Visit Spanish Basque Country in one week

You like wild coasts and the ocean? You love discovering small villages? You want to discover the “Spanish modernity”? This itinerary is ideal to discover the Basque culture and its heritage.

The distances (km/miles) between stops can seem short but you will be taking mountain roads, it will take a little longer to get from one city to the other.

So if you want to discover the region’s must-sees, keep on reading!

Here is a glimpse of the beautiful experiences awaiting in this 1-week road trip in Spanish Basque Country:

• Admire the view from Mount Igualdo in San Sebastian
• Take a stroll through the covered market of Zarautz
• Visit the historic district of Mutriku
• Imagine you’re an explorer when on San Nicolas Island in Lekeitiko
• Discover the superb Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve
• Surf the waves at Mundaka
• Picnic by the ocean at San Juan de Gaztelugatxe
• Visit the Vizcaya transporter bridge in Getxo
• Explore Bilbao’s famous Guggenheim Museum
• Admire the splendour of the Palacio Real Magdalena in Santander

To travel safely and without any worry on your mind, we recommend Chapka Insurance!

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Itinerary for a 1-week road trip between San Sebastian and Santander

 

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Some practical information before your road trip to Spain

 

For this itinerary, we recommend renting a car from Hertz. It’s possible to rent it in one city and return it in another without exorbitant prices and limiting hidden costs.

You want to buy a paper travel guide? We recommend this one! In our opinion, it is the most complete and the most visual!

Need a road map to prepare your itinerary? We recommend this one, the most detailed and the most pleasant to read!

The best period to do this road trip in Spanish Basque Country are is from may to october. It’s when the temperatures are the most enjoyable, and the weather will be globally better. More information here.

As well as discovering the heritage and culture, you’ll also get to know the local gastronomy on this itinerary. Here are a few specialities that are well worth trying! First of all, marmitako, a typical seafood dish, or txuletón for those who prefer meat. For those with a sweet tooth, we also recommend goxua and pastel vasco.

 

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Contents: 1-week road trip in Spanish Basque Country

1- San Sebastian – Stop 1 of the 1-week road trip in Spanish Basque Country
2- Zarautz – Stop 2 of the 1-week road trip in Spanish Basque Country
3- Mutriku – Stop 3 of the 1-week road trip in Spanish Basque Country
4- Lekeitiko – Stop 4 of the 1-week road trip in Spanish Basque Country
5- Urdaibai-Guernica – Stop 5 of the 1-week road trip in Spanish Basque Country
6- Mundaka – Stop 6 of the 1-week road trip in Spanish Basque Country
7- San Juan de Gaztelugatxe – Stop 7 of the 1-week road trip in Spanish Basque Country
8- Getxo – Stop 8 of the 1-week road trip in Spanish Basque Country
9- Bilbao – Stop 9 of the 1-week road trip in Spanish Basque Country
10- Santander – Stop 10 of the 1-week road trip in Spanish Basque Country

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1-week road trip in Spanish Basque Country: step by step

 

What to do in San Sebastian?

Guipuscoa’s capital is the first stop on this 1-week road trip in the Spanish Basque Country. It’s sure to immerse you in the region’s great atmosphere!

• Get to the top of Monte Igueldo (by cable car).
• Splurge on a night in the hotel room the famous spy, Mata Hari, slept in in the Hotel Londres y de Inglaterra.
• The beaches walk is great: from La Zurriola (surf spot), pass by Monte Urgull taking the Paseo Nuevo, then head to Playa Ondarreta. Will you find the Peinde del Viento?
• Get a great start to you vacation and taste great pintxos in the historic district of  Gandarias Jatetxea.
• Kids are getting on your nerves? Head to the aquarium, it always works!

 

Which activities do when in San Sebastian?

 

• To make your stay in the city all the more unique, we recommend a few activities, starting with a food tour. Combining pintxos and wine tasting with a tour of the city is a wonderful combination!
• For those who like to discover the city in a slightly different way, don’t hesitate to take part in a guided tour on an electric bike – guaranteed fun!
• If you feel like Philippe Etchebest (famous French chef who happens to be Basque), then now’s the time to prove yourself during a Basque cooking class.
• Last but not least, a slightly more traditional but still unmissable activity: a boat tour in the bay. There’s no better way to enjoy the beauty of the coastline.

 

Where to sleep in San Sebastian?

 

• Mid-range: Located in an old building right in the centre of town, the fully renovated Larramendi Terrace Apartment is on the top floor of the building, offering uninterrupted views of the city and the cathedral. The flat is fully equipped and is sure to please!
• High-end: Overlooking the Cantabrian Sea and the River Urumea, the Maria Cristina, a Luxury Collection Hotel dates back to 1912 and has been extremely well restored. It offers elegant rooms with bedding of unrivalled comfort.

 

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What to do in Zarautz?

