Spanish Basque Country Food and Drink Tour
Discussion
I'm starting to plan a Food and Drink focused tour of the Spanish Basque Country. Currently, my plan is to tour via public transport (trains and buses) as we won't be using the car except to travel between towns / cities, so there isn't really any need to take it.
The tour will be a mix of places we've been to, know quite well and really like, coupled with places we've never been to, but have either read good things about them on here or seen them featured on travel shows.
Currently I have a long list of destinations, but currently they don't make for a very logical tour, and there are too many destinations for even a 3 week trip. The purpose of this thread is to try and whittle down the list to a more manageable number. However, I am aware that places could also be added to the list. I'd love to hear opinions (positive and negative) on any / all of the following places
Haro
Hondarribia
Ainsa
Borgos
Deba
Pamplona
Zarautz
Santona
We will also be including the following, but we've been to these places enough times to know that we definitely want to include them on this tour
San Sebastian
Logrono - (not strictly Basque, but still)
Bilbao
Santander
The tour will be a mix of places we've been to, know quite well and really like, coupled with places we've never been to, but have either read good things about them on here or seen them featured on travel shows.
Currently I have a long list of destinations, but currently they don't make for a very logical tour, and there are too many destinations for even a 3 week trip. The purpose of this thread is to try and whittle down the list to a more manageable number. However, I am aware that places could also be added to the list. I'd love to hear opinions (positive and negative) on any / all of the following places
Haro
Hondarribia
Ainsa
Borgos
Deba
Pamplona
Zarautz
Santona
We will also be including the following, but we've been to these places enough times to know that we definitely want to include them on this tour
San Sebastian
Logrono - (not strictly Basque, but still)
Bilbao
Santander
I’ve done hondariba and Pamplona .
Hondariba is lovely but the bit you’ll see is quite small , a night will be sufficient and the tapas was excellent . Pamplona is a good size city , best visited during the bull run festival , don’t be put off by the drunkenness and party crowd , it’s really not as bad as it’s reported .
We were there a few years ago for the last weekend of the San Fermin festival and it was great , after the actual running of the bulls there’s a lot of entertainment and a late afternoon parade and fireworks later in the evening , all free .
It was quite bizarre to leave Pamplona on Monday morning after the festival had finished and see it as a regular working city .
Hondariba is lovely but the bit you’ll see is quite small , a night will be sufficient and the tapas was excellent . Pamplona is a good size city , best visited during the bull run festival , don’t be put off by the drunkenness and party crowd , it’s really not as bad as it’s reported .
We were there a few years ago for the last weekend of the San Fermin festival and it was great , after the actual running of the bulls there’s a lot of entertainment and a late afternoon parade and fireworks later in the evening , all free .
It was quite bizarre to leave Pamplona on Monday morning after the festival had finished and see it as a regular working city .
Eating our way through the Basque country is something we are very fond of and we've been to the below:
Haro - Book ahead at Restaurante Terete. They do a set menu featuring a rugby team worth of slow cooked mutton done in a wood oven under a bell. They have their own vineyard - upgrade to the bottle of Rioja Reserva for the extra 10EUR - ours was a bottle of '94.
Hondarribia - There are two zones of pintxos places - in the old medieval part of town and along San Pedroa Kalea down in the colourful fisherman's quarter. Bar Gran Sol Hondarribia was our favourite but filled up seconds after opening time.
Ainsa - very beautiful and charismatic little hilltop town. I can't remember where we've eaten but we've been there twice so we must like it! Pub L' Abrevadero does craft beer down a cute alley.
Borgos - Eat tapas of the famous morcilla in their numerous Vermuterias washed down with the vermouth! It seemed like a wonderful town with a cracking cathedral. Make time for the fascinating museum of human evolution. Restaurante Casa Ojeda is famous for good reason.
Pamplona - buzzy student vibes and loads of pintxos options - we spent one evening here though so I can't offer any help. Have a quick drink in Café Iruña for the history, it's one of those places that is touristy but still genuine and full of locals.
Santoña - the home of the best anchovies in the world and the Spanish Anchovy World Championship! Eat them all and stock up on cans to bring home too.
Other options:
Laguardia - another beautiful medieval hilltop town, this time in the middle of Rioja so covered in wineries. Do the tour at Bodega El Fabulista which is the last one still making the wine in the old town. Thanks to M11rph for the recommendation.
Jaca - Bigger mountain town with lots of good restaurant options. Makes a great base for the amazing roads in the area (although I know you're not driving).
I don't think we're getting out there this year - TAKE ME TOO!!
Haro - Book ahead at Restaurante Terete. They do a set menu featuring a rugby team worth of slow cooked mutton done in a wood oven under a bell. They have their own vineyard - upgrade to the bottle of Rioja Reserva for the extra 10EUR - ours was a bottle of '94.
Hondarribia - There are two zones of pintxos places - in the old medieval part of town and along San Pedroa Kalea down in the colourful fisherman's quarter. Bar Gran Sol Hondarribia was our favourite but filled up seconds after opening time.
Ainsa - very beautiful and charismatic little hilltop town. I can't remember where we've eaten but we've been there twice so we must like it! Pub L' Abrevadero does craft beer down a cute alley.
Borgos - Eat tapas of the famous morcilla in their numerous Vermuterias washed down with the vermouth! It seemed like a wonderful town with a cracking cathedral. Make time for the fascinating museum of human evolution. Restaurante Casa Ojeda is famous for good reason.
Pamplona - buzzy student vibes and loads of pintxos options - we spent one evening here though so I can't offer any help. Have a quick drink in Café Iruña for the history, it's one of those places that is touristy but still genuine and full of locals.
Santoña - the home of the best anchovies in the world and the Spanish Anchovy World Championship! Eat them all and stock up on cans to bring home too.
Other options:
Laguardia - another beautiful medieval hilltop town, this time in the middle of Rioja so covered in wineries. Do the tour at Bodega El Fabulista which is the last one still making the wine in the old town. Thanks to M11rph for the recommendation.
Jaca - Bigger mountain town with lots of good restaurant options. Makes a great base for the amazing roads in the area (although I know you're not driving).
I don't think we're getting out there this year - TAKE ME TOO!!
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