AboutVíctor Díaz Expertise I live in Madrid,and travel frequently to Valencia. I have also travelled to many places all over spain, if haven't been there i'd try to help anyway providing my knowledge and links.
I enjoy trekking in the mountains, and know pyrinees, Picos de Europa and mountains in the center.
I have some airline credits from a canceled trip and the only destination at the moment which is covered by my credits without me paying any extra money is a roundtrip flight to madrid leaving philadelphia on 24 December and departing madrid on 2 January
I studied abroad in Spain about 3 years ago and traveled extensively through Andalucia, a handful of towns in Extramadura and Castile y Leon (Caceres and Salamanca to mention the big ones), and also the sites around Madrid (Segovia etc.).
So based on this background information, I was wondering if you could give me some advice on building an itinerary for my trip:
-I would like to visit Bilbao to see the Guggenheim
-I would like to visit Barcelona to see the Sagrada Familia and Camp Nou
-I would like to spend the end part of the trip in Madrid to do some shopping and relaxing in my old hangouts
What would the weather be like during this time in Spain?
As I am still a student, I would prefer to travel by bus to save money and possibly take night buses to save on hotel/hostels costs for the night...do you think it is possible to do this?
I am sorry if I asked a lot of questions at one time, but I really appreciate and respect your input.
Gracias,
-S
Answer Hello Sravankumar
weather is cold in december, a winter coat is required, but it's not as cold as other parts of europe, i would be perfect to visit Andalucia in winter but as you have been there before, you can head to those sites that call your attention.
day 25: holiday, everything is closed, even museums, you may take this day to travel to Bilbao, or even travel directly as you arrive.
You could take a plane to Bilbao is you choose to move there inmedately, as you are already at the airport, and if you find a ticket suitable to your budget it would be the best option, in my opinion. Unfortunately there is no low cost flying Madrid-Bilbao. Try Iberia, Spanair, Air-Europa among others.
In case you can't find nothing suitable, you still have trains and buses.
You have trains from 46,40, a couple daily from MAdrid-Chamartin
train departure/arrival
ALVIA 04087 08.00 12.52
ALVIA 04167 16.10 21.11 http://www.renfe.es/
Buses with Alsa http://www.alsa.es/
from 27,17 euros, takes almost 5h. Departures from Avenida de America (metro + underground bus station).
there is a night bus leaving at 1:20am and arriving at 6:15am
From Bilbao to Barcelona the ditance allows overnight trips
Apart from planes
you have low-cost Vueling http://www.vueling.com/
a train daily, but not ovenight, takes about 6h
buses with Alsa from 41,90euros
there is an overnight bus leaving at 23:03 and arriving to Barcelona at 7am
From Barcelona to Madrid, many flights daily including lowcost with Vueling
there is an overnight train that cost 41,20euros
train departure/arrival
ESTRELLA 00373 22.20 07.21
arrives to Madrid-Chamartin using the old tracks, the rest of trains are high speed and use the new tracks for these types of trains, and arrive to Madrid-Atocha instead.
buses with alsa, from 28,18 several overnight, arrive to Avenida de America bus+metro station
As you can see there are overnight options for every trip, may be madrid-bilbao is a bit short for a really overnight travel.
Remember that days 25 and 1 are holydays and almost everything will be closed.
