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Frank Gehry’s titanium building on the Nervión river is now one of the world’s most famous museums, and the city has a lively old town with pintxos bars of its own.",{"type":339,"attrs":432,"content":433},{"textAlign":207},[434,436,443,445,452],{"text":435,"type":344},"Read our guide to ",{"text":437,"type":344,"marks":438},"24 hours in Bilbao",[439],{"type":376,"attrs":440},{"href":441,"uuid":442,"anchor":207,"target":380,"linktype":28},"\u002Fen-gb\u002Fpicolo\u002Fdestinations\u002Feurope\u002Fspain\u002Fbilbao\u002F24-hours-must-see-and-do","4b62abef-fd27-4a57-8e09-96bf926b618a",{"text":444,"type":344}," and ",{"text":446,"type":344,"marks":447},"the Guggenheim Museum",[448],{"type":376,"attrs":449},{"href":450,"uuid":451,"anchor":207,"target":380,"linktype":28},"\u002Fen-gb\u002Fpicolo\u002Fdestinations\u002Feurope\u002Fspain\u002Fbilbao\u002Fguggenheim-museum","fbf6edb4-4f39-4cf9-9eb8-ba61f6df459d",{"text":391,"type":344},{"type":356,"attrs":454,"content":455},{"level":394,"textAlign":207},[456],{"text":457,"type":344},"The Artist Grand Hotel of Art: next to the Guggenheim",{"type":339,"attrs":459,"content":460},{"textAlign":207},[461],{"text":462,"type":344},"A luxury hotel with a spa, close to the Guggenheim Museum.",{"type":339,"attrs":464,"content":465},{"textAlign":207},[466,469,470],{"text":407,"type":344,"marks":467},[468],{"type":410},{"text":412,"type":344},{"text":471,"type":344,"marks":472},"See rooms at The Artist Grand Hotel of Art",[473],{"type":376,"attrs":474},{"href":475,"uuid":207,"anchor":207,"target":419,"linktype":420},"https:\u002F\u002Fno.hotels.com\u002Faffiliates\u002Fgran-hotel-domine-bilbao-bilbao-spania.qr15rHJ",[],"0","BodyBlock",{"_uid":480,"image":481,"theme":488,"author":14,"component":489,"caption_text":490,"caption_title":14,"image_caption":490},"7089ca02-01bb-438c-8ccb-a5db403cfcb2",{"id":14,"alt":482,"name":14,"focus":14,"title":483,"width":484,"height":485,"filename":486,"copyright":232,"fieldtype":16,"meta_data":487,"is_external_url":210},"The Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao","Guggenheim Museum, Bilbao",9504,6336,"https:\u002F\u002Fres.cloudinary.com\u002Fpicolo\u002Fimage\u002Fupload\u002Fv1693210264\u002FPicolo\u002FCity\u002FSan%20Sebasti%C3%A1n\u002FMuseum\u002FBilder\u002FGuggenheim_Bilbao-505520.jpg",{"alt":482,"title":483},"dusk","FullImage","The Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao. Photo: Picolo",{"_uid":492,"body":493,"card":563,"layout":477,"component":478,"article_rounded":210},"413030e2-e539-4084-8561-d3e7230c0a43",{"type":336,"content":494},[495,500,505,517,522,527,540,545,550],{"type":356,"attrs":496,"content":497},{"level":358,"textAlign":207},[498],{"text":499,"type":344},"Rioja: the vineyards south of the Basque Country",{"type":339,"attrs":501,"content":502},{"textAlign":207},[503],{"text":504,"type":344},"Just south of Bilbao and San Sebastián lies Rioja, Spain’s best-known wine region. Its Basque part, Rioja Alavesa, offers medieval villages, wineries and modern architecture among the vines.",{"type":339,"attrs":506,"content":507},{"textAlign":207},[508,509,516],{"text":435,"type":344},{"text":510,"type":344,"marks":511},"the Rioja wine