Do you have a few days off and want to discover the best places in the Basque Country? In this article, we have what you need: the best routes through the Basque Country, with details on what to see and do in each place. Now you have no excuse not to visit this incredible and vibrant autonomous community!
We can tell you a little more about what you will find: exuberant nature, beautiful beaches with brutal cliffs, one of the best gastronomies in the world, and cities with culture, history, and beauty everywhere. Start preparing your trip now with the help of these routes through the Basque Country.
Route through the Basque Country by car
Taking a route through the Basque Country by car is the best way to make the most of your time and see the maximum number of wonderful places. With a car, you will have the flexibility to travel at your own pace and explore less connected places. We recommend combining sections of highway, to optimize your time, with secondary roads, to access places of great beauty and historical importance. Below we will tell you which are the essentials for a route through the Basque Country, but it is a good idea to let yourself go and explore other places.
4-day route through the Basque Country
Let’s move on to practical examples. This is, in our opinion, the ideal route to discover the best of the Basque Country if you only have 4 days. It’s not much time, yes, but you’re going to enjoy it a lot and in the end, you’ll have a good idea of what this beautiful region is like.
Day 1
Bilbao is, today, one of the most vibrant cities in Spain, combining modernity and antiquity perfectly. You can’t miss the Guggenheim Museum or the pintxos in the Plaza Nueva and throughout the Old Town.
Day 2
After the urban visit of the first day, get closer to the spectacular coast of the Basque Country to visit charming fishing villages, such as Mundaka, Hondarribia, Bermeo, and Getaria. This is the ideal day to go up to San Juan de Gaztelugatxe, a place famous for its appearance in Game of Thrones.
Day 3
On your third day of travel through the Basque Country, San Sebastián is your destination. It is considered one of the most beautiful cities in our country, and the highlights are the iconic Playa de la Concha, Monte Igueldo, which offers spectacular panoramic views, and the old town, where gastronomy is the undisputed queen.
Day 4
And we come to the last day of your 4-day route through the Basque Country with a visit to its capital, Vitoria. Here we recommend visiting the Medieval Quarter and the Green Ring, a set of parks around the city, which in addition to beauty, bring well-being and sustainability to the city and the region.
5-day route through the Basque Country
If you have 5 days, our suggestion is that you take a route similar to the 4-day route through the Basque Country, only we will add the interior area of Guipúzcoa, which combines nature with history and culture, just what you need to get to know the Basque Country in more depth.
Thus, our route starts in Bilbao on the first day, and on the second it continues along the coast of Biscay so that you can visit fantastic villages such as Mundaka, Getaria, Bermeo and Hondarribia (you will have to choose some of them, since you will not have time for all), without forgetting San Juan de Gaztelugatxe.
Afterwards, go to San Sebastián to taste the fantastic gastronomy of the Basque Country. On the fourth day, you can visit the towns of Ordizia or Tolosa, in the interior of Guipúzcoa, where there are local markets, and then we recommend a visit to the Aralar Natural Park. To finish your 5-day route through the Basque Country, you have to include a visit to Vitoria and its Green Ring.
Essential places
There are places that you cannot miss in the Basque Country, and if you cannot see them all on the same route, don’t worry: we are sure that you will return. These are our essentials in the Basque Country:
San Juan de Gaztelugatxe
This is the hermitage on an islet that became famous for Game of Thrones, although it has always been one of the most important tourist spots in the region. The contrast of religious architecture on a canvas formed by the sea and the stone bridge creates an impressive landscape that is worth a visit.
Guggenheim Museum Bilbao
This is one of the best museums in the world, that simple. Inside you will find exhibitions of various styles and great world artists, with emphasis on modern art. And we can also talk about the building: designed by Frank Gehry in 1997, it attracts all eyes and helps to create the modern identity of the city.
La Concha Beach
This is one of the most photographed places in the Basque Country. A wide bay, with a calm sea and vegetation around, form a set where you want to stay longer. The elegance and beauty of the place are unmatched in the region.
Fishing villages
On the coast of the Basque Country you will find several charming fishing villages, and some of the best examples are Bermeo, Mundaka, Getaria, Lekeitio and Hondarribia, although we recommend that you explore all that you can. The beauty of the local architecture in front of the sea, the fresh fish that you can taste in the restaurants and the history of the relationship of the town with the sea are more than enough attractions to justify a visit.
The Green Ring of Vitoria
This set of natural parks forms a circular itinerary with more than 30 kilometers of extension, being perfect for a bike ride or for several walks. It is an ecological corridor that promotes the leisure and mobility of inhabitants and tourists, and contains a very special set of fauna and flora. A fantastic example of the green spaces of the future.
The best route through the Basque Country is the one you choose
There is no magic formula to visit the Basque Country nor enough time to see and do everything that is possible in this magnificent region, although it is essential to do your route through the Basque Country by car. Perhaps you prefer to dedicate 3 or 4 days to cities like Bilbao or San Sebastián, to do gastronomic or cultural routes, or maybe you want to disconnect from day to day with walks in nature. The Basque Country has it all, so choose your way of traveling and enjoy.
Don’t forget to book your accommodation in advance: Fidalsa Holidays is where you will find the best apartments, houses and villas in the Basque Country. Find your accommodation with the characteristics that interest you and book directly online, without complications, and with all the details and comfort for a perfect stay. Come and discover the Basque Country and be amazed in every corner.