Basque Bound Roadtrip ’25 - ART FIX
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Basque Bound Roadtrip ’25

Jump to: BILBAO SAN SEBASTIÁN GETARIA ST JEAN DE LUZ

Welcome to the Basque Country—a coastal paradise where Bilbao, San Sebastián, Getaria, St Jean de Luz, and countless charming villages are within easy reach. Celebrated for their cuisine and excellent wines, expect golden hours overlooking the sea and pintxos served with an ocean breeze. Here’s your go-to itinerary for an art-filled weekend roadtrip through the Basque coast. 

Basque village with crystal clear water below white houses with colordul window trimming.

Our handy Art Fix Roadmap will help you navigate the Basque coastline with ease.

a map identifying cities in the basque country such as bilbao and san sebastian.

BILBAO

Your first stop is the buzzing city of Bilbao, where futuristic design meets old-world soul.

Sculpture in front of yellow building in bilbao.

ART

exterior of the bilbao guggenhiem shimmering with people walking past
interior sculuptures with a rusted look inside of guggenheim bilbao
sculpture of mirror balls outside the guggenheim bilbao.
Colorful painting yellow, green, blue, and white.
Basque Bound Roadtrip ’25
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Guggenheim Bilbao Museoa

With its shimmering titanium curves, architect Frank Gehry’s Guggenheim Bilbao didn’t just transform the skyline—it transformed the city itself. Opened in 1997 through a bold collaboration between the Basque Institutions and the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation, this architectural icon turned an industrial port into a global art capital, proving that one building can change everything.

Basque Bound Roadtrip ’25

Chiharu Shiota | Azkuna Zentroa

Red threads, suspended memories—Chiharu Shiota weaves emotion into air.

STAY

Restaurant of the hotel showing view of guggenheim

The Artist Grand Hotel Bilbao

Wake up to a surreal view of the Guggenheim while staying at the Artist Grand, just steps away from the museum.

EAT

Coffee & Drinks

interior of Bolge Cafe showing a brown table, red painting, and latern lamp hanging in the room.
exterior of bolge cafe with people walking in and out.
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BØLGE Cafe | Bilbao

Coffee and toast from bilbao cafe called BORGE.

Cokoon Cafe | Bilbao

Outside of Baster bar with a woman sitting with green trimming

Baster Bar | Bilbao

Lunch

Berria Ledesma | Bilbao

Egg lunch dish with red sauce and vegeatbles served in a blue plate at restaurant Bocoy in Bilbao
Interior design of restaurant Bocoy with lamps, chairs, tables and fun wallpaper on the walls.
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Bocoy | Bilbao

Interior of Cafe iruna with bright tiles covering the walls in yellow and blue.
A lunchtime dish at cafe iruna with vegetables and protein.
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Cafe Iruña | Bilbao

Dinner

Delicious treats in the window of a restaurant in Bilbao called victor montes, garnishes with vegetables.
Server opening a wine bottle at victor montes restaurant in the basque region wearing a white shirt.
dining plate, table scape and napkin embroidered with victor montes name at the victor montes restaurant.
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Restaurant Victor Montes | Bilbao 

Pinxtos style dishes in La OKa.

La Oka Gastrobar | Bilbao

  • Portuko Markesaren Kalea, 1
  • Tel. +34 665 39 78 75
  • laoka.es

If you’re craving a pintxos style dinner, head to La Oka.

SAN SEBASTIÁN

Just over an hour’s drive from Bilbao, you’ll find the coastal gem San Sebastián—where creativity fills the cultural scene and your plate.

ART

Expansive garden at Chillida Leku Museum near San Sebastián, featuring large abstract steel sculptures by Eduardo Chillida set among beech and oak trees in a serene natural landscape.
Expansive garden at Chillida Leku Museum near San Sebastián, featuring large abstract steel sculptures by Eduardo Chillida set among beech and oak trees in a serene natural landscape.
Stone cement statue outside of the open air museum in san sebastian with green grass behind.
Expansive garden at Chillida Leku Museum near San Sebastián, featuring large abstract steel sculptures by Eduardo Chillida set among beech and oak trees in a serene natural landscape.
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Museo Chillida Leku | San Sebastián

Nature and art collide organically at Chillida Leku, just outside San Sebastián—a museum that feels more like a living sculpture garden. Part of the Hauser & Wirth family, this estate showcases monumental steel and granite works by Eduardo Chillida that blend seamlessly among oaks, beeches, and magnolias, blurring the line between landscape and art.

rusted sculptures embedded in the rocks on la concha bay by artist Eduardo Chillida and architect Luis Peña Ganchegui.
l Peine del Viento (The Comb of the Wind), a trio of massive steel sculptures by Eduardo Chillida anchored into coastal rocks, with waves crashing at the edge of La Concha Bay in San Sebastián.
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El Peine del Viento | San Sebastián

At the edge of the sea in San Sebastián, El Peine del Viento (The Comb of the Wind) by artist Eduardo Chillida and architect Luis Peña Ganchegui stands as a powerful testament to the harmony between sculpture and landscape. Three monumental steel sculptures anchored in the rocks at the tip of La Concha Bay harness the wild energy of the Atlantic, as water fills the blowholes of the installation. 

rocks from an downward facing shot of the rock art installation.
staircase above and rock formation sculpute below.
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Hondalea | Santa Clara Island, San Sebastián

Inside the hollowed-out lighthouse, San Sebastián-born artist Cristina Iglesias has created a bronze installation that resembles the geological formations of the Basque coast. Water flows through the sculpture, mimicking the natural rhythms of tides and waves, creating an immersive experience that engages both sight and sound. From the port you can grab a quick 15-minute boat ride to the island.

