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Things to do in
the Basque Country
& Navarra

Book the best tours, guided day trips and activities in Bilbao, San Sebastián, Vitoria, Pamplona, Rioja Alavesa and the Basque Coast. Secure online payment, instant e-voucher, free cancellation up to 24h before.

Things to do in Bilbao — Guggenheim Museum
Bilbao
Guggenheim · Old Town
 Things to do in San Sebastián — view from Monte Igueldo
San Sebastián
La Concha · Pintxos
 Day trip to San Juan de Gaztelugatxe
Gaztelugatxe
Game of Thrones · 241 steps
 Rioja Alavesa wineries and vineyards
Rioja
Wineries · Wine tasting
 Vitoria-Gasteiz — Plaza de la Virgen Blanca
Vitoria
Cathedral · Medieval town
 Pamplona — San Fermín Festival
Pamplona
San Fermín · Bull-run

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Top destinations in the Basque Country & Navarra

Pick the destination you want to explore. We show the top-rated activities in each city.

museum Bilbao surfing San Sebastián landscape Gaztelugatxe wine_bar Rioja wineries castle Vitoria celebration Pamplona
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Destination · Bizkaia

Things to do in Bilbao

The Guggenheim Museum, the Old Town, pintxos along Calle Somera and the Nervión riverside. The best of Bilbao in a weekend.

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Destination · Gipuzkoa

Things to do in San Sebastián / Donostia

La Concha beach, Mount Igueldo, pintxos in the Old Town and nearby fishing villages such as Getaria and Hondarribia.

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local_taxi Bilbao Airport ↔ San Sebastián taxi from €89 · 1h 15min door-to-door.

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Destination · Basque Coast

Gaztelugatxe, Bermeo & Mundaka

San Juan de Gaztelugatxe (the Game of Thrones chapel), the Urdaibai biosphere reserve and the fishing villages of Bermeo and Mundaka. A classic half-day trip from Bilbao.

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local_taxi Gaztelugatxe is 35 km from Bilbao Airport. Taxi to the city centre from €25 · fixed price, pay the driver.

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Destination · Álava

Rioja Alavesa wineries & wine tasting

Full-day trips from Bilbao to Rioja Alavesa wineries: Laguardia, Marqués de Riscal, Ysios… with wine tastings and traditional lunch included.

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Destination · Álava

Vitoria-Gasteiz, the green capital

The medieval old town, Santa María Cathedral (on the Camino de Santiago), the Green Belt and Álava gastronomy. Much less touristy — perfect for a quiet getaway.

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local_taxi Vitoria-Gasteiz is 65 km from Bilbao. Taxi from Bilbao Airport to the city centre from €25, pay the driver on arrival.

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Destination · Navarra

Pamplona, San Fermín Festival & Navarra

Walk the bull-run route, visit the Renaissance citadel, the Cathedral and Plaza del Castillo. Day trips combine with Olite Royal Palace and the Bardenas Reales desert.

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celebration San Fermín 2026? Bilbao Airport → Pamplona taxi from €190.

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Why book in advance

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Skip the line at the Guggenheim

In high season, the queue at the Guggenheim can reach 45 minutes. Online tickets get you priority access.

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Free cancellation 24h before

Most tours allow free cancellation up to 24h before the start time. Book risk-free even if your plans change.

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Instant e-voucher

You get an e-voucher by email at booking. Just show it on your phone to the guide or at the ticket office — no printing.

Travel guide to the Basque Country & Navarre

Everything you need to plan your trip: distances, best routes by car and what to see in each destination.

museum What to do in Bilbao in 2 days

Bilbao is the Basque Country's flagship destination thanks to the Guggenheim Museum by Frank Gehry (open since 1997). A weekend itinerary: day 1 — Guggenheim (skip-the-line online from €25), riverside walk along the Nervión, Calatrava's Zubizuri footbridge and pintxos for dinner along Calle Somera in the Old Town. Day 2 — La Ribera Market, Santiago Cathedral, Artxanda funicular and San Mamés (Athletic Club stadium).

How to get there: Taxi Bilbao Airport → City centre from €25 (15 min) · Bizkaibus A3247 from €1.70 (30-50 min).

beach_access San Sebastián in one day from Bilbao

Donostia is 100 km from Bilbao (1h 15min via AP-8). Must-sees: La Concha beach (one of the best urban beaches in the world), Mount Igueldo by funicular, the Old Town for a pintxos route (31 de Agosto and Fermín Calbetón streets) and Eduardo Chillida's Wind Comb. Three Michelin stars in town: Arzak, Akelarre and Martín Berasategui.

How to get there: Taxi Bilbao ↔ San Sebastián from €89 (fixed price, 1h 15min door-to-door) · ALSA train from €8 (1h 45min) · Organised day trip from €65.

landscape Gaztelugatxe & the Basque Coast

San Juan de Gaztelugatxe (Dragonstone in Game of Thrones) is 35 km from Bilbao. The climb has 241 steps to the chapel and takes about 25 minutes. Free access but reservation required. The classic half-day trip from Bilbao combines Gaztelugatxe + Bermeo (fishing harbour) + Mundaka (world-famous surf wave) + Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve.

Best time: May-October. Avoid Mondays (chapel closed) and rainy days (slippery steps).

wine_bar Rioja Alavesa wineries

Rioja Alavesa is 80 km from Bilbao (1h via AP-68). Top wineries: Marqués de Riscal (Frank Gehry hotel-winery, the must-do tour), Ysios (Calatrava architecture), Baigorri and Vivanco (wine museum). The medieval village of Laguardia and the enchanted Oma forest complete the day. Full-day tours include visits to 2-3 wineries, tasting and traditional lunch from €75.

