Circuit at your own pace the Basque Country

Day 1. ORIGIN - SAN SEBASTIAN

Upon arrival at the chosen hotel, we will check-in and get to know the local culture.

We will take this day as free time to pack our luggage and relax with a walk and a good overview of the city and its streets. After this free afternoon we will return to the hotel to have strength and be well rested for the next day with more movement.

Day 2. San Sebastian

We will have breakfast at the hotel and at the agreed time we will go to tour the city on a guided tour. We will get to know the places that we cannot miss, such as the Town Hall, the Port, the Plaza de la Constitución, the San Telmo Museum or the Alderdi Eder Gardens, among many others.

We will eat in the area to enjoy the local gastronomy. The high-quality local raw material and dishes that mix tradition with innovation stand out, which has led them to great international recognition. Suffice it to say that tapas, typical of all of Spain, were reinvented here under the name of pintxos, highlighting among many others those whose main element is anchovies such as Gilda.

After lunch, we will have the afternoon free to stroll through the city quietly or relive what we liked the most before returning to the hotel to spend the night.

Day 3. Pasajes - Hondarribia - Guetaria - Tolosa - Vitoria

We will have breakfast today at the selected accommodation and we will check-out since today we will rest in Vitoria. But first we will make an excursion to the most beautiful places in the surroundings of San Sebastian.

Our first stop of the day will be Pasajes, a very unique municipality made up of four towns: San Pedro, San Juan, Antxo and Trintxerpe. In our particular case, we will focus on the second, San Juan or Pasai Donibane, since it is perhaps the one that stands out the most for its extensive cultural heritage. It draws attention for its colorful houses with maritime architecture, in one of which the famous French writer Victor Hugo stayed.

Then we will head towards Hondarribia to the east of the province. It is a walled city with a lot of charm and a picturesque old town that allows it to boast of being the most beautiful town in the province. We cannot miss the Marina neighborhood either, where you can discover its culinary scene, and its beach.

From here we will return to the western coast of Gipuzkoa passing San Sebastián to get to Guetaria. This town is cloistered between the sea and the slopes full of vines. Its Txakoli wine is part of the Getariako Txakolia Denomination of Origin. And it is that apart from its historical heritage, Guetaria stands out for its gastronomy; We can't stop trying their grilled wild fish.

Leaving the coast, the last point before reaching Vitoria will be the town of Tolosa, the former capital of the province. Its buildings and monuments are an example of its importance in times past, in the days when it was an old town on the routes between the different Navarrese and Castilian kingdoms and the Cantabrian ports. We especially recommend visiting the Tinglado market, one of the most representative in the entire Basque Country.

Finally, we will head to our final destination of the day, Vitoria-Gasteiz, where we will check-in at the assigned accommodation and relax after this long day.

Day 4. Vitoria-Gasteiz - Bilbao

Once we get up we will enjoy a splendid breakfast at the hotel and later we will check-out since today we will rest in Bilbao.

But first we will spend the day exploring the streets of this city. We will focus on the network of streets of the medieval old town.

The route that we suggest to follow begins at the Cathedral of Santa María, located in the heart of this old town, from here we will go down to the Plaza de la Burullería, located on an old necropolis, which takes its name from the trade of weaving sacks. The surrounding buildings give it its medieval appearance. We will continue towards the Plaza del Machete, whose curious name originates from the Vitorian machete on which the representatives of the city swore their positions. Later we will stop at the Plaza de la Virgen Blanca, surrounded by white houses with balconies and with a monument in memory of the Battle of Vitoria, it has become a meeting point in the city. Finally, we will arrive at the New Cathedral, in a neo-Gothic style that began to be built in 1904 when the old one was left small for the needs of the city.

When it comes to eating in Vitoria, we suggest local legume dishes such as Vitorian stew or Vitorian broad beans, vegetables and mushrooms such as perretxikos and stuffed pencas or desserts such as goxua

Finished our route through Vitoria we will continue our way to Bilbao where we will check-in at our assigned hotel.

Day 5. Bilbao

When we are ready and have finished breakfast in our accommodation, we will start our day wandering the streets of Bilbao at our own pace.

Half an hour before boarding time we will show up at the agreed place where we will start our boat tour of Bilbao. We will make a round trip from the Plaza de Pio Baroja to the Deusto canal with an audio guide to attend to the explanations of everything that we are observing from the monuments such as the famous Guggenheim to some of the bridges that cross its estuary.

Once we finish, we will eat in the city from which several of the best chefs in Spain have come. Some of the most characteristic dishes would be: eels Bilbao style, txampis in various forms, cod al pil, purrusalda and Bilbao canutillos for dessert.

