Thanks to open borders, low cost flights and better transport links, travelling around Europe has never been easier. Whether a student backpacker or golden gapper, if you are looking for some inspiration for an extended trip, read on to follow our France and Spain itinerary.
The French Leg: France Itinerary
The UK’s nearest neighbour and the most popular holiday destination in the world, France has as much to offer as most continents combined. Our recommended route starts in North Western France, either from Calais, or one of the other ports, before quickly whizzing through Normandy and Brittany, taking in cities such as Nantes, the historic Breton city, and the rugged Atlantic coast, before moving further south along the coast to La Rochelle, the ancient seaport with a strong sense of history. V
View the Itinerary in Google Maps.
Continuing along the Western coast of France, a visit to Bordeaux and at least one of the region’s numerous vineyards is a must. Bordeaux is a delightful city full of boutiques, cafés and bars and thanks to historic links to Britain as part of Aquitaine, not to mention an influx of British property investment in recent years, is not incomparable in terms of wealth to English towns such as Bath.
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Further South, near the border with Spain, is Biarritz, the surfing capital of France. With an excellent long stretch of sandy beach, numerous bars and restaurants, it is a great place to stop for a party in the summer months, particularly if you are a young backpacker.
The Spanish Leg: Spain Itinerary
Over the border into Spain brings you to Bilbao, capital of the Basque country in North Western Spain. It is a must for art lovers, home to the world famous Guggenheim Museum and the Fine Arts Museum. Art aside Bilbao is a regenerated city with a lively feel.
From Bilbao, why not head into Spain’s interior and head towards the vibrant capital Madrid. Every bit the modern European capital, with an enviable nightlife and excellent culture, shopping and more, Madrid is the best of Spain all in one spot. (Read More: The Madrid Guide).
Where to go from Madrid? The options once you leave Madrid are many. You could either head directly East to Valencia; head South to Andalucia, taking in cities such as Granada and Seville, as well as all the fun (and work opportunities!) that the Costa Del Sol offers; or you could head North from Madrid to Barcelona, stopping en route to explore Saragossa, home to one of the most important Cathedrals in the Catholic Church. But whichever route you take, you will eventually end up in Barcelona, one of the best cities in Europe. (Read More: The Best of Barcelona).
Once you decide to leave Barcelona, you could either opt to travel back through France along the Mediterranean coast and Cote D’Azur, heading home via Provence, Lyon and, of course, Paris, or, if time or finances are short, opt to fly back to Blighty from Barcelona. The choice is yours! Enjoy.
Recommended Time
This all depends on you, but for a full experience we would recommend two months. You could spend a few weeks in the Bordeaux and Biarritz region, learning about wine and attempting to learn to surf, before heading off towards Madrid, where an extended period of time is highly recommended. Also recommended is Barcelona, the vibrant, beautiful Mediterranean city.
Work Options
If you are hoping to work as you travel along this route, then there are quite a few opportunities available, depending on when you travel. Bordeaux, for example, has hundreds of vineyards that will be looking for seasonal pickers for the harvest in early September. Check out www.pickingjobs.com to see whats on offer.
Other options include teaching English as a foreign language, either in Spain or France, check out www.tefl.co.uk for teaching jobs/courses. Alternatively, if you head to the right areas such as the Costa Del Sol, there are lots of seasonal bar and catering work opportunities available in the summer months. These options would extend your trip to six or so months.
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