Basque Country Tourism

Getting to the Basque Country

There are three International airports in the Basque Country – Bilbao, San Sebastian and Vitoria, all of which have frequent internal flights from Madrid and Barcelona as well as flights from other European centres. At the time of writing, EasyJet operate a service from London Stansted to Bilbao.

The rail network in the region is well developed, with RENFE linking the major cities with the rest of central Spain and France. In addition, there are local trains by FEVE and Eusko Tren and two underground lines in Bilbao itself, Metro Bilbao.

The major road links consist of the A1, linking with central Spain; the AP8, linking with France and the AP68, linking with the Mediterranean. Bilbao is the major seaport of the region, with three ferry crossings each week from Portsmouth and it is also now a regular calling place for cruise ships.

Top Basque Destinations

The three provincial capitals, Bilbao, San Sebastián and Vitoria, are the major tourist destinations and they are all eminently worthy cities in their own right. The transformation of Bilbao in recent years, summed up in 1997 with the opening of the Guggenheim Museum, has turned it into a popular short break location. The museum itself, irrespective of its contents, is a very special building, although often very busy. For lovers of more classical Spanish and world art, the Museo de Bellas Artes, a two minute walk away, has a highly impressive permanent collection. Like so many cities, the old town of Bilbao, with its atmospheric bars and buildings, is a fabulous place to meander.

Much the same can be said about the casco viejo centre of Vitoria but, as this is an important university centre, the nightlife tends to attract a younger crowd than the more touristy Bilbao.

San Sebastián, with its mightily impressive crescent beach, La Concha, is steeped in Basque tradition and fiercely independent, whilst also inviting visitors, who often compare it with its French counterpart, Biarritz.

Although these three cities attract the greatest numbers of visitors, there are smaller places in the Basque Country which offer very differing experiences. Many people are attracted to the small country town of Guernica, which was known as the birthplace of Basque Parliamentarianism until, one Monday in April 1937, it became infamous for being the town Hitler’s bombers blitzed at Franco’s request. There is a museum in the centre of town which gives a horrifying portrayal of the events that inspired Picasso’s nightmarish and probably most famous painting.

Very different are the surfing hotspots of Zarautz and Mundaka, the delightful fishing port at Lekeitio and the beautiful little wine-growing town of Laguardia.

Tourist Activities in the Basque Country

It is tempting to say that the most popular tourist activity in the Basque Country should be eating. Many places in Spain like to claim that they have the best food in the country but any impartial judgement would surely award the honour to this region. There were, at my last count, 21 Michelin Stars awarded to restaurants here so this is the home of many of Spain’s most famous international restaurants and chefs. These top eating places are only the summit of a very impressive array of restaurants appealing to all tastes and price ranges. The Basque Country is also home of the famous Gastronomic Societies, and if you can obtain an invitation to eat at one of these, it would be truly memorable.

The cultural triangle between Bilbao, Vitoria and San Sebastián, all within easy reach of each other, can also offer a plethora of impressive museums, galleries and architectural glories.

For sporting enthusiasts, surfing and cycling are very popular here, along with the rather more esoteric and localised activities such as pelota vasca, a kind of mixture of fives, squash and handball.

In the Alava town of Elciego there is the distinctive ‘City of Wine’, designed by Frank Gerhy who also created the Guggenheim, and the wine route through the Basque country includes some other very innovative cellars, such as the one at Laguardia designed by Santiago Calatrava.

Basque Festivals

There are some unusual and entertaining festivals in the Basque Country held throughout the year. At the beginning of December, for example, in Vitoria you can attend, along with about 200,000 others, the Ardoaraba Wine Festival. Also held in Vitoria is the Festival of La Bulsa, a smock worn on festive occasions by young men. Sometimes known as Garlic Day, this is not for those who don’t appreciate the smell or the taste of garlic everywhere.

San Sebastián has a spectacular Tamborrada, or Drum Procession, in January each year, in which just under a hundred different groups of drummers march around the streets and then continue ‘performing’ until the early hours in the bars of the town.

Some of the most spectacular events are perhaps the Fishing Boat Regattas of La Concha, where there are various races on the first two Sundays in September.

Food and Drink in the Basque Country

Basque specialties to keep an eye open for include the salt cod stew, bacalao al pil pil; baby squid cooked in its own ink, chipirones en su tinta; enormous beef steaks and chops; and the Basque version of tapas, pinchos or pintxos. The best Basque wine is Txakoli, a fairly robust white wine, best drunk when it is still quite young. There are some fine ciders available, and it is worth keeping an eye open for Cider Houses, where you can often get great value meals accompanied by different ciders.