With the afternoon free ahead of us, we will be able to see what we liked the most on foot from the estuary or explore new areas.

The original core of the town is the Seven Streets, where Bilbao reveals its ancient essence, as they are the same ones that the people of Bilbao walked more than seven centuries ago. These seven streets will usually be equated with the Old Town of Bilbao, although it includes much more. Its heart is the Plaza Nueva, built in the 19th century, whose arches are today the meeting point of the city.

Other points that are worth taking a look at are the Arenal, an open space to wander calmly or the Azkuna Zentroa, the city's cultural center supported by 43 columns that serve as a journey through the history of art.

Ready for a good rest, we will go back to our hotel to spend our first night in the city.

Day 6. Guernica - Elanchove - Bermeo - San Juan de Gaztelugatxe - Butrón Castle

Second sunrise at our accommodation in Bilbao, we will have breakfast to gather strength as we will have a long and wonderful day around the city.

The first point will be Guernica. It has been considered the symbol of Basque identity for centuries since, according to tradition, all the laws of the territory were decided in the shadow of the Tree of Guernica. Several kings swore their Fueros under its branches, as testified by a painting that is preserved in the Casa de Juntas and that represents the moment in which Fernando el Católico did so. Currently, the Lehndakaris swear their positions in front of this tree and the General Assemblies of Vizcaya are held in the Casa de Juntas.

We will continue to Elanchove. This small town had its origins as a fishing neighborhood in neighboring Ibarrangelua. At the top of the mountain, sailors lived who went down to the port every day to fish. Wanting to be as close as possible to his workplace, the hillside was soon filled with houses until the town became independent. Its narrow and steep streets are made up of traditional Basque houses. In the highest area there is a viewpoint from which you can enjoy exceptional views.

Back on the road we will arrive at Bermeo, this town is one of the fishing ports of the historical territory. It is a municipality with a unique charm; We will investigate its old town and have some pintxos in the old port. We will also go up to La Tala, a magnificent grove that is in the highest part of the municipality and from where the families of the sailors watched the horizon. But if Bermeo is known for something, it is for its hermitage. Within the municipality and just 8 kilometers from the town we find the second most visited place in the province, San Juan de Gaztelugatxe. This hermitage located on an impressive islet is accessed by 241 steps and the views of rock, sea and wind are magical. We must take into account that to get there it is necessary to get a free ticket in advance given the high number of people who want to access.

Our last stop on the way back to Bilbao is the Butrón Castle. This castle is of medieval origin and neo-Gothic style but it has nothing to do with the castles of the rest of Spain from the same period since it was conceived with a design similar to that of the Bavarian castles. Unfortunately it is closed to the public, but it is still worth approaching it to admire it from the outside.

Back in Bilbao we will go to our hotel to spend the night.

Day 7. BILBAO - POINT OF ORIGIN

After breakfast, we will check-out at the hotel and end our getaway.

We wish you a good trip back and that you have enjoyed these days.

• In case of traveling with your own car, the meeting point will be the first accommodation.
• Check-in: Since 12:00 a.m., at your choice.

• It is advisable to always wear comfortable clothing and comfortable shoes in any type of experience and visit. Some of the routes are longer than others and it would be a good idea to plan departure times well in advance.
• Be careful on the road, the trip and visits are enjoyed more calmly and on time.
• There is a possibility of change this itinerary if you wish in case you come with your own car.

• 7 days / 6 nights in bed and breakfast basis 
• 2 nights in San Sebastián
• 1 night in  Vitoria-Gasteiz
• 3 nights in Bilbao
• Guided tour of San Sebastián
• River tour of Bilbao
• Free Cancellation Insurance (up to 30 coverages)

HOW TO FORMALISE YOUR RESERVATION

Our travel agency advised to book minimum 15 days in advance for a better management. It remains feasible to book this gateway although is made less than 15 days. However it is advisable to do it with more time in advance.

A deposit of 60€ will be required so as to formalise the reservation.

Once your reservation has been formalised, shortly after, our team will be in contact with you to specify all of the details. Once the reservation is finalised, we will send you all the information for your compliance.

Once all the services have been booked and confirmed, the client must make full payment minus the deposit paid in advance, 15 days before the beginning date. In case the reservation has been formalised less than 15 days before starting date, the client must paid in full the total amount

NO CANCELLATION FEE up to 7 days before beginning date. In this case, we will refund the total amount paid as deposit. Up to 7 days before the start date, there is no cancellation fee. In the unlikely event that it gets cancel, the deposit will get refund in full.

If you require any further information, please contact us via email info@getingalicia.com or mobile/whatsapp (+34) 639 935 925  

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