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The Basque Country, or Euskadi, is easy to explore on a week-long trip: it’s about a two-hour drive from La Concha Bay to the vineyards of Rioja Alavesa. Within that distance are three very different provincial capitals, a coastline of cliffs and fishing ports, and a food scene that makes the trip worthwhile.
Choosing where to stay in the Basque Country means deciding how much importance to give the sea, the cities and the wine. On our page of places to stay in the Basque Country, 367 places make the cut, half of them hotels, and one in four is in San Sebastián. Here are fourteen places, which we picked one by one, across six bases.
How to choose an area
Distances are short, but each base makes for a different trip:
- San Sebastián: three urban beaches, the Old Town and the Gipuzkoa coast.
- Bilbao: the Guggenheim, the estuary and the Old Town, with metro access to the sea.
- Vitoria-Gasteiz: a green, laid-back capital with a medieval old town.
- Laguardia: a walled town among the vineyards, in the heart of Rioja Alavesa.
- Hondarribia: city walls and a fishing quarter facing the French coast.
- Getaria: a harbour, txakoli wine and grilled fish.
For a first visit, the classic combination is San Sebastián and Bilbao. If you have a few days to spare, add Vitoria and a night among the vineyards in Laguardia; if you’d rather be by the sea, swap a city for a coastal town.
San Sebastián
San Sebastián, Donostia in Basque, is built around La Concha Bay, between Mount Urgull and Mount Igueldo. The Old Town is the place for pintxos, Gros faces Zurriola Beach and its surfers, and Ondarreta closes off the bay beside the Peine del Viento sculptures. We cover it neighbourhood by neighbourhood in our guide to where to stay in San Sebastián; see all the options among the places to stay in San Sebastián.
The Film Festival takes place every September, and in 2027 it celebrates its 75th edition: beds book up quickly during those dates. If you’re driving, the outskirts offer parking that’s scarce near the beach. Here are our three picks:
Hotel Villa Favorita - Adults Only
Designed for couples: it’s adults-only and La Concha is about 360 m away. Several rooms have sea views or a terrace, and there’s a 24-hour reception and room service. Breakfast and nearby parking cost extra.
Hotel Villa Soro
Two classic buildings, one dating from 1898 and listed as historic heritage, with rooms featuring distinctive decor. Free bikes are available for the 1,1 km ride to Zurriola, and there’s a gym. Parking costs extra, and family rooms accommodate three people.
Heredad de Unanue
A good choice if you’re exploring Gipuzkoa by car: it’s on the outskirts, with a garden, terrace and free private parking, with no reservation needed. Chillida Leku is 870 m away. There’s a 29 m² family room and a double room accessible to wheelchair users; breakfast costs extra, and it’s best to arrive before 21:30.
Bilbao
Bilbao grew along its estuary and is easy to explore on foot from end to end: the Old Town and its Seven Streets, the Ensanche district of Abando and Abandoibarra, where the Guggenheim Museum turns 30 in October 2027 and is preparing a new presentation of its collection for that autumn. Find the full guide in our article on where to stay in Bilbao, and more options among the places to stay in Bilbao.
The metro reaches the sea at Getxo, beside the Bizkaia Bridge, and by car you’re close to Bermeo, San Juan de Gaztelugatxe and the Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve, including Mundaka. Bilbao BBK Live returns from 8 to 10 July 2027. Here are three places, from the Old Town to the museum:
GOIEN BOUTIQUE HOTEL
Step outside and you’re in the Seven Streets, with San Antón 50 m away and La Ribera 90 m away. There’s a buffet breakfast, a bar and, for groups, a two-bedroom penthouse. Latest check-in is 21:00, and there’s nowhere to park.
The Artist Grand Hotel of Art
If you’re visiting for the Guggenheim, this five-star hotel is 100 m away. Enjoy breakfast on the rooftop with the city at your feet, plus two restaurants, a gym, a sauna and a hammam. Breakfast and the garage cost extra, and accessibility for people with reduced mobility is partial.
Mood Bilbao Apartamentos - New & Special
Apartments with a bedroom, living room and space for four, ideal for families who prefer to cook: they have an oven, hob and washing machine. Uribarri and Matiko metro stations are about 250 m away. There’s no parking, and pets need prior permission.
