Whether you’re exploring the Guggenheim in Bilbao, enjoying the green spaces of Vitoria-Gasteiz, sipping the local wines, or basking in the coastal beauty of San Sebastian, this itinerary is a wonderful insight into the delights of the Basque Country.

10 Night Packages, From £895*

Price is a guide for this itinerary including all your flights, hotels and car hire.

*Prices are only to act as a guide

Itinerary

3 Nights – Bilbao
3 Nights – Victoria-Gasteiz
4 Nights – San Sebastian

Optional Extension: Vine the wine region of Rioja Alavesa


✈️ UK to Bilbao (3 nights): Your exploration of the Basque country will begin in Bilbao, with its avant-garde architecture and vibrant atmosphere.  Visit the iconic Guggenheim Museum with its striking titanium-clad design that features artists including Jeff Koons and Louise Bourgeois. After immersing yourself in art, take a leisurely stroll through the historic Old Town, where you’ll find pinchos bars (Basque tapas) and the Mercado de la Ribera, one of Europe’s largest covered markets. At the end of your stay in Bilbao you’ll pick up your rental car which you will have at your disposal for the rest of the trip.

🚗 Bilbao to Vitoria-Gasteiz (3 nights):  In the morning, you’ll take the hour’s drive south to your next stop, Vitoria-Gasteiz, renowned for being one of the greenest cities in Europe with numerous parks, gardens, and green areas dotted around to relax in.  The city’s Old Town features medieval architecture, narrow streets, historic buildings and pretty squares including the Plaza de la Virgen Blanca, a lively square flanked by little cafes and restaurants. Nearby, the 13th century Cathedral of Santa Maria offers a wonderful example of Gothic architecture.

🚗   Vitoria-Gasteiz to San Sebastian (4 nights) with optional extension:  Before you head north again for your next stop to San Sebastian, you could consider a short detour to Rioja Alavesa, a region renowned for its wines.  You could even extend your trip and stay here for one or two nights, enjoying some wine tasting amidst the vineyards.   When you reach San Sebastian, you can unwind with four nights of coastal relaxation.  Relax on La Concha Beach, explore the pinchos bars of the pretty Old Town or indulge in the world class cuisine at one of the many gastronomic restaurants.   You could also consider a day trip to Biarritz, just across the border in France, which offers a wonderful contrast from San Sebastian and is easily accessible by bus. You could also spend the day at one of the picturesque coastal towns nearby such as the fishing village of Getaria, the surf haven of Zarautz or the historic Hondarribia.

🚗  ✈️ San Sebastian to Bilbao to UK:   Time to make your way back to Bilbao for your return flight home to the UK.  However, on the way, you should consider making a short detour to Guernica, a town made famous by Picasso’s famous painting which is based on his outrage about the town being bombed in 1937 by the German air force.