Basque Country: Holiday Apartments and Holiday Homes

The Guggenheim Bilbao presents a dynamic programme of temporary exhibitions of modern and contemporary art. The UNESCO World Heritage extension includes the Coastal Route as well as the Inland Route through the Basque Country and La Rioja.

Renting a holiday apartment in the Basque Country is part of some travellers’ personal stay planning.

Culture

The Vizcaya Bridge preserves all the essential elements of the original construction that define it as a functioning transporter bridge. The Chillida-Leku Collection comprises 391 sculptures and more than 300 works on paper. The Chillida-Leku Museum displays almost 40 of the artist’s original sculptures on a 11-hectare site.

The collection of the Artium Museoa comprises Basque and Spanish contemporary art from the 1950s to the present day. Families can take part in activities at the Artium Museoa and use specially designated areas.

Coast and Nature

San Juan de Gaztelugatxe is connected to the coast between the coastal towns of Bakio and Bermeo by a stone bridge and a staircase with 241 steps. On the Basque coast, San Juan de Gaztelugatxe is designated as a protected biotope.

Urdaibai was designated a biosphere reserve by UNESCO in 1984. Ekoetxea Urdaibai has a viewpoint with a 360° panorama, from which the marsh can be seen.

On the Flysch Route, signs of events such as the great extinction of the dinosaurs can be identified in the rocks.

Routes and Activities

The GR 38 is 166 kilometres long in total. It follows a historic trade route along which fish was transported inland, and grain, salt, vinegar and wine were transported on the return journey.

Gorbeia offers opportunities for hiking, cycling and horse riding.

Wine and Salt

Salt has been produced continuously in the Valle Salado de Salinas de Añana for more than 7,000 years.

The Txakoli de Bakio experience includes visits to the vineyards, the bodega and the distillery, as well as tasting two Txakolis with an aperitif. Bodega Berroja offers wine tourism activities, tastings and gastronomy.

At the Centro Temático del Vino Villa Lucía in Laguardia, a wine route begins with an introductory course in wine tasting in Rioja Alavesa.

Getting There

For public transport to San Juan de Gaztelugatxe, line A3527 runs from Bilbao bus station (Termibus) towards Bermeo, stopping at San Juan de Gaztelugatxe. Line A3518 runs via Mungia towards Bakio and can be supplemented by a seasonal bus service or, in winter on weekdays, by a taxi bus.

Other destinations in the Basque Country: Abaltzisketa, Llodio, Zarautz, Bizkaia, Gipuzkoa, Alava, Larraul, Condado De Treviño.

For the overview of higher-level destinations: Spain.