Bilbao and Beyond-The Perfect Basque Country Itinerary

"I first visited Bilbao, Spain, in the 1980s, before the Guggenheim Museum was built and the city was featured in prominent TV and film, like James Bond. While my then-beau rehearsed with the Bilbao Opera, I wandered around. When I asked where to eat, a local replied, "anywhere." Decades later, that advice still holds-and it extends to the rest of Basque Country, as well."

"The perfect home base in Bilbao is the Artist Grand Hotel for great views of the Guggenheim, or if you want classic luxury, opt for the Palacio Arriluce Hotel. Both of these properties are nearby the museum, providing access to some of the greatest modern art in the world. After you've explored enough and work up an appetite, head to Calle Ledesma for a pintxos crawl, sampling several of the bite-size snacks served in bars throughout the Basque Country."

Begin the trip in Bilbao with stays offering views of the Guggenheim or classic luxury near the museum. Pintxos crawls along Calle Ledesma showcase bite-size Basque snacks. Day trips include San Juan de Gaztelugatxe and visits to Bodega Gorrondona for Txakoli or lunch at Kamiñoko in Guernica. In Vitoria-Gasteiz, visit the Gothic Cathedral of Santa María and walk the Salt Valley of Añana with its stepped terraces. Travel to San Sebastián after hiking the Flysch cliffs at Zumaia and dining on grilled fish at Asador Bedua. Stop in Getaria for the Cristóbal Balenciaga Museum. Recommended hotels include Hotel Maria Cristina and Lasala Plaza Hotel.

Read at Travel + Leisure