Three extra days in Spain - Recommendations?

[LivingHopeGirl]

We will have 2 full days (3 nights) after we finish the Camino, spend a couple days in Santiago, and take a day trip to Finisterre before we need to be back in Barcelona. Any recommendations for best place to visit in Spain in that amount of time?

 

[Tincatinker]

Madrid

 

[ShoshTrvls]

Madrid is an amazing city, and definitely should be visited. However, if for some reason you don't want to go that far out of your way, about 3-1/2 hours south of Barcelona is Valencia, which I consider to be a "perfect" city (which is saying a lot). It has a lot of history but also some interesting more modern architecture, a beautiful center city and historic district and is entirely walkable. There are several very scenic and quaint towns nearby such as Denia, and while you didn't say what time of the year you will be there, if it is the summer, there are many nice beaches there as well. Plus, it is the home of paella so, really, what more could you want?

 

[roving_rufus]

My question- how are you intending to get from Santiago to Barcelona- as that might shift y answer

 

[LivingHopeGirl]

Madrid is an amazing city, and definitely should be visited. However, if for some reason you don't want to go that far out of your way, about 3-1/2 hours south of Barcelona is Valencia, which I consider to be a "perfect" city (which is saying a lot). It has a lot of history but also some interesting more modern architecture, a beautiful center city and historic district and is entirely walkable. There are several very scenic and quaint towns nearby such as Denia, and while you didn't say what time of the year you will be there, if it is the summer, there are many nice beaches there as well. Plus, it is the home of paella so, really, what more could you want?

Thank you for your thoughtful response. We will finish the Camino in a couple of weeks, so our extra days are in mid October. I like your idea of Valencia. We were thinking about Tarragona because of the Roman ruins, but Valencia sounds like it may have more to offer…

 

[LivingHopeGirl]

My question- how are you intending to get from Santiago to Barcelona- as that might shift y answer

Train

 

[CTLawGal]

Since you're headed through Barcelona.... I would suggest going there, spending a day at Montserrat - amazing monastery and beautiful hiking trails (there is a Camino that goes through there), or perhaps take a train to Valencia for a few days.

 

[henrythedog]

With two days spare. You probably don’t want to spend too much time in transit, or try to do too much.

Go straight to Barcelona. If you’ve not been there before there is a huge amount of things to see and do.

If you’ve been to Barcelona, but not Montserrat; do that. The logistics take some understanding and I’d advise overnighting so as to attend vespers. Take your own wine (not to vespers).

Otherwise - Madrid. It’s on a super-fast line to Barcelona.

 

[CTLawGal]

You probably don’t want to spend too much time in transit, or try to do too much.

Exactly this - what I was thinking but neglected to articulate.

 

[roving_rufus]

Train

Barcelona plus Montserrat are great if you haven't done them.
If you do the train route via Madrid (rather than the long journey directly) then Madrid is a great stop.

Personally I might like a rest rather than cramming in sightseeing at the end- maybe head to Barcelona and then out of the city to a spot on the coast

 

[KFH]

Since you're headed through Barcelona.... I would suggest going there, spending a day at Montserrat - amazing monastery and beautiful hiking trails (there is a Camino that goes through there), or perhaps take a train to Valencia for a few days.

I second Montserrat. One of the most amazing places we've ever been. Easy train from Barcelona and back. Ride up the cable car. Use the funicular. Walk the trails. Fantastic.

Also-- did you spend enough time in Barcelona on the way in?

Be sure of your actual travel time spent. Santiago to Barcelona is a long way and trying to do too much is a real possibility.

 

[blathercamino]

We spent a couple days in Santiago and one in fisterre and one in Muxia. Then, we spent two in Madrid before flying out. The city was way too much for us after the pace of the Camino. We wish we would have stayed on the coast longer.

 

[Robo]

We will have 2 full days (3 nights) after we finish the Camino, spend a couple days in Santiago, and take a day trip to Finisterre before we need to be back in Barcelona. Any recommendations for best place to visit in Spain in that amount of time?

