Zazpikaleak

While this is still a largely undiscovered part of the world by most foreigners, it's widely known as a culinary mecca for everyone with an interest in food and food culture. Basque cuisine is renowned worldwide for being some of the most visionary and avant-garde in the industry, and food as a whole is an extremely important part of Basque culture. There's so much more to do in the Basque Country than just enjoying the food though! The entire region is truly a gift to the planet in terms of natural beauty, being nestled between mountains and the sea. Basques have been fishers and mountain climbers, sailing the seas and scaling mountains, while also developing some of the strongest industry in Southern Europe. Here's a guide to some of the absolutely crucial visits you *must* make while you're in the area, whether you're based in Bilbao or San Sebastián (referred to as "Donosti" by Basques, a shortened form of its Basque name Donostia), though I prefer Bilbao because I'm biased. 😜 This guide encompasses everything from landmarks to towns and even a few restaurants, perfect for when you're considering whether to check out this beautiful and charming region. I focus on the Spanish Basque Country as it's what I'm most familiar with, but recommendations for the French Basque Country (known as the "Iparralde" or "north country" in Basque) will come soon!

Oh, we're just getting started! Now that I have a travel buddy, my wanderlust has been awakened like never before. I didn't do all my travel with her, but with her finding cheap flights, I finally got to go places I never thought I'd get to and they were just so much more accessible. The vast majority of 2018 was spent doing weekend trips, which turned out to be our "thing". Don't let anyone tell you you need to spend more than a week traveling, even in Europe!

a month exploring the north coast of spain and a little bit of basque france by van. driving, surfing, and searching for the next tortilla de patatas.