Routes and excursions in Basque Country, La Rioja and Bilbao

Please select the Route you are interested in from the links below:

Routes list:

Tapas tour in Bilbao

Tapas Tours are one of the most interesting activities you can enjoy in Spain, and in Bilbao they are an absolute must-do in order to truly understand the city and the mythical gastronomy. Basque "bar food" has been raised to an art form. Known in Spain as "Pinchos, Pintxos, Montaditos, Tapas, etc", the tapas you find in Bilbao are unique: from freshly grilled foie gras to sautéed wild mushrooms with shrimp brochettes thrown in for good measure, to the famous "Gilda" banderilla, (anchovy, spicy pepper and sardine, impaled on a toothpick)

Each Tapas Bar in Bilbao has its specialty that they will proudly prepare for you to enjoy. This may be stuffed peppers, clams, cured ham, gourmet desserts, etc. Over the course of a fascinating gastronomic walking tour through the historic quarter of Bilbao we will introduce you to Basque Culture, meet the locals and taste the best of what the city has to offer.

Included in the Price:
- 5 Pinchos
- 5 glasses of (crianza) wine or beer
- 2 Hour walking tour of Bilbao beautiful "Casco Viejo, the old quarter
- Handouts detailing the Wines and Tapas enjoyed on the tour
- Bilingual food and wine expert guide to accompany you on the Tasting Tour

Tour price: € 50

Whole day trip to La Rioja

La Rioja is only an hour from Bilbao and it is an easy day excursion for those visiting Bilbao. Instituto Hemingway will organize a Wine Tasting in La Rioja that you will always remember, with cellar visits, vineyard walks and charming lunches. A private guide/driver is on hand to whisk you down to the Rioja for a special day of winery visits and an introduction to the rich culinary tradition of the region. We will visit one striking winery. The tastings highlight the dramatic differences between traditional aged wines from the Rioja Alta and the bold fruity wines now popular in the Rioja Alavesa.

The visit paints a broad picture of the variety of techniques and tendencies in today's Spanish wines. Debate the merits of carbonic maceration or varietals blends over a leisurely lunch of roasted red peppers, white asparagus and milk fed lamb grilled over grapevines - with wine of course!

Included in the Price:
- Transport andtransfer
- Searching for accommodation
- Two exclusive VIP visits in a wine cellar with the following tasting of selected wines
- Gourmet lunch
- Tax incl.

Tour price: € 180

Cheese making excursion

We have prepared this memorable excursion to a private cheese farm and paired it with Olive Oil Tasting. The stunning green mountains and isolated stone villages set into hidden valleys are out of reach for most travelers to the Basque Country, and we want you to experience it! Our day begins with a guided market visit in Bilbao after which we will delve into the world of boutique olive oils with a commented tasting. We will travel into the mountains and meet a Basque shepherd whose 300 head flock is at the forefront of a program to preserve and improve the Latxa breed. Idiazabal, a famous raw sheep's milk cheese is produced exclusively with the milk of the Latxa. The Shepard's wife will offer us a tasting of their award winning cheeses accompanied, as tradition mandates, by a fine Rioja wine.

Our last stop will be a long lunch in an idyllic village along the Aralar mountain range, with wine, of course, before turning back to Bilbao.

Included in the Price:
- Transport
- Driver and specialist of wine and gastronomy
- Basque Cheese Farm visit
- Cheese Tasting
- Traditional 3 course Spanish Lunch
- Duration of excursion: 8 hours

Tour price: € 180

Wine tasting tour weekend La Rioja

Looking for a wine tasting weekend in Spain, or just a few days visiting wineries as part of a larger tour of Spain? We offer wine weekends, starting and finishing in the cutting edge Basque city of Bilbao. The weekend focuses on La Rioja wine and Basque cuisine, and also takes in top art museums and fairy tale castles. In Bilbao, you'll enjoy the famed "Tapas" and "Pintxos" of the charming old town, and above all the gorgeous coastline. If you love fine wine and dining, architecture and art, then this weekend is for you!

Included in the Price:
- All Transportation and Transfers
- Accommodation arrangements
- 3 VIP Winery Visits with Exclusive Cellar visits and Premium Wine Tastings
- 3 Gourmet Lunches / Wine and digestives
- 3 Gourmet Dinners / Wine and digestives
- Keepsake Bound Itinerary with Maps, City Profiles, Shopping Tips, etc of the destinations on your tour
- Various Wine Gifts
- All Activities Described in Itinerary
- All Local Taxes

Tour price: € 500

Cooking classes in Bilbao

Visit a Professional culinary academy, located in beautiful Bilbao in Northern Spain. The head chef is also an author of several books. The chef is also a member of the Gastronomic Society in Bilbao. These "Societies" are cooking clubs where Basques share their good humor, songs, anecdotes and acquired kitchen wisdom. In this cozy and fun atmosphere, a boisterous lunch with fabulous wines will follow your cooking classes. Typical Basque Dishes include: Lubina a la pimienta verde (sea bass with green pepper) and Marmitako (typical soupy dish made of bonito tuna, potatoes, onions, peppers, and tomato).

Included in the Price:
- A hands-on, interactive cooking class, given in English or Spanish (about 2 and half hours long)
- A full lunch or dinner with Spanish wine
- Keepsake Booklet with Recipes in English

Tour price: € 80

Excursion to a Cider House

The beautiful north coast of Spain adheres to the ancient tradition of cider making and it is nearly as popular as wine. The local Reineta apple produces a refreshingly light brew with low alcohol content. The Basques continue to conduct tastings at the cider master's farmhouses where draughts are taken directly from enormous barrels accompanied by grilled beefsteaks, cod tortilla and local artisan cheeses. Each barrel contains a different cider: some slightly more acidic, some sweeter, others with a hint of bitterness.

