Euskadi-Basque Country Grand Tour
THE BASQUE COUNTRY ideal to enjoy in short stages.
There’s no room for more. Because it’s hard to find so many stunning places so close to one another. The Basque Country is the ideal place to enjoy numerous attractions in a short space of time: varied landscapes, pleasant climate, ancient culture, word-famous cuisine...
Two colours will accompany you on your journey through the Basque Country: the green of the incomparable setting of its mountains and valleys, and the blue of the sea. You will see that the Basque people have strong links with these natural environments: land and sea. Both have been determining factors in a lifestyle revealed by their idiosyncrasies: deeply rooted customs, a rich culture, traditional sports...
To better understand the nature of these people it is important that you immerse yourself in its traditions, exploring the fishing ports and the life of the countryside... On the coast you will see how the Cantabrian Sea has marked the personality of the neighbouring villages. You will also notice the difference between their inhabitants and the inland people. If you explore the history of the outstanding figures who have marked the personality of these communities you will discover how their maritime, industrial and agricultural character, always diverse and enterprising, has been bred.
And if you find the coastal and inland villages interesting, you will be no less fascinated by the three capitals. Bilbao will surprise you with its transformation from an industrial city to an avant garde metropolis bringing together the great contemporary international architects. San Sebastian, exquisite and unique, will seduce you with its beautiful and stately setting. Vitoria-Gasteiz will show you its rich heritage and why it sets a worldwide benchmark in urban planning.
Eating and drinking well is an affordable luxury in the Basque Country: local seasonal products in pintxo form with a good wine from the Rioja Alavesa, txakoli or cider. You will be in gourmet paradise! Enjoy!
Experiment, observe, then give way to the passion of taste.
www.turismo.euskadi.eus
The tourism brand which acts as an introduction to the tourism offer in the Basque Country: In the national market: EUSKADI BASQUE COUNTRY.
TOURISM BRANDS
BILBAO
Bilbao is the capital of Bizkaia, as well as a metropolis and economic and financial centre of the Basque Country. It is the largest city in the Basque Country (1,000,000 inhabitants) and is a university town.
The Ría (estuary) of Bilbao, the backbone of the metropolis: from the Old Quarter to the Bizkaia Bridge. It is also a city surrounded by small mountains, such as Mount Artxanda, and infrastructures, as for example the cruise port and the main airport in the region and the north of Spain: the international gateway.
Internationally renowned for its urban regeneration, Bilbao won the Nobel Prize for Cities in 2010: “Lee Kuan Yew World City Prize”: “Lee Kuan Yew World city prize”.
IN BILBAO, THE FOLLOWING ARE A MUST:
- Bizkaia Transporter Bridge, World Heritage Site.
- The City´s Museums: Guggenheim and Fine Arts (now one of the leading paintings and sculpture museums in Spain). The Alhóndiga, The Ethnographic and Basque History Museum, The Reproductions Museum, Athletic Football Club, Bullfighting, etc.
- Its cutting-edge and signature architecture: works by the world´s most famous contemporary
architects (Frank Gehry, Norman Foster, Isozaki, Zaha Hadid and Philippe Starck).
- Take a stroll: through the Old Quarter, and its famous 7 streets, through the Ensanche and up Mount Artxanda, which offers a panoramic view of the city and can be accessed by funicular (cable railway).
- Attend: conferences, trade fairs and meetings (BEC, Euskalduna, Guggenheim, etc.), festivals and cultural events, popular and traditional festivals such as bulls, Semana Grande (week of local festivities), Holy Week, etc.
- Shopping: at leading brand stores, as well as for original products in specialised shops. The Ribera Market is well worth a visit as is the traditional annual Santo Tomás market (21st December).
- Eating-Out: the whole range of Basque gastronomy: from pintxos (similar to Spanish tapas) to haute cuisine, not forgetting the traditional dishes.
- Stay: the best range of accommodation in the Basque Country.
Recommended for being closest to Bilbao are Donostia/San Sebastián, the Basque Coast, the Basque Mountains and Valleys and Rioja Alavesa.
DONOSTIA SAN SEBASTIÁN
Donostia/San Sebastián is the capital of Gipuzkoa and the major city of the Basque Coast (180,000 inhabitants). A city open to the sea, historically regarded the tourist capital of the Basque Country and is close to France.
It boasts one of the most beautiful bays in the world: La Concha, and three city beaches. San Sebastian is surrounded by mountains and viewpoints: Igeldo, Urgull, Ulia and the Isle of Santa Clara, lie on either side of the River Urumea.
IN SAN SEBASTIÁN, THE FOLLOWING ARE A MUST:
- The Old Quarter, its streets and iconic buildings.
- The romantic area of the city and its buildings with French influences.
- San Telmo Museum and the Aquarium.
- Take a stroll: walks and nature-related activities on foot and/or by bicycle along the promenade from the “Peine de los Vientos” sculptures to the Kursaal, up the urban mountains, their parks and gardens and enjoy the delightful pace of life by the sea or go surfing at its beaches.
Kursaal Palace, festivals and popular events, such as the Tamborrada (drum procession), Santo Tomás agricultural and gastronomic fair, the International Film Festival, La Concha Pennant, the hippodrome and the casino.
- Shopping: in the Ensanche and the Old Quarter.
- Eating out: the city of gastronomy par excellence: with more Michelin stars per square metre than any other in the world. Go for pintxos in the Old Quarter and other neighbourhoods of the city. Likewise sidrerías or cider houses are also a good choice.
- Accommodation: the city offers a wide range of hotels and some of the most iconic hotels in the Basque Country.
Recommended for being closest to Donostia/San Sebastián, are Bilbao, the Basque Coast, the Basque Mountains and Valleys.
VITORIAGASTEIZ
Vitoria-Gasteiz is the capital of Alava, Vitoria is the administrative capital of the Basque Country (250,000 inhabitants). It also boasts the most important logistics centre in the north of Spain and is surrounded by nature.
The historic centre and original almond medieval shape is noteworthy, particularly the cathedral (in this 3 cathedral city) which although undergoing restoration remains open, noteworthy is the modern, well-planned, user-friendly and accessible urban planning, as well as the surrounding green belt. In 2012, it was the “European Green Capital”.
