If you’re dreaming of a trip that combines stunning coastlines, mouth-watering food, and a culture that’s as unique as it is welcoming, then the Basque Country should be at the top of your list. I’m here to share the essential tips you need to make your journey smooth, fun, and full of those “wow” moments. Whether you’re wandering the charming streets of San Sebastián or exploring the rugged beauty of the countryside, these tips will help you get the most out of your adventu

CHEZ ALBERT Before our summer trip to San Sebastián, we ventured over the border into southwestern France, although still in the Basque Country, to the elegant seaside resort of Biarritz. The town has been a popular resort since European royalty began visiting in the 1800s. It’s also a major surfing destination, with long sandy beaches and surfers. A symbol of Biarritz, the Rocher de la Vierge is a rocky outcrop topped by a statue of the Virgin Mary, accessible via a footbrid

RESTAURANTE ARTEAGA LANDETXEA     Michelin Bib Gourmand During our three-night stay in the Basque Country town of Elorrio, the friendly duo of Niko Moreno and Maider Ugarriza of Hotela M&UGA organised a seven-seater taxi to take us to Restaurante Arteaga Landetxea for lunch. The restaurant was a twenty-minute drive away from Elorrio to Arrasate (Gipuzkoa). It is a restored historic farmhouse in the heart of the stunning Basque Countryside.  Maider Larrañaga and Igor Ezpeleta

CASA JUAN PEDRO Before our summer trip to San Sebastián, we ventured over the border into southwestern France, although still in the Basque Country, to the elegant and stunning seaside resort of Biarritz. The town has been a popular resort since European royalty began visiting in the 1800s. It’s also a major surfing destination, with long sandy beaches. A symbol of Biarritz, the Rocher de la Vierge is a rocky outcrop topped by a statue of the Virgin Mary, accessible via a foo

If you’re anything like me, the idea of diving into a new culinary world is as thrilling as booking a spontaneous trip. And when it comes to food adventures, few places rival the Basque Country. Nestled between Spain and France, this region is a treasure trove of unique flavours and dishes that will make your taste buds dance. Today, I’m taking you on a mouth-watering journey through some of the most iconic and lesser-known delights of Basque Country cuisine. Ready to feast y

CASINO DE MUNDAKA Mundaka is a town and municipality in the Basque Country, located in the province of Biscay. Mundaka is a working port on the coast and is internationally renowned for its surfing scene. The port is at the town’s centre; from there, the old part of the town grew. All the houses are medieval, with fishermen’s cottages, always looking out to sea. The port has many small boats. Mundaka is well-renowned worldwide for its surf quality. Huge swells roll in from t

RESTAURANTE ELKANO    One Michelin Star Getaria is the picture-postcard Basque Country fishing village that produced designer Cristóbal Balenciaga, Plácido Domingo’s mother, and Juan Sebastián Elcano (the first mariner to circumnavigate the globe). You can wander down the old streets to the harbour, where you will see the fishing fleet, walking past various shops selling their wares. There are stunning little beaches here. Set on a crossroads above the harbour of Getaria, Res

HOTELA M&UGA We stayed for three nights in the Basque Country town of Elorrio. The Town stands out for its unique medieval and modern heritage. In 1964, it was declared a Medieval Heritage Site. It is set in a green valley with the river Zumelegi running down its centre. It is a delightful walk through the streets of palaces and ancestral houses, built of stone and carved masonry from the 17th and 18th centuries. We chose to stay in the M&UGA Hotela. The hotel is a minute’s w

AZURMENDI Three Michelin Stars Chef Eneko Atxa Azurmendi was the youngest Spanish chef to obtain 3 Michelin stars in 2012. You will discover why when you arrive at this subtropical glasshouse, which overlooks the stunning Basque countryside 25 minutes outside Bilbao. Azurmendi is an ecosystem by itself, based on sustainability. It is environmentally friendly, uses renewable energies, recycles any generated waste, harvests rainfall, and heats and cools the facilities using

CASA JULIAN In March 2025, we returned to this remarkable, easy-to-miss little restaurant, now famous on TV, in the Basque countryside town of Tolosa, 28 km inland from San Sebastián. Tolosa is a town and municipality in the Basque province of Gipuzkoa in northern Spain . It is located in the valley of the Oria River , and Casa Julian is directly across from the river. Once you find the restaurant and walk in, you might think you are in the wrong place. You will see an are