Europe
Spain
Basque Country

Luxury Basque Country Tours & Vacations

The Basque region feels like a different country to the rest of Spain – and in many ways it is.

Known locally as Euskadi by native Basque speakers, the Basque country sits in the far north of Spain, hugging the Atlantic coast and sitting just across the Pyrenees from southern France. Once the proud kingdom of Navarre, the area has one of Europe’s strongest and oldest regional cultures. The Basque language, cuisine, and art are profoundly cherished and proudly celebrated by locals, who vehemently consider themselves País Vasco first, and Spanish second.

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The Basque is perhaps best known internationally for its exceptional cuisine. The gorgeous seaside city of San Sebastián is world-renowned for its incredible 11 Michelin-starred dining venues which is built on top of a passionate, generous local dining scene.

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Ally

European Specialist

Our Trips to the Basque Country

All of our tours are custom-built for you, below are example itineraries curated by our Spain specialists to provide you with inspiration for your luxury tailor-made Spain tour.

When to go: Apr - Oct

Spain: A Gourmet Journey

Barcelona, Basque Country, Rioja
8 Nights
From £3,295 PP
Discover the best of northern Spain through a variety of cultural attractions, outdoor adventures,...

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Why we love private tours of the Basque Country

Ally

European Specialist

The region’s fine cuisine is matched by its refined and eclectic culture. The Basque’s principal city is Bilbao: once an industrious and slightly unglamorous port, now a thriving cultural hub boasting a wealth of museums, galleries, and attractions. The jewel in the crown is the world-renowned Guggenheim Museum, a masterpiece of modern architecture overseen by legendary Frank Gehry, which nearly single-handedly transformed the city overnight following its opening in 1997.

Outside of the two cities, you’ll find a rugged and rural landscape that is quite unlike anything else in Spain. Driving between Bilbao and San Sebastian takes you through spellbinding coastal passes, up and down through world-famous wineries, orchards, bucolic farmland, and well-preserved traditional villages. Village life in the Basque is a true experience, where you’ll learn about distinctive rural sports and enjoy hearty but magnificent village meals.

What to do in the Basque Country

The Guggenheim Museum
A member of the Guggenheim family of art museums which includes sites in Venice, Abu Dhabi, and the landmark original in New York, the Bilbao Guggenheim museum is rightly considered one of the leading cultural spaces in Europe. Hailed as an architectural masterpiece on its opening in 1997, the striking museum was designed by legendary architect Frank Gehry, and overnight seemingly transformed Bilbao from post-industrial doldrums to a thriving, culturally confident metropolis. It’s one of the largest museums in Spain, containing around 250 works of Spanish and international contemporary art, and a prime city center location makes it a must-visit for any visitor to the city.
La Concha Beach
Playa de la Concha – the ‘cone shell beach’, or Kontxa Hondartza as it is known in Basque – is so-called due to its remarkably regular crescent shape. Positioned right in front of San Sebastian city center, it is famed as one of the finest urban beaches in Europe with perfectly soft white sands, gentle waves lapping a smooth, low rake, and clear blue waters. The beach is backed by typically fashionable San Sebastian restaurants and bars and is very much the city’s “see and be seen” space, particularly in the summer months when the beach bustles with life and activity.
San Juan de Gaztelugatxe
The tiny islet of San Juan de Gaztelugatxe is located in the craggy cliffs of Bermeo, roughly equidistant between Bilbao and San Sebastian. It makes an ideal place to break your journey between the two cities, where you’ll pause to drink in the rugged ocean views and – if you wish – cross to the island. The crossing takes you over a worryingly narrow stone bridge, Atlantic waves crashing down below, with 231 steps leading to a tiny hermitage on the other side. Gaztelugatxe has gained international fame in recent years as a filming location for HBO’s Game of Thrones, standing in for the castle of Dragonstone.
Dine in one of San Sebastian famous restaurants
San Sebastian is considered one of the world’s greatest food cities, boasting an incredible 11 Michelin-starred restaurants (per capita second only to Kyoto in Japan). The jewel in the crown is Andoni Luis Aduriz’s legendary Mugaritz, challenging its guests with a 20-course tasting menu that includes sauteed sea slugs, pebble eggs, and ‘vegetable charcoal’. Others include Eme Be Garrote, overseen by the father of modern Spanish cuisine Martin Berasategiui; Rekondo with its elevated Basque classics and incredible wine list; and Petritegi, a rural cider house serving up the best steak and salt cod you’ll ever sample.
Sample pintxos in San Sebastian’s old city
That said, you don’t have to have a bottomless budget or make reservations months in advance to sample the best of gastronomic San Sebastian. All of that haute cuisine is built on a solid basis of outstanding produce and commitment to great cooking which is found in eateries all across the city. This is especially evident in the city’s famous pintxos bars, where you’re served small, tapas-like dishes, at a table or stood up at the bar, usually accompanied by refreshing glasses of local txakoli wine. Joining a pintxos bar crawl is arguably the very best way to discover San Sebastian’s atmospheric old town.

When to visit the Basque Country

The Basque sits right up on the northernmost coast of Spain and compared to the rest of the country is milder, greener, and – at certain times of year – slightly damper. Nonetheless, it’s still a warm southern European climate, with peak temperatures in the summer months hitting 70-80F and milder temperatures of 50-70F from the winter months through to spring and fall. Occasional rainy days are a feature of travel to this coastal Atlantic region, with the driest months falling between April and November. Generally, we’d recommend visiting in the warmer summer months, particularly if you’re looking to enjoy the fine beaches of San Sebastian, but if you can avoid the peak months and higher prices of July and August. May, June, September, and early October are perfect months to visit the Basque Country.