ESSENTIALS OF BASQUE COUNTRY The creative ideas, proposals, suppliers information, concepts, slogans, art, or any other transmitted materials, presented to you today and in future correspondence, are the property of Romotur S.L., and cannot be used without the expressed written consent from Romotur. This proposal and budget has been developed by Romotur as an expert in the destination so in case you agree with the services proposed, we trust in your professionalism, you consider the value of the information supplied, and hire the services of our agency to manage de event. Prices and availability could change when we do final reservations. ROMO Turismo Receptivo Incoming Services (c.i.e.: 2217) - Gordoniz, 22-1º 48012 Bilbao - SPAIN - info@romotur.com - Tel.: +34 94 443 34 63
Bilbao Rioja San Sebastian
DAY 1 Arrival to Bilbao airport. Meet our local guide Transfer to centrally located hotel. Check-in and Old Town Walking tour with pintxos tour. Pintxos (Basque tapas) line every bar in Bilbao s famed Old Town, but knowing where to find the best ones is an art. While it s hard to have a bad meal in town, knowing exactly where to go for the best, freshest, and most exciting pintxos takes local, insider knowledge. Do a night out in Bilbao like a local, led by our friendly and knowledgeable Basque guides.
Pintxos are true culinary treasures in the Basque country, they are finger-food bites usually prepared with typical local products: hake, cod, anchovies, baby squid, mushrooms, etc. Starting at 12:00 or 1:00, the bars will begin to lay out fabulous spreads. Order a tinto (red wine) or blanco (white wine) and point to your choice of pintxos. Have lunch or a snack, and revel in the quintessential Basque pastime of eating.
DAY 2 Meet our guide at the hotel. Guggenheim visit + visit to the Hanging Bridge (Puente Colgante). Puente de Vizcaya Bridge is very close to Bilbao, and is the world's oldest transporter bridge. It was inaugurated in 1893, the work of architect Alberto de Palacio, and now has the UNESCO World Heritage designation. The structure is 45 metres high and 160 metres long. UNESCO describes it as "a perfect combination of functionality and aesthetic beauty, in an exceptional expression of technical creativity". Back to Bilbao and lunch in local restuarant. Free afternoon
GUGGENHEIM MUSUEM In 2005, Vanity Fair surveyed 52 experts to determine the definitive construction project of the latter half of the 20th century. The unanimous results, with 28 members of the survey (including 11 Pritzker Prize-winners and the deans of eight architectural schools) casting their votes in his favor, pointed to Gehry s work in Bilbao as the most influential. He also received votes for the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, the Millennium Park bandshell in Chicago, and his private residence in Santa Monica, California.
DAY 3 Check out from the hotel. Full day visit of La Rioja area. We will head to Laguardia, it is the most important town in La Rioja of Alava, and one of the most beautiful. The region is famous all around the world because of its wines. The whole urban centre of Laguardia is enclosed by walls, built at the beginning of the 13th century. During our excursion we will visit 2 wineries ( old and modern one) to compare and see the differents between them. This area of Spain has over 500 wineries and is internationally famous for the quality of its wines. As well as wine tasting, a visit to this region also offers a range of activities which take place in and around the extensive vineyards. Lunch in a traditional winery. Transfer to San Sebastian Check in Hotel Free dinner
If wine were to stop being produced in Rioja today, the wine region could continue to provide wine for many years to come. This is due to the nature of the wines that are produced in Rioja as well as the labeling laws that have minimum age requirements which cause producers to hang on to their wine from anywhere between one and twenty years, depending on the type of label they are looking to classify their wine as, before releasing them to the public. With their cellars filled with aging wine, producers could easily supply their customers with wine for many years.
DAY 4 Meet our guide Morning walking tour: The town centre streets of San Sebastián unfold overlooking the La Concha Bay. Monte Igeldo marks one end of it - a wonderful vantage point for enjoying views over the city. At its feet is Torrepea Point, where the Peine de los Vientos ("the Wind Comb"), a sculpture by the famous Basque artist Eduardo Chillida, is installed. A lovely promenade with elegant railings and street lamps runs along La Concha Beach, on whose sands is the Perla del Océano Bathing Area, a former royal bathing hut. Lunch at local restuarant Free afternoon and dinner
In recent years, San Sebastian has gained significant success for its cuisine. The city has 15 Michelin stars spread across 7 restaurants and famously boasts more stars per capita than anywhere else in the world other than Tokyo. Restaurants Mugaritz and Arzak have been ranked numbers 6 and 17 in the world (2015 World s 50 Best Restaurants). It is in many ways like a mini Paris only in Basque style.
DAY 5 Transfer to the airport Ask for more information: info@romotur.com