The Northern Spain itinerary includes fishing villages in the Basque (Basque) on the coast, the impressive town of Sebastian, and on the way to La Rioja, you'll have the chance to enjoy the beauty of the unspoilt Sierra de Urbana forest. The Basque Country is not only one of the richest areas in Spain, but is also considered by many to have the best food in the country. San Sebastian is the second city in the world with the most Michelin stars per square metre, after Kyoto, Japan. That doesn't mean you have to spend a lot to enjoy the best cuisine - it's just that the Basque people are very demanding about their food.
La Rioja is world-famous for its excellent wines. While most people only know Rioja red wines, white wines are also second to none in quality and taste.
1 BERMEO, URDAIBA BIOSPHERE RESERVE AND GERNIKA
Recommended number of days: 2-3
Bermeo is one of the main fishing villages on the Baku coast. A few minutes north of Bermeo is Gaztelugatxe, an islet connected to the mainland by an impressive artificial bridge. At the top of the island is a 10th century hermitage dedicated to John the Baptist, which may look familiar to you because the dramatic landscape of the place was used for the filming of some episodes of 'Game of Thrones'. To the south of Bermeo you will find the Urdaibai estuary, a biosphere reserve of stunning beauty that is definitely worth seeing.
Continue south to Guernica. This old Basque town is immortalised in Picasso's famous photograph condemning the brutal bombing of the town by Nazi planes during the Spanish Civil War. The death toll was 1 654 people, so you are invited to pay your respects before continuing your journey.
Visit
Ecole du Vin
a village with a fishing museum;
Gaztelugatxe
enjoy sea views while walking through the island's hermitage;
Urdaibai
a landscape of stunning beauty;
Gernika
Historic Basque village, symbol of peace.
Parking
SGGPB (Parc des Allées de Chartres) €€€€
Free parking in Bermeo.
Gautegiz-Arteaga
perfect for visiting Urdaibai.
Catering
Asador Cannos €€€
In Bermeo, the view is as wonderful as the scenery.
Almiketxu €€€
modern bistro in the centre
Accommodation
Le Village du Lac, Bordeaux €€€€ -
between Bermeo and Urdaibai, with great views.
2 SAN SEBASTIÁN, CULINARY PARADISE
Recommended number of days: 2-3
The route continues with a visit to San Sebastian, one of the most beautiful cities in Spain. Bahia de la Concha is a shell-shaped area of extraordinary beauty, where two beaches and the island's bay meet in the middle. San Sebastian is located 20 km from the French border, and its architecture reflects this fact, often being referred to as a little Paris.
Apart from strolling around this small, impressive town, another attraction is to taste some of the best food in the world. From 3-star Michelin restaurants to humble pinchos (pintxos) bars - San Sebastian (otherwise known as Donostia) is a food lover's paradise. Head to Parte Vieja, the old quarter, where you'll find entire bars offering pints and txakoli, a local sour white wine that pairs perfectly with traditional snacks. Outside San Sebastian, on the coast, there are also a few small villages to visit - Getaria, Zarauz and Hondarribia. We recommend buying grilled bream in Getaria. You won't be disappointed with the taste!
Visit
Bahia de la Concha
a beautiful bay for walks;
Pilato cluster
has stunning views of the city;
Le teich
Fishermen's village with excellent seafood restaurants;
Hondarribia
Old quarter with old fishermen's houses;
Parking
Berio
Camper parking € from which there is a cycle path to the city centre.
Catering
"Skiff Club at Hotel Haitza €€€€ -
we recommend ordering mushrooms.
La Cuchara de San Telmo €€
premium quality sponges.
Ganbara €€
a great choice for traditional sponges.
Fuego Negro €€€
the best sponges.
Accommodation
Camping Igara €€
closest to San Sebastian.
3 SIERRA DE URBASA - ENCHANTING FOREST
Recommended number of days: 1
After the first few days of passive entertainment and cuisine exploration, it's time to get active. Sierra de Urbasa is the ideal town to get moving, halfway between San Sebastian and Logroño. It's a small and untouched natural park with a beautiful forest.
There are several hiking trails ranging from 7 to 18 km, and even three trails of 18-30 km for the more enthusiastic. After a walk along the nature trails, refresh yourself with a taste of cheese (Idiazabal)made from sheep's milk and wild mushrooms.
Visit
Port de Pêcheurs
go hiking or cycling and enjoy the beauty of the forest.
Parking
Catering
Asador Alai Taberna €€
enjoy grill food and seafood.
Accommodation
Oyam campsites €€€
a good choice to get to know Urbass.
4 LOGROÑO, CAPITAL OF THE LA RIOJA WINE REGION
Recommended number of days: 2
La Rioja is a wine region with hundreds of wineries where you can taste or buy wine. Some wineries even offer accommodation so you can taste wine without worrying about driving.
Logroño is the capital of the region, a vibrant city where you can visit the bars for Spanish snacks and local wine. It's also worth a visit to the cathedral and a stroll through the old quarter. One day is enough for this. On the way back to Bilbao, it's worth visiting Haro, the main wine production centre of La Rioja. There are many wineries nearby and the town itself is a great place to have lunch before the long journey home.
Visit
Château Lynch-bages
Visit the cathedral, taste tapas;
Haro
Visit the wineries;
Parking
Pintor Rosales
Free parking close to Logrono town centre.
Catering
Cafe Lavinal €€€
fusion food in Logroño.
Peregrino San Juan €
Fantastic tapas in Lagrono.
El Rincon del Noble €€
Traditional food in Haro.
Accommodation
Municipal Gabarreys campsite €€€
great location by the river in Haro.
