Basque Country
Go for pintxos bars, Bilbao's Guggenheim Museum and coastal towns on the Bay of Biscay. Bilbao and San Sebastián are close enough to combine on one trip.
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
The Basque Country, called Euskadi in Basque, is an autonomous region in northern Spain on the Bay of Biscay, close to the French border. Euskara, the Basque language, is unrelated to Spanish or French, so signs often show Basque and Spanish side by side. Eating is the main reason to go. Pintxos, small bites on bread served at the bar, are the everyday way to eat out in San Sebastián and Bilbao. Bilbao's Guggenheim Museum, designed by Frank Gehry, opened in 1997.
Hondarribia, a small old town at the mouth of the Bidasoa River on the French border, is a short drive from San Sebastián. Visitors come for beaches, surf and cliff walks above the sea on the coast, while the inland valleys have cider houses and hiking routes. Late spring to early autumn is the most comfortable season for outdoor plans, and winter is cooler and wetter. Plan three to five days to cover Bilbao and San Sebastián at an easy pace, with Hondarribia as a day trip.
Basque Country in five
- Base in one city and day-trip the coastBilbao and San Sebastián are about 100 km apart by road, so a single base means one city and a day trip to the other. Hondarribia is a short drive from San Sebastián and works as a half-day stop.Where to stay
- Use the Bilbao Metro and Bizkaibus for the city and its townsThe Metro serves Bilbao and its suburbs, and Bizkaibus covers much of Bizkaia. Euskotren runs local trains in Bizkaia and Gipuzkoa, so check which operator serves your route.Getting around
- Carry ID when you cross from Hondarribia into FranceHendaye, in France, sits across the Bidasoa river from Hondarribia. Carry your passport or ID, because France has run temporary border checks with Spain.Visas and entry
- Eat pintxos standing at the bar firstIn San Sebastián's old town, pintxos sit on the bar counter and are usually eaten standing with a drink.
- Book Guggenheim Bilbao tickets before you arriveThe museum sells timed entry online, and its official site shows the day's slots. Check it before you plan the day, since slots can sell out on busy days.Tours and tickets
Neighborhoods
Where to stay in Basque Country, the full guide
Hondarribia
- Best for: Slow stays, couples
- Price band: $$
- Walls and gates to walk around
- La Marina fishing quarter by the harbor
- Limited nightlife compared with the cities
Skip if you want a late night out.
Bilbao
Bilbao, a Basque city on the Nervión River, is known for the Guggenheim and its pintxos bars. It suits a food-led city break with day trips to the coast.
San Sebastián
Visitors come for pintxo bars, a city beach on a curved bay and a compact old quarter on the Bay of Biscay.
Things to do in Basque Country
See all attractions in Basque Country
Need to know
- Currency
- Euro (EUR)
- Entry
- Schengen rules; visa-free short stays for many passports Read more
- Emergency
- 112 for all emergencies, 091 National Police
- Tipping
- Not expected; rounding up in bars is common
- Time
- UTC+1, UTC+2 in summer (daylight saving)
Weather by month
- Festival
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryCold, wet
- FebruaryCool, showery
- MarchMild, showery
- AprilGreen, showery
- MayMild, lively
- JuneLong days, San Juan
- JulyWarm, busy
- AugustFestival, crowded
- SeptemberWarm, quieter
- OctoberAutumn, cooler
- NovemberWet, quiet
- DecemberCold, wet
Festivals: Jul Vitoria-Gasteiz jazz festival
Right now in Basque Country
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
10
- Feels like
- 9°
- Humidity
- 79%
- Wind
- 7 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 5%
Bilbao
09:43 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today16°8°5%Monday: Cloudy. High 16°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 5%.
- Tue14°7°40%Tuesday: Drizzle. High 14°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 40%.
- Wed14°5°18%Wednesday: Drizzle. High 14°, Low 5°. Chance of rain 18%.
- Thu16°4°3%Thursday: Clear. High 16°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 3%.
- Fri17°3°18%Friday: Fog. High 17°, Low 3°. Chance of rain 18%.
- Sat16°5°17%Saturday: Fog. High 16°, Low 5°. Chance of rain 17%.
- Sun23°14°39%Sunday: Cloudy. High 23°, Low 14°. Chance of rain 39%.
Updated 07:02 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Every year
- JanTamborradaSan Sebastián, a day trip
- JulVitoria-Gasteiz jazz festivalBasque Country
- Jul–AugFestival Internacional de SantanderSantander, a day trip
- JulSan Sebastian Jazz FestivalSan Sebastián, a day trip
- AugQuincena Musical de San SebastiánSan Sebastián, a day trip
- AugGreat Week of BilbaoBilbao, a day trip
Day trips by train
- Hondarribiaabout 20 min by car from San SebastiánA walled old town on the French border with a fishing harbor.Read the guide
- Bilbaoabout 1 hour by car or train from San SebastiánThe Guggenheim, the Casco Viejo and the riverside market.Read the guide
- San Sebastiánabout 1 hour by car or train from BilbaoPintxos bars, bay beaches and a compact old town.Read the guide
Before you go to Basque Country
Rules for Basque Country, checked
- Spain is in the Schengen Area; check entry needs on the Spanish Foreign Ministry site (exteriores.gob.es) before you fly.Source
- Non-EU travelers may be fingerprinted and photographed at the border under the EU Entry/Exit System; check the European Commission's EES page.
- Carry your passport or national ID at all times in Spain, because police can ask to see it.
All Basque Country guides
Head to headSan Sebastián or Bilbao: which Basque city, and how to split the nights
Where to stayWhere to stay in Bilbao: four bases, from Casco Viejo to the GuggenheimItinerarySan Sebastián in 2 days: a pintxo-led route from old quarter to IgueldoItineraryBilbao in 2 days: the Guggenheim, the old town and a pintxos eveningHow toDay trips from Bilbao: Gaztelugatxe, Guernica and Vitoria-GasteizWhere to stayWhere to stay in San Sebastián: four bases, from the old quarter to GrosPlan around Basque Country
Bilbao, San Sebastián and Hondarribia compared
Read the guideGetting aroundMetro, Bizkaibus, Euskotren and trains between cities
Read the guideBilbao travel guideThe Guggenheim, Casco Viejo and the riverside market
Read the guideSan Sebastián travel guideThe old town, pintxos and the bay beaches
Read the guideHondarribia travel guideA walled old town on the French border
Read the guideMoney and costsCash, cards and typical prices
Read the guideBasque Country FAQ
Is San Sebastián worth visiting?
Yes, for pintxos, the bay beaches and an old town you can cover on foot. It is a weaker choice if you want large museums or big-city nightlife, and Bilbao suits that better.
Bilbao or San Sebastián: which is better?
Bilbao is better for museums and architecture, and San Sebastián is better for the bay, the beaches and the food. Both suit a three-day trip.
Can you visit Hondarribia from San Sebastián?
Yes, it is about 20 km away and makes a short day trip. The walled old town and the harbor are small, so a few hours is enough.
Do you need to speak Basque or Spanish?
Spanish is the main language for visitors, and Basque, which is also official here, appears on many street signs. A few words of either are welcome.
When is the best time to visit the Basque Country?
May, June and September bring mild weather and long evenings. August is busy with the Semana Grande festival in San Sebastián, and winter is wet.
Is the Basque Country good for a food trip?
Yes, for pintxos, grilled fish and cider houses, especially in San Sebastián. Some cider houses (sagardotegi) run set menus only on certain days, so check before you go.