8 Best Sights in Laguardia, Bilbao and the Basque Country

Laguardia's architectural masterpiece is this church's Gothic polychrome portal—the only one of its kind in Spain. Protected by a posterior Renaissance facade, the door centers on a lovely, lifelike effigy of La Virgen de los Reyes (Virgin of the Kings), sculpted in the 14th century and painted in the 17th by Ribera. Guided tours are available by pre-booking only; email the Laguardia tourist office, and be sure to specify your language ( [email protected]). 

This family-run bodega is famed for its down-to-earth, approachable tours, which explore the 16th-century caves below Laguardia and are followed by a tasting of three fruity carbonic-maceration wines for €15.

This sleek, modern winery is an architectural wonder of glass and steel with floor-to-ceiling windows that overlook the vineyards and a state-of-the-art multilevel wine cellar. The two-hour morning tour ends around 2 pm—the perfect time to settle in for lunch at the upstairs restaurant. The tasting menu pairs the three-course menu with four signature wines for around €50 and is highly recommended.

Laguardia's oldest civil structure, the 15th-century Casa de la Primicia is where tithes of fresh fruit were collected in medieval times. Visit the restored underground bodega, where tours culminate in a range of wine tastings, one of which samples four local varietals (Tempranillo, Graciano, Mazuelo, and Garnacha).

The family behind this majestic winery has been in the business for five generations. Surrounded by vineyards on all sides, Eguren Ugarte offers a variety of pre-bookable tours and tastings on foot, horseback, and Segway. 

This gallery is filled with colorful abstract paintings of landscapes and rural life by a local artist.

The village of Elciego, 6 km (4 miles) southeast of Laguardia, is the site of the historic Marqués de Riscal winery. Tours of the vineyards and cellars—among the most legendary in La Rioja—are conducted in English. Reservations are required. The estate also includes the stunning Frank Gehry–designed Hotel Marqués de Riscal, crafted out of waves of metal reminiscent of his Guggenheim Bilbao.

Small-production, minimal-intervention wines produced according to the biodynamic method are the specialty of this independent winery that's a 25-minute drive east of Laguardia. Tours and tastings are by online appointment only.