Top 10 Things to do in Basque Country:
World-class gastronomy, beaches, and more!
Originally published April 14th, 2021. Updated May of 2024
All images are courtesy of the Spain Less Traveled team, unless otherwise stated.
Plaza de la Constitución in San Sebastián.
The Basque Country (or País Vasco in Spanish and Euskadi in the Basque language) is world-renowned for its gastronomy. Foodies from all corners of the globe travel here to eat (and drink) at the famous Michelin starred restaurants and the local pintxo bars synonymous of the region.
But Basque Country is full of hidden gems and beautiful nature!
Here at Spain Less Traveled we love helping our clients visit the North of Spain.
Read on for inspiration and if you are interested in personalized tips and help to make Basque Country part of your Spain travel itinerary, be sure to check out the professional Spain travel services that we offer. We’d love to help you plan your Spain bucket list trip to Basque Country and beyond.
Protip: Visitors from overseas can fly into Bilbao and combine a trip to Basque Country with Spain’s hidden north: Cantabria, Asturias, and Galicia. Or just spend several weeks exploring the unique land of Basque Country.
(Read about more reasons why you should use a travel advisor to plan your trip to Spain)
Where is Basque Country?
Spanish Basque Country is in the North of Spain with coastline on the Bay of Biscay often called the Cantabrian Sea. It borders the regions of La Rioja, Navarra, Cantabria, and Castilla y León. Sharing a border with France, Basque Country extends into French territory too.
Basque Country consists of thee provinces: Álava (Araba), Biscay (Viczaya or Bizcaya), and Gipuzkoa (Guipúzcoa).
The three provinces that make up Páis Vasco are in pink in the far North of Spain. Image courtesy of VectorStock.
What makes Basque Country so special?
Basque Country is not only a beautiful land with amazing food. It has a unique history too, making it very different from the rest of Spain.
The people of Basque country are industrious and hearty. They claim to be the oldest Europeans, and they speak their own language which bares no resemblance to any other language on Earth. You can feel a sense of pride in them, as they strive to preserve their language and culture (speaking Basque was outlawed under Franco’s dictatorship).
While not as loud and outwardly friendly as, for example, Andaluces, the Basque are welcoming, humble, and kind. You can truly charm local hearts by learning a few key words in Basque. Just say “kaixo” instead of hello, and “eskerrik asko” in place of muchas gracias.
There is no doubt that this green land by the sea in the north is truly special, with a different feel than the rest of Spain.
What are the top things to do in the Basque country?
Visit Vitoria-Gasteiz
Vitoria Gasteiz.
Often overlooked since it’s not located along the coast, the capital of the Basque country is a town you shouldn’t pass up. Vitoria-Gasteiz was chosen as the capital in 1980 to further fuel the region's economy. It is a lush, green city that offers over 150 kilometers of bike-friendly trails and beautiful urban parks. Art lovers will fall in love with Vitoria-Gasteiz’s Bibat, Bellas Artes, Armory, and the unique Sacred Art museums.
Gaze upon the architecture of the Cathedral of Santa María, one of the most visited sites in this region. Built-in the 13th-14th century in a gothic style, the crypt was converted to a museum for visitors to enjoy digital journeys about the cathedral and the city’s history.
Basque is the co-official language in this region and you will see the majority of signs in the Basque language and also in Spanish. And if you make the tiniest effort to speak just a few Basque pharses, you will warm the hearts of the locals all over this region of Spain!
2. Visit the monastery San Juan de Gaztelugatxe
San Juan de Gaztelugatxe.
This monastery of San Juan de Gaztelugatxe boasts the best panoramic views along the coast of this region. It is quite famous nowadays for its depiction in Game of Thrones as Dragonstone Castle. Its stunning, green coastline has several routes for walking and hiking. The most popular hiking route is the ‘Ruta San Juan de Gaztelugatxe."
It is highly recommended you book your free ticket in advance as there’s only a certain amount available each day, and they do “sell out”
When you walk along the hiking path, you’ll experience some strong winds and black sandy beaches down below. If you still feel up for it after exploring around, head over to Bakio Beach, just west of the monastery, for a relaxing end to an adventurous day.