IN VITORIA, THE FOLLOWING ARE A MUST:
- Its old quarter and the so-called medieval “almond”, where the Cathedral of Santa Maria lies and its unique project called “Open for Work”, which inspired Ken Follett in his novel “World Without End”. Visit the 5 towers, the historic streets and the walls in this part of the city.
- Museums: Bibat, Artium, Fine Arts Ajuria Enea: Residence of the President of the Basque Country.
- The new, well-planned urban layout of VitoriaGasteiz.
- Take a stroll: through the “green belt”, with pathways, lakes and reservoirs integrated into nature that is full of flora and fauna, through the towns and villages of Vitoria (Estibaliz, Armentia, Foronda, etc.)
- Attend: its renowned jazz festival and local festivities, among which San Prudencio (28th April) and La Blanca (August) are particularly noteworthy.
- Things to do: nature sports (green belt), bird watching (lakes and reservoirs) and visit Ataria, the Interpretation Centre of the Salburua Wetlands.
- Shopping: At its confectioners, mainly in the pedestrian and commercial area and at the medieval “almond” market.
- Eating-Out: its sweets are famous for their quality. The wines and gastronomy of the Rioja Alavesa.
- Accommodation: at its new, fully accessible hotels.
Recommended for being closest to Vitoria-Gasteiz are Rioja Alavesa and the Basque Mountains and Valleys.
THE BASQUE MOUNTAINS AND VALLEYS
The Basque Mountains and Valleys are our natural environment. The quiet Euskadi. They are a reflection of culture and traditions: Gernika and the General Assembly House, beacons, myths and legends of the Basque Country, the farmhouse and the way of life, rural sports.
The 9 natural parks and pilgrimage routes stand out: Camino de Santiago and Camino Ignaciano (St. James’s Way and Ignatian way), and religious cultural heritage in Loiola (house of Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Society of Jesus) and in Arantzazu, La Antigua, Zenarruza, Estibaliz and Urkiola.
IN THE BASQUE MOUNTAINS AND VALLEYS, THE FOLLOWING ARE A MUST:
- Its villages, rural traditions, lifestyle (30,000 farmhouses), heritage, rural sports, processions, etc.
- Its landscape that has been shaped by man: coalmines, salt mines, mines, foundries, quarries, etc.
- Museums: ecological, industrial, interpretation centres, etc.
- Take a stroll: through the accessible natural environment, through the conservation areas, up the mythical mountains (Gorbea, Anboto, Txindoki, Aizgorri, Ernio), through its valleys and regions, through its forests and rivers.
- Attend: Basque Pelota competitions, rural sports, processions, fairs and markets.
- Things to do: ecotourism activities, such as bird watching and geotourism, or visits to places of high environmental and heritage value. And more active and sporting activities such as hiking and cycling.
- Shopping: traditional gastronomy products (Eusko label), Idiazabal, cider, txakoli, tinned produce. Basque artisan products and ceramics.
- Eating-Out: traditional food (authentic, local products).
- Where to sleep: in rural accommodation and charming hotels, some of them with the ECOLABEL.
From the Basque Mountains and Valleys, visit for example the Basque Coast, Rioja Alavesa, Bilbao, Donostia/ San Sebastián and Vitoria-Gasteiz.
THE BASQUE COAST
The Basque Coast is very diverse: there are fishing villages and seaside towns, with city beaches and other beaches that will blow you away. Marinas, marshes, estuaries lined by sea cliffs and an active sea.
Among its emblematic towns and areas, Hondarribia, Zarautz, Getxo and Lekeitio, La Concha bay in San Sebastian, San Juan de Gaztelugatxe, the Getaria Mouse, Bilbao and the Bizkaia Bridge, the Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve and the Geopark stand out. The Basque Coast also boasts a rich maritime culture and many illustrious seafarers: Elcano, Cosme Damián de Churruca or Víctor Hugo.
ON THE BASQUE COAST, THE FOLLOWING ARE A MUST:
- Its fishing villages, medieval towns and cosmopolitan cities giving you an insight into the way of life by the sea, based around fishing and the fishing heritage (fish markets, festivities, gastronomy).
- SPAs.
- Its natural corners: conservation areas and wetlands, viewpoints and watchtowers.
- Its network of museums on the Basque Coast (among others: the Museo Balenciaga in Getaria, the Bilbao Maritime Museum, the Fishermen’s Museum in Bermeo, the Oiasso Roman Museum in Irun, the Albaola Maritime Factory in Pasaia, and the Santa Catalina Lighthouse in Lekeitio, the Aquarium of Donostia,...).
- Walking: On the Basque coast nature´s green sweeps down to the sea: Take a stroll through Urdaibai, the Flysch route, along cliffs, through the painted forest of Oma, visit the wetlands and wild beaches or routes, such as the Camino de Santiago along the coast.
- Attend: sports competitions, some of which are international, such as surfing, sailing and other
unique sports like traineras (rowing boat races). Attend local festivities and fish markets.
- Practice: water sports (surfing, sailing, diving), trekking and activities in nature, bird watching and whale watching.
- Shopping: tinned fish, txakoli.
- Eating-Out: fish paired with txakoli. Excellent gastronomy.
- Accommodation: in charming rural houses, small family run hotels and campsites.
Given how close it is from the Basque Coast visit Bilbao and the Basque Mountains and Valleys.
RIOJA ALAVESA
Rioja Alavesa is a land of ancient vineyards, producing unique wine from its tempranillo Grape. Watered by the river Ebro and surrounded by Sierra of Cantabria, this region boasts the most spectacular wineries: such as Ysios, Baigorri, Riscal, Viñarreal-CVNE, with wine villages and family run wineries as well as a product with structure: Rioja Alavesa Wine Route.
IN RIOJA ALAVESA, THE FOLLOWING ARE A MUST:
- Its villages: Laguardia, Labraza, Elciego, Samaniego, Labastida.
- Its state of the art wineries.
- Its traditional family run wineries.
- The Balcony of Rioja.
- Its thousand year old heritage: the historic town Poblado de La Hoya, dolmens.
- Take a stroll: through vineyards and historic villages.
- Attend: traditional wine events and festivities. Tastings and sampling.
- Activities: trekking, bird watching, cycling, wine therapy.
- Shopping: Rioja Alavesa wines.
- Eating-Out: gastronomy and wine.
- Accommodation: in rural accommodation and at new charming hotels such as Marqués de Riscal.
