10 of the Top Villages in Spain’s Basque Country

Hondarribia is one of the most scenic villages in the Basque Country of Spain, easily charming visitors with its rainbow-painted houses and flower-filled balconies. Its fortified old quarter holds cobbled streets, the Castle of Charles V (now a Parador Hotel), and the Church of Santa María de la Asunción y del Manzano. Down by the marina, the fisher’s quarter is lined with pintxo bars serving anchovies, peppers, and cider. Ferries chug across the border to Hendaye in France, adding a cross-border buzz to this lively Basque Country coastal town. Or visit on a half-day tour from San Sebastián.

Zarautz is one of the must-visit Basque Country villages, blending surf culture with medieval heritage. The sandy beach is the longest in the province of Gipuzkoa, and is a favorite for both surf lessons and international competitions. Beyond the waves, the old quarter hides 15th-century churches and palaces, while the seafront promenade hums with cafés and seafood restaurants. Nearby Orio is the place to try traditional grilled sea bream, a fitting end to a day on the Gipuzkoa coast.

Perched above rolling vineyards, Laguardia is among the most atmospheric small villages in the Basque Country. Visitors can walk the medieval walls, tour Rioja wineries for wine tastings, and dine on Basque specialties paired with bold local reds. With vine-striped hills rolling toward the peaks of the Sierra de Cantabria, Laguardia is a highlight of Basque countryside travel and a favorite stop for wine lovers. In fact, Laguardia has a giant network of interconnected underground wine cellars stretching beneath almost the entire town!

Getaria is a classic Basque Country coastal town, where maritime heritage meets cultural prestige. It’s the birthplace of 16th-century navigator Juan Sebastián Elcano, the first person to circumnavigate the globe, and famed fashion designer Cristóbal Balenciaga, honored at a local museum. Along the harbor, restaurants grill pescado a la brasa (chargrilled fish), best paired with txakoli from nearby vineyards. Narrow cobbled streets climb the headland, opening to sea views and giving this small Basque village a big presence.

Did you know?: Getaria is one of the main producing towns of txakoli, the region’s crisp white wine.

Fishing culture defines many traditional Basque towns, but few are as pretty as lovely Lekeitio. Colorful boats fill the harbor, sandy beaches stretch beside Gothic spires, and the Basilica of the Assumption hides a glittering altarpiece. At low tide, a stone causeway leads across to Isla de Garraitz, where sweeping Bay of Biscay and coast views await. Come evening, the old quarter’s pintxo bars spill onto the town squares, and Lekeitio shifts from fishing village to a lively nighttime hangout.

Insider tip: Always check tide charts before planning the island crossing.

Tiny Mundaka is legendary in surf circles and has long been a pilgrimage site for those seeking to ride the famous left-hand wave that peels across the bay. Surfing contests have been staged in the village since the 1970s; today the harbor mixes whitewashed fisher houses with surf schools and cafés, while boats gently rock in the water. Inland, the UNESCO–listed Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve offers a patchwork of wetland areas and oak forests that frame hiking paths and calm estuary waters made for kayaking. You can combine a visit to nearby destinations on a day trip from Bilbao.

Guernica is a town of immense cultural weight. Once the site of Basque assemblies under a revered oak tree, it was later devastated by the 1937 bombing, now immortalized in Picasso’s painting Guernica. Today, the Peace Museum and Assembly House trace these legacies, while the oak still grows as a living symbol. Close by, trails in the Urdaibai Reserve make it easy to combine history with nature in this must-visit Basque Country village.

Did you know?: The famous oak tree of Guernica has been replanted two times since 1860, each new tree grown from an acorn from the predecessor.

Oñati, sometimes called the “Basque Toledo,” is the perfect choice for cultural travel in the Basque region. Its Renaissance landmarks include the Monastery of Bidaurreta and University of Oñati, where students can select more than 90 percent of their courses in the Basque language. Just outside town, the Sanctuary of Arantzazu clings to a cliffside, its modernist design decorated by renowned Basque artists. From here, hiking trails extend into Aizkorri-Aratz Natural Park, leaving the Renaissance streets behind for a dose of mountain silence.

Azpeitia is the birthplace of Saint Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Jesuits. His family home forms part of the vast Sanctuary of Loyola, a baroque basilica and pilgrimage site, where exhibits trace his life and influence. The town is also home to the Basque Railway Museum, with vintage locomotives and rides. Set in the green Urola Valley, this small village in the Basque Country is both a springboard for countryside walks and a key stop along the Ignatian Way.

Ondarroa offers a raw look at Basque fishing life, and is one of the most authentic heritage towns in the Basque Country with narrow lanes of fisher houses and a harbor still busy with boats. Cross the town’s Roman bridge to reach the old quarter, home to the 15th-century Likona Tower and a seaside Gothic church. After wandering the steep streets, head to Arrigorri Beach or take a scenic coastal trail nearby.

Insider tip: Time your visit for mid-August when Ondarroa’s patron saint festival means streets are filled with parades, concerts, and sailors in costume for Día del Pescador.