3. More things to do in Basque Country involving Game of Thrones
Zumaia.
Closer to San Sebastián, Zumaia was another Game of Thrones filming location. Though not as famous as San Juan de Gaztelugatxe, scenes from Game of Thrones were also filmed at Itzurun Beach in Zumaia.
But don’t only go for Game of Thrones. Go for the stunning and off-the-beaten-path coastal scenery, where the green meets the sea and where the txakoli grapes grow. Keep your eyes peeled for sheep, cows, goats, and even some donkeys. Just enjoy the scenery.
This is a great stop on a Basque Country coastal itinerary.
4. Swim or catch a sunset at Playa de la Concha and Playa Zurriola in San Sebastián
San Sebastián sunset from La Concha Beach.
The urban La Concha beach in San Sebastian is a hot spot and one of Spain’s best urban beaches for a very good reason. The clean, soft, white sand and chilly water is the exact combination you need for a perfect day at the beach.
Its newest cousin Zurriola, just a short walk away to the east, has become quite popular in recent years for families and for enjoyable water activities like surfing. La Concha has a more laid-back vibe if you’re just looking to relax, soak up the sun, and go in for a dip or two. If you’re looking for activities like beach volleyball, surfing classes, and beach paddle, Zurriola is the spot for you.
And if chasing sunsets is your thing, Playa de la Concha can have some of Spain’s most fabulous sunsets.
Something important to be aware of is that these are not nudes beaches, however, you will see many children running around naked and women topless. This may surprise you at first but it is a completely normal occurrence (as it is at every beach in Spain).
Swim and sunbathe at Playa de la Concha in the summer. Photo by Salina Owens
5. Explore San Sebastián’s food scene - a top thing to do in Basque Country
San Sebastián pintxos bar.
And speaking of the city of San Sebastián, it is known around the world for its food scene. It has more Michelin Star restaurants per capita than almost anywhere else in the world. But for those on a tighter budget, or looking for a more rustic and authentic experience, the city’s pintxos bars are where it’s at!
In fact, ask just about anyone who knows food and they will tell you that Basque Country has the best food in Spain!
Basque Country region is famous for its version of Spanish tapas, called pintxos. They’re made of local ingredients, seafood, meats, cheeses, and vegetables, held together by a long toothpick, and on a chunk of bread. You can go from pintxos bar to pintxos bar trying are the anchovies, mussels, beef cheek, peppers, salted cod, and basically anything on a skewer.
Don’t forget to stop by La Viña for a slice or two of their famous baked cheesecake. Warning: you will want more than one slice!
Wash everything down with a glass of txakoli wine or Basque cider (sidra). The gastronomy scene in San Sebastián is world-class.
6. And speaking of food, taste the wine
Hanging out in the vineyards near Zarautz.
Of course, Basque Country, known for its gastronomy also has a wine-making industry. You will want to try Txakoli, Basque Country’s fruity and refreshing signature white wine.
Near the beautiful small town of Getaria, you can visit bodegas. This is one of the top things to do in Basque Country because you just can’t beat wine tasting in a beautiful setting.
Take some time to explore the beautiful area - the scenery makes it look more like Scotland than Spain! Keep an eye out for the Scottish cattle (and the sheep!)
7. Go almost to France and visit one of Basque Country’s most beautiful villages.
Hondarribia Spain.
One of the most beautiful villages in Basque Country and really in all of Spain is just a stone’s throw from the French border. Hondarribia is absolutely worth a stop on your Basque Country Spain travel itinerary.
The town has several points of interest. The historic center is so charming with its small plazas and colorful buildings. Be sure to check out the medieval walls and gates. And if you fancy spending the night in an old castle, you can book a room at the Parador.
Closer to the port, Barrio de la Marina is worth a stroll too. The area is full of excellent pintxos bars and Basque gastronomy. From the port, you can catch a boat (2€/10 minutes) to the French village of Hendaye on the other side.
8. Learn more about Basque History
Guernica, Spain.
