Basque Travels - Your 1 Stop Guide to Basque

Look at Bilbao from a different point of view. Hop on a double-decker bus and discover the highlights of the city. The precise origins of Bilbao have not been determined. However, a settlement had already been established and had significantly developed on both banks of the "ria del Nervion" before it officially became a villa. It was Don Diego Lopez de Haro V, lord of Vizcaya, who gave the city his title in the year 1300, due to its great importance as a commercial and maritime center at the time.

At the beginning of the 20th century, Bilbao was the great economic icon of the Basque Country and amongst the most important cities in the State. The city is now undergoing a new physical transformation, becoming more and more appealing to visitors.
 

You will be able to travel to The Guggenheim Museum, the Euskalduna Palace, a conference and music center, the plaza Ensanche, the Jardines de albia and San Vicente Church, the Abando area and the commercial center Zubiarte, the Gran Via, the Corte Ingles, the church of the Sagrado Corazon, The Arriquibar square, the Casa Alhondiga, Indautxu aera, the Bizkaia square, the commercial area, the Moyua square, the Bellas artes museum, the Dona Casilda Park, the Sagrado Corazon square, the University of Deusto and all the main buildings that represent the transformed image of this city.

Departs: Daily, except Monday

 

NOTE: No service on Sunday evening Departure Point: Tour starts at Museo Guggenheim, however you may board the bus and exchange your voucher at any one of the stops around the city

Bus Stops Include:
• Museo Guggenheim - 17 Lersundi, Tourist Information Office
• Zubiarte Shopping Centre - Deusto's Bridge
• Colon de Larreategui
• Casco Viejo, Iglesia S. Nicolas, Muelle del Arenal, Enlace a Begona
• La Ribera Market - S. Anton Church, Siete Calles (old part)
• Casco Viejo, Teatro Arriaga, Puente del Arenal
• Plaza Arriquibar, Casa Alhondiga
• Indautxu, Plaza Bizkaia, Zona Comercial
• Plaza Moyua, Bus aeropuerto, Metro BEC
• Gran via, Museo Bellas artes Bilbao, Parque D.Casilda
• Gran via, Corte Ingles, Iglesia Sagrado Corazon
• Pl. Sagrado Corazon, Palacio Euskalduna, Museo Maritimo, Terminus, Campo Futbol San Mames
• Puente de Deusto
• Universidad de Deusto, Puente Predro Arrupe
• Puente de la Salve
• Funicular, Puente Zubi Zuri
• Ayuntamiento
• Town Hall
• Albia Gardens - S.Vicente Martir Church

Departure Time: Easter/Holy Week, July, August and September
11:00am, 12:30pm, 4:00pm, 5:30pm
April
11:00am, 12:30 - 4:00pm
May, June and October
11:00am, 12:30pm, 4:00pm
November, December, January and March
11:00am and 12:30pm

Valid from the time of first use, for the duration selected.

Duration: 1 day (approx.)

Additional Information

Inclusions:
* Hop-on hop-off tour

Exclusions:
• Entrance fees
• Gratuities (optional)
• Hotel pickup and drop off
• Food and drinks

Additional Info:
* Confirmation will be received at time of booking

Follow the river road of Bilbao towards the coast and admire the old industrial areas that once powered Bilbao. You will visit the Transporter Bridge of Bizkaia, the oldest bridge of this type in the world, still active and a very much loved icon for the locals.

Afterwards you will see the neighborhood of Neguri with old mansions owned by rich industrial managers, before you head towards the interior of the province. You will be able to admire the typical local houses and farm house structures, and discover the imposing old Castle of Butron.

Arrive at the coastal village of Bakio, very much liked by Basque locals as a summer holiday destination, before you follow the beautiful and wild coastal road, eventually arriving at your second stop, San Juan de Gaztelugatxe. This place is said to be one of the most beautiful locations along the Basque Coastline. It is a huge rock that holds on the top the old hermit of San Juan, and it is connected with a long stone-stair passage to the mainland.

Next you will continue to the fishing town of Bermeo. Here you will stop to visit the narrow streets, the Juradera Church, the Ercilla Tower, the old port and the Town Hall among other sites. There will be free time for lunch and the guide will suggest a selection of recommended local restaurants.

Later you will stop at Mundaka, a beautiful site with magnificent views of the Urdaibai Biosphere, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Afterwards, you will arrive at the village of Gernika to visit the Casa de Juntas or old Law House and the Basque Sacred Tree.

Finally you will return directly back to Bilbao to arrive at approximately 2:00pm.