STAY

Coastal charm meets boutique comfort at these one-of-a-kind stays in San Sebastián.

rooftop pool overlooking the city and the coast of la concha bay
interior of the hotel catolina donosti in san sebastian with couches and a nice hallway
The castle exterior, front of catalonia donosti in san sebastian with sandstone color.
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Catalonia Donosti | San Sebastián

With a perfect mix of modern and historic charm, Catalonia Donosti offers a gourmet restaurant, spa, and stunning panoramic views from the rooftop pool overlooking La Concha Beach, the Cathedral, and the city.

The front exterior architecture of Hotel Villa Favorita with clean white walks and a nice railing,
interior of villa favoirta with windows overlooking the sea.
Garden view from villa fvaorita hotel in san sebastian with sunlight coming through windows onto wood floor.
Bar of the villa favoirta hotel with moody lighting, green tile, and sleek design.
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Hotel Villa Favorita | San Sebastián

Perched at the edge of La Concha Bay, Villa Favorita stands as the crown jewel of the cliffside, boasting breathtaking panoramic views and Michelin-starred cuisine.

Exterior of nobu hotel in san sebastian with cream bricks.
Exterior view from Nobu Hotel in San Sebastian showing the water and pool with ocean view, along with green islands
Interior view from Nobu Hotel in San Sebastian showing the water and pool with ocean view, along with green islands
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Nobu Hotel | San Sebastián

Tucked along the Miraconcha promenade, Nobu Hotel San Sebastián fuses Basque charm with Japanese minimalism in a stunning 1912 villa.

EAT

Coffee & Drinks

two cups of coffee being held by hands, with latte art on top.

Simona Specialty Coffee Club | San Sebastián

Coffee served on a silver tray with a glass cup, black coffee at Driper cafe in san sebastian.
Fried eggs with garnishing served in a bowl from Driper in san sebastian.
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Driper | San Sebastián

IMAGE OF wine being pured with tapas style dishes, and a persons hands grabbing for food at a restaurant.

CURDELÓN Wine Bar | San Sebastián

Lunch

ocean view of restaurant in san sebastian with nice clean interior tables, dining room.
Seafood dish with fish and shrimps on a plate.
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Restaurant Casa Camara | San Sebastián

Oysters with green garnishing sitting on a plate.
Dishes on the table with fish decorated plates and seafood, octopus grilled.
menu and bar view from a cafe
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Hemeretzi | San Sebastián

Dinner

Ocean view of the restaurant with dining tables and green trees.
wine cellar with dog statue inside of rekondo restaurant.
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Restaurant Rekondo | San Sebastián

  • Igeldo Pasealekua, 57
  • Tel. +34 943 212 907
  • rekondo.com

Housing one of the best wine cellars in the world, Rekondo is not to be missed.

Seafood dish with vegetables and green garnish in sauce.

Restaurant Gaudarias | San Sebastián ​

GETARIA

Next, you’ll travel just 30 minutes from San Sebastián to the village of Getaria for Cristóbal Balenciaga—but you’ll stay for the incredible food.

Getaria

ART

IMage of exterior architecture of the balenciaga museum.
Image of glittering silk dress made by cristobal balenciaga.
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Cristóbal Balenciaga Museoa | Getaria

Tucked into his seaside hometown of Getaria, the Cristóbal Balenciaga Museoa is the first museum in the world devoted to a single designer—and fittingly, it’s the one who dressed queens and inspired legends like Dior and Chanel. Just steps from where Balenciaga’s career began, this fashion sanctuary showcases nearly 100 exquisite pieces, from Grace Kelly’s gowns to Queen Fabiola’s wedding dress, with rotating treasures from a collection of over 1,200 designs.

EAT

Outdoor terrace of Kaia-Kaipe restaurant in Getaria, overlooking the harbor, with white tablecloth-covered tables set for seafood dining and a backdrop of fishing boats and coastal hills.
Cooked fish in restaurant of Kaia-Kaipe restaurant in Getaria, overlooking the harbor, with white tablecloth-covered tables set for seafood dining and a backdrop of fishing boats and coastal hills.
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Restaurant Kaia Kape | Getaria 

Outside architecture of Amona Maria cafe.

Amona Maria | Getaria Harbour

Do you want to grab a quick bite of Basque small plates with a glass of Txakoli, a delicious local white wine? Head to Amona Maria!

ST JEAN DE LUZ

Image of Basque town St Jean de Luz with white buildings with red roofs alongside the sea.

Just across the border in France, St Jean de Luz is a chic escape where Parisian elegance meets Basque charm. With its boutique-lined streets offering everything from linens to leather goods, it’s the perfect place to indulge in French luxury by the sea.

SHOP

Leather goods shop in st jean de lux with wooden frames.

Maison Laffargue

For all your artisan leather needs, discover handcrafted leather goods made with precision in their on-site manufacturing workshop.

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