The Basque Country is famous not only for its spectacular geographical features but also for its unique language, gastronomy, and strong cultural identity.
The region located in northern Spain, on the coast of the Bay of Biscay, is truly a special region alongside Catalonia. The Basques have their own language, Euskara, which is unrelated to any other European language – this language still lives on in the streets, restaurant menus, and local communities. The region’s gastronomy is world-renowned: it has the highest number of Michelin-starred restaurants per square kilometer, and the pintxo culture (the Basque tapas variant) is a true art form.
The Basque Country consists of three Spanish provinces: Vizcaya (Bizkaia), Guipúzcoa (Gipuzkoa), and Álava (Araba). The landscape is extremely diverse: from the dramatic coastline of the Bay of Biscay to green mountain ranges, everything can be found within a few hours’ drive.
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Best places in Basque Country
Bilbao
This large port city has undergone radical renewal in recent decades and has now become a meeting point of modern art and industrial heritage. The city built along the Nervión River once owed its wealth to heavy industry, and today it is experiencing a cultural renaissance. The city is a perfect starting point for exploring the region, while offering enough activities for days on its own.
The opening of the Guggenheim Museum in 1997 radically transformed Bilbao’s image. Frank Gehry’s titanium and glass creation is now the city’s symbol, and the museum building itself is as spectacular as the contemporary art collection it houses. Walking along the riverfront, visitors are greeted by Jeff Koons’ dog made of flowers, „Puppy,” and Louise Bourgeois’ giant spider sculpture, „Maman”.
The old town, Casco Viejo, with its narrow streets and main square called Plaza Nueva, is the perfect place for a pintxo tour. Along the seven original streets – Las Siete Calles – bars line up, where every counter presents local specialties like an artistic exhibition. The Mercado de la Ribera, one of Europe’s largest covered markets, provides insight into the Basques’ relationship with food culture.
San Sebastián
The city on the Bay of Biscay coast has been attracting European aristocracy since the Belle Époque and has maintained its elegant atmosphere to this day. La Concha Bay’s crescent-shaped sandy beach is located in the heart of the city, surrounded by Art Nouveau buildings and the green slopes of Mount Urgull. The city’s official name is Donostia in Euskara, and locals use both names equally.
Parte Vieja, the old town, is world-famous for its pintxo bars – it has the most Michelin-starred restaurants per capita in the world. Alongside restaurants named Arzak, Akelarre, and Martin Berasategui, countless small eateries offer dishes made from excellent ingredients. Besides restaurant culture, groups operate their own gastronomic clubs, „txokos” where men cook together.
The old funicular railway to Mount Igueldo leads up to the city’s panoramic viewpoint, from where the entire bay can be seen. During the walk to Monte Urgull, a sculpture park and the Mota Castle await visitors. The promenade along the beach, the paseo, fills with strollers every evening – the evening stroll is an important part of local social life.
Vitoria-Gasteiz
The medieval core of the Basque Country’s capital, built inland on a fertile plain, harmoniously combines history and modern environmental protection.
The city won the title of European Green Capital in 2012 and is still proud to provide the most green space per capita in Spain. The streets of the almond-shaped old town are named after saints, and each street corresponds to a letter of the alphabet.
The Plaza de la Virgen Blanca and the medieval Los Arquillos arcades connect the old town with the 18th-century neoclassical expansion. The Santa María Cathedral can be visited on an interactive tour titled „From Founders to Grandchildren” where visitors can explore the continuously restored building wearing construction helmets. This special program also drew inspiration from Ken Follett’s novel „The Pillars of the Earth”.
Around the city runs a green ring, the „Anillo Verde”, a system of six natural parks connected by walkways and bicycle paths. The Salburua wetlands are particularly rich in wildlife, where herons and otters can be seen. The city’s museums – especially the Fournier Museum dedicated to Basque playing cards – provide unique insights into local culture. In August, the city takes to the streets for the Virgen Blanca festival, when the Celedón puppet symbolically descends from the cathedral tower on an umbrella.
Hondarribia
This fortified small town near the French border has beautifully preserved its medieval character, while across the river are Hendaye and the French coast. The winding streets among colorful wooden houses create a wonderful atmosphere. Due to the city’s strategic importance, it functioned as a fortress for centuries, and its walls still stand today.
Calle Mayor and the surrounding streets’ wooden facades offer an unparalleled sight: each house is a different color, and carved balconies adorned with flowers highlight details at every corner. The Parador on Plaza de Armas, a luxury hotel converted from a former royal castle, dominates the city imposingly. The massive tower of the Church of Santa María de la Asunción y del Manzano is visible from afar.
The Marina district, once home to fishermen, shows a completely different character. Small bistros line its narrow streets, offering fresh fish and seafood. From the port, small boats take visitors across the river to Hendaye – this ten-minute trip between two countries is a special experience. In summer, during local festivals, young and old alike parade in Basque traditional dress, and traditional music fills the streets.
Mundaka
One of the world’s most famous surf spots is located in a quiet fishing village where the Guernica estuary meets the Atlantic Ocean.
The wave break from below caused by the river mouth creates a perfect barrel that, as a left-breaking wave, can be up to 400 meters long. World championships often visit here, but the village has maintained its calm, authentic atmosphere.
