Exploring the Basque Country: Cities, Cuisine, and Culture

You could almost call Spain’s Basque Country a tale of three cities. Known as Euskadi in the Basques’ distinctive language, the northern Spanish region, which edges the French border to the east and the Bay of Biscay to the north, is arguably best known as home to the majestic coastal city of San Sebastián, whose combination of belle époque grandeur and sandy beaches lends it an air of Paris, just along the sea.

An hour’s drive west lies the port city of Bilbao, a pilgrimage spot for art and architecture fans the world over since the arrival of Frank Gehry’s groundbreaking Guggenheim Museum in 1997. Head inland and you’ll find the region’s more low key but no less impressive capital, Vitoria-Gasteiz, with its medieval Old Town and Gothic cathedral.

Both Bilbao and Vitoria-Gasteiz will offer a prime viewpoint for 2026’s solar eclipse, but for many, it is the Basque Country’s world-class gastronomy, from fine dining to pintxos—the Basque Country’s version of tapas—that is the area's headline attraction.

San Sebastián boasts a higher concentration of Michelin-starred restaurants than Manhattan, while the pintxos culture is considered such a high art that annual competitions are held for the top culinary creations.

Look beyond the cities and you’ll find a dramatic coastline where Atlantic breezes flow through fishing villages and surfing beaches, as well as a lush interior with cider growing orchards, trout-filled streams, and world-class vineyards.

Guggenheim Bilbao: No visit to the Basque Country should be without a visit to Frank Gehry’s landmark Guggenheim Museum, with its giant titanium swirls overlooking the Nervión River. The museum’s permanent collection includes works by Mark Rothko and Sol LeWitt; outside, you’ll find Jeff Koons’ 12-meter-high dog sculpture, "Puppy," made of flowers.

Old Town, Vitoria-Gasteiz: Take a guided tour around the narrow lanes of Vitoria Gasteiz’s medieval quarter, high on a hilltop above the city. The monumental Gothic Cathedral of Santa Maria includes a wonderful video and light show while nearby, the Bendaña Palace houses both the quirky Fournier Museum of Playing Cards as well as an archaeological museum.

La Concha: Join joggers, families, and honeymooning couples along San Sebastián’s elegant sea-front promenade overlooking the sweeping, sandy bay of La Concha. At the far western end of the bay, watch the waves crash and dance around Eduardo Chillida’s vast 1977 "El Peine del Viento" ("the Wind Comb") trilogy of sculptures.

Hondarribia: Traditional Basque townhouses with wooden shutters painted in blues, reds, and greens make Hondarribia, just by Spain’s border with France, the quintessential Basque fishing town. Renowned for its seafood, the town’s wide sandy beach is also perfect for windsurfing. Among the medieval lanes of the walled Old Town, you’ll find 15th-century Gothic churches and baroque palaces.

The summer months between June and September are the driest, with temperatures in the mid-to-high 70 degrees Fahrenheit, but this is also peak season for fiestas and vacationers.

San Sebastián celebrates the Festival of San Juan on June 23, with fireworks and bonfires on the beach. At the end of August, Bilbao’s Semana Grande's papier-mâché giants are paraded through the streets alongside music, more fireworks, and general revelry.

To avoid the crowds, spring or fall are best and both are ideal for hiking in the countryside. The fall also brings the grape harvest in the vineyards.

Asador Etxerarri: High up in a tranquil Basque mountain village between San Sebastián and Bilbao, the one-Michelin-starred Asador Etxebarri specializes in superbly grilled meat and fish. It was also ranked at No. 2 in the World’s 50 Best Restaurants list for 2025.

Pintxos in San Sebastián’s Old Town: The tiny, beam-ceilinged Bar Txeptexa in San Sebastián’s Old town first opened in 1925 and 100 years later they’re still serving their prize-winning, delicately salty, marinated anchovies as well as other excellent pintxos. Also worth trying is the contemporary Muxumartin for their similarly prize-winning chicken with ginger and mayonnaise.

El Portalón: Set in a sprawling, half timbered, 16th-century building with original beamed ceilings and dark wood antiques, El Portalón is one of Vitoria’s most famous restaurants, Hearty, traditional dishes are the order of the day, like fresh local spider crab or tenderly roasted meat and fish.

Arzak: Chef Juan Mari Arzak was one of the pioneers of the "New Basque Cuisine" in the 1970s, reinventing traditional regional dishes in a lighter, more refined style. He now runs the three-Michelin-starred Arzak with his similarly renowned daughter Elena Arzak, named the World’s Best Female Chef in 2012. Dishes include delicately cured Atlantic coast mackerel with preserved lemons and the wines are similarly exceptional.

Café Iruña: Like the Basque equivalent of a grand French brasserie, Café Iruña has been serving traditional Basque fare since 1903 amid walls lined with Moorish-style, glazed ceramic tiles and lofty ceilings. Look out for salt cod pil-pil or the lamb kebab pintxo. The set price lunch is particularly good value.

The Artist Grand Hotel of Art: Looking directly across to Frank Gehry’s Guggenheim Bilbao, you can’t beat the views at this stylish hotel with interiors by star Catalan designer Javier Mariscal. The Old Town is within easy walking distance, as are several museums and the river walk. There’s also a spa with a sauna and Turkish bath.

Hotel Maria Cristina, a Luxury Collection Hotel: Just yards from the Urumea River and the crashing waves of the Bay of Biscay, this palatial hotel has been open since 1912. The pintxos bars of San Sebastián’s Old Town are no more than 10 minutes away on foot, as is La Concha beach.

Hotel NH Canciller Ayala: Facing Vitoria Gasteiz’s elegant, 19th-century La Florida Park, this is an ideal base for exploring the city. Rooms are contemporary, comfortable, and spacious and the Old Town is less than a 10 minute walk.

Bilbao Airport is the main international arrival point for the Basque Country and United Airlines launched the first direct flights from New York in June 2025. Public transport in the region is excellent. If you’re planning on staying within one of the cities, you can easily get around on foot or by trams in Vitoria-Gasteiz and Bilbao or buses in San Sebastián.

You will need to rent a car if you want to explore the outlying countryside and coastal towns and villages. The major car rental firms have offices in Bilbao Airport.