Gourmet Basque Country

Known for its fantastic culinary scene, the Basque Country offers the perfect escape for food lovers. Taste your way around the region, enjoying mouth-watering pintxos and Michelin-starred meals in San Sebastian, followed by delicious wines in La Rioja.

1. Fly to Bilbao

2. Days 1-2: Bilbao, Spain

   Begin your journey around the Basque Country in Bilbao, the region's epicentre for art and culture. Once an industrial city, Bilbao has been transformed in recent years to showcase a fantastic array of contemporary architecture. A highlight of the city, and playing a huge role in its revitalisation, is the Guggenheim Museum. Designed by renowned architect Frank Gehry, the spellbinding design of the museum dominates Bilbao's river front, while inside the museum boasts a huge collection of modern artwork.

   Accommodation: Gran Hotel Domine Bilbao (1 night)

3. Days 2-5: San Sebastian, Spain

   Spend a night at the Gran Hotel Domine Bilbao before continuing east to San Sebastian, the more elegant of the Basque cities, full of old-world charm and glamour. A real haven for foodies, this is where traditional pintxo bars sit alongside Michelin-starred restaurants, tucked away behind the sophisticated Belle Époque façades of the San Sebastian's Old Quarter. Stay for three nights at Hotel Maria Cristina, a true San Sebastian landmark and the city's most iconic hotel.

   Using this historic hotel as your base, discover the very best that San Sebastian has to offer. Spend evenings meeting the locals in the city's favourite pintxo bars, or you could even get an invitation to lunch at one of San Sebastian's mysterious members-only Gastronomic Societies. For a hands-on experience of the city's renowned culinary scene, try a masterclass at Hotel Maria Cristina's cooking school, where you could learn the techniques behind Michelin-worthy dishes, or how to cook like a true local.

   Venturing out of the city, the Basque Country is home to picturesque fishing villages and hilltop towns. Spend a day exploring the cobbled streets of charming Getaria and tasting local ciders in a traditional, authentic cider house.

   Accommodation: Hotel Maria Cristina (3 nights)

4. Days 5-7: Elciego, Spain

   After exploring the coast, it's time to head inland to the vineyards of La Rioja. One of the most celebrated wine regions in the world, here medieval villages are tucked away beneath towering mountains and hidden among lush forests, and there is a new winery to be found around every corner. Spend two nights at the dramatic Hotel Marques de Riscal, Frank Gehry's contemporary Rioja masterpiece. The fascinating colour-changing exterior pays homage to the surrounding vineyards, and while the architecture is a modernist sensation, Marques de Riscal also boasts the title of La Rioja's oldest winery. The perfect setting to learn about the winemaking process, guests can spend days exploring the hotel's cellar or venturing out to other wineries in the region.

   Accommodation: Hotel Marques de Riscal (2 nights)

5. Fly home from Bilbao

• La Rioja wine region

  Explore the famed Rioja wine region on a full-day tour of the area. Known for producing some of Europe's best wines, here you'll have the chance to visit boutique wineries and sample some of the local products.

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• Private tour of Bilbao

  Once an industrial city, Bilbao has been transformed in recent years into a hub for art and architecture. Explore the best of the city, from the traditional architecture to the more contemporary, culminating in the iconic Guggenheim Museum.

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Bilbao, San Sebastian & La Rioja