Best of La Rioja

Top itineraries and travel advice in and around La Rioja
La Rioja is the small yet scenic province home to Spain's most famous wine region, Rioja. Though the area is famous for its delicious Tempranillo and seven wine valleys, there's plenty more to enjoy in the whole of La Rioja. From visiting medieval castles (favorites are Castillo de Sajazarra and Castillo de Aguas Mansas) and UNESCO monasteries to hiking or skiing in Parque Natural Sierra Cebollera, the region is surprisingly varied. 

Still, the wine draws the crowds to La Rioja, and you can experience this cultural aspect in more ways than just taking a vineyard tour. If you visit in June, you can participate in the unique Battalo del Vino, Rioja's "Wine Battle," which is just as it sounds: throwing grapes and wine at one another! Or, check out the picturesque city of Logroño, the province's capital, in September for the annual Wine Harvest Festival, where you can stomp grapes. And if you're truly invested in the red stuff, no trip to La Rioja is complete without visiting the Vivanco Wine Museum in Briones, known as the best wine museum in the world. Not only can you taste varietals, but you can also participate in workshops and dine at the museum's restaurant.
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La Rioja Essentials

Roadside views in Andalusia
Map of 1 Week in Spain - 5 Unique Road Trip Itineraries
1 Week in Spain - 5 Unique Road Trip Itineraries

Spain is an ideal road trip destination, and these five itineraries highlight the country's diversity. Our recommendations let you explore relaxed beachside towns, take a deep dive into the Basque Country with its world-class gastronomy, or visit Andalusia's slow-paced villages and discover its history.

San Sebastián, Spain
The Best Things to Do in San Sebastián

Coastal San Sebastián sits in Spain's scenic north, in Basque Country. Known as a foodie hub, you can enjoy the city's culture with walking or e-bike tours and dive into the renowned gastronomy with a cooking class. Get out of the city to visit farms, vineyards, and some of Northern Spain's most popular walking trails within this coveted region of Europe.

La Rioja Itineraries

Tapas and wine in northern Spain
Gourmet Adventure in Northern Spain - 9 Days

Wine, cheese, tapas, pintxos — this gourmet tour around northern Spain is a treat for foodies! Start in the capital city of Madrid, where you'll go on a tapas tour around local bars to learn the proper way to order small plates paired with drinks. Then hop in a rental car and drive north to the wine country of La Rioja, where you'll tour family-run wineries and blend your own wine to take with you. Continue onward to the culinary hot spot of San Sebastian, sampling pintxos (Basque-style tapas) at traditional bars in the old city. Then finish the trip with a tour of Bilbao and an excursion into the surrounding countryside to see how Basque cheeses are produced.

Discover Basque Country with a stop in San Sebastián and explore La Concha Bay
Map of Self-Drive Northern Spain: San Sebastián, Pamplona, La Rioja & Bilbao - 10 Days
Self-Drive Northern Spain: San Sebastián, Pamplona, La Rioja & Bilbao - 10 Days

A road trip through Northern Spain offers a glimpse into the region's rich cultural roots and diverse landscapes, from the coastal heritage of San Sebastián to the rolling vineyards of La Rioja. This 10-day excursion includes opportunities to explore unique traditions, cuisine, and architecture that define this corner of Spain, with stops in historic Pamplona and vibrant Bilbao.

Spain
Map of Northern Spain Road Trip: Madrid to the Basque Country - 7 Days
Northern Spain Road Trip: Madrid to the Basque Country - 7 Days

In just a week you can embark on the road-trip of a lifetime from Spain's capital to its stunning Basque Country. The adventure begins in Madrid with city tours before hopping in your rental and driving north to La Rioja, one of Spain's most beautiful wine regions. After a tasting, you'll continue on to Basque Country, where tours of San Sebastian's historic center and Bilbao's Guggenheim Museum await.

Buildings on Plaza del Castillo in Pamplona
Map of Self-Drive in Basque Country, La Rioja & Navarra - 7 Days
Self-Drive in Basque Country, La Rioja & Navarra - 7 Days

Spend one week exploring three provinces of northern Spain with a road trip starting in San Sebastián. Enjoy urban walks, hiking, and sailing, then head to La Rioja and Navarra to visit cities like Pamplona and Logroño and enjoy the countryside and its vineyards. End in Bilbao, uniquely known for its eclectic public art and modern aesthetic.

Make a stop to check out Gaztelugatxe, a Basque island with a dramatic coastline and hermitage
Map of Basque Region & Wine Country Road Trip: Bilbao, San Sebastián, La Rioja & Pamplona - 7 Days
Basque Region & Wine Country Road Trip: Bilbao, San Sebastián, La Rioja & Pamplona - 7 Days

For wine lovers and foodies, this road trip in northern Spain takes you along the incredible Basque coastline with its rugged sea cliffs, charming fishing villages, and gastronomic cities, then into the rolling vineyards and hills of La Rioja and Navarra. Blend city walks with small towns, food tours, and an overnight stay at a winery in Spain's most famous wine region, Rioja.

spain
Map of Northern Spain Road Trip: Madrid to the Basque Country - 8 Days
Northern Spain Road Trip: Madrid to the Basque Country - 8 Days

Eight days is enough time to have the trip of a lifetime—particularly when it's a road-trip through northern Spain. On this itinerary, you'll drive from Madrid north through the stunning La Rioja wine country, of course stopping for a tasting or two. The experience culminates on the coast of Basque Country with city tours of Bilbao and San Sebastian, both home to rich culture and incredible food.

spain
Map of Northern Spain Road Trip: Madrid to the Basque Country - 9 Days
Northern Spain Road Trip: Madrid to the Basque Country - 9 Days

Nine days is enough time to immerse yourself in a couple areas of Spain, ensuring you get the most out of the experience. This itinerary begins with a road trip from Madrid to wine country for a tasting of Spain's world-renowned varietals. You'll finish the tour on the Basque coast and its most beautiful cities, San Sebastian and Bilbao.

spain
Map of Northern Spain Road Trip: Madrid to the Basque Country - 10 Days
Northern Spain Road Trip: Madrid to the Basque Country - 10 Days

Over 10 days you'll embark on a gourmet road trip from Madrid to Spain's northern Basque Country. This unforgettable excursion is a delight for the eyes and taste buds that includes tapas tours in Madrid, wine tasting in La Rioja, and sampling the great cheese and seafood of the Basque coast. A visit to the famous Guggenheim caps the trip, adding a cultural cherry atop an epic vacation sundae.

Other popular travel destinations in Spain
Madrid · Andalusia · Catalonia · Barcelona · Seville · Granada · Basque Country · Córdoba · Balearic Islands · Canary Islands · La Mancha · Mallorca · Toledo · Costa Brava · Santiago de Compostela · Ibiza · Pamplona · Marbella