Just a personal choice......... don't shoot me

Fisterra. Very touristy and busy. Lighthouse is a 3 km trek up beside the road, to see, a lighthouse and a souvenir shop. Some nice places to eat around the Harbour. Longer bus journey from Santiago. 2.5 - 3 Bus hour journey.

Muxia. Quiet, contemplative sitting on the rocks watching the waves. Just 'feels' more like a great place to end. Small village, a few places to eat. Only 90 mins by Bus.

 

[Turga]

I do like the sound of Muxia!

Yes, if you like something quiet, Muxia is a good bet – though going Santiago-Muxia-Barcelona could involve some rather time consuming logistics. Given your time constraints, perhaps it would be better to go straight to Barcelona, a great city where you can easily spend a couple of days exploring. Your choice of course

 

[Robo]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I do like the sound of Muxia!

You could just do a day trip on the Bus from Santiago if you are pressed for time.
Or stay a night and catch the early bus back in the morning.

Let me see if I can find a video..........
Hmm. The video is the last in a 60 day series and has a voice over summary of the journey in total.
So it might be a bit out of context.
But here is a snippet (that I set to start at 12:30), that shows the chapel and rocks at Muxia.

The last dozen photos on this page are of Muxia and the sunset.

Day 60 – Fisterra to Muxia Gallery | In Search of Santiago

robscamino.com

 

[Roland49]

We will have 2 full days (3 nights) after we finish the Camino, spend a couple days in Santiago, and take a day trip to Finisterre before we need to be back in Barcelona. Any recommendations for best place to visit in Spain in that amount of time?

Spain offers so many great places for a few days trip.
Granada, Valencia, Tarragona, Bilbao, Cordoba, Huelva, Toledo, etc.

Choose one of them and you won't be disappointed!

 

[CaminanteKevin]

We will have 2 full days (3 nights) after we finish the Camino, spend a couple days in Santiago, and take a day trip to Finisterre before we need to be back in Barcelona. Any recommendations for best place to visit in Spain in that amount of time?

Are you flying or taking the train? If the latter, then you could break your journey in Bilbao, a city that has been transformed in recent years. It would also mean you had visited the three non-Castilian language groups of Spain. If you’re flying, you could easily spend all your time in Barcelona and only scratch the surface!

 

[Pilgrim9]

We will have 2 full days (3 nights) after we finish the Camino, spend a couple days in Santiago, and take a day trip to Finisterre before we need to be back in Barcelona. Any recommendations for best place to visit in Spain in that amount of time?

There are so many wonderful places to visit, it is difficult to answer.

For what it's worth, Girona, Montserrat, and Tarragona are all interesting and are easily accessible by train from Barcelona (but not the same train!).

Getting to Montserrat will require a transfer from the main train to either the aerial cable car or the rack railway to get up the hill to Montserrat proper. Both transfers are very easy and convenient to the main railway, but the two transfer points are at different railway stations, so one must decide beforehand where to get off. Just study the map before going.

For keeners, there are a variety of alpine-ish hiking trails up on Montserrat.

 

[AidaYYC]

We will have 2 full days (3 nights) after we finish the Camino, spend a couple days in Santiago, and take a day trip to Finisterre before we need to be back in Barcelona. Any recommendations for best place to visit in Spain in that amount of time?

Head to Madrid and explore it to your heart's content. Once there, take a train or bus and head down to either Toledo, Segovia or Avila ... all cities with incredible history

 

[Christine Leneghan]

We will have 2 full days (3 nights) after we finish the Camino, spend a couple days in Santiago, and take a day trip to Finisterre before we need to be back in Barcelona. Any recommendations for best place to visit in Spain in that amount of time?

Sitges.

 

[AidaYYC]

Sitges.

Good suggestion to rest by the Mediterranean

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

I also recommend Barcelona and Monserrat. Why waste time making train connections?

Besides the big or famous sites at Monserrat there is also a lovely small art museum up there.

