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

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

RESTAURANTE VICTOR MONTES After a long day and with many places closed on Sunday, we decided to stay close to the hotel and have dinner at Víctor Montes in Plaza Nueva. This famous local landmark is nicely rowdy downstairs at peak times. Locals and a few tourists prop up the bar, chat loudly, and snack on pintxos like the txangurro (spider crab in puff pastry) while downing a glass of wine or a caña. The vaulted wine cellar holds Rioja vintages dating back over a century, al

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

ANTONIO BAR If you sometimes need a change of pintxo bars from the Parte Vieja (old town) or the Gros area across the bridge, head to the central location and Antonio Bar. It’s an unassuming, tiny place that’s always busy, with primarily local customers. You will find a few seats inside by the bar and more outside, where the jovial waiter will serve you. Finding a space may take a minute, but the turnover is pretty quick. It is a great spot to enjoy, Txistorra (spicy sausage

The restaurant is now iBAi by Paulo Airaudo ONE MICHELIN STAR (new 2025) We have not yet seen this new version. This centrally located restaurant, a well-known name in local cuisine under chef Alicio Garro, has undergone a transformation and gained new life thanks to award-winning chef Paulo Airaudo, who introduces his own interpretation of classic recipes. The establishment pays great respect to the original Ibai. Despite the recognition of a culinary star, the entrance

I RESTAURANTE KAIA-KAIPE Michelin Plate IIO We returned to the fishing port of Getaria on the Basque Coast and revisited an old favourite, the excellent Restaurante Kaia-Kaipe. Getaria is the picture-postcard image of a Basque Country fishing village. Walking up from the car park, we approached the village. When you reach the restaurant, you can see the famous outdoor grill, where the fish is cooked over hot coals on open wire-mesh grills. The restaurant is divided into

Vitoria-Gasteiz is the capital of the Basque Autonomous Community in northern Spain. The Gothic-style Santa María Inmaculada Cathedral features a sculpted facade and towering columns in the medieval quarter. The 17th-century Plaza de la Virgen Blanca features a monument to the 1813 Battle of Vitoria. The Church of San Miguel has a sizeable baroque altarpiece and a statue of the White Virgin, the city's patron saint. Beethoven dedicated his Opus 91, often called the " Battle

ASADOR BEDUA On the banks of the Urola River, just outside the village of Zumaia, you will find Asador Bedua, a restaurant with generations of family history, based on fresh produce from its own garden. It all started four generations ago, when their ancestors offered potato omelettes with green peppers to the residents of Zumaia who came to the grill by rowing upriver in their boats. The Bedua grill is a benchmark of Basque gastronomy. Over its embers, you will see roast be

ASADOR ETXEBARRI One Michelin Star Although not the easiest place to find, this beautiful, rustic, restored stone house is a couple of kilometres out of town. It has a bar at the ground-floor entrance and a couple of stunning dining rooms on the first floor. The renowned chef Victor Arguinzoniz, who deserves his one Michelin star, cooks all the high-quality produce on various charcoal grills. There is no molecular stuff here; it is just fresh, quality food with unique fla