Bilbao Day Trips
Catch the ferry to Bilbao and use it as your base point for venturing out into the surrounding Basque country.
Book your ferry trip to Bilbao with P&O Ferries now!
 Rioja Wine Region
Rioja, the internationally known wine region, is also home to culture and history, represented by San Millan de la Cogolla and Santo Domingo de la Calzada. In San Millan de la Cogolla you find the Monasteries of Suso and Yuso. Built in the 10th century, Suso has a church with Romanesque and Mozarabic features. Yuso, built between 16th and 18th century, has a church that is partly Renaissance with Baroque features.
Main production is of red wine. A highlight in the area is the town Haro, at the centre of Rioja Alta vineyards and the location of many bodegas offering tours of cellars and wine tasting. Also worth visiting is Laguardia, in Rioja Alavesa, a charming medieval town with fortified gateways and splendid views of the surrounding vineyards and the Sierra de Cantabria.
Vitoria
The pretty capital of the Basque Country and the seat of the Basque government. It was founded on a hill, where the Casco Viejo or old town stands now. The old town, shaped like an almond, has the lovely Plaza de la Virgen Blanca at its tip; a popular meeting point for every important event in the city. It has two Cathedrals, the Gothic New Cathedral located beside the Florida Park and the old Cathedral de Santa Maria found in the old town and undergoing a major restoration and excavation project. A visit to Vitoria would be incomplete without a visit to this Old Cathedral.
Some other architectural gems of the city are Los Arquillos, that were built between 1787 and 1792, and the adjoining Plaza de España, omnipresent in every city of the country. Worth a visit also is the Museo de Naipes where important collections of playing cards are kept in the old Fournier Playing card factory.
San Sebastian
San Sebastian or Donostia as it is known in the Basque language is gloriously situated around a shell-shaped bay, called Bahia de la Concha, protected from the Atlantic by a wooded islet, the Isla de Santa Clara. San Sebastian is considered the most elegant and fashionable Spanish seaside resort, as it became a popular resort in the late 19th century with the Spanish aristocracy.
Its old town, Parte Vieja, is fascinating, although none of the buildings predate 1813, when it was reconstructed after a devastating fire. This area is known for being the home of pintxos or Basque tapas, without doubt the very best in Spain.
La Concha beach and promenade is the most popular place in town for relaxing, strolling and people watching. Beyond the beach stands one of the greatest monuments of modern Spanish sculpture: Eduardo Chillida’s Peine de los Vientos (Comb of the Winds). Also of note in the city are the 19th century Ayuntamiento (town hall) and the Museo San Telmo.
Santander and the Cabarceno Nature Reserve
This is Cantabria’s capital with a bustling port. Once a summer resort for royals, it is a charming little city. The 12th century Cathedral was rebuilt in 1941, after a devastating fire. Worth visiting are the small zoo close to the Palace of Magdalena, the Museum of Archaeology and Prehistory, the beach at Sardinera, as well as simply soaking up the atmosphere of this attractive regional capital.
Afterwards travel a short distance south east of Santander and enjoy a visit to the splendid Cabarceno Nature Reserve featuring with wildlife from all over the world.
» Book a trip to Bilbao and you can visit all these fantastic destinations.
|