Plenty to see in Barcelona but I'm going to tell you two places not to visit until you have seen more than a couple of days of the other sights.
The first is Palau Güell, a home Gaudí designed for a patron and, in my opinion, the least interesting of his Barcelona works. The second is Gaudí's home located in Parc Güell which doesn't show much of Gaudí's architecture. The park itself is worth a visit though. And both sights I mentioned are worth a trip -- someday.

Whatever you want to see in Barcelona go online and buy advance tickets.

 

[Christine Leneghan]

I also recommend Barcelona and Monserrat. Why waste time making train connections?

Besides the big or famous sites at Monserrat there is also a lovely small art museum up there.

Plenty to see in Barcelona but I'm going to tell you two places not to visit until you have seen more than a couple of days of the other sights.
The first is Palau Güell, a home Gaudí designed for a patron and, in my opinion, the least interesting of his Barcelona works. The second is Gaudí's home located in Parc Güell which doesn't show much of Gaudí's architecture. The park itself is worth a visit though. And both sights I mentioned is worth a trip -- someday.

Whatever you want to see in Barcelona go online and buy advance tickets.

Amen to that!

 

[Philtration]

My vote is for Cuenca. The old town is on spectacular cliffs between two rivers. It's on the way to Barcelona and a short main line train hop to Valencia if you want to taste that as well.

 

[Philtration]

Also, consider just going on to Barcelona. It's a big city, but the Gothic Quarter is one of the biggest and for me, the best old cities for wandering aimlessly through endless alleys and narrow streets. The Mercat de la Bogueria market, Sagrada Familia, Park Guell, lots of cool stuff if you want to do city stuff.

 

[Rita Flower]

We spent a couple days in Santiago and one in fisterre and one in Muxia. Then, we spent two in Madrid before flying out. The city was way too much for us after the pace of the Camino. We wish we would have stayed on the coast longer.

Yes I too find the idea of big city sight seeing appalling after a month or more of quiet countryside. But we are all different and you have been given some great ideas from which to choose.
Enjoy.

 

[NoShortcuts]

We will have 2 full days (3 nights) after we finish the Camino, spend a couple days in Santiago, and take a day trip to Finisterre before we need to be back in Barcelona. Any recommendations for best place to visit in Spain in that amount of time?

If you are into art, modern architecture and the joy it can bring, then Bilbao is worthy.

 

[David with new Kit!]

30 mins by train to A Coruña - Forget transitting across Spain when you have so little time

 

[Hertsseasider]

Another shout for Bilbao or better still San Sebastian - beautiful

 

[Bogong]

We will have 2 full days (3 nights) after we finish the Camino, spend a couple days in Santiago, and take a day trip to Finisterre before we need to be back in Barcelona. Any recommendations for best place to visit in Spain in that amount of time?

A Coruna. Very short train ride( you really don’t want to waste too much time travelling). Fabulous museums, place were Picasso lived for a while( you can visit). Only functioning Roman lighthouse in the world, founding city for Zara. Harbour where Armada sailed from, site of historic land battle with the Brits( the British general buried there in a beautifully tended grave/park), Say hello to John Lennen who’s sitting on the harbour front, and lots more.

De colores

Bogong

 

[Bogong]

A Coruna. Very short train ride( you really don’t want to waste too much time travelling). Fabulous museums, place were Picasso lived for a while( you can visit). Only functioning Roman lighthouse in the world, founding city for Zara. Harbour where Armada sailed from, site of historic land battle with the Brits( the British general buried there in a beautifully tended grave/park), Say hello to John Lennen who’s sitting on the harbour front, and lots more.

De colores

Bogong

And If you’ve time after A Coruna head for San Sebastian, also fairly close by. This boutique style city is a real class act, makes Paris look like a bit of a dump and reputedly has the best city beach in Europe. And a reputation for it’s food - I think it has more Michelin starred restaurants than any other city in Spain and its La Vina restaurant is where the famous Spanish ( ie Basque) burnt cheesecake originated.

