A natural next step after exploring Bordeaux (check out my cruise recap here) is to dive into the vibrant Basque Country—San Sebastián and Bilbao—in northern Spain. It’s the ultimate pairing for any food and wine lover (yes, pun totally intended!). We also added a stop in La Rioja to savor the region’s celebrated wines. The combination? Simply unforgettable.
Nestled in northern Spain, Basque Country is an autonomous region just north of La Rioja, sharing a border with southwestern France and the stunning French Pyrenees along the Bay of Biscay. With its breathtaking scenery, rugged landscapes, and rich culture, it’s a feast for the senses. But the real draw? Its world-renowned cuisine that lives up to the hype. And we only sampled a few items - so much more we missed.
Our adventure included three wonderful nights in San Sebastián, with day trips to the city of Bilbao and the charming vineyards of La Rioja—all following our Bordeaux cruise. After this part of the journey, half the group headed home, while the rest of us continued on to soak up a few days in Madrid. If you haven’t yet been, Madrid is definitely worth an extended visit!
Nestled in northern Spain, Basque Country is an autonomous region just north of La Rioja, sharing a border with southwestern France and the stunning French Pyrenees along the Bay of Biscay. With its breathtaking scenery, rugged landscapes, and rich culture, it’s a feast for the senses. But the real draw? Its world-renowned cuisine that lives up to the hype. And we only sampled a few items - so much more we missed.
Our adventure included three wonderful nights in San Sebastián, with day trips to the city of Bilbao and the charming vineyards of La Rioja—all following our Bordeaux cruise. After this part of the journey, half the group headed home, while the rest of us continued on to soak up a few days in Madrid. If you haven’t yet been, Madrid is definitely worth an extended visit!
San Sebastian
We arrived in San Sebastián around midday, but since the hotel didn’t allow for early check-in, we set off to explore the town. Our stroll brought us to the charming Old Town, a lively mosaic of boutique shops, cozy bars, and inviting restaurants. The walk along the boardwalk was absolutely delightful—stunning beach and bay views, captivating architecture, and, naturally, we all had fun picking out the waterfront condos we’d invest in!
Our hotel was about a 25 minute walk from Old Town. It was comfortable, but for future visits, I’d highly recommend staying closer to the heart of the action (although taxis were quite inexpensive). After all, Old Town is where you’ll find the majority of the pintxos bars—and you simply can’t miss trying these delicious local bites. Quick note—no disrespect to Bilbao, but while their pintxos are good, San Sebastián’s really stole the show for me. The freshness of the seafood and the lighter, less fried options make all the difference. Truly unforgettable!
Our hotel was about a 25 minute walk from Old Town. It was comfortable, but for future visits, I’d highly recommend staying closer to the heart of the action (although taxis were quite inexpensive). After all, Old Town is where you’ll find the majority of the pintxos bars—and you simply can’t miss trying these delicious local bites. Quick note—no disrespect to Bilbao, but while their pintxos are good, San Sebastián’s really stole the show for me. The freshness of the seafood and the lighter, less fried options make all the difference. Truly unforgettable!
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Bilbao
I loved our walking tour of Bilbao. The city is a fascinating blend of old and modern architecture, with repurposed buildings—like an old bank transformed into a stylish department store. One highlight was the incredible engineering marvel of the Vizcaya Bridge, built in 1893. Rather than constructing a permanent bridge, they created this “ferry bridge” that shuttles cars and pedestrians across the river in less than two minutes. It’s both functional and historic. Plus, the train station is a stunning architectural gem in its own right.
Knowing the famous Guggenheim Museum was just a short distance from San Sebastián, I couldn’t resist adding it to the itinerary—a must-see, right? The building itself is a masterpiece of contemporary architecture; its exterior looks like a work of art. I’d seen photos of the striking design and the giant “Mama” spider sculpture outside, but experiencing it in person was truly impressive. As for the exhibits inside, well, modern art isn’t exactly my cup of tea, but if you’re a fan, this museum is definitely worth a visit.
Knowing the famous Guggenheim Museum was just a short distance from San Sebastián, I couldn’t resist adding it to the itinerary—a must-see, right? The building itself is a masterpiece of contemporary architecture; its exterior looks like a work of art. I’d seen photos of the striking design and the giant “Mama” spider sculpture outside, but experiencing it in person was truly impressive. As for the exhibits inside, well, modern art isn’t exactly my cup of tea, but if you’re a fan, this museum is definitely worth a visit.
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La Rioja
Rioja – A Delightful Surprise! I had zero expectations heading into Rioja—and wow, was I amazed! The region’s beauty completely took me by surprise. With the landscape painted in stunning fall colors—rich golds, fiery reds, and warm oranges—the scenery felt truly magical.
We visited three wineries during our day. Our first stop was a small, family-owned vineyard full of charm and heartfelt passion. The next two were larger, more commercial operations—each unique and impressive in its own way. The wines, both whites and reds, were absolutely delightful and gave me a new appreciation for wins from this area. In fact, it was the first time I actually bought several bottles to send home!
At the third winery, we enjoyed a gorgeous tapas lunch that perfectly complemented the wines. Before returning to San Sebastian, we made one last stop in Laguardia, a captivating walled medieval town perched above the valley below. It was a perfect and memorable way to wrap up an unforgettable visit.
We visited three wineries during our day. Our first stop was a small, family-owned vineyard full of charm and heartfelt passion. The next two were larger, more commercial operations—each unique and impressive in its own way. The wines, both whites and reds, were absolutely delightful and gave me a new appreciation for wins from this area. In fact, it was the first time I actually bought several bottles to send home!
At the third winery, we enjoyed a gorgeous tapas lunch that perfectly complemented the wines. Before returning to San Sebastian, we made one last stop in Laguardia, a captivating walled medieval town perched above the valley below. It was a perfect and memorable way to wrap up an unforgettable visit.
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