and we spent a few days there, but it was very hot. We dealt with it and still enjoyed it.

We spent the rest of the time in San Sebastian, Bilbao, Oviedo (Asutias), and Salamanca. We saw a soccer match in Bilbao which was awesome. Another favorite was a bike ride down the Senda del Oso. It was definitely cooler in these regions.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It gets very hot like here in Spain in August.

Not in the coastal areas.

And yes they have A/C it isn't 1985. In northern Europe A/C is not common at all. In southern Europe it's very common now.

Would you recommend the northern coast (Galicia and San Sebastián) or the eastern coast north of Barcelona?

Don't know about the Northern coast, have heard it's nice, but I think pretty cold for swimming.

We had a great time in a beach town on the Costa Brava (coast northeast of Barcelona). Water very nice for swimming, and great food. Great place for say 4-5 days.

Which beach town? Did you stay in hotel or get a vrbo?

There are 3 small towns next to each other that are similar - Llafranc, Tamariu and Calella de Palafrugell. There are a few other towns like these nearby- just avoid anywhere advertising full English Breakfast- that's your sign it's overrun by drunk Brits.

These towns have some small hotels and also available rentals through places like VRBO and Airbnb. A bit tough to get to without a car, but in the summers they have buses from the train line that runs inland.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Madrid will be really hot and honestly probably miserable. I'd do San Sebastian and Biarritz or Bibao. Barcelona and the coast, too, would work.

Thanks. I’m disappointed because I personally would like to see Madrid, but if it’s going to be worse than a DC summer outside and less air conditioning, I dont know if we’d even make it (me and one of my boys don’t do well in the heat).

I’ve heard Barcelona is insanely crowded and they don’t like tourists- any truth to this? If we did this route we’d probably only stay there 2-3 nights and then do some coastal towns for the next week, but it sounds like those might be completely overrun as well?

Honestly Madrid is my least favorite Spanish city, in my experience. The Retiro is nice, and the art museums are very good, but it's very much a financial capital more than a cultural one. There will definitely be a/c in places, possibly less in some of the older older buildings but it'll exist. But outside yeah it'll be hot.

San Sebastian on the other hand will have your beach vibes, there's the Guggenheim in Bilbao, and you can fit in France even if you spend some time in Biarritz.

There has been a lot of pushback on Airbnbs and most specifically British tourists in Barcelona but I've personally never had a bad experience. I will admit I look more Mediterranean and can speak adequate enough Spanish which probably helps me blend in enough that's it's never been an issue.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It gets very hot like here in Spain in August.

Not in the coastal areas.

And yes they have A/C it isn't 1985. In northern Europe A/C is not common at all. In southern Europe it's very common now.

Would you recommend the northern coast (Galicia and San Sebastián) or the eastern coast north of Barcelona?

Don't know about the Northern coast, have heard it's nice, but I think pretty cold for swimming.

We had a great time in a beach town on the Costa Brava (coast northeast of Barcelona). Water very nice for swimming, and great food. Great place for say 4-5 days.

Which beach town? Did you stay in hotel or get a vrbo?