From Rioja Alavesa because of how close it is, visit the Basque Mountains and Valleys, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Bilbao and Donostia- San Sebastián.
TOURISM PRODUCTS
The Basque Country boasts a variety of themed products which compete as a destination; it is a “multiproduct destination”.
Priority Basque tourism products are: touring, Food and wine, culture and MICE.
Likewise city breaks, nature and coast are considered to be top priority. Products that complete the diversity of the offer, both in terms of the landscape and the experiences Euskadi provides.
EUSKADI-BASQUE COUNTRY GRAND TOUR
Euskadi Basque Country Grand Tour: A destination for enjoying life your way
A route of infinite paths so you can experience and enjoy the Basque Country your way.
The eight-stage route that the Basque Country Grand Tour offers is a beginning, a point of departure on an exciting map that can be enjoyed at your own pace, with no fear of getting lost. The Basque Country Grand Tour invites you to explore the region with an open mind and heart ready to experience every moment to the fullest. Here, on each stage of the journey, we encourage you to let your senses and intuition guide you.
Experience our itineraries at your own relaxed pace, discovering the well-guarded secrets and rich legacy of our land.
From the mountains of the powerful north to its most challenging beaches, passing through UNESCO World Heritage sites and the most important attractions throughout your route in the Basque Country.
We hope you will feel at home. Here, each experience, landscape and flavour is designed so that you can enjoy your journey your way.
Routes through the Basque Country await you, ready to be discovered and enjoyed. “Poliki-poliki”, experience the Basque Country at your pace.
FROM BILBAO TO LEKEITIO: HUGGING THE COAST
You have a date with water. You will find it next to the Guggenheim Bilbao Museum, the city that reinvented itself to look towards the future with all the strength of its past.
Fishing ports where maritime tradition continues into the present, lending character to its villages and people.
Medieval town centres whose narrow cobblestone streets beckon all who will listen to its stories of the past.
Moody waves: sometimes calm, but more often unruly. Apart from their character, some have their own name and are known the world over.
Connecting them all is a winding umbilical cord of asphalt that plays hide and seek with the sea along its entire coast.
Here, sand and mountains etch out defiant cliffs with two hands.
Bilbao - Lekeitio
Getxo Sopela
Barrika Plentzia Gorliz Lemoiz Bakio Bermeo Mundaka
Sukarrieta Busturia Forua Gernika Lumo
Kort ezubi
Ibarrangelu Elantxobe Ea
Gautegiz Ar teaga
Stage 1
Can you hear the seagulls lurking in the port?
Can you feel the salt in the air and on your skin? Can you see the colours swirling in Urdaibai’s marshes like a natural oil painting? This route tastes of Bermeo’s marmitako and Bakio’s txakoli. It smells of the mountains and fresh fish from the high seas. It speaks of a land that seems rugged until you let yourself be embraced by it.
The first stage of the Grand Tour is a route along the Basque coast,starting in the Bilbao estuary and ending in one of the most visited fishing villages on the Basque coast, Lekeitio. Let yourself be surprised by a unique experience that captures the welcoming essence of our destination.
Discover the heart of the Basque coast on this exciting first stage of the Grand Tour. From the modernity of Bilbao to the coastal beauty of Lekeitio, this route immerses you in the culture, history and gastronomy of the Basque Country.
FROM LEKEITIO TO ZARAUTZ: THE BASQUE COUNTRY IN BLUE AND GREEN
Peaks and valleys. Maritime buzz and secluded country homes. The whale hunters of yesteryear and a mouse in Getaria. The creativity of Balenciaga competing with the capricious forms of the Basque Coast Geopark. The sea and mountains. Lighthouses and basilicas. Nature and culture. Green and blue. Follow a route of contrasts that will lead you through a land both singular and multifaceted.
It is a land of universal figures like Juan Sebastián Elcano and St. Ignatius of Loyola. A land of Deba’s prehistoric caves and fishing villages. A land of landscapes sculpted by the winds of 60 million years. A land of days lunching on beans cooked over a slow fire and dining on fresh fish that needs nothing more than the kiss of a grill.
You’ll see how you can have a full palette of colours, stories, sounds, and flavours in a single day.
FROM ZARAUTZ TO DONOSTIA/SAN SEBASTIÁN: WITH LOTS OF TASTE
Savor traditional cuisine that will make you travel back in time.
This is where you will understand that eating is more than just food. This is where you will understand that eating is more than just food.
These are rituals, customs that we are not willing to lose, like ceremonies celebrated with the same taste in txoko (Basque gastronomical society) kitchens as in the great temples of haute cuisine.
Here, cider is not just fermented apple juice. It means sharing a table and a song in an Astigarraga or Hernani cider house, getting in line for the “txotx” from the kupela (barrel), and returning to your place before the cod omelette gets cold.
Here, the txuletón (steak) is served with coarse salt on a stone, substantial like the works of Chillida Leku and the Arditurri mines in Oiartzun, millennia-old witnesses of history.
Here, the txakoli and pintxos from tavern-to-tavern pair perfectly with the white houses of Hondarribia’s fisherman’s neighbourhood, La Marina. And the grilled
sea bream and Orio elvers are majestic, like the Aitzondo waterfall.
After all of this, who wouldn’t enjoy a stroll along the bay of La Concha to see the Comb of the Wind?
Zarautz - Donostia/SanSebastián
Orio Hernani Astigarragai Oiar tzun
Pasaia Irun Lezo
Hondarribia
Stage 3
FROM DONOSTIA/SAN SEBASTIÁN TO VITORIA-GASTEIZ: RECONNECTING WITH YOUR SENSES
Explore the stage that connects nature and tradition. Open your eyes. Do you see bountiful grazing lands? Look beyond. See the hermitage rising on the hill. Get your boots on. Can you feel the soil and leaves under your feet as you walk along the trail? And now listen closely. Do you hear the river winding through the valley? Listen a moment longer until you hear how the wind rustles the branches of the beech, oak, chestnut, and pine trees...
What does it smell of? It smells of the firewood of the baserri (farmhouse) that rises majestically to contrast with the monotone green of the meadow. It smells of the beans in Tolosa that are slow cooked for hours over low heat. It smells of a smoky Idiazabal cheese.
It also tastes of salt, like that found in Leintz Gatzaga’s salt mines. It tastes of Gorrotxategi chocolate and Eceiza petit fours. It tastes of talo, the traditional Basque cornbread made in the Goierri style.