De
Colores

Bogong

 

[Mendizale]

And If you’ve time after A Coruna head for San Sebastian, also fairly close by. This boutique style city is a real class act, makes Paris look like a bit of a dump and reputedly has the best city beach in Europe. And a reputation for it’s food - I think it has more Michelin starred restaurants than any other city in Spain and its La Vina restaurant is where the famous Spanish ( ie Basque) burnt cheesecake originated.

De
Colores

Bogong

Hello, I'm originally from San Sebastian, although I now live in a town in the Oria river valley (near the San Adrian tunnel, in the Aizkorri-Aratz mountain range). Let me tell you that due to the touristification that the city has been experiencing for a few years, what you say is not entirely true... The old town, which has always been full of traditional pintxo bars, has changed a lot and has unfortunately become a theme park for tourists: pintxos of average quality (for us) and exorbitant prices. Honestly, you will be able to find pintxos of much better quality (for example pintxos de tortilla de patata) in any town on the Camino vasco del interior or on the Camino del norte we are talking about the Basque Country). And yes, those cheese burnt cakes are excellent. Btw very popular and easy to cook at home.

Ondo izan! Best wishes!

 

[CWBuff]

We spent a couple days in Santiago and one in fisterre and one in Muxia. Then, we spent two in Madrid before flying out. The city was way too much for us after the pace of the Camino. We wish we would have stayed on the coast longer.

Exactly the way I felt upon returning home. After Camino and serenity of the coast Madrus proved to be just too much....
My vote (as many others above) is either Valencia or extra time in Barca outright (I can never get enough of that city and hopefully am coming back next year)

 

[oursonpolaire]

Either overnight in Montserrat as others have suggested, as the Abbey's vespers is the equivalent of any English cathedral or: take the local train out of Barcelona to Girona and spend your surplus days chilling and enjoying this mediaeval city (used for a Game of Thrones shoot, but also remarkable for its Juderia). Barcelona is a major site (and pickpocket capital of the world) and likely worth a week's time-- a day or two.....

 

[Johnathon]

Madrid

I find the train system and airline system very Madrid centric, hence it is easy to go to Madrid on Renfe and then on to Barcelona.
Madrid had 2 Art Museums I had always wanted to visit. El Prado has many magnificent old masters. Reina Sofia has modern art including Picasso's Guernica masterpiece.
Both places are close to each other.

 

[CTLawGal]

I find the train system and airline system very Madrid centric, hence it is easy to go to Madrid on Renfe and then on to Barcelona.
Madrid had 2 Art Museums I had always wanted to visit. El Prado has many magnificent old masters. Reina Sofia has modern art including Picasso's Guernica masterpiece.
Both places are close to each other.

But definitely pre-book tickets for the Prado to avoid lines (maybe this is seasonal?), lines for the Sofia were more manageable

 

[Bogong]

Hello, I'm originally from San Sebastian, although I now live in a town in the Oria river valley (near the San Adrian tunnel, in the Aizkorri-Aratz mountain range). Let me tell you that due to the touristification that the city has been experiencing for a few years, what you say is not entirely true... The old town, which has always been full of traditional pintxo bars, has changed a lot and has unfortunately become a theme park for tourists: pintxos of average quality (for us) and exorbitant prices. Honestly, you will be able to find pintxos of much better quality (for example pintxos de tortilla de patata) in any town on the Camino vasco del interior or on the Camino del norte we are talking about the Basque Country). And yes, those cheese burnt cakes are excellent. Btw very popular and easy to cook at home.

Ondo izan! Best wishes!

Now that really is a shame! But even in 2014 We found the same thing happening in many areas all around Spain. Ronda was an exception. It seems to be occurring around the world. Some friends are currently touring some of the lesser known spots in the Greek islands and they seem to have dodged it. Australia’s capital, Canberra, also really a class act, has no real problems in coping ( should be essential main visit list for any visitors to our country) but the largest coastal city, Sydney, is the pits, due largely to poor planning decisions going back decades. I live on a beach in a coastal village and even here it’s starting to get crowded. Three cars have gone by in the past two hours.