region",[512],{"type":376,"attrs":513},{"href":514,"uuid":515,"anchor":207,"target":380,"linktype":28},"\u002Fen-gb\u002Fpicolo\u002Fexperiences\u002Ffood-and-wine\u002Frioja-wine-region","c707699e-e1a2-4167-9b00-24a8320c4865",{"text":391,"type":344},{"type":356,"attrs":518,"content":519},{"level":394,"textAlign":207},[520],{"text":521,"type":344},"Hotel Marqués de Riscal: the wine hotel in Elciego",{"type":339,"attrs":523,"content":524},{"textAlign":207},[525],{"text":526,"type":344},"A luxury hotel with a spa and its own winery, in Frank Gehry’s colourful building among the vines.",{"type":339,"attrs":528,"content":529},{"textAlign":207},[530,533,534],{"text":407,"type":344,"marks":531},[532],{"type":410},{"text":412,"type":344},{"text":535,"type":344,"marks":536},"See rooms at Hotel Marqués de Riscal",[537],{"type":376,"attrs":538},{"href":539,"uuid":207,"anchor":207,"target":419,"linktype":420},"https:\u002F\u002Fno.hotels.com\u002Faffiliates\u002Fhotel-marques-de-riscal-a-luxury-collection-hotel-elciego-elciego-spania.DZMX0Fk",{"type":356,"attrs":541,"content":542},{"level":394,"textAlign":207},[543],{"text":544,"type":344},"Viura: a design hotel in a wine village",{"type":339,"attrs":546,"content":547},{"textAlign":207},[548],{"text":549,"type":344},"A luxury hotel with a restaurant and bar in Villabuena de Álava, surrounded by vineyards.",{"type":339,"attrs":551,"content":552},{"textAlign":207},[553,556,557],{"text":407,"type":344,"marks":554},[555],{"type":410},{"text":412,"type":344},{"text":558,"type":344,"marks":559},"See rooms at Viura",[560],{"type":376,"attrs":561},{"href":562,"uuid":207,"anchor":207,"target":419,"linktype":420},"https:\u002F\u002Fno.hotels.com\u002Faffiliates\u002Fviura-villabuena-de-alava-spania.Lx1frCl",[],{"_uid":565,"image":566,"theme":488,"author":14,"component":489,"caption_text":573,"caption_title":14,"image_caption":573},"9783b93b-ffc3-4928-b114-6cd92a4b03eb",{"id":14,"alt":567,"name":14,"focus":14,"title":568,"width":569,"height":570,"filename":571,"copyright":232,"fieldtype":16,"meta_data":572,"is_external_url":210},"View over San Sebastián and La Concha bay","San Sebastián, Basque Country",9469,5326,"https:\u002F\u002Fres.cloudinary.com\u002Fpicolo\u002Fimage\u002Fupload\u002Fv1695719768\u002FPicolo\u002FCity\u002FSan%20Sebasti%C3%A1n\u002FStock%20fra%20Leversby\u002FSpain_Bilbao_san-sebastian_city_street_night_hotel_londres_beach_old-town_travel_skyline.jpg",{"alt":567,"title":568},"San Sebastián from above. Photo: Picolo",{"_uid":575,"body":576,"card":698,"layout":477,"component":478,"article_rounded":210},"bbe85625-41da-41b6-a199-1e31ba81a493",{"type":336,"content":577},[578,583,631,644,649,654,678,683,688,693],{"type":356,"attrs":579,"content":580},{"level":358,"textAlign":207},[581],{"text":582,"type":344},"Suggested itinerary: a week in the Basque Country",{"type":584,"content":585},"bullet_list",[586,598,609,620],{"type":587,"content":588},"list_item",[589],{"type":339,"attrs":590,"content":591},{"textAlign":207},[592,596],{"text":593,"type":344,"marks":594},"Days 1-2: Bilbao.",[595],{"type":410},{"text":597,"type":344}," The Guggenheim, the Casco Viejo old town and pintxos by the river.",{"type":587,"content":599},[600],{"type":339,"attrs":601,"content":602},{"textAlign":207},[603,607],{"text":604,"type":344,"marks":605},"Day 3: The coast road.",[606],{"type":410},{"text":608,"type":344}," Drive along the coast towards San Sebastián, stopping in the fishing town of