Bilbao Day Trips

1. San Sebastian and Biarritz Guided Tour

Start your day with San Sebastian, before heading along the coast towards the French border. Visit the villages of Pasajes (Spain), Hondarribia (Spain) and Saint Jean De Luz (France) before your final stop in Biarritz.

This tour takes you to some of the most impressive cities in the region, though you do miss out arguably San Sebastian's biggest attractions - the beach and the pintxos (tapas). However, there is great tapas throughout the region, and there are good beaches everywhere, right?

2. Vitoria and the Rioja Wine Region Guided Tour (book direct)

Visit Vitoria (the capital of the Basque Country), the medieval village of Laguardia and the wine-producing town of Haro in La Rioja.

Vitoria isn't my favorite city in Spain but it is pretty enough. But visiting the wine growing region of La Rioja is essential if you're in the north of Spain. The visit to Laguardia is a bonus.

3. Explore the Basque Coast

Visit the Puente Viskaya (see below), before visiting Neguri, Bakio, San Juan de Gaztelugatxe, Bermeo, Mundaka and Guernica.

You may never have heard of any of these places, but that is the beauty of the Basque country - lots of beautiful little anonymous towns and villages littered over the countryside. You would never be able to see so much of the region in such a short time without taking a tour. The price is very fair too.

4. The Sanctuary of Loyola, Getaria, Zarauz and San Sebastian

Visit the rural areas of the Basque Country before visiting the Sanctuary of Loyola, a stunning basilica that was the hometown of the founder of the Jesuits.

This tour also gives you some time to check out San Sebastian too. As with most of these tours, you'd be lucky to cover all this ground in a day by yourself.

5. Scenic Flight of Bilbao and The Basque Coast

Spend an hour flying over the beautiful Basque countryside and famous cities. See San Sebastian and Bilbao from a height of 300 meters and look down on the breathtaking countryside too.

6. Basque Coast Full-Day Sailing Excursion

If you'd rather see the Basque coastline from sea level, this sailing excursion might be up your street (or river). Setting off from Getxo, near Bilbao, you take in the coast around Aizkorri, Barinatxe, Sopelana, Menacoz, Plentzia Gorliz, Arminza, Matxitxako, Bakio and San Juan de Gaztelugatxe with the rock of Aketxe - which are as beautiful as they are hard to spel.

If a full day at sea is too much for your pocket (or your stomach!), try a half day instead: Basque Coast Half-Day Sailing Excursion

7. Elorrio, Onoati and Arantzazu Guided Tour

Check out the the villages of Onati and Elorrio before taking a look at the Sanctuary of Arantzazu. This tour doesn't visit San Sebastian - which is good if you'd rather spend more than a few hours there, but bad if this is the only trip you take while visiting the Basque Country.