Always book ahead: top wineries fill up weeks in advance, especially during harvest (September-October).

castle Vitoria-Gasteiz, the green capital

Vitoria-Gasteiz is the Basque Country's capital and is 65 km from Bilbao. Must-sees: the almond-shaped Medieval Old Town (one of the best preserved in Spain), Santa María Cathedral (which inspired Ken Follett's The Pillars of the Earth), Plaza de la Virgen Blanca, the Green Belt (210 km of trails around the city) and Chillida's Plaza de los Fueros. European Green Capital 2012, far less touristy than Bilbao or Donostia.

When to go: any time. The Virgen Blanca festival (4-9 August) is the city's biggest party.

celebration Pamplona, San Fermín & Navarre

Pamplona is 160 km from Bilbao (1h 45min via AP-68 and A-21). Must-sees: the San Fermín bull-run route (875 metres from Santo Domingo to the bullring), Plaza del Castillo, Café Iruña (frequented by Hemingway), Renaissance citadel and the Cathedral. Day trips from Pamplona: Olite (medieval royal palace) and Bardenas Reales (semi-desert, featured in Game of Thrones and The World Is Not Enough).

San Fermín 2026: 6-14 July. Taxi Bilbao Airport → Pamplona from €190.

Distances and times from Bilbao Airport (BIO)

Destination Distance Drive time Fixed-price taxi
Bilbao city centre14 km15-20 minfrom €25
Getxo / Las Arenas22 km25 minfrom €32
San Juan de Gaztelugatxe35 km45 minfrom €55
Vitoria-Gasteiz65 km50 minfrom €85
Laguardia (Rioja)95 km1h 15 minfrom €110
San Sebastián / Donostia100 km1h 15 minfrom €89
Pamplona / Iruña160 km1h 45 minfrom €190

Frequently asked questions

How do I book an activity in Bilbao or the Basque Country? expand_more

Search for your destination or activity, pick a date and number of travellers, and complete the booking online. You'll receive an e-voucher by email — just show it (on phone or printed) at the meeting point. Bookings are handled by GetYourGuide, Europe's largest activities marketplace.

Can I cancel if my plans change? expand_more

Yes. Most activities offer free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start time. Each tour clearly states its cancellation policy before booking.

Are the tours available in English? expand_more

Yes — most tours in Bilbao, San Sebastián, Pamplona and the Basque Country are available in English, Spanish, French, German and Italian. Filter by language before booking.

What are the must-do activities in Bilbao for a weekend? expand_more

The three most booked: 1) Guggenheim Museum with skip-the-line tickets, 2) Pintxos tour through the Old Town with drinks included, and 3) Day trip to San Juan de Gaztelugatxe with stops in Bermeo and Mundaka.

How do I get from Bilbao Airport to the tour meeting point? expand_more

A private taxi with fixed price from Bilbao Airport (BIO) to the city centre costs from €25 per vehicle (up to 4 passengers), takes 15-20 minutes and drops you directly at your hotel or tour meeting point.

Can I visit Rioja Alavesa wineries on a day trip? expand_more

Yes — full-day tours from Bilbao to Rioja Alavesa include guided visits to 2-3 wineries, wine tastings and traditional lunch. It's 80 km (1h by car) from Bilbao.

Is payment online or on-site? expand_more

Activities are booked and paid online with secure checkout. This differs from the taxi: airport taxis are paid to the driver on arrival, but activities require advance payment to guarantee your spot.

How much is a Guggenheim Bilbao ticket? expand_more

Guggenheim Bilbao tickets cost from €18 (adults), €9 students and free for under-12s. Skip-the-line tickets with audioguide usually cost €25-30 online and let you skip queues of up to 45 minutes in peak season. The museum is closed on Mondays.

How many steps does Gaztelugatxe have? expand_more

San Juan de Gaztelugatxe has 241 steps from the base to the hermitage at the top of the islet. The climb takes 20-30 minutes at a normal pace. Access is free but requires a prior reservation on the official Bermeo town hall website. Organised day trips from Bilbao already include this booking.

When is the San Fermín Festival 2026 in Pamplona? expand_more

The San Fermín Festival 2026 runs from 6 to 14 July in Pamplona. The first running of the bulls is on 7 July at 8:00 am and lasts about 3 minutes along an 875-metre route from Santo Domingo to the bullring. It's the most international fiesta in Spain. Taxi from Bilbao Airport to Pamplona from €190.

What to do in San Sebastián in one day? expand_more

In one day in San Sebastián you can: walk along La Concha beach, take the funicular up Monte Igueldo, visit the Old Town, do a pintxos route through 31 de Agosto and Fermín Calbetón streets, see Eduardo Chillida's Wind Comb and dine at the port. Distance from Bilbao is 100 km (1h 15min by car).

When is the best time to visit the Basque Country? expand_more

The best time to visit the Basque Country is May to October, with mild temperatures (15-25°C) and less rain. July and August are the busiest months (San Fermín, Bilbao's Aste Nagusia, Donostia's Semana Grande). May, June and September offer the best balance between weather and lower crowds. In winter the green landscape is spectacular but it rains often.

How to get from Bilbao to Gaztelugatxe? expand_more

Gaztelugatxe is 35 km from Bilbao (45 minutes by car via the BI-2101). By public transport take Bizkaibus A3517 from Bilbao to Bakio (1h 15min) and walk 2.5 km to the trailhead. The easiest option is an organised day trip from Bilbao (€45-60/person) including transport, guide and stops at Bermeo, Mundaka and the Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve.

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Arriving at Bilbao Airport?

Book your fixed-price taxi to reach your hotel or directly the tour meeting point. No online payment, no surprises. Available 24/7.

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