Álava

The green inland of the southern Basque Country, connecting a medieval old town, a salt valley, and Rioja wineries.

Álava is located in the southern part of the Basque Country, Spain, with its capital, Vitoria-Gasteiz, serving as the seat of the Basque Autonomous Community. In the old town, you can visit the Cathedral of Santa María, Plaza de la Virgen Blanca, and the pintxos bars along Calle Cuchillería, while the Salburua Wetlands on the outskirts are perfect for birdwatching. Rioja Alavesa in the south is a renowned wine region, where the medieval town of Laguardia and architecturally striking wineries like Marqués de Riscal and Ysios are highly popular; the Salt Valley of Añana and Gorbeia Natural Park showcase natural and cultural landscapes. Spring and autumn are best, with autumn coinciding with the grape harvest. It can be reached via Bilbao Airport or by train.

Destinations

• Vitoria-Gasteiz
• Logroño & La Rioja

Itineraries

• Basque & La Rioja Wine Country Loop – Starting and ending in Bilbao, this loop connects Vitoria-Gasteiz, Logroño, Haro wineries, and San Sebastián.
• Camino Francés: Roncesvalles to Logroño 9-Day Trek – Walk from Roncesvalles to Logroño, covering about 140 km of the Camino de Santiago across Navarre in six stages.