This route is savoured slowly so as not to miss even a single hue or detail of the natural beauty that no one has dared touch. A route with time taken to appreciate the region’s cultural and architectural riches, such as Oñati’s Historical Artistic Site and Arantzazu’s imposing sanctuary sculpted by Oteiza.
Enjoy a sea of tranquillity. Enjoy a sea of mountains. Enjoy a sea of clouds.
FROM VITORIA-GASTEIZ TO LAGUARDIA: A JOURNEY INTO THE PAST
Imagine a poetic battle. Imagine a sport that’s played skin against rock. Imagine music whose melody is composed with two wooden sticks as the only instrument. Imagine centuries-old roots that branch out through the soil to lend flavour to a unique wine not found anywhere else.
Bertsolaris. Frontón. Txalaparta. Rioja Alavesa. Dolmens among sunflowers, legendary sorcerers, enigmatic paintings that have survived since Roman times... contrasting with the seemingly impossible architecture of Frank Gehry that robes the Ciudad de Vino in Elciego in titanium.
Without question, this stage is completely without clichés. Dive into the waters of tradition and singular settings in a vast sea of vineyards.
FROM LAGUARDIA TO ORDUÑA: SLOWING DOWN AND STOPPING TIME
What if we could stand still and stop time without rushing to go anywhere at all? What if we could be like the sandstone rock from which the medieval town of Laguardia is built? What if we could be like the wines of Rioja Alavesa, patiently waiting to come of age? What if we could be like the salt of Añana, slowly watching the water evaporate away? What if we could be like the Nervión waterfall, suspending in air the river that will wind through Bizkaia on its march towards the sea?
This stage of the Basque Country Grand Tour invites you to breathe deep and stop to admire every detail. Gaze out from the Rioja Balcony and contemplate the beauty of the surrounding vineyards and mountains. Dig into the subsoils of Laguardia, that not only served as a refuge for its wines, but also those plotting their plans for war at key moments in history.
There is no greater luxury than time so, take off your watch, breathe in deep, and enjoy.
FROM ORDUÑA TO BILBAO: A JOURNEY BETWEEN BEGINNINGS AND THE FUTURE
From the simple, robust architecture of traditional Basque country homes to the futuristic forms of Frank Gehry, twisting titanium to give shape to Bilbao’s flagship structure.
From a natural park that reminds us of the past we came from, to a technology park where the future is being built every day.
This stage of your journey is where the rural and urban worlds join hands to regale us with a trip of infinite contrasts.
Towns that have remained intact since the medieval age, and urban centres that have reinvented themselves to become 21st-century cosmopolitan cities.
It is quite easy to stroll through Artziniega and imagine the people that walked along its cobbled streets in the Middle Ages, or all those that passed over Balmaseda’s majestic Old Bridge spanning the Cadagua river.
Most certainly, if those inhabitants of old Bizkaia travelled in time to see Bilbao today, they wouldn’t believe their eyes.
Take full advantage, because you can make this trip through time in no time at all with this stage of the Basque Country Grand Tour: a journey between beginnings and the future.
Orduña-Bilbao
Amurrio Arziniega Barakaldo Balmaseda
Galdames Muskiz Santurzi Port ugalete
Karrantza Harana Valle de Carranza
Stage 7
FROM LEKEITIO TO VITORIA-GASTEIZ: A LEGENDARY JOURNEY
Legend has it that there once lived a character of monumental strength and size in the forests of Gorbeia. It was the Basajaun, “Lord of the Forests” and protector of the herds that would announce his presence by ringing their cowbells.
Meanwhile, Mari, the queen of nature and all of its different elements lived in the Anboto range. She looked after all the houses that hung an Eguzkilore (magic flower) on their door to protect against the force of evil Gaueko, the spirit of the night.
Of course, there are more legends of all kinds in the Basque Country, including those forged between the walls of a frontón (court) in Markina-Xemein, known as the “University of Basque Pelota”. This was the birthplace of the Jai Alai greats that transformed our quintessential Basque sport into an international discipline.
Can you imagine a route through all these diverse stories and so many more?
Can you imagine the stories, of Urkiola pastors, Lekeitio fishermen, Elorrio renaissance palaces, or the Santa María cathedral in Vitoria-Gasteiz?
On this last stage of the Basque Country Grand Tour, we invite you to travel through the Basque Country’s green lung on a legendary journey.
THE TOP 10 ASSETS OF THE BASQUE COUNTRY
BILBAO
Internationally recognised architectural benchmark because the strength of its avant-garde style is based on integration and respect for its industrial history.
VITORIA-GASTEIZ
Location of the Basque Parliament and capital of Basque Country, Vitoria-Gasteiz is a green city, filled with natural spaces and located very close to Rioja Alavesa, a world renown wine-tourism enclave.
DONOSTIA / SAN SEBASTIÁN
One of the most romantic cities in the world, renowned for its beauty and its gastronomy.
URDAIBAI
An extraordinarily beautiful and varied natural landscape, which is the reason why it was declared a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 1984.
GAZTELUGATXE
Classified as a protected Biotype, this magical small island is one of the essential corners of the Basque Coast and one of the locations where the TV show “Game of Thrones” was filmed.
GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GERNIKA
One of the oldest parliaments in Europe. The Gernika tree is considered a main symbol of Basque identity.
BIZKAIA BRIDGE
Also known as the “Suspension Bridge”, Bizkaia Bridge is an architectural jewel that reflects the industrial and marine nature of Euskadi. World Heritage. UNESCO 2007.
LAGUARDIA
Capital of Rioja Alavesa, Laguardia stands vigilant upon a hill, and surrounded by vineyards.
CRISTOBAL BALENCIAGA MUSEUM
Coco Chanel said that Balenciaga was the only and authentic courtier (dressmaker).
LOIOLA SANCTUARY
Place of birth of San Ignacio (Iñigo de Loyola), one of the most notable Basque personalities in history and founder of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits), a denomination that has spread throughout the entire world.
CITY TRANSPORTATION
PUBLIC CITY TRANSPORTATION
BILBAO
· City bus (Bilbobus).
· Tram (Euskotren).
· Underground.
DONOSTIA/SAN SEBASTIÁN
· City bus (Dbus).
VITORIA-GASTEIZ
· City bus.
· Tram (Euskotren).