Departs: Saturday Departure Point: Tour departs from centrally located Bilbao hotels. Departure Time: 9:00am Duration: 5

hours (approx.) Return details: Returns to original departure point

Additional Information

Inclusions:
* Entrance fees
* Hotel pickup and drop off
* Professional guide
* Transport by air-conditioned coach or minivan

Exclusions:
• Gratuities (optional)
• Food and drinks, unless specified

Additional Info:
* Confirmation will be received at time of booking
* Minimum numbers apply. There is a possibility of cancellation after confirmation if there is not enough passengers to meet requirements. In the event of this occurring, you will be offered an alternative or full refund

Look at San Sebastian from a different point of view. Hop on a double-decker bus and discover the highlights of the city.King Sancho el Mayor of Navarra is said to have founded the city of San Sebastian around 1180. The city's unique geographical location with a port, made it an ideal military stronghold. To fortify itself Mount Urgull was converted into a castle armed with artillery to defend the region. This is one of the reasons why the region has seen several wars and experienced many sieges during the 15th and 16th centuries.

In 1721, San Sebastian saw a battle between the English and French. After occupying the region for three years the French were defeated and finally withdrew after the signing a peace treaty. In 1808 Napoleon's troops again occupied the walled city, which was reduced to ashes after an intense battle with anglo-portuguese troops.

The survivors, with great will power set out to rebuild the city. The city got more attention when Queen Isabel II first

visited the city in 1845 and the city began to grow. With street lighting, telephones, water and other infra structural facilities being developed, the city expanded and attracted visitors from all over the world. Although the 19th century saw more Carlist wars, San Sebastian still prospered. In 1863 San Sebastian was named capital of the Gipuzkoa province. The role of the city changed, the walls were demolished, the focus was more on commerce, the city became a popular tourist destination and spa resort, the economy boomed and San Sebastian became the most cosmopolitan city in Europe.

Departs: October to June
Daily except Tuesday
July to September

Daily Departure Point: You may board and disembark from the bus at any of the stops on touring route around the city
•    Teatro Victoria Eugenia
•    Townhall-Alderdi Eder gardens
•    Plaza Zaragoza-Hotel Londres
•    La Perla-La Concha beach
•    Ondarreta beach
•    Funicular-Peine del Viento
•    La Sirena hostel
•    Igledo Mountain-Theme park
•    Antiguo-Las Esclavas
•    Miramar Palace
•    Justice Palace
•    Buen Pastor Cathedral
•    Gros-Pinares Square
•    Ulia mountain-Navarra Avenue

Departure Time: November 01 to March 31
11:00am, 12:00pm, 1:00pm
Holy Week/Easter
11:00am, 12:00pm, 1:00pm, 2:00pm, 4:00pm, 5:00pm, 6:00pm, 7:00pm
April 01
11:00am, 12:00pm, 1:00pm, 4:00pm, 5:00pm
May 31
11:00am, 12:00pm, 1:00pm, 4:00pm,  5:00pm
June and October
11:00am, 12:00pm, 1:00pm, 4:00pm, 5:00pm, 6:00pm
July 01 to 15 and  September 16 to 30
11:00am, 12:00pm, 1:00pm, 2:00pm, 4:00pm, 5:00pm, 6:00pm, 7:00pm
July 16 to September 15
11:00am, 11:30am, 12:00pm, 12:30pm, 1:00pm, 1:30pm, 2:00pm, 3:00pm, 4:00pm, 4:30pm, 5:00pm, 5:30pm, 6:00pm, 7:00pm.

Valid from the time of first use, for the consecutive days selected.

Duration: 1 day (approx.) Return details: You may disembark at any of the stops

Additional Information

Inclusions:
* Hop-on hop-off tour

Exclusions:
• Entrance fees
• Gratuities (optional)
• Food and drinks, unless specified

Additional Info:
* Confirmation will be received at time of booking

The famous Rioja Wine region is a must for wine lovers visiting Spain. Located in the south of the Basque country, you will visit the village of Haro, the unique medieval village of Laguardia. Of course, you will visit a traditional wine cellar for a wine tasting, and a guided walking tour of Vitoria.

Follow the highway towards the south, until you arrive at Vitoria, the capital city of the Basque Country, where you will have a panoramic tour into the city. It is considered to be one of the best cities in Spain for quality of life, and is the city in Europe with the most green square meters per inhabitant. You will do a walking tour in the old part of the city where you will see such sights as the old Inn 'el Portalon' from the XV century, the Virgen Blanca square, the Machete square and the Cathedral of Santa Maria among others.

After your walking tour, you will head towards the south and arrive finally into the land of Wine, to Rioja.You will stop at Laguardia, a unique medieval village that still keeps the real atmosphere of the old times, with the two churches, the walls, the house shields and the narrow medieval streets among others. You will visit in this village, a traditional underground Rioja wine cellar, carbonic maceration with open pools and do a wine tasting at the end of the visit.

Afterwards, there will be free time for lunch and your guide will suggest a selection of recommended local restaurants.

Finally you will return directly back to Bilbao to arrive at approximately 6:00pm.

Departs: Saturday Departure Point: Centrally located Bilbao hotels. Departure Time: 9:00am Duration: 9 hours (approx.) Return details: Returns to original departure point