Leave San Sebastian early in the morning… this day is going to be intense! 

• Let’s start the day off with a stop in Zarautz for a 5km / 3.1 mile walk along the ocean between Zarautz and Getaria. Admire Mount San Antón.
• Head to the covered market, located in the heart of the city’s historic district and listed as a heritage site, to pick up a picnic on the way to the next destination on your 1-week road trip in the Spanish Basque Country!

 

Where to sleep in Zarautz?

 

• Mid-range: Look out over the ocean from your bed and enjoy the view! This is what Apartamentos Egona Zarautz sobre el mar has to offer, with its contemporary style and tasteful decor. Enjoy a meal on the terrace overlooking the sea and take the opportunity to recharge your batteries.
• High-end: Located just 100 metres from the beach, the ATeRIAN MUSKARIA offers clean, modern beachfront accommodation with a seasonal outdoor swimming pool, garden and terrace. The bedding and space available in this flat are a real bonus.

 

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What to do in Mutriku?

Spend the beginning of the afternoon discovering the small town of Mutriku. It’s a very charming stopover on this1-week road trip in the Spanish Basque Country. You can aslo take the time to explore these two cities over two days. 

• Walk around the historic part of the city. Visit the church called Parroquia Nuestra Señora De La Asunción, the town hall and the Museo Bentalekua.
• Taste the local wine : txakoli, drink it while eating anchovies.

 

Where to sleep in Mutriku?

 

• Mid-range: a few hundred metres from the centre, find a haven of peace at the Mendi Azpi Rooms. Modern, beautifully decorated and peaceful, it’s the ideal place to rest after a long day of exploring. 
• High-end: Set in idyllic surroundings, the Mote Cottage is a 200 m2 house with a balcony overlooking the garden. Take a walk in the surrounding area and celebrate with a barbecue! With an attentive host and a very well-maintained house, your stay can only be enhanced with this house.

 

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What to do in Lekeitio?

A small village full of charm, it’s a pleasant and peaceful stopover during this 1-week road trip in the Spanish Basque Country.

• At low tide, walk to the San Nicolas Island.
• Visit the Basílica de la Asunción de Nuestra Señora and get lost in the old city center.
• The walk around Santa Katalina lighthouse is quite lovely.

 

Where to sleep in Lekeitido?

 

• Mid-range: The Central Flat is a tastefully decorated flat in white and wood tones, 400 metres from Karraspio beach, in an area where you can go hiking. With a terrace, enjoy the peace and quiet without the noise of cars. You’ll feel right at home!
• High-end: treat yourself to a night at the Hotel Zubieta, housed in a traditional 18th-century building. Each room has its own unique decor, a good breakfast, a lovely terrace, a swimming pool, peace and quiet – this establishment has it all!

 

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What to do in Urdaibai-Guernica?

A city to relax. 

• After having lunch in the port, head to the Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve, at the estuary of the Oca river.
• For a relaxing moment on the beach, go to Playa de Laida (10min from the Urdaibai Bird Center).
• Go see the famous Picasso Guernica wallpainting. Created in response to the bombing of Guernica in 1937, this painting is the city’s symbol and is a must-see on this stop of the 1-week road trip in the Spanish Basque Country.

 

Where to sleep in Urdaibai-Guernica?

 

• Mid-range: Located in the Basque town of Guernica, the Hotel Gernika features a 24-hour reception, a business centre and clean, spacious rooms to ensure you have a pleasant stay. Just a few hundred metres from the centre, you’ll be close to everything.

 

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What to do in Mundaka?

Surfing paradise.

• A stop by Mundaka, famous for its amazing wave (a leaft-breaking wave, for the experts) from the estuary to playa de Laida. It’s the perfect place to try your hand at this board sport during your 1-week road trip in the Spanish Basque Country.
• Make sure you also take the time to walk around its small fishing harbour.

 

Where to sleep in Mundaka?

 

• Mid-range: Located 400 metres from the centre and offering river views, Mundaka Beach flat parking privado offers accommodation with a balcony. This beachfront property is spacious and features a terrace, free private parking and free Wi-Fi.

 

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What to do in San Juan de Gaztelugatxe?

You don’t want to miss the famous “castle-rock” on this 1-week road trip in the Spanish Basque Country. The name of the town comes from basque language: « gaztelu » = castle and « aitz » = rock.

• Have a picnic facing the ocean, eating local products (like Rioja Alavesa, a local wine).
• Good to know: you will have to drive a few km/miles to find a place to sleep, better book it beforehand.

 

Where to sleep in San Juan de Gaztelugatxe?

 

• Mid-range: stay at Soloa Landetxea, a little corner of paradise nestled between the mountains. This beautifully renovated old building feels like a cocoon! Beautiful rooms, excellent breakfast, bike hire available…
• High-end: just a 10-minute walk from the beach and town centre, Basarte Cottage welcomes you in a restored 18th-century country house. Take advantage of the 24-hour reception to ensure you arrive on time and, above all, enjoy the view of the mountains and sea from your room!