PUBLIC INTERCITY TRANSPORTATION
· Alavabus.
· Bizkaibus.
· Lurraldebus.
· Euskotren.
· Renfe.
BIZKAIA
GIPUZKOA
ÁLAVA
BILBAO
DONOSTIA/SAN SEBASTIÁN
VITORIA-GASTEIZ
WHAT’S ON IN 2025…
BILBAO
Basque Fest. 16-19 April.
During Easter, Bilbao comes alive with the rhythm of the Basque Fest, the leading festival of Basque culture and avant-garde creativity. The city is filled with cultural and artistic events, transforming Bilbao into a vibrant hub of leisure activities and a culinary paradise.
It’s a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in Basque culture and enjoy an unbeatable atmosphere in every corner of the city. www.bilbaoturismo.net
Semana Grande (Aste Nagusia). 16-24 August. For one week, the city becomes a hub of fun and engaging activities for all tastes.
www.bilbaoturismo.net
Santo Tomás Fair. 21 December.
A popular agricultural market showcasing the best local products, attracting thousands of people throughout the day. A festive and shopping-filled event held every 21 December. www.bilbaoturismo.net
Guggenheim Museum Bilbao.
In addition to the spectacular building and its pleasant surroundings, the museum offers 11,000 m² of captivating and thought-provoking exhibitions. www.guggenheim-bilbao.eus
Bilbao Fine Arts Museum.
The museum’s collection, inaugurated in 1914, features over seven thousand pieces, spanning from the 12th century to the present day. It boasts the most significant collection of works by Basque artists.
www.bilbaomuseoa.eus
SPORTING EVENTS
Throughout the year, Bilbao hosts numerous sporting events, with the following standing out in 2025:
10K Internacional de Bilbao Rural Kutxa. 9 March. www.10kbilbao.com
Bilbao Menditrail. 6 April. www.laboralkutxabilbaomenditrail.com
Bilbao Jai-Alai Iron Cup. 2 May - 6 June. www.bizkaia.eus/es/kirolbidepro
UEFA Europa League Final. 21 May. www.uefa.com
Bilbao Triathlon. 28 June. www.bilbaotriathlon.com
La Vuelta. 3 September. www.lavuelta.es
Total Energies Bilbao Night Run. 18 October. www.totalenergiesbilbaonightrun.com
Bilbao EXTREME. July. www.bilbaogazte.bilbao.eus
MUSIC FESTIVALS
Bilbao Blues Festival. 25-27 July.
‘Bilbao Blues Festival’ will take place in July, featuring over twenty concerts and other free activities. www.bilbaobluesfestival.com
BBK Bilbao Music Legends. 13-14 June. www.musiclegendsfestival.com
BILBAO BBK LIVE. 10-12 July.
Bilbao BBK Live is a major rock and pop music festival held annually in Bilbao. www.bilbaobbklive.com
…NEAR BILBAO
Getxo Jazz Festival. 2-6 July.
One of Europe’s most important jazz festivals, held in late June and early July across various venues in the coastal city of Getxo.
www.getxo-kultura.eus
Getxo Folk. 10-12 September. www.getxo.eus
Gran Bilbao. Santurce-Bilbao. 25 November.
DONOSTIA SAN SEBASTIÁN
Tamborrada. 20 January.
The city’s biggest festival begins at midnight on 19 January and continues throughout 20 January. Over 100 drumming groups take to the streets to celebrate.
www.sansebastianturismoa.eus
Jazzaldia. 22-27 July.
One of Europe’s most important jazz festivals, held in July. www.jazzaldia.eus
UPV Summer Courses. June - September. www.ehu.eus
Zinemaldia. International Film Festival. 19-27 September.
For one week in September, San Sebastián becomes the capital of glamour. The best films, exhibitions, and the perfect opportunity to share the spotlight with international film stars. www.sansebastianfestival.com
Santo Tomás Fair. 21 December.
A popular agricultural market showcasing the best local products, attracting thousands of people throughout the day. A festive and shopping-filled event held every 21 December. www.sansebastianturismoa.eus
Semana Grande. 9-16 August.
For one week, the city becomes a hub of fun and engaging activities for all tastes.
www.sansebastianturismoa.eus
Chillida Leku Museum.
Comprising over 40 outdoor sculptures and an exhibition space located in the 16th-century Zabalaga farmhouse.
www.museochillidaleku.com
Euskal Jaiak Donostia. 3-14 September. www.sansebastianturismoa.eus
SPORTING EVENTS
La Concha Flag Regatta. 7 and 14 September.
A weekly competition featuring the most important regattas in the country.
www.sansebastianturismoa.eus
Zurich San Sebastián Marathon. 23 November. The second oldest marathon in the country and one of the most popular and prestigious in Europe. It features a completely urban, flat, and sea-level route. www.zurichmaratonsansebastian.com
Behobia- San Sebastián Race. 9 November. Behobia-San Sebastián is more than just a race. It’s a feeling, built over more than 100 years through the effort, emotions, and enthusiasm of thousands of athletes and the warm welcome of a region that understands, values, and enjoys sport like few others.
www.behobia-sansebastian.com
Summer horse racing season San Sebastián Race Course. April and June - September. www.hipodromoa.com
San Sebastián-San Sebastián Classic Cycling Race. 2 August.
www.klasikoa.eus
…NEAR DONOSTIA/SAN SEBASTIÁN
Astigarraga: cider season. The opening (txotx) takes place in January. www.sagardoarenlurraldea.eus
VITORIA GASTEIZ
Azkena Rock Festival. 19-21 June. www.azkenarockfestival.com
Jazz Festival. 14-19 July.
In July, the festival brings together world-class jazz stars and talents.
www.jazzvitoria.com
Festivities of the Virgen Blanca (Semana Grande). 4-9 August.
Thousands of people fill the streets for a week of activities, music, and religious events. www.vitoria-gasteiz.org
SPORTING EVENTS
Martin Fiz Marathon. 11 May. www.maratonmartinfiz.com
Ironman Vitoria-Gasteiz. 13 July. www.ironman.com/races/im-vitoria
GASTRONOMIC EVENTS
Ardo Araba. 6-8 December.
Rioja Alavesa Wine and Txakoli de Alava Wine Festival.
www.vitoria-gasteiz.org
Miniature Pintxos Congress-Pintxo Week. October.