Getaria.",{"type":587,"content":610},[611],{"type":339,"attrs":612,"content":613},{"textAlign":207},[614,618],{"text":615,"type":344,"marks":616},"Days 4-6: San Sebastián.",[617],{"type":410},{"text":619,"type":344}," The old town, La Concha, Monte Igueldo and a Michelin dinner.",{"type":587,"content":621},[622],{"type":339,"attrs":623,"content":624},{"textAlign":207},[625,629],{"text":626,"type":344,"marks":627},"Day 7: Rioja.",[628],{"type":410},{"text":630,"type":344}," Wine tasting in Rioja Alavesa before driving back to Bilbao.",{"type":339,"attrs":632,"content":633},{"textAlign":207},[634,636,643],{"text":635,"type":344},"Only have a long weekend? Focus on San Sebastián. Read our guide to ",{"text":637,"type":344,"marks":638},"a San Sebastián city break",[639],{"type":376,"attrs":640},{"href":641,"uuid":642,"anchor":207,"target":380,"linktype":28},"\u002Fen-gb\u002Fpicolo\u002Fdestinations\u002Feurope\u002Fspain\u002Fsan-sebastian\u002Fcity-break","f41cf319-1300-4a31-8c18-a82a34742bb4",{"text":391,"type":344},{"type":356,"attrs":645,"content":646},{"level":358,"textAlign":207},[647],{"text":648,"type":344},"Getting around",{"type":339,"attrs":650,"content":651},{"textAlign":207},[652],{"text":653,"type":344},"Most visitors fly into Bilbao. From there it is around an hour by car or bus to San Sebastián, and about the same south to the Rioja vineyards. A hire car gives you the most freedom, especially for the coast road and the wine villages.",{"type":339,"attrs":655,"content":656},{"textAlign":207},[657,661,662,668,670,677],{"text":658,"type":344,"marks":659},"Car hire:",[660],{"type":410},{"text":412,"type":344},{"text":663,"type":344,"marks":664},"See car hire in Bilbao",[665],{"type":376,"attrs":666},{"href":667,"uuid":207,"anchor":207,"target":419,"linktype":420},"https:\u002F\u002Fexpedia.com\u002Faffiliate\u002FupgtdVS",{"text":669,"type":344},". Read our guide to ",{"text":671,"type":344,"marks":672},"car hire in Spain",[673],{"type":376,"attrs":674},{"href":675,"uuid":676,"anchor":207,"target":380,"linktype":28},"\u002Fen-gb\u002Fpicolo\u002Fdestinations\u002Feurope\u002Fspain\u002Fcar-hire-spain","67ec85f2-c169-494a-a504-00b56a257c32",{"text":391,"type":344},{"type":356,"attrs":679,"content":680},{"level":358,"textAlign":207},[681],{"text":682,"type":344},"When to visit the Basque Country",{"type":339,"attrs":684,"content":685},{"textAlign":207},[686],{"text":687,"type":344},"The Basque Country is green because it rains fairly often, but the weather is often mild. May, June and September bring pleasant temperatures and fewer tourists than July and August. Autumn is also harvest time in Rioja, and a great time for a wine trip.",{"type":356,"attrs":689,"content":690},{"level":358,"textAlign":207},[691],{"text":692,"type":344},"Basque food and culture",{"type":339,"attrs":694,"content":695},{"textAlign":207},[696],{"text":697,"type":344},"The Basques are proud of their culture, and it shows in everything from the language on the signs to the food on the plate. Pintxos, grilled fish, txakoli, a fresh white wine from the coast, and cider from Basque sidrerias are part of everyday life here. Many of Spain’s most acclaimed chefs come from the region.",[],{"_uid":700,"body":701,"card":748,"layout":477,"component":478,"article_rounded":210},"f87fcd50-12f8-407d-817a-382c781f1a5a",{"type":336,"content":702},[703,708,713,718,723,728,733,738,743],{"type":356,"attrs":704,"content":705},{"level":358,"textAlign":207},[706],{"text":707,"type":344},"Frequently