De Colores

Bogong

 

[tomwins]

I've lived in Spain for three years after visiting here many, many times. So I've been to a lot of the country.
If you enjoy art museums then Madrid is a must. I deeply enjoyed the Naval Museum and the Archaeological Museum in additional to one or more of the three biggies (Prado, Reina Sofia, or Thyssen-Bornemisza).

But I love, love, love Valencia in October. The weather there will be wonderful for exploring all it has to offer. I enjoy biking and it is a great city to bike in. You can get there in six hours with a connection in Madrid. From the great beaches, top notch sites to visit (churches, parks, museums) and incredible restaurants to -what I know you'll find - friendly easy going residents - Valencia is a visitor's dream.

I live an hour north of Barcelona and so you know I love it. But I'd recommend going to Valencia over it because of the time of year. The October weather in Valencia is my favorite time to visit there. You can get up to Barcelona in just a few hours via the train.

​

 

[KFH]

I've lived in Spain for three years after visiting here many, many times. So I've been to a lot of the country.
If you enjoy art museums then Madrid is a must. I deeply enjoyed the Naval Museum and the Archaeological Museum in additional to one or more of the three biggies (Prado, Reina Sofia, or Thyssen-Bornemisza).

But I love, love, love Valencia in October. The weather there will be wonderful for exploring all it has to offer. I enjoy biking and it is a great city to bike in. You can get there in six hours with a connection in Madrid. From the great beaches, top notch sites to visit (churches, parks, museums) and incredible restaurants to -what I know you'll find - friendly easy going residents - Valencia is a visitor's dream.

I live an hour north of Barcelona and so you know I love it. But I'd recommend going to Valencia over it because of the time of year. The October weather in Valencia is my favorite time to visit there. You can get up to Barcelona in just a few hours via the train.

​

I keep hearing how nice Valencia is, not just from here, but other places and people.

Surely I can't be the only one around here whose brain works like this:

When I keep hearing about how great Valencia is, I don't think "I should visit Valencia".

I think "I should do the Lana and start in Valencia".

 

[tomwins]

I keep hearing how nice Valencia is, not just from here, but other places and people.
Surely I can't be the only one around here whose brain works like this:
When I keep hearing about how great Valencia is, I don't think "I should visit Valencia".
I think "I should do the Lana and start in Valencia".

I kept hearing that about the Camino but it didn't stop me from the experience and glad it didn't.
It is true that over the past several years, Valencia has been "discovered" and thus changed. Does that mean it has lost all it's charm, worth, value of a visit?
Many residents in Barcelona are angry at how an over abundance of tourist is changing and straining their city (apartments converted to AirBnb worsening housing crisis, more people over-taxing water, sewer, & other public services, etc). That residents are protesting the presence of tourist would be more reason for me not to visit a place than that I keep hearing how good a place is.

 

[KFH]

I kept hearing that about the Camino but it didn't stop me from the experience and glad it didn't.
It is true that over the past several years, Valencia has been "discovered" and thus changed. Does that mean it has lost all it's charm, worth, value of a visit?
Many residents in Barcelona are angry at how an over abundance of tourist is changing and straining their city (apartments converted to AirBnb worsening housing crisis, more people over-taxing water, sewer, & other public services, etc). That residents are protesting the presence of tourist would be more reason for me not to visit a place than that I keep hearing how good a place is.

I just mean whenever I hear of a nice place in Spain I've never been to, I have a default mechanism which attaches future Caminos to that place.

 

[tomwins]

I apologize for mis-understanding your meaning.

 

[AidaYYC]

But definitely pre-book tickets for the Prado to avoid lines (maybe this is seasonal?), lines for the Sofia were more manageable

Definitely pre-book tickets for the Prado ... the line-ups were incredible in of Oct 2022. We had pre-ordered our tickets and even then we had to line up on the ticket holders in order to get in, but so worth it.