Vitoria-Gasteiz
Vitoria-Gasteiz, the Basque capital, is the most laid-back of the three cities. Its almond-shaped medieval old town climbs up to the Cathedral of Santa María, with Plaza de la Virgen Blanca and the Ensanche district at its foot. It was European Green Capital in 2012 and is surrounded by the Green Belt, a network of parks for walking and cycling. See all the options among the places to stay in Vitoria.
It’s also a gateway to Rioja Alavesa and Gorbea, with Murguía at the foot of the mountain. From 17 to 19 June 2027, the Azkena Rock Festival celebrates its 25th edition at Mendizabala, and every 4 August the descent of Celedón marks the start of the Virgen Blanca festivities. Two places with kitchens:
Kora Green City - Aparthotel Passivhaus
Studios with kitchens about 450 m from the train station, convenient if you arrive without a car. There’s a seasonal outdoor pool, a gym, yoga and bike hire for exploring the Green Belt. The garage costs extra, and quiet hours are from 22:00 to 08:00.
Vitoria-Gasteiz magnífica casa
A 190 m² home with three bedrooms and three bathrooms for groups of up to five, plus a fully equipped kitchen, balcony and terrace overlooking the city. Free parking is available nearby in a public car park; check-in is from 15:00 to 22:00, and you need to let them know in advance.
Laguardia and Rioja Alavesa
Laguardia sits on a hill among vineyards, at the foot of the Sierra de Cantabria. Inside the city walls, the Church of Santa María de los Reyes has a polychrome Gothic portico, while an old network of wine cellars carved into the rock extends beneath the houses. Nearby are renowned wineries such as Ysios, designed by Calatrava, and Marqués de Riscal in Elciego, designed by Gehry. Find places to stay in the town among the accommodation in Laguardia.
In September, before the harvest, the Rioja Alavesa Grape Harvest Festival moves to a different town each year: it began in Laguardia in 1994 and celebrates grape treading and the first must. A car is almost essential here, and our two houses have free parking nearby:
El Retiro del Obispo
Somewhere between a hotel and an apartment: every room has a kitchen with an oven and dishwasher, and a terrace or balcony overlooking the town and mountains. One pet is allowed for an extra charge, and there’s free parking nearby, with no reservation needed; parties aren’t allowed.
KEY HOUSE
Four bedrooms for families or groups of up to eight, with a fully equipped kitchen, washing machine and a terrace overlooking the garden and mountains. The surroundings are ideal for hiking and horse riding. The upper floors are accessible by stairs only, and parking is public.
Hondarribia
Hondarribia faces France across Txingudi Bay. The walled upper town climbs to Plaza de Armas and Charles V Castle; below, La Marina is lined with fishermen’s houses with colourful balconies and pintxos bars. A boat crosses to Hendaye in minutes, and Mount Jaizkibel offers trails along the cliffs. Find more options among the places to stay in Hondarribia and in neighbouring Irún, which has a train station.
San Sebastián Airport is in the town itself, and Donostia is about 20 km away. Every 8 September, the Alarde parade winds through the streets in honour of the Virgin of Guadalupe. Two peaceful places to stay:
Villa Magalean Hotel & Spa
A four-star hotel with a spa and massages, close to the old town and several beaches. Rooms are soundproofed, suites have living rooms and terraces, and there’s an electric-car charging point, available by reservation. The spa is closed on Sundays and Mondays, parking costs extra, and there are no extra beds.
Villa Higer
Three bedrooms for six people, with a garden, barbecue, terrace and hot tub to round off the day. There’s a fully equipped kitchen and free private parking. Wi-Fi is only available in the shared areas, and parties aren’t allowed.
Getaria and the Gipuzkoa coast
Getaria is a fishing port overlooking the Bay of Biscay, and the birthplace of Juan Sebastián Elcano and Cristóbal Balenciaga, whose museum stands in the upper part of town. Its skyline is shaped by Mount San Antón, nicknamed the “mouse”, and its streets are all about grilled fish and txakoli wine. Find places to stay in town among the accommodation in Getaria.
To one side is Zarautz, home to one of the longest beaches on the Basque coast; to the other, Zumaia and its flysch, the rock strata of the Basque Coast Geopark, which continues to Deba and Mutriku. Two places with sea views:
Hotel Iturregi
A four-star hotel with a garden, seasonal outdoor pool and rooms overlooking the sea, mountains or garden. There’s free private parking, and the Balenciaga Museum and coastal trails are close by. You need to arrive before 21:00, and the free Wi-Fi doesn’t reach the rooms.