“Miniature” includes, in addition to the congress, numerous gastronomic activities aimed at the general public.
www.miniature.pintxos.eus
Napoleonic market. April. www.vitoria-gasteiz.com
BASQUE HILLS AND VALLEYS
HILLS AND VALLEYS
Birdwatching.
Discover all the birdwatching centres in the Basque Country.
www.turismo.euskadi.eus
NATURE
A wide variety of natural resources for ecotourism, cycling, and hiking.
Bike routes.
From greenways with minimal incline, dotted with tourist and cultural sites, to urban routes in Bilbao, San Sebastián, and Vitoria-Gasteiz, or major routes across the Basque Country, as well as BTT centres. www.turismo.euskadi.eus
Ignatian Way.
Recreates the journey taken by Ignatius of Loyola from his birthplace in 1552. Offers an immersive experience not only for travel but also for personal development and introspection. The full route is 675 km, with 150 km passing through the Basque Country.
www.turismo.euskadi.eus
Camino de Santiago.
Camino de Santiago along the coast and Camino de Santiago inland.
www.turismo.euskadi.eus
CULTURAL AND FESTIVE
EVENTS
Holy Week. Balmaseda.
During Holy Week, the final episodes of Jesus Christ’s life are reenacted.
www.viacrucisbalmaseda.com
Tolosa Carnival. 27 February - 4 March.
The most popular and multitudinous carnivals in the Basque Country are, without a shadow of a doubt, those held in Tolosa.
www.tolosaldea.eus
SPORTING EVENTS
Zegama-Aizkorri mountain marathon. 25 May.
A medium-mountain route through the Aratz massif and the Aizkorri range, including four of the highest peaks in the Basque Autonomous Community.
www.zegama-aizkorri.com
Ehunmilak in Beasain. 11-13 July.
An ultra-trail® mountain race of 171 km and 10,500 metres of accumulated elevation, crossing the mountains of 5 regions.
www.ehunmilak.com
Hiru haundiak. Mountain endurance race. 11 October.
A long-distance mountain race: Gorbeia, Anboto and Aizkorri. 101 km.
www.hiruhaundiak.com
GASTRONOMIC EVENTS
San Blas Fair. Abadiño. 3 February.
A gastronomic and local products fair, one of the oldest and most popular. www.turismo.euskadi.eus
Basque Cheese Fair. 3-4 May.
In Idiazabal, shepherds, sheep, and cheese take centre stage during this weekend fair. www.goierriturismo.com
Last Monday of Gernika. 27 October.
Held on the last Monday of October, it’s the most important agricultural fair in the Basque Country. It’s also a highly festive day, attracting thousands of people each year.
www.azoka.bbk.eus
In Tolosa: Tolosa Bean Festival. 15 November. Over several days, Tolosa pays tribute to one of its most characteristic products: the bean. www.tolosaldea.eus
Haragi. 15-18 May.
International Meat and Grill Meeting in Tolosa. www.tolosaldea.eus
Santa Lucía Fair. 13 December.
In Zumarraga and Urretxu, one of the most important fairs in Gipuzkoa is organised to mark the feast of Santa Lucía. www.goierriturismo.com
Medieval Markets.
In Artziniega, Balmaseda, and Ordizia, once a year, the typical atmosphere of medieval markets is recreated, with exhibitors dressed in period attire.
In Artziniega, in September. In Balmaseda and in Ordizia, in May.
www.alavaturismo.eus
www.balmaseda.eus
www.goierriturismo.com
Alava Txakoli Festival. Amurrio. 25 May. Fair guide.
Gatz Eguna. Leintz Gatzaga. 11 May. Fair guide.
RIOJA ALAVESA
RIOJA ALAVESA
Grape Harvest Festival. Leza. 14 September. The Grape Harvest Festival is celebrated just before the start of the grape harvest in Rioja Alavesa. This large-scale, itinerant celebration began in 1994 in the town of Laguardia and has since toured the entire region to showcase its municipalities, way of life, and wine as an economic driver and cultural value. www.fiestadelavendimiariojaalavesa.com www.rutadelvinoderiojaalavesa.com
The enobus.
Forget the car and trust the guides of this tourist bus, which will allow you to visit two of the regions with the greatest winemaking tradition in the Basque Country: Rioja Alavesa in Álava and Uribe in Bizkaia: Two regions and two completely different wines: the extraordinary reds of Rioja Alavesa and the quintessential white wine of the Basque Country, the txakoli of the Uribe region, near Bilbao. Two regions and two options to choose from, ensuring an unforgettable day. www.turismo.euskadi.eus
Rioja Alavesa Wine Run. Laguardia. 26 October. Race through the vineyards. www.riojaalavesawinerun.com
Esférica Rioja Alavesa. August.
Esférica Rioja Alavesa offers a complete experience combining live music and gastronomy in several luxury locations in Álava, including Laguardia, Lapuebla de Labarca, Labastida, and Elciego. www.esfericariojaalavesa.com
La Puebla de Labarca. Uztaberri Eguna. 8 February.
A day dominated by a passion for the fine wines of Rioja Alavesa. Around twenty local wineries open their doors to visitors, who have the opportunity to taste the latest vintage first-hand.
The Uztaberri Eguna also brings a host of activities closely linked to rural life and viticulture. www.turismo.euskadi.eus
Orbea Gravel Rioja Alavesa. 24-25 October.
A unique experience in Rioja Alavesa, known for its exceptional wines and stunning landscapes. This multi-day event brings together gravel enthusiasts from around the world to explore the perfect combination of nature, culture, and cycling passion. www.orbea.com
THE BASQUE COAST
THE BASQUE COAST
Basque Coast Museum Network.
Brings together museums, interpretation centres, and other facilities with different focuses but a central theme: the coast.
www.losmuseosdelacostavasca.com
The Mutriku-Deba-Zumaia Flysch Route.
Designated a UNESCO Global Geopark. The towns of Mutriku, Deba, and Zumaia allow visitors to explore the hard and soft rock strata that form the flysch, a natural layer cake. www.geoparkea.com
Camino de Santiago.
Camino de Santiago along the coast and Camino de Santiago inland. www.turismo.euskadi.eus
SPORTING EVENTS
Trainera Championship Races. The rivalries of fishing leisure turned into a tough and spectacular sport. Trainera regattas are held every weekend in July, August, and September. www.euskolabelliga.com
Jai Alai Winter Series Final in Gernika. 16 February.