 

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What to do in Getxo?

Getting closer and closer to Bilbao…

• On the way to Getxo, you will drive by gorgeous places (the village of Bakio, playa plentzia, etc.). It’s up to you to choose whether you want to stop and explore or not!
• Biscay’s transporter bridge is a must-see in Getxo, eighth stop on this 1-week road trip in the Spanish Basque Country!

 

Where to sleep in Getxo?

 

• Mid-range: a mix of old and new, the Azkorri Beach House offers accommodation in Getxo with a bar, garden, pool table, barbecue and jacuzzi. Featuring a balcony, this holiday home is located in a quiet area, but above all has Alfredo, the host who will do everything to make sure you have a great holiday!
• High-end: stay at the Embarcadero boutique hotel, which occupies a former Basque manor house in Las Arenas, in the heart of the coastal town of Getxo. Enjoy the views from your room, which overlooks the sea or the hotel garden.

 

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What to do in Bilbao?

Bilbao, the capital of Vizcaya, is the must-see city in the Spanish Basque Country, and therefore an essential stop on this 1-week road trip.

• Get lost in the Siete calles, Bilbao’s seven walking streets.
• Walk along the Nervion up to Deusto !
• Visit the amazing Guggenheim Museum (you’ll probably be spending a few hours in it). We recommend that you book a guided tour to find out more about the works by clicking here.
• Go up mount Artxanda. You can go up there using the cable car or hiking (easy level).
• Walk through the old neighbourhoods (Casco Viejo, San Francisco, Bilbao La Vieja, El Ensanche…). If you’re curious by nature, we can only recommend taking a guided tour, which will give you plenty of anecdotes about the city.
• The Mercado de la Ribera is a must-see. It got the title of largest market in the Guinness World Records in 1990!
• If you need some nature, explore the parque Etxebarria and relax a little.

 

Which activities do when in Bilbao?

 

• Football fans will be delighted to visit the San Mamés stadium and its museum.
• Bilbao on land is beautiful, but on water, it’s even better! So take the time to take a cruise through the estuary and the Bay of Abra to enjoy the scenery and a different view of the city.
• Here too, you can indulge your sweet tooth on a food tour, where you can sample pintxos and local wine.

 

Where to sleep in Bilbao?

 

• Mid-range: located in the historic centre of Bilbao, the Casual Gurea is a charming little establishment. With clean, comfortable rooms, you’ll feel right at home after exploring the city.
• High-end: Ideally located on the Plaza de Federico Moyúa square, the Hotel Carlton is the promise of a great stay in Bilbao. It offers free access to its gym and spacious rooms with classic or contemporary decor.

 

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What to do in Santander?

Cantabria’s capital.

We recommend visiting the city in the morning and enjoy the seaside, gardens and beach in the afternoon. 

• Be sure to go to the parque de la Magdalena and admire the boats coming in the port. You will be amazed by the Palacio Real de La Magdalena.
• Nearby, the Jardines de Piquio are very lovely.
• A 35 min walk away, you can get to the lighthouse, faro de Cabo Mayor.
• At the end of the day, head to the covered market, the mercado del Este and have a drink with the locals. The street of Peña Herbosa is also famous for its festive atmosphere.

 

Which activities do when in Santander?

 

• Make the most of Santander and its beautiful scenery by taking a cruise around the bay. When the sun is out, it’s an even more pleasant experience.
• Surfer friends, treat yourself to a little surfing lesson on the waves of Playa Somo, which will delight everyone alike.
• Discover the superb mountain scenery of Cantabria on a day trip to the Picos. These are unique landscapes during this week-long itinerary in the Spanish Basque Country.

 

Where to sleep in Santander?

 

• Mid-range: In a quiet area, a little out of the way but close to the beach, the Suite Home Pinares offers air-conditioned rooms and a shared lounge. The cleanliness of the establishment and its recent renovation make it an exceptional place to stay.
• High-end: The Eurostars Hotel Real, an impressive building in the style of a palace, offers breathtaking views over the Bay of Santander and El Sardinero beach. Take advantage of the spa and gym to keep fit and recharge your batteries before returning to your bright, spacious, air-conditioned rooms.

 

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Learn more about your 1-week road trip in Spanish Basque Country…

 

• You want to know all the information about the country? It’s here.
• To rent a car at the best price, we advise you this website.
• To book a flight at the best price, we recommend this website.
• You are looking for a great travel insurance for your road trip? We recommend you this one!

 

Do not hesitate to share your trip with us, we can’t wait to hear all about your adventures!

 

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If you have any information, good tips, or simply something to say about this itinerary, please don’t hesitate to leave a comment below! The whole team will be happy to hear from you!