---
type: "Article"
title: "Basque Country tour with a side trip to the Rioja region"
description: "In the Spanish Basque Country, both lovers of architecture and gourmets will get their money's worth. Here are our tips for a one-of-a kind tour."
resource: "https://travelmemo.com/spain/basque-country-rioja-tour"
author: "Walter Schaerer"
publisher: "Travelmemo"
photo_count: 36
tags: ["Road Trip", "Spain"]
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generated: { by: "human:https://travelmemo.com/author/walter-schaerer", at: 2026-07-04T13:46:24+00:00 }
verified:
  - { by: "human:https://travelmemo.com/author/katja-birrer", at: 2019-10-06T16:45:05+00:00 }
sources:
  - id: photos
    resource: basque-country-rioja-tour.md#photos
    title: "Original photography by Walter Schaerer"
    author: "human:https://travelmemo.com/author/walter-schaerer"
    last_modified: 2019-07-03
timestamp: 2026-07-04T13:46:24+00:00
---

# Basque Country tour with a side trip to the Rioja region

> The Spanish Basque Country, an autonomous region on the Bay of Biscay, rewards visitors with world-class architecture, Michelin-starred restaurants, pintxo bars, and celebrated wine country — all best explored as a circle tour by rental car, with a side trip into the neighbouring La Rioja region.

## Destination
Basque Country is an autonomous region in northern Spain, bordering the Atlantic's Bay of Biscay to the north and French Basque Country to the northeast; the recommended circuit extends south into the La Rioja wine region.

## Getting there
The article recommends flying into Bilbao (direct from Zurich on Swiss) and hiring a rental car, which it describes as indispensable for the circle tour.

## When to go
The article notes that summer heat makes the climb to Gaztelugatxe sweat-inducing and that visiting early helps avoid large tourist queues there, implying peak crowds in summer; no broader seasonal advice is given.

## Why visit
Basque Country punches well above its tourism profile with a remarkable concentration of avant-garde architecture, pintxo and fine-dining culture, prestigious Rioja Alavesa wineries, and dramatic coastal and medieval scenery.

## What to see
- **Guggenheim Museum, Bilbao** — Frank Gehry's iconic titanium-clad museum anchors Bilbao's transformation from industrial port to design destination.
- **Zubizuri Bridge, Bilbao** — Santiago Calatrava's steel-and-glass footbridge connects the two banks of the Nervión river.
- **Playa de la Concha, San Sebastián** — Shell-shaped urban beach considered one of the most beautiful in the world, with views of the island of Santa Clara.
- **Monte Igueldo, San Sebastián** — A roughly 1,300-foot hill above San Sebastián reached by funicular, offering panoramic views of the Bay of Biscay.
- **Peine del Viento, San Sebastián** — Coastal sculptures by Eduardo Chillida set into the rocks at the western end of the San Sebastián shoreline.
- **Plaza de la Virgen Blanca, Vitoria-Gasteiz** — Central square of the Basque capital, featuring a memorial to the Battle of Vitoria and traditional architecture.
- **Medieval quarter ('the almond'), Vitoria-Gasteiz** — Oval historic core with two cathedrals, traditional plazas, and the bar-lined Cuchillería Kalea street.
- **Chapel of San Juan de Gaztelugatxe** — Hermitage on a small island near Bakio connected by a stone arch bridge; a Game of Thrones filming location requiring advance ticket booking at tiketa.eus.
- **Laguardia** — Fortified medieval hilltop town in the Rioja Alavesa wine region, encircled by city walls and towers, with wine-cellar bars lining its narrow streets.
- **Hotel Marqués de Riscal, Elciego** — Frank Gehry-designed hotel with deconstructivist titanium roof on the grounds of the Herederos de Marqués de Riscal winery.
- **Bodegas Ysios** — Winery near Laguardia designed by Santiago Calatrava, notable for its undulating projecting roof.
- **Hotel Viura, Villabuena de Álava** — Cubist-design boutique hotel in a village with 43 wineries for only 300 inhabitants.

## What to do
- **Pintxo bar crawl, San Sebastián** — Touring the Old Town's pintxo bars is described as the main attraction of San Sebastián; Katja's dedicated foodie review covers them in detail.
- **Winery tours in Rioja Alavesa** — The Rioja Alavesa wine road offers more than 300 wineries with tours, gastronomic guided visits, and wine-based wellness therapies.
- **Dining at Michelin-starred restaurants** — Basque Country has an exceptionally high density of starred restaurants; the article highlights El Gastronómico at Marqués de Riscal (chef Francis Paniego, one Michelin star) and Atelier Etxanobe among others.
- **Golf at Logroño Golf Course** — 18-hole course just outside Logroño surrounded by the 1,100-acre La Grajera Nature Reserve.
- **Funicular to Monte Igueldo** — Short funicular ride from the beach to the summit viewpoint above San Sebastián.

