Top Places in the Basque Country — A Local's Guide

Gaztelugatxe
A rocky island connected to the shore by a winding bridge. Recognize it? That's right — it's Dragonstone from Game of Thrones.
Free entry, but without a reservation in season you won't get in. Book in advance — you'll have 15 minutes before and 60 minutes after your time slot.
The path is physically demanding. Best time to visit — spring or autumn when it's not hot. Bring water. Allow 2.5-3 hours for the full visit.
Zumaia — the open book of the Earth
A nice town, but the real highlight is the coastline. The flysch — dramatic cliff formations where each rock layer represents roughly one million years of Earth's history.
Insider tip: look for the thin black stripe in the rock. That's the boundary — the moment the dinosaurs went extinct.
Another tip: come in the first half of the day at low tide — the views are dramatically better. And make sure you climb to the top — the ocean panorama is worth every step.
You can get here by car or public transport — trains and buses run here.
Also: season 7 of Game of Thrones was filmed here.
San Sebastián
The most expensive city in Spain — but when people say that, they rarely specify what exactly. Real estate — yes, the most expensive. But eating at a bar or restaurant, finding accommodation for a few days — there are options for every budget.
The highest concentration of Michelin stars per capita in the world. Not in Spain — in the world.
Worth visiting. No question.
Hondarribia
Less known than San Sebastián, which only makes it more interesting. A border town with France, colorful houses, an old quarter.
And one specific reason to stop by — Bar Gran Sol. A café that regularly wins awards for the best pintxos. Go.
La Rhune — a train to the border of two countries (France)
An under-the-radar place most people don't know about. A vintage wooden train takes you up a mountain right on the border of Spain and France. The train itself is an attraction. At the top — a 360-degree panorama. Absolutely stunning.
Ticket around €26.
Insider tip: get seats facing the mountain, not the ocean. The views are far better — personally tested.
Getting here by public transport is possible but tricky. Better by car.
Laguardia — the city with a whole world beneath it
A fortress city with walls that still stand today. It survived many sieges. But Laguardia's main feature is under your feet.
The entire city is threaded with kilometers of tunnels. Once used as shelters from enemies. Now — wine cellars and vaults.
Insider tip: stop into Restaurante Los Parajes. For €4 you'll drink wine straight from a cave. Seriously.
Technically this is already Rioja — but geographically it's the edge of the Basque Country. Don't skip it.

Want to cover all these places in 5 days? Check out our ready-made itineraries — BASQUE COUNTRY IN 5 DAYS by car and without.