Large communal tables are set up, and you stand and eat the various dishes that come, all the time going back to the barrel to fill up your glass of cider. Learning how to catch the cider as it shoots out of the barrel is an acquired technique! This activity is perfect for groups, and the atmosphere is fun, loud and casual.

Included in the Price:
- Traditional Cider
- Bilingual Specialized Food & Wine guide
- Traditional 3 course dinner, typically consisting of beef steak (huge slices), salt cod tortilla, and excellent cheese and walnuts.

Tour price: € 60

Surf program

The area near Bilbao has many world class waves and the most famous is "Mundaka". Mundaka is a left hander that breaks on the sandbar of a perfect river mouth in a small coastal fishing town. Mundaka is the jewel in the crown of Northern Spain and sometimes overshadows many other world class waves this area has to offer. This is an area which is very rich in great surf and surf culture!!!

Our bilingual local Surfing Guide will transport you to the best spots of the day and help you advance your surfing skills whilst enjoying the truly hospitable area of Northern Spain.

Fly to Bilbao and you are only 15 minutes from the waves of Sopelana and Bakio. This is a great base for your stay in the Basque Country as you have many options of what to do, and where to go from there. Our guides know all the local wind and swell conditions, and will put you in the right spot at the right time!!!

Included in the Price:
- Accommodation arrangements
- Surf teacher for 10 Hours per week
- Insurance
- Board + wetsuit

Tour price - 10 hours: € 170

Birth place of Spanish Language

Art and history are well represented in the complex of Valpuesta (9th century village) were the Spanish language (castellano) was born, a small medieval village full of history. A stroll through the streets will allow you to admire the noble stone mansions with their coats of arms.

Discover caves along the path and visit a watermill, admire one of the oldest castles in Spain and enjoy a typical Spanish lunch in a Spanish tavern. Open your senses and prepare to learn in the new interactive thematic center dedicated to Spanish language in Valpuesta.

Included in the Price:
- Transportation
- Personal, Bilingual Chauffeur/ Specialized Food & Wine guide
- Visits to castle, watermill and caves
- Walking tour
- Full 8 hour day Excursion
- Wine, Coffee and Digestives with Lunch
- Traditional 3 course Spanish Lunch (Roast lamb, excellent vegetable dishes, dessert, etc)

Tour price: € 130

Bullfighting day excursion

If you're an avid bullfighting fan you cannot leave Bilbao before stopping over at the famous Bilbao Bullring. Learn all about bullfighting while you stay in Bilbao. The tour includes visits to the bullring, bullfighting museum, bullfighting club, bullfighting interviews with aficionados and visits to bullfighting bars/hotels full of history.

Included in the Price:
- Walking tour of bullfighting history in Bilbao (2 hours)
- Visit to the bullfighting museum and bullfighting Club
- Handouts detailing the history of bullfighting
- Bilingual bullfighting expert guide to accompany you on the Tour

Tour price: € 45

Architecture day tour

A full visit at the new Guggenheim Museum is the centerpiece of The Art and Architecture of Bilbao. Also included is a visit to the Bilbao Fine Art Museum, a tour of Old Bilbao, visits to Santiago Calatrava's dramatic new bridge and to Norman Foster's state-of-the-art subway stations and New Bilbao Symphonic Auditorium. Bilbao is one of the "Meccas" for the world's leading architects and designers. Here we'll see architectural work by Norman Foster, Santiago Calatrava, Federico Soriano and Dolores Palacios, Zaha Hadid, Rafael Moneo, Arata Isozaki and Cesar Pelli.

Included in the Price:
- Walking tour of architectural monuments
- Ticket to Bilbao Guggenheim Museum
- Handouts detailing the history of architecture in Bilbao
- Bilingual architectural expert guide to accompany you on the Tour

Tour price: € 45

Full day Hemingway tour

We go to Pamplona (2 hours drive) and take you on a walking tour from the Cathedral to the Bullring and the Three Medieval Boroughs to the ancient walls of the city. Then, we walk along streets, cafes, hotels and bars related to the "Fiesta" author. Experience yourself (without bulls!) the running of the bulls or "encierro" as it is called.

Included in the Price:
- Transportation
- Walking tour of Pamplona (3 hours)
- Traditional 3 course Spanish Lunch
- Handouts detailing the relation of Hemingway to Pamplona
- Bilingual guide to accompany you on the Tour

Tour price: € 150

Bike tour through Bilbao

Do you dare to explore Bilbao's nicest places safely, easily and enjoyably? Do you want to visit the city by moving quickly?

We are offering you a bike tour through Bilbao for all ages, anyday of the year. This route has a low level of difficulty and gives you the chance to visit the most interesting and representative buildings of Bilbao. During the tour we will stop in front of the buildings to take some pictures and admire the arquitecture. Besides, you will be accompanied by a bilingual guide who is familiar with the area and who can tell you all about the city, its history, culture and traditions of Bilbao's people. Most of the time, you will be riding on either foot paths or bicycle paths. The tour lasts for approximately 2 hours and can be booked on any day of the week.

The Price includes:
- Bicycle (In perfect condition)
- Bilingual guide
- 4km City route

Tour price: € 20