Route 66, Great Ocean Road, Grand Tour of Switzerland, Nasjonale Turistveger, Wild Atlantic Way, Pyrenees Road Trip, Grand Tour of Catalonia… They are all over Europe, even all over the world. They are routes that have become unique and almost mythical due to their ability to attract with their diverse and unparalleled landscapes and their unique experiences and unforgettable memories.
So, what about the Basque Country? In the Basque Country, we have The Basque Route, which connects all the destination’s tourist attractions in a circuit that runs through the entire region. It’s a unique experience designed to surprise and captivate locals and visitors alike, giving them the chance to visit the “great classics” like the Guggenheim Museum of Bilbao, the elegant and stately city of San Sebastián, the fishing villages of the Basque Coast, and the medieval historic center of the capital of the Basque Country: Vitoria-Gasteiz. Likewise, the Route also includes the region’s valleys and mountains, the striking inland towns, the rural areas covered in vineyards… and so many other less-known places that are well worth discovering.
The Basque Route proposes a travel itinerary that, instead of taking the fastest highways, opts for the more scenic and picturesque ones – and in the Basque Country, there are a lot of those to choose from. For example, near Vitoria-Gasteiz, at the Opakua mountain pass, to the south of the charming municipality of Agurain/Salvatierra, one of the Route’s travel itineraries ventures into the lushness of the Montaña Alavesa and the majesty of the Rioja Alavesa’s vineyards. Also, along the section of the Route between Laguardia and Orduña, travelers cross the Valles Alaveses region, ending up next to the largest waterfall of the Iberian Peninsula. And if you decide to take the highway between San Sebastián and Vitoria-Gasteiz, the journey will delight you with the most spectacular mountain landscapes. On the other side, in the north, travelers can enjoy the vast horizons of the Cantabrian Sea while following the Route’s winding coastal stretches.
In any case, all are sure to discover that the important thing here is not the car trip but exploring the many hidden gems, all of which are very close to one another. Along the itinerary you will find modest yet generous people who will help you to experience the best of the Basque Country “in few words” and through many images.
The e-Basque Route
The Basque Route is also looking to the future and to the preservation of the environment; for that reason, The e-Basque Route has just been presented, the first national tourist route by road prepared for electric vehicles: It features a fully equipped network of electric charging stations that allow travelers to visit and explore the Basque Country in its entirety along the 950-kilometer route in a more comfortable and sustainable way.
The Basque Country is a destination that is committed to ethical and responsible tourism; a place where gastronomy is culture, and culture is identity. The region welcomes visitors with open arms and minds, respecting beliefs, cultures, and identities. In return, it asks those who visit please respect both its culture and its people, and that they take care of the land and the sea so that they continue to be the postcards from the Basque Country.
The e-Basque Route is divided into eight sections: Bilbao – Lekeitio, Lekeitio – Zarautz, Zarautz – San Sebastián, San Sebastián – Vitoria-Gasteiz, Vitoria-Gasteiz – Laguardia, Laguardia – Orduña, Orduña – Bilbao, and Lekeitio – Vitoria-Gasteiz. But which is your ideal plan? Visiting beaches and fishing towns? Getting to know modern cities? Walking in forests covered in early-morning mist? Enjoying vineyards tucked inside spectacular landscapes? Or perhaps all of them combined?
The Basque Route