Visit Basque Country

Aug 27, 2024

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We recently visited Spanish Basque Country around San Sebastian and Bilbao to take in some amazing views, incredible food, and delicious wine – and we’ve compiled all of the reasons you should make Basque Country your next vacation destination!

This Spanish region blends modernity and tradition with highlights like Bilbao’s Guggenheim Museum, San Sebastian world class pintxos, and Hondarribia’s medieval charm.

A stone pathway leads up a steep, rocky hill to a small brick building at the top, set against a blue sky with some clouds.

My Legendary Trip to Basque Country Spain

I recently took a trip to the Basque region of Spain – Courtney on her own, and Katherine with her husband – and we were captivated by the blend of history, culture, and stunning landscapes!

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Courtney started her trip in Bilbao which is a vibrant city and home to famous museums and film sets, while Katherine started in Hondarribia – the medival charming city of Hondarribia which boasts colorful building facades wrapped in ancient city walls. Next stop was the gastronomic San Sebastian with its crescent moon sandy beaches and lively festivals, where we met together!

These three cities and the surrounding countryside are a picturesque retreat and give you and glimpse and a taste of the region!

For my top picks for tours and experiences that should not be missed in Basque Country, head to my Basque Viatour shop!

A waterfront town with a clock tower, multiple buildings, trees, and a docked boat on a cloudy day.

Visiting Bilbao

The easiest place to fly in and out of in Basque country is the Bilbao airport so that’s where my adventure began and ended. Bilbao is a city of wonders including the architecture marvel Guggenheim Museum and the bustling gasto historic Casco Viejo district. The famous HBO series Game of Thrones filmed several iconic scenes outside Bilbao at San Juan de Gaztelugatxe, a stunning islet on the Basque coast. This destination has a dramatic rocky pathway leading to a small chapel atop the islet, was used as the setting for Dragonstone. The breathtaking scenery and unique geological formations make it a popular destination. To get all the details for planning your trip see my Travel Guide Bilbao!

A coastal city with mountains in the distance is seen from a high vantage point. Trees and vegetation are in the foreground, and the sky is partly cloudy with some aircraft contrails visible.

Touring San Sebastian

San Sebastian, Spain is well known for its beautiful beaches that are covered in golden sand with crystal clear waters framed by a crescent moon bay. This city is known as a gastronomic (food scene) paradise and is home to tons of Michelin-star restaurants, there is practically a pintxos and tapas bar on every corner. San Sebastian is known for its vibrant cultural scene, especially its annual International Film Festival which brings people from all over the world! Get all the travel details for the planning your trip to San Sebastian here.

Colorful buildings line a waterfront below a hillside with greenery and a stone structure under a clear blue sky.

Enjoying Hondarribia

Of all the places I visited on my trip Hondarribia was hands down my favorite! Hondarribia is a less known Basque town that is situated on the Bay of Biscay and has stunning views of the lush surrounding mountains from its ancient city walls.

You feel like you are stepping back in time as you wander around on its well preserved medieval Old Town with cobblestone streets and colorful shops and buildings.

The local culinary scene is rich with Basque flavors, fresh seafood, and delicious pintxos and lots of local txakoli wine. Get my complete guide to visiting Hondarribia here.

More Travel Tips

San Juan, Spain – San Juan is a coastal village that has one stone pedestrian road in the old town that is cut into the side of a rock face on one side and the ocean on the other! Its a local gem and a great place for shopping, pintxos, and txakoli wine!

Beloaga Gaztelua – If you are in the mood for a hike you cant beat the views from this ancient castle in the Basque mountains. It takes about 20 minutes to get to the castle and parking is limited so go early!

Ride on the Bike Path – There is a super extensive bike and walk path from San Sebastian to an ancient Roman gold mine in the mountains outside San Sebastian called the Via Verdes de Arditurri and it is amazingly scenic. Remember: In Spain all pedestrians walk on one side and all bikes operate on the other side of the path.

Ancient Roman Mine – Arditurri Parketxea Aiako Harria Parke Naturala is an ancient Roman gold mine that is the end point of the paved bike/walk path (Via Verdes de Arditurri). My husband and I found it fascinating, and it had lovely trails with waterfalls around it. You can tour the mine if you get tickets ahead of time.

Jai Alai – Visiting Jai Alai in San Sebastián was an exhilarating experience for me, as I got to witness one of the fastest ball sports in the world, immerse myself in Basque culture, and enjoy the vibrant atmosphere of this unique sporting event.

Spain Inspired Recipes and Guides

I have all the guides you need to see and enjoying right here on my site to plan your perfect trip to Spain. If traveling overseas isn’t in your budget, you can have a taste of Spain at home and it doesn’t have to break the bank. Try making my favorite mushroom pintxos and Spanish tomato bread – yum!

See Spain inspired recipes and guides to visiting Spain here: