Guggenheim Museum Bilbao

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!

All the places we visited on our 71 day road trip. The route went down from Calais on the west of France for a week including another week in the Pyrenees. The north of Spain and Basque region for around 2 weeks. Down through Portugal including Porto, Lisbon and the Algarve for around 4 weeks. A few spots in the south of Spain from the drive back home which took us 10 days. Finally finishing in Bruges, Belgium. All of my photos from this road trip are on my Instagram which is @takeme.travelling. You are welcome to ask me any questions you wish.

How did I spent 1 day in Bilbao? You will find an itinerary to discover the city, what to do, where to eat.