Katrapona
A guesthouse opposite Malkorbe Beach, with a terrace and buffet breakfast. Some rooms have balconies overlooking the sea, and the largest sleeps four; nearby, you can go snorkelling, kayaking and hiking. There’s no parking, and check-in is from 14:00 to 19:30.
When to visit the Basque Country
The coast has an Atlantic climate, while Álava is a little more continental: it’s green all year, with rainfall throughout the year and mild summers. June and September bring long days and good weather with fewer visitors than August; in Rioja Alavesa, autumn during the grape harvest is the best time to visit.
Some dates fill up accommodation: Vitoria’s Azkena Rock in June, Bilbao BBK Live and San Sebastián’s Jazzaldia in July, the Semana Grande festivals in August and the Film Festival in September. Also, from 1 January 2027, Basque municipalities can charge a tourist tax per person per night; San Sebastián, Bilbao, Vitoria and Laguardia have already prepared their local regulations, so check whether it’s included in the price.
Getting there and getting around
The airport with the most connections is Bilbao Airport in Loiu; San Sebastián Airport in Hondarribia mainly serves Madrid and Barcelona, while Biarritz is about 50 km from Donostia. Long-distance trains arrive at Bilbao-Abando, Vitoria and San Sebastián’s North Station, and Euskotren’s Topo line connects Donostia with Irún and Hendaye.
Bilbao and San Sebastián are just over an hour apart by motorway, with frequent buses; Bilbao to Vitoria takes less than an hour. For the coast, from Lekeitio to Getaria, and for Rioja Alavesa, a car makes all the difference: public transport runs less frequently. In the cities, leave the car parked and get around on foot.
This is our general guide to the Basque Country. For a neighbourhood-by-neighbourhood guide, see where to stay in Bilbao and where to stay in San Sebastián.
Frequently asked questions
What travellers planning a trip around Euskadi ask us most often.
What’s the best area to stay in the Basque Country?
It depends on your trip. San Sebastián is the most all-round base for beaches, pintxos and the coast; Bilbao is best for art and city life, with metro access to the sea. Vitoria is a relaxed capital and a gateway to Rioja Alavesa, where Laguardia lets you stay among the vineyards. If you prefer seaside towns, Hondarribia and Getaria are half an hour from Donostia. For a first visit, combine San Sebastián and Bilbao.
Is it better to stay in Bilbao or San Sebastián?
If you’re choosing just one base, San Sebastián is better for beaches and food, while Bilbao is better for museums and a more urban pace. They’re just over an hour apart by car or bus, so many travellers split their stay between the two. Bilbao has the airport with the most flights and the Guggenheim, which turns 30 in October 2027; San Sebastián fills up earlier in summer and during the Film Festival.
Do you need a car to explore the Basque Country?
Not for the cities: Bilbao, San Sebastián and Vitoria are well connected by train and bus, and you can get around each on foot or by metro, tram or the Topo. A car is useful for Rioja Alavesa, the coast between Getaria and Lekeitio, and the inland areas. If you bring one, check the parking: it’s scarce and usually paid for in city centres, while places to stay in Laguardia, Getaria and the outskirts of Donostia may have free parking.
When should you book furthest in advance?
The busiest dates are August, during Bilbao and San Sebastián’s Semana Grande festivals, and September, during the Donostia Film Festival, which celebrates its 75th edition in 2027. Festival dates also fill up: Vitoria’s Azkena Rock, from 17 to 19 June 2027, and Bilbao BBK Live, from 8 to 10 July 2027. Bear in mind that from January 2027, municipalities can charge a tourist tax per person per night.
Where should you stay for a wine route in Rioja Alavesa?
Laguardia is the most convenient base: a walled town on top of a hill, with wine cellars beneath the houses and wineries such as Ysios or Marqués de Riscal in Elciego just a few minutes away. Staying in the area means you won’t have to drive after wine tastings, and the two houses we recommend have free parking nearby. Vitoria, about 45 minutes away, is the urban alternative. Autumn, during the grape harvest, is the best time to visit.