Jai Alai World Tour. Hondarribia. July.
www.deplanesporlacomarca.com
FESTIVE EVENTS
Mundaka celebrates its Aratusteak on 2 March with lively parades of Atorrak and Lamiak.
Other notable summer festivals include San Pedro (29 July) in many coastal towns, Goose Day in Lekeitio (5 September), Cármenes in Santurtzi (16 July), Madalenas in Bermeo-Mundaka-Elantxobe (22 July), and the Zapato Azule (Blue Shoe) festival in Ondarroa (28 June).
Traditional cultural events include the Irun Parades (30 June) and Hondarribia (8 September), Kutxa Eguna (Kutxa Day) in Hondarribia (25 July), the recreation of an old Basque wedding in Lekeitio (July), and the Euskal Jaiak (Basque Festivals) in Zarautz (9 September).
www.turismo.euskadi.eus
GASTRONOMIC EVENTS
Numerous gastronomic events are held on the Basque Coast, including:
Txakoli Day in Getaria. 20 January.
San José Fair and Txakoli Harvest Presentation in Bakio. 19 March.
Mackerel Day in Mutriku. 6 April.
Anchovy Day (Antxoa Eguna) in Getaria. 2-4 May. And in Ondarroa, on 17 May.
Fish Fair (Arrain azoka) in Bermeo. 16-18 May.
Sea Bream Festival in Orio. July.
Octopus Day in Zumaia. 20 September. Fair guide.
CULTURAL EVENTS
Getxo Folk International Folk Festival. 10-14 September.
www.getxo.eus
Bidasoa Folk Jaialdia/Festival Bidasoa Folk. Hondarribia-Irun-Hendaia. 22-24 August. www.irunhondarribiahendaye.com
INTERESTING FACTS
DATA OF INTEREST
CLIMATE
The Basque Country, while diverse in its landscapes, generally enjoys a mild climate. However, temperatures have risen above average norms in recent years. In 2022, coastal areas experienced average temperatures of 16-17°C, while inland regions recorded 13-15°C, marking an approximate increase of 1.8°C.
POPULATION
(AS OF 1 JANUARY 2024)
· Euskadi: 2,208,007 inhabitants.
· Vitoria-Gasteiz: 251,974 inhabitants.
· Bilbao: 344,408 inhabitants.
· Donostia/San Sebastián: 182,892 inhabitants.
Source: Population and housing census. Population structure as of 30 October 2024, Eustat.
SAFETY INDEX
· Crime rate (number of criminal offences per 1,000 inhabitants) (2023): 48.5, lower than Spain’s national average of 50.9.
Source: INE based on data from the Crime Statistics Portal. Ministry of the Interior.
ECONOMIC STRENGTH
· GDP per capita (2023): 42,058 €.
Source: Eustat Economic Accounts, 5 December 2024.
· GDP per capita in Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) (2022): 108 (UE27=100), 8% above the EU27 average.
Source: Eustat and Eurostat Economic Accounts. 10 October 2023.
· Distribution of GDP by sector of economic sectors (Q3 2024):
· Agriculture, livestock, and fishing: 0.8%
· Construction: 4.9%
· Industry and energy: 21%
· Services: 64.2%
· Tourism: 6.6% (2023)
Source: Eustat Economic Accounts and Tourism Satellite Account.
· R&D expenditure (% of GDP) (2023): : 2.16 %.
EU27 average (2022): 2.27%, Spain average (2023): 1.49%.
Source: Eustat Statistics on Scientific Research and Technological Development Activities.
· Human Development Index (HDI) (2023).
The Basque Country ranks among the top 18 countries globally in this indicator.
Source: Eustat. Human Development Index. 27 March 2024.
The Human Development Index (HDI) is a powerful measure that captures the essence of human progress. It reflects the average achievements in three key pillars of development: living a long and healthy life, acquiring knowledge, and enjoying a decent standard of living. The HDI is calculated as the geometric mean of normalised indices for each of these dimensions, offering a holistic view of human well-being. In the Basque Country, the HDI is meticulously crafted using the methodology established by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
TOURISM DATA
Hotel Sector Highlights (2024).
Source: Eustat. Survey of inbound tourism establishments. 24 January 2025.
Tourist apartments 2024.
Tourist hostels 2024.
Camping 2024.
Source: EOAT of the INE. 31 January 2025.
Distribution of markets by source (2024).
· Ranking of issuing markets to the Basque Country, 2024:
Contribution of tourism to the economy of the Basque Country. Thousands of euros and as a percentage of GDP at market prices. Current prices 2010-2023.
Arrival in the Basque Country (2023).
Primary means of transport used by tourists to reach the Basque Country, 2023.
Source: Eustat’s Inbound Tourism Establishments Survey (ETR) and INE’s EOAT (31/01/2025).
Source: Eustat. Tourism Satellite Account, 30 December 2024.
Source: Official statistics operation “Ibiltur 2023: Profile and Behaviour of Tourists Staying in Regulated Accommodation in the Basque Country for Leisure Purposes”. Basquetour.
Retention and recommendation rate (2023).
· 37% of tourists who have visited the Basque Country will return within the next 12 months, with an additional 28% likely to do so.
· 88% of tourists travelling to the Basque Country would recommend it as a holiday destination to their family and friends, with a further 10% likely to do so.
Source: Official statistics operation “Ibiltur 2023: Profile and Behaviour of Tourists Staying in Regulated Accommodation in the Basque Country for Leisure Purposes”. Basquetour.
Residents Perceptions of Tourism Activity in the Basque Country (2024).
· 51% of residents state that the tourism sector is a very important element of economic development and employment for the Basque Country (down from 66% in 2023).
· 53% of residents say that tourism activity in the Basque Country has a positive impact on their daily lives (down from 75% in 2023).
Source: Official statistics operation “Tourism Habits and Perceptions of Inbound Tourism, 2024”. Basquetour.
ACCOMMODATION CAPACITY IN THE BASQUE COUNTRY
8,680 tourist establishments.
86,975 beds/day.
Hotels (2024).
Total number of establishments: 700.
Total daily available beds: 35,913.
Source: Basque Government’s Department of Tourism, Trade, and Consumption – Tourism Business and Activity Registry (REATE), data as of 14 February 2025.