## Good to know
Access to Gaztelugatxe has been controlled since June 2018; tickets must be booked in advance at tiketa.eus. Arriving early reduces both heat on the climb and tourist crowds.

## Photos

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    caption: "\"Gewelltes\" Guggenheim-Museum und Iberdrola-Hochhaus"
    keywords: ["https://reisememo.ch/europa/spanien/was-tun-in-bilbao-top-10-tip"]
    captured: 2019-06-26
    credit: "Walter Schärer"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/bilbao-tour-travel-memo-33.jpg"
    caption: "Zubizuri-Brücke von Santiago Calatrava"
    keywords: ["https://reisememo.ch/europa/spanien/was-tun-in-bilbao-top-10-tip"]
    captured: 2019-06-23
    credit: "Walter Schärer"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/san-sebastian-basque-country-spain-24.jpg"
    caption: "Peine del Viento Skulpturen von Eduardo Chillida"
    keywords: ["San Sebastian"]
    credit: "Walter Schärer"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/viura-villabuena-vitoria-gasteiz-10.jpg"
    caption: "Küstenlinie von San Sebastián mit Peine del Viento"
    keywords: ["San Sebastian"]
    credit: "Walter Schärer"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/san-sebastian-basque-country-spain-28.jpg"
    caption: "Strand La Concha von San Sebastián"
    keywords: ["San Sebastian"]
    credit: "Walter Schärer"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/san-sebastian-basque-country-spain-54.jpg"
    caption: "Aussicht auf den Strand La Concha vom Monte Igueldo"
    keywords: ["Strand"]
    captured: 2019-07-03
    geo: {latitude: 43.3211, longitude: -2.0091}
    credit: "Walter Schärer"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/san-sebastian-basque-country-spain-55.jpg"
    caption: "Walter und Katja auf dem Monte Igueldo"
    keywords: ["San Sebastian"]
    captured: 2019-07-03
    geo: {latitude: 43.3213, longitude: -2.0087}
    credit: "Walter Schärer"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/san-sebastian-basque-country-spain-57.jpg"
    caption: "Aussicht vom Monte Igueldo"
    keywords: ["San Sebastian"]
    captured: 2019-07-03
    geo: {latitude: 43.322, longitude: -2.0097}
    credit: "Walter Schärer"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/san-sebastian-basque-country-spain-12.jpg"
    caption: "Pintxos bar San Sebastian"
    keywords: ["https://reisememo.ch/europa/spanien/san-sebastian-pintxos-tour"]
    captured: 2019-07-01
    geo: {latitude: 43.3243, longitude: -1.9849}
    credit: "Walter Schärer"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/viura-villabuena-vitoria-gasteiz-7.jpg"
    caption: "Schriftzug aus Gras und Moos"
    keywords: ["Vitoria Gasteiz"]
    captured: 2019-06-29
    geo: {latitude: 42.8462, longitude: -2.6734}
    credit: "Walter Schärer"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Strassenzug-Vitoria-Gasteiz.jpg"
    caption: "Strassenzug in Vitoria Gasteiz"
    keywords: ["Vitoria Gasteiz"]
    geo: {latitude: 42.8475, longitude: -2.671}
    credit: "Walter Schärer"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/bilbao-tour-travelmemo-13.jpg"
    caption: "Stone bridge to Gaztelugatxe island"
    keywords: ["https://reisememo.ch/europa/spanien/baskenland-rioja-rundreise"]
    captured: 2019-06-26
    geo: {latitude: 43.4428, longitude: -2.7794}
    credit: "Walter Schärer"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/bilbao-tour-travel-memo-2.jpg"
    caption: "Walter und Katja auf dem Weg nach Gaztelugatxe"
    keywords: ["https://reisememo.ch/europa/spanien/was-tun-in-bilbao-top-10-tip"]
    captured: 2019-06-26
    credit: "Walter Schärer"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/viura-villabuena-vitoria-gasteiz-19.jpg"
    caption: "Logroño Golf"
    keywords: ["https:/reisememo.ch/europa/spanien/golf-baskenland-rioja"]
    captured: 2019-06-30
    geo: {latitude: 42.4341, longitude: -2.4972}
    credit: "Walter Schärer"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/viura-villabuena-vitoria-gasteiz-15.jpg"
    caption: "Logroño Golf"
    keywords: ["https:/reisememo.ch/europa/spanien/golf-baskenland-rioja"]
    captured: 2019-06-30
    geo: {latitude: 42.4341, longitude: -2.5095}
    credit: "Walter Schärer"
```