The houses around the small port are colorful and friendly, where local fishermen take out their boats every morning. The Hermita de Santa Katalina, a small chapel on the hillside, offers a romantic view of the entire estuary and ocean. From here, you can clearly see the waves forming and surfers waiting in line for the perfect wave.
Being part of the Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve, the Mundaka area is rich in wildlife. The estuary is an important resting place for migratory birds, and many species can be observed especially in spring.
Lekeitio
This medieval fishing village has preserved its authentic character and still has an active port. The Gothic tower of St. Peter’s Basilica greets from afar, and the church itself dominates the town’s main square. Colorful houses line up around the port.
Isuntza Beach is located in the heart of the town, and at low tide, you can walk to San Nicolás Island. This small rocky island offers a special sight, and the upward path on the island provides a beautiful view of the town and surrounding coastline. The other beach, Karraspio, is also a popular bathing spot among locals.
Throughout its history, the town has played an important role in regional life several times. The old town hall and palaces testify to past wealth brought by fishing and whaling. In early September, during the St. Anthony festival, a special ceremony takes place: local men try to tear off goose necks from a rope-supported pole above the port while the crowd cheers them on.
Zumaia
This small town is the meeting point of the Flysch cliffs, where geology enthusiasts find world-renowned formations. The layering of coastal rocks tells 60 million years of history and is part of the UNESCO Geopark. The rocks are so regularly layered, as if giant book pages were stacked beside the ocean.
Several scenes from the Game of Thrones series were filmed here, and the dramatic cliff faces of Itzurun Beach are immediately recognizable from the screen. Walking along the beach at low tide, the layers can be seen up close, and with a guide, the geological history truly comes to life. The coastal walk leads toward Deba and offers breathtaking panoramas throughout.
The town houses the Zuloaga Museum, which presents the works of Basque painter Ignacio Zuloaga in a medieval Santiago church. The painter lived in the early 20th century, and his works bring traditional scenes of Basque life to life. The town itself is small but charming, located at the mouth of the Urola River, and is an excellent starting point for exploring the area.
Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve
The area protected by UNESCO in 1984 extends around the estuary of the Oka River, where the meeting of salt and fresh water has created unique wildlife.
On the 22,000-hectare area, marshes, sand dunes, forests, and traditional Basque villages form a unique ecosystem. The reserve stretches between the towns of Mundaka, Gernika, and Bermeo, and shows a different face in every season.
The heart of the reserve is the viewpoint near the Santimamiñe Cave, from where the entire estuary can be seen. In autumn and spring, it serves as a resting place for more than 250 bird species during migration, and bird watchers should choose this period. The hermandad forests – community forests managed collectively for centuries – preserve an ancient Basque tradition in land management.
In the Santimamiñe Cave, 14,000-year-old cave paintings can be seen depicting bison, horses, and goats. Bicycle paths run through the area, and small villages – like Kortezubi or Gautegiz Arteaga – provide insight into rural Basque life.
Aizkorri-Aratz National Park
This mountain range is the backbone of the Basque Country, where the Aizkorri peak at 1,528 meters is the region’s highest point. The limestone mountain range’s rock faces, green pastures, and secret caves are a hiker’s paradise. One branch of the Santiago pilgrimage route also passes through the area, and pilgrims have been visiting the Arantzazu Monastery for centuries.
The Arantzazu Sanctuary, built into the mountainside at 750 meters altitude, creates a surprising contrast with the surrounding nature through its modern architecture. The 20th-century building also contains works by Basque sculptors Jorge Oteiza and Eduardo Chillida. The monastery provides pilgrim accommodation and meals and is a starting point for conquering the surrounding peaks.
The Túnel de San Adrián is a natural cave through which the road has passed for millennia between Gipuzkoa and Álava provinces. Inside the cave, there is also a small chapel, and hikers still use this route today to cross the mountain range. On the park’s territory, other caves can be visited, including the 14-kilometer corridor system of Arrikrutz Cave.
On the plateau pastures, sheep graze, and traditional shepherd huts, „txabolas” are still in use. Griffon vultures have also settled in the park, and with luck, giant birds circling above the rock faces can be observed.
Gorbeia Natural Park
Located on the border of Vizcaya and Álava provinces, its central peak, Gorbeia, is 1,482 meters high. The park is the locals’ favorite weekend excursion destination. The large steel cross standing on the peak, known as the Trinity Cross, is visible from afar and is the park’s symbol.
The area has numerous hiking trails, from family-friendly walks to more serious mountain hikes. The Gujuli Waterfall, which plunges from 100 meters high, is one of the park’s most popular destinations – especially in spring when snowmelt makes the stream more abundant. Walking among the shady paths of ancient beech forests, we feel the atmosphere of Central European forests, while clearings offer wonderful panoramas of the valleys.
The park’s cultural values include ancient stone huts of shepherds, some of which now function as shelters. The center presenting traditional lifestyles is located in Sarria. Local villages like Orozko or Zeberio serve as starting points for hikes and welcome visitors with traditional Basque inns. In the park, we may encounter wild boars, foxes, and if we’re lucky, deer in the early morning hours.