Rural Accommodation (Agrotourism and Rural Houses) (2024).
Total number of rural accommodations: 464.
Total daily available beds: 5,088.
Source: Basque Government’s Department of Tourism, Trade, and Consumption – Tourism Business and Activity Registry (REATE), data as of 14 February 2025.
Tourist Apartments (2024).
Total number of tourist apartments (accommodation units): 1,782.
Total daily available beds: 5,893.
Source: Eustat Survey of Tourist Apartments (ETRap). January 2025. Basque Government’s Department of Tourism, Trade, and Consumption – Tourism Business and Activity Registry (REATE), data as of 14 February 2025.
Tourist Hostels (2024).
Total number of tourist hostels: 80.
Total daily available rooms: 690.
Total daily available beds: 3,906.
Basque Government’s Department of Tourism, Trade, and Consumption – Tourism Business and Activity Registry (REATE), data as of 14 February 2025.
Campsites (2024).
Total number of campsites: 27.
Total daily available pitches: 2,592.
Total daily available beds: 11,421.
Source: Basque Government’s Department of Tourism, Trade, and Consumption – Tourism Business and Activity Registry (REATE), data as of 14 February 2025.
Holiday rentals (2024).
Total number of holiday rental properties: 4,864
Total daily available beds: 21,778.
Source: Basque Government’s Department of Tourism, Trade, and Consumption – Tourism Business and Activity Registry (REATE), data as of 14 February 2025.
Holiday rental rooms (2024).
Total daily available rooms: 763.
Total daily available beds: 2,976.
Source: Basque Government’s Department of Tourism, Trade, and Consumption – Tourism Business and Activity Registry (REATE), data as of 14 February 2025.
OTHER POINTS OF INTEREST
POLITICAL STRUCTURE
The Basque Country is divided into three historical territories: Álava, Bizkaia and Gipuzkoa, with their capitals: Vitoria- Gasteiz, the capital of Álava; Bilbao, the capital of Bizkaia and Donostia-San Sebastian, the capital of Gipuzkoa.
This Autonomous Community has two official languages: Basque and Spanish.
The Basque Country enjoys a high level of selfgovernment in such important areas as health, education, security, housing or tax. This autonomy to decide its own organisation derives from the Statute of Gernika which was passed by referendum on 25th October 1979, recognising the existence of a Government with executive powers and a Parliament with general legislative capacity.
Furthermore, the Basque Country has two territorial bodies inherited from Basque foral tradition, the General Assemblies, with regulatory and functional powers similar to those of parliaments; and the Provincial Councils, their executive institutions. Their existence makes the Autonomous Community extremely decentralised, almost a confederation.
The method of harmonising the powers of the state administrations with the provincial ones is regulated by the Statute of Autonomy and by the Law on Historical Territories, which adjusts the existence of a general organisation with respect to the historical legal systems of the three territories.
Another fundamental pillar of Basque selfgovernment is the ‘Economic Agreement’, the financial regulation of the Autonomous Community which allows Basque institutions to collect and manage taxes from citizens in accordance with its own budgets and agreements entered into with the Spanish State Administration.
All of these measures have enabled the creation of its own organisations, such as Euskal Irrati TelebistaETB, the Basque public media group; the Ertzaintza, the autonomous police force with over 7,000 agents, and it has full powers in road and hydraulic infrastructures, economic and industrial development and in regional planning.
Nowadays, powers in terms of work and employment, industry, infrastructures, finance and research are pending transfer from the State Administration.
OFFICIAL LANGUAGES
There are two official languages in Euskadi: Basque and Spanish.
Basque or “the Basque language” is the oldest living language in Europe and it is spoken on both sides of the Pyrenees.
CONNECTIONS
International Airport of Bilbao:
· 13 km from the centre of Bilbao.
· 76 km from Vitoria-Gasteiz.
· 101 km from Donostia/San Sebastian.
Airport of Donostia/San Sebastián:
Just 20 minutes from the centre of the city, this airport connects with the major Spanish cities of Madrid and Barcelona.
Airport of Vitoria-Gasteiz: 9 km from the city.
Nueva York (starting 31 May 2025)
Note: Air connections to Basque airports as of February 2025.
Fuerteventura
Tangier
Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
EUSKADI TOURISM CODE OF ETHICS
The Euskadi Tourism Code of Ethics aims for all tourism businesses to incorporate accountability and sustainability into their daily practices with respect and contribution to mutual understanding as basic principles. To do that, public commitment from all tourism businesses is essential. The Euskadi Tourism Code of Ethics is the first step toward joint responsibility for all tourism stakeholders and society and toward achieving a shared goal: sustainable and responsible tourism.
The World Tourism Organisation defines a sustainable tourism model as one in which tourism takes full account of its current and future economic, social and environmental impacts, addressing the needs of visitors, the industry, the environment and host communities.
To create the Euskadi Tourism Code of Ethics, we adapted the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism to our culture and identity and according to the 17 Sustainable Development Goals set in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the World Tourism Organisation’s Global Code of Ethics for Tourism and the World Charter for Sustainable Tourism ST+20.
Thus, the Basque Country’s desire to contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) is seen as a transverse, integrating process that involves the general public, companies and others involved in tourism, as well as the authorities of the destination. Its scope extends to the mechanisms of promotion and communication with tourism, where each one of the 8 principles of the Basque Country Tourism Code of Ethics contributes, to a greater or lesser extent, to their fulfilment.
WE CARE ABOUT TOURISTS’ RIGHTS
BASIC TOURISM RIGHTS IN EUSKADI
BASIC RIGHTS OF TOURISM CONSUMERS
> Right to receive complete, accurate information prior to their trip on the characteristics and prices of the products and services offered.
> Right to receive the good or service purchased as publicised and/or offered.
> Right to receive an invoice or receipt for the amount paid for the tourism product or service.
> Right to appropriate treatment and to enter establishments open to the public.
> Right to file claims, complaints and reports and to receive a complaint form free of charge.
CHOOSE SUSTAINABLE BUSINESSES
> Euskadi has a variety of tourism businesses working to promote sustainability, implementing environmental management and social responsibility practices to reduce their impact on their environment.
> Choose accommodations, restaurants, active tourism companies, etc. that recycle, save energy and water, and respect the local community and its natural and cultural heritage and consider whether they are part of the Consumer Arbitration System.
