The Basque Country
Top Tips
The highlights of a trip to the Basque Country...
back to topSights and sands
San Sebastián
Close to the French border, gastronomic capital of Spain and one of
the most magical cities in Europe. You find lovely beaches, a
beautifully-preserved Old Town and some fabulous pintxos
bars There’s a summer jazz festival and one of the ‘big
5’ European film festivals, too.
Bilbao
A city reborn with the opening of a museum, the titanium glory of
the Guggenheim rising on the banks of the river Nervión. The
beach at Getxo is a good place to avoid the heat of the city in
summer and you can ride the tube all the way up.
Getaria
A small coastal fishing village with a fabulous beach. It’s
where the Basques come to eat grilled sardines. The
Cristóbal Balenciaga Museum will elate anyone with the
slightest interest in haute couture.
Guernica (Gernika)
A town heavy with symbolism - it was bombed on market day during
the civil war - and no visit to the Basque country is complete
without a visit here. Don't miss the Basque parliament with its
stained glass and ancient debating chamber.
The beaches northeast of Bilbao
Laga where the hills drop down to the sea; Mundaka for serious
waves that attract some of the world’s best surfers; Laida,
at the top the Urdaibai estuary, where you can hire kayaks and
paddle about; and Elantxobe, its shallow waters popular with young
families.
Rioja Alavesa
One of the 3 regions of Rioja wine production, where bottles of the
local nectar wait patiently for obliging souls to order them in
excellent restaurants.
Ekainberri
Where ancient Cro-Magnon rock art has been redrawn, not in a
museum, but in a replica of the cave itself.
El Camino de Santiago - the Santiago Way
This passes through the Basque country on its way to Santiago de
Compostela. It’s easy to pick up, meanders though gorgeous
country, and is definitely worth a day of your holiday.
The Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve
This World Heritage site is renowned for its wetlands and the river
Orca flowing into the sea. It's a great place to hike and bird
watch. Keep your eyes peeled for spoonbills and other migrant
waterbirds.
The neighbouring Navarre
You're an easy drive from Pamplona, the Ollo Valley and The
Bardenas Reales National Park
Food and drink
San Sebastián has Michelin stars coming out of its ears, and
gourmands flock to the city to eat in one of its 3 triple-starred
restaurants:
- Arzak (Avenida Alcalde Elosegui, 273) - a place
of gastronomic pilgrimage, and considered one of the best
restaurants in the world. Juan Mari Arzak is the third generation
of his family to cook here; his grandfather opened what was then a
simple tavern in the 1930s. Juan Mari has been in charge for 45
years and won his third star in 1989. The drab exterior stands in
sharp contrast to the glitzy interior
- Martín Berasategui (Loidi Kalea, 4,
Lasarte-Oria) - a very swish operation about 10km out of town, with
11-course tasting menus
- Restaurante Akelarre (Paseo Padre Orcoloaga, 56)
- Pedro Subijana’s pleasure dome, located 3km west of the
beach at La Concha. It has 8-course tasting menus, with magnificent
sea views included in the price
If you don’t want to spend a fortune, but want to eat
well, this lot will delight:
- Kokotxa (Campanario, 11) - only 1 Michelin star,
but favoured by many
- Branka (Eduardo Chillida, 11) - great food with
long views over the bay
- Bernado (Puerto, 7) - eat seafood in the old port
below the statue of Christ
- Txokolo (Manterola, 4) - traditional Basque food close to the beach
Pintxos
Basically tapas with attitude - an obsession in the Basque country.
Don’t expect patatas bravas; do expect cherries
stuffed with blue cheese; succulent beef and onions; plates of
peppers doused with oil and salt; breast of duck with orange and
green olives. It's best sampled in the Old Town in San
Sebastián - here are 4 of our favourite bars:
- Bar La Cepa (31 de Agosto, 7) - Ferran
Adriá drops in here when in town
- Bar Ganbara (San Jeronimo, 21) - the food looks
as beautiful as it tastes
- Casa Gandarias (31 de Agosto, 23) - possibly the
best in town, with a bar and restaurant
- Bar La Espiga (San Marcel, 48) - contemporary design, same old fabulous food