asked questions about the Basque Country",{"type":356,"attrs":709,"content":710},{"level":394,"textAlign":207},[711],{"text":712,"type":344},"Where is the Basque Country?",{"type":339,"attrs":714,"content":715},{"textAlign":207},[716],{"text":717,"type":344},"The Basque Country lies in northern Spain, on the Bay of Biscay and the border with France. Its largest cities are Bilbao, San Sebastián and Vitoria-Gasteiz.",{"type":356,"attrs":719,"content":720},{"level":394,"textAlign":207},[721],{"text":722,"type":344},"How do you get to the Basque Country?",{"type":339,"attrs":724,"content":725},{"textAlign":207},[726],{"text":727,"type":344},"Fly to Bilbao, the region’s largest airport. From there it is a short trip to both San Sebastián and Rioja.",{"type":356,"attrs":729,"content":730},{"level":394,"textAlign":207},[731],{"text":732,"type":344},"Where should you stay in the Basque Country?",{"type":339,"attrs":734,"content":735},{"textAlign":207},[736],{"text":737,"type":344},"Ideally stay in both Bilbao and San Sebastián. If you want one base, San Sebastián is the best starting point for food and beaches.",{"type":356,"attrs":739,"content":740},{"level":394,"textAlign":207},[741],{"text":742,"type":344},"What is Rioja Alavesa?",{"type":339,"attrs":744,"content":745},{"textAlign":207},[746],{"text":747,"type":344},"Rioja Alavesa is the Basque part of the Rioja wine region, with wineries, medieval villages and famous wine hotels.",[],{"_uid":750,"body":751,"card":798,"layout":477,"component":478,"article_rounded":210},"fe0cdfc4-bca6-4925-a72d-b1513e9aa333",{"type":336,"content":752},[753,758],{"type":356,"attrs":754,"content":755},{"level":358,"textAlign":207},[756],{"text":757,"type":344},"Read more",{"type":584,"content":759},[760,769,779,788],{"type":587,"content":761},[762],{"type":339,"attrs":763,"content":764},{"textAlign":207},[765],{"text":373,"type":344,"marks":766},[767],{"type":376,"attrs":768},{"href":378,"uuid":379,"anchor":207,"target":380,"linktype":28},{"type":587,"content":770},[771],{"type":339,"attrs":772,"content":773},{"textAlign":207},[774],{"text":775,"type":344,"marks":776},"Where to stay in San Sebastián",[777],{"type":376,"attrs":778},{"href":388,"uuid":389,"anchor":207,"target":380,"linktype":28},{"type":587,"content":780},[781],{"type":339,"attrs":782,"content":783},{"textAlign":207},[784],{"text":437,"type":344,"marks":785},[786],{"type":376,"attrs":787},{"href":441,"uuid":442,"anchor":207,"target":380,"linktype":28},{"type":587,"content":789},[790],{"type":339,"attrs":791,"content":792},{"textAlign":207},[793],{"text":794,"type":344,"marks":795},"The Rioja wine region",[796],{"type":376,"attrs":797},{"href":514,"uuid":515,"anchor":207,"target":380,"linktype":28},[],"Michelin stars and pintxos in San Sebastián, the Guggenheim in Bilbao and vineyards in Rioja. This is the Basque Country, and how to plan a trip that ties it all together.","4","Article","2026-10-09 00:00",{"id":14,"alt":318,"name":14,"focus":14,"title":319,"width":320,"height":321,"filename":308,"copyright":232,"fieldtype":16,"meta_data":804,"is_external_url":210},{"alt":318,"title":319},"basque-country","en-gb\u002Fpicolo\u002Fdestinations\u002Feurope\u002Fspain\u002Fbasque-country","2026-10-09",-360,[],178499730893337,"61d940b5-e3c3-410b-8a9e-0e8111518840","2026-10-09T08:00:00.000Z",[]]