South of Bilbao lies the town of Guernica. This town became internationally known through the famous work of Picasso with the same title. Picasso’s depiction of the bombings that took place in this small town is known today as a significant symbol of the suffering endured during the time of the civil war.
Nowadays, the town isn’t beaming with architectural prowess, but it is a stop you should make if you’re looking to dive headfirst into the history of the Spanish civil war and the Basque independence movement. There is a market in the town center that usually takes place on Mondays and is considered one of the best outdoor markets in the region.
Or consider going during the Euskal Jaiak festival for deeply-rooted Basque traditions.
9. Check out the Vizcaya Bridge
Vizcaya Bridge.
Just west of Bilbao and designed by Basque architect Alberto de Palacio, the Vizcaya Bridge (or Bizkaia) is one of Spain’s UNESCO World Heritage sites.
Completed in 1893, the Vizcaya Bridge links the towns of Portugalete and Las Arenas. The bridge is considered to be one of the most outstanding representations of the industrial era. It was the first suspended gondola style bridge in the world to carry both traffic as well as pedestrians and was used as a model for this type of bridge construction worldwide.
Visitors can go to the top of the bridge by elevator to check out the views. Or even better, you can ride across the hanging bridge for as little as 50 cents each way!
(Keep reading for more things to do in Bilbao)
10. Visit Bilbao’s “Basque beach towns”
Algorta, near Getxo and Bilbao.
Located just outside the center of Bilbao, in Getxo, its observation deck and beaches, are spots to be sure not to miss. The distance between them is easily walkable as you go from Arrigunaga beach to the lookout point of Espigón de Punta Galea and continue east to the beaches of Sopelana and Gorrondatxe. After a long day at the beach make sure to stay more than one day to catch the sunset at the observation deck and to visit the next, and top spot in the Basque country.
For an authentic Basque beach town, be sure to go to Algorta.
This area is all accessible by bus and train from Bilbao in under an hour.
Well! That’s our top ten things to do in Basque Country…
BUT we left off recommendations for one of our favorite cities, Bilbao including one of the most famous museums in the world. We definitely recommend spending a few days in Bilbao!
Visit the Guggenheim Museum
Guggenheim Museum.
Art and architecture lovers, rejoice! The Guggenheim in Bilbao is one of the most renowned museums in Spain (and in the whole world). Its unique architectural outer design is complemented by the exhibitions of famous artists from all over the world. Inside is very spacious and extends to host 20 galleries of exhibition area for artwork.
Be sure to give yourself time to check out the permanent collection and the special exhibits. And of course walk around the exterior of the building to appreciate the architecture and admire some of its famous sculptures.
And don’t miss central Bilbao’s other sights
Pintxos on the river in Bilbao.
Bilbao is the largest city in the North of Spain, and one of the most overlooked cities in Spain. But few take time to discover it outside of the Guggenheim. This is a shame because Bilbao is hip, edgy, artsy, and alive. Oh and the culinary scene there is to die for.
A stroll around the Casco Historico is a must. Stop for pintxos, that you can eat along the river, at Mercado de la Ribera (Ribera Market), which is one of the top markets in Spain. Go across the river to Bilbao la Vieja, one of the city’s best places to find street art and Bilbao’s coolness factor.
And to take it all in, catch the Artxanda cable car up to the viewpoint where you can look down and see the entire city.
We absolutely adore Bilbao and think it should warrant at least a few days on your Basque Spain travel itinerary!
Finally if you are a wine lover, visit Rioja Alavesa, Basque Country’s part of La Rioja
Laguardia, Spain, a walled city in Rioja Alavesa.
Did you know that the DO of La Rioja (wine) extends into Basque Country?
Located on the north side of ther Erbo River (across from La Rioja), this region of Álava Province (where Vitoria is located) is famous for its winemaking traditions.
But there’s so much more than wine. The region is dotted with gorgeous small towns such as Laguardia and Elciego. And lots of wild areas to explore.
Having access to your own car (or a car and driver) is a must for this area.
Did these top things to do in Basque Country inspire you to visit?
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