TOURS IN BILBAO (SPAIN)

Bilbao City Hop-on Hop-off Tour Commences: Bilbao, Spain Duration: 1.5 hours (approximately)   Look at Bilbao from a different point of view. Hop on a double-decker bus and discover the highlights of the city.   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.

San Sebastian and Biarritz Commences: Bilbao, Spain Duration: 10 hours Admire the beauty of San Sebastian on a walking tour of the Old Quarter, before enjoying the food at the typical fishing village of Hondarribia. Delight yourself with Biarritz, The Beach of Kings, a place chosen to spend their summer vacations by European royalty and famous figures such as Napoleon III and Frank Sinatra.   Admire the beauty of San Sebastian on a walking tour of the Old Quarter, before enjoying the food at the typical fishing village of Hondarribia. Delight yourself with Biarritz, The Beach of Kings, a place chosen to spend their summer vacations by European royalty and famous figures such as Napoleon III and Frank Sinatra. Follow the highway towards the east, through stunning natural landscape. You will arrive in San Sebastian, the most beautiful city in the Basque Country to start a panoramic tour of the city. There are magnificent views up the mountain Igeldo, plus a walking tour into the old historical quarter. After your tour you will have free time to enjoy the city at leisure. Later on, you will head towards the border with France, passing through the village of Pasajes and industrial port which is very important to the region. The next stop will be Hondarribia, a village full of history that holds a medieval fortress and a lovely area that in the past was a pirate and whaler port. There will be free time for lunch and your guide will suggest a selection of recommended local restaurants. Afterwards, transfer by boat from Hondarribia to Hendaya across the Txingudi (natural reserve) bay. Following the rugged coastal road you will continue to Saint Jean De Luz, a lovely small village located on the French Basque coast. The house of Louis XIV and the Church of Saint Jean Baptist are the highlights, surrounded by narrow streets. Your last stop will be at Biarritz. The Beach of Kings. It was a magnet for famous and royalty such as Napoleon III, Gary Cooper and Frank Sinatra, and still nowadays it is a very important tourist destination. You will be able to enjoy the old port, the Virgin on the Rock, the streets and the beautiful figure that forms this village on the coast. Finally you will return directly back to Bilbao to arrive at approximately 7:30pm.

Vitoria and the Rioja Wine Region Commences: Bilbao, Spain Duration: 9 hours   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.   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.

The Sanctuary of Loyola, Getaria, Zarauz and San Sebastian Commences: Bilbao, Spain Duration: 9 hours   Follow the highway towards the east, into the province of Gipuzkoa. On the way to the Sanctuary of Loyola, you will be able to admire the areas of inner Basque Country, combined with rural valleys and industrial villages trapped in between mountains like the villages of Durango, Eibar and Elgoibar.   Follow the highway towards the east, into the province of Gipuzkoa. On the way to the Sanctuary of Loyola, you will be able to admire the areas of inner Basque Country, combined with rural valleys and industrial villages trapped in between mountains like the villages of Durango, Eibar and Elgoibar. Arrive at the core of the province, and after the industrial village of Azkoitia, you will arrive at your first stop, the Sanctuary of Loyola, hometown of Saint Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Jesuits. Here you will visit the Basilica and the tower house where he was born and lived. Depending on the time, you may wish to attend a ceremony. Next you follow the route towards the coast on the north, passing through Azpeitia. You will also pass through Zestoa, a famous natural spa village with healing waters that attracted the royalty of Europe during the 19th and 20th centuries. Later you will arrive to the coast at Zumaia, a beautiful village very much appreciated by Basque summer tourists. Following the coastal road you will arrive at your next stop, Getaria. A unique medieval fishing village and hometown of famous figures like captain Juan Sebastian Elcano (the first man to travel around the world by sea), and Cristobal Balenciaga, the famous designer. Then you will pass by Zarauz, a beautiful tourist spot with the largest beach in the province of Gipuzkoa. You will arrive finally to San Sebastian where you will do a panoramic tour of the city. After lunch, you will do a walking tour into the old quarter visiting the most interesting streets and locations before returning to Bilbao 6:00pm approximately.

Explore the Basque Coast Commences: Bilbao, Spain Duration: 5 hours   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. 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.