7-day tour of the Basque Country and La Rioja – San Sebastián, Bilbao and the La Rioja Wine Route

Day 1: Departure for San Sebastián / Hondarribia

You’ll fly to Bilbao and drive your hire car to charming San Sebastián, where you’ll stay for two nights at the Hotel Arima. On the way, you can ‘get some fresh air’ in the coastal village of Zarautz, home to one of the longest beaches on the Basque coast. This pleasant seaside resort gained fame as early as the 19th century when Queen Isabella chose it as a holiday destination; two magnificent palaces still stand in the old quarter.

Day 2: San Sebastián

San Sebastián, beautifully situated on a lovely shell-shaped bay, the Bahía de la Concha, is the most fashionable seaside resort in northern Spain. On either side of the bay lies a hill, with the small island of Santa Clara in between. A walk to the ‘Peine del Viento’, a masterpiece by the famous sculptor Eduardo Chillida, takes you to one of its most beautiful spots. This elegant seaside resort also stands out as the capital of ‘New Basque Cuisine’. For example, you can sample the excellent dishes at the three-star restaurant ‘Arzak’ (early booking essential!) or discover the many pintxos bars where the most refined tapas are on display. In the evening, the old town with its narrow streets and squares transforms into a charming place to stroll.

Day 3: Hondarribia - Pamplona - La Rioja

Visit the charming seaside resort and main fishing port, Hondarribia. In this historic town, situated at the mouth of the Río Bidasoa, the typical and colourful architecture of the buildings is particularly striking. The charming fishing district, with its houses featuring red, green or blue shutters, attracts numerous visitors who love to gather here for a drink accompanied by delicious tapas. The old – still walled – fortified town is a delight to stroll through: the scent of laundry and the chirping of birds fill the steep streets of this picturesque town. You briefly leave the Spanish Basque Country for a stop in Pamplona, famous for its ‘Fiestas de San Fermín’ (bulls in the streets around 7 July!). The old walled town became the capital of the province of Navarre in the 9th century. The walled town centre is home to the Gothic cathedral and the Jewish quarter. The Plaza del Castillo, also known as ‘Pamplona’s living room’, forms the heart of Pamplona, a vast square lined mainly with 18th-century houses, adorned with balconies, turrets and picturesque windows. Here, young and old gather for a bite to eat or a drink on one of the terraces or after shopping in the numerous shopping streets leading off the square. Your journey then continues to La Rioja, where you will stay for two nights.

Day 4: The Sierra de la Demanda or the 'Riojan wine route'

In the Sierra de la Demanda, a beautiful mountainous region designated as a protected natural park, the landscape changes radically. The monastery route takes you to spectacular abbeys and monasteries, including San Millán de la Copolla, with the small mountain monastery of Susó, partly carved out of a rock face with Mozarabic features, and also the larger valley monastery of Yuso or Santa María la Real. The monastery of Yuso is, incidentally, considered the cradle of the Spanish language. Wine enthusiasts will no doubt want to explore the Rioja wine route, with its charming villages and towns that hold wine in high regard: Elciego, Samaniego, Laguardia and Haro, featuring spectacular bodegas designed by world-renowned architects such as Frank O. Gehry and Santiago Calatrava. Each and every one is an architectural masterpiece where, moreover, top-quality wines are produced.

Day 5: La Rioja – Bilbao

You leave the Rioja region and drive via Vitoria, an ancient, elegant and one of Spain’s most prosperous cities, to Bilbao, where you will stay for two nights.

Day 6: Bilbao

The highlight is Frank O. Gehry’s Guggenheim Museum (closed on Mondays, except the week before Easter and from mid-June to mid-September): this masterpiece of modern architecture houses an art collection from the second half of the 20th century, as well as temporary exhibitions of contemporary art. Situated near the River Nervión, which divides the city in two, it is also an interesting starting point for exploring this port city. The ‘casco viejo’, the old town, is the most attractive neighbourhood and is also known as ‘Siete Calles’, after the seven parallel streets leading to the centre, where there are a large number of tapas bars. On the edge of the historic centre, right next to the Nervión, lies the ‘Mercado de la Ribera’, Spain’s largest covered market, featuring many Art Deco elements.

Day 7: Back home

That’s it. You’ll fly back home from Bilbao. Would you like to stay a little longer? We’d be happy to tailor your trip!

Frequently asked questions about travelling through Rioja and the Basque Country

Is a hire car necessary for this trip through Rioja and the Basque Country?

Yes. This tour of the Basque Country and the Rioja wine region runs most smoothly with a hire car. You’ll drive between San Sebastián, La Rioja and Bilbao, stopping off in Hondarribia, Pamplona and Vitoria along the way. Many wineries, villages such as Laguardia and Elciego, and the most beautiful routes through the vineyards are located outside the major cities and are difficult to reach without a car.

When is the best time for this gastronomic and architectural tour?

May to October is ideal for a tour of Northern Spain. In spring and autumn, you’ll enjoy pleasant temperatures for city visits and wine tastings. September and October are particularly interesting in La Rioja thanks to the grape harvest. In summer, San Sebastián is bustling with life and offers great beaches and atmosphere, although it is busier then.

What makes this Basque tour different from other tours of Northern Spain?

You’ll travel through three completely different regions in a single week. From the Atlantic coast and the pintxos culture in San Sebastián to the vineyards of La Rioja and on to Bilbao with the Guggenheim. The combination of gastronomy, wine and architecture makes this route through Northern Spain remarkably varied without covering long distances.