How to Visit Astigarraga The Basque Cider Capital & 10 Useful Cider House Tips
One of the best and maybe lesser-known day trips from San Sebastian is to visit the capital of the Basque Cider Region. Nestled in the hillside, a short stint from the seaside city of San Sebastian, find the village of Astigarraga.
This small village is blessed with old apple orchards and is one of the best places to learn about and better yet, sample the light and fresh Basque cider. In addition to a large concentration of cider houses, Astigarraga is close to the foodie capital of San Sebastian and is home to a super informative cider museum.
This ultimate travel guide to Astigarraga includes: how to day trip from San Sebastian to the Basque Cider Capital, what to see in Astigarraga on a day trip, tips for visiting the cider houses, and more.
Here’s how to make the most of a day trip to Astigarraga, the Basque Cider Capital.
Table of Contents
- How to Get to Astigarraga The Basque Cider Capital from San Sebastian
- How Much Time to Spend in Astigarraga
- What to Do in Astigarraga
- 10 Useful Tips to Enjoy the Basque Cider Houses
- Popular Cider Houses in Astigarraga
- Overview | How to Visit Astigarraga as a Day Trip from San Sebastian
How to Visit Astigarraga The Basque Cider Capital from San Sebastian
With its close proximity to San Sebastian, frequent bus connections, and tours, Astigarraga is an easy and underrated day trip from San Sebastian.
Visiting the Basque Cider Capital is a must for those inspiring foodies looking to savor one of the best food experiences in San Sebastian.
☛ Psst… The seaside village of Getaria is also a fabulous day trip from San Sebastian for those looking for a very different culinary experience.
By Car
Astigarraga is around a 10 to 15-minute drive from the center of San Sebastian. With stricter sobriety laws for driving under the influence (0.05% BAC), it’s best to avoid drinking and driving. Of course, a sober driver is always an ideal option.
Parking in Astigarraga is also limited, excluding the cider houses.
By Public Transportation
For me, the best way to get to Astigarraga is to take the bus. Frequent buses run between San Sebastian and Astigarraga. Most day trippers will opt to sleep in San Sebastian and use public transportation.
Lurralde Bus Company runs two bus routes from the center of San Sebastian with stops in Astigarraga. Both BU12 & BU13 buses are options and are quick and budget-friendly options.
Pay the bus driver in cash to get a ticket. Buses drop near the round about on the outskirts of the village.
🚌 Bus San Sebastian to Astigarraga | Departure Location: Okendo Kalea 18 | Bus Company: Lurralde | Average One-Way Bus Fare: €1.35 -€1.85 | Duration: +/- 20 minutes | Verify the Bus Schedule with Lurralde bus here
Basque Cider House Tours
A fun and informative way to visit the unique Basque Cider Houses is to join an organized tour. These are some of the most popular cider-focused tours from San Sebastian.
➜ “Basque Cider House” Guided Tour & Meal from San Sebastian is a highly rated four-hour tour that includes a visit to a cider house with a meal, and a guide, and includes all transportation logistics.
➜ “Basque Farm House & Cider House Tour” & Meal from San Sebastian includes a visit to a traditional farmhouse with country landscapes. The tour includes all transportation and an authentic Cider House meal.
How Much Time to Spend in Astigarraga
With its proximity to San Sebastian, Astigarraga is an easy day trip from San Sebastian. Ideally, Astigarraga could be explored casually over a few hours in half a day. This includes a guided tour at the Museum of Cider (approximately 1 hour) and savoring a meal at one of the Astigarraga Cider Houses (anywhere from 2+ hours).
Those travelers spending a few days in San Sebastian could easily fit a visit to Astigarraga into their itinerary.
Depending on what you are looking for, Astigarraga could be a few-hour day trip or a place to sleep to explore more in-depth the numerous Basque cider houses in the province of Gipuzkoa.
What to Do in Astigarraga on a Day Trip from San Sebastian
Most people will opt to visit Astigarraga as a day trip from San Sebastian. Here’s how to make the most of a few hours in the Basque Cider Capital of Astigarraga.
1 | Visit the Museum of Basque Cider (Sagardoetxea)
There’s no better place to learn about the history of the region and the influence of cider on the region than the Museum of Basque Cider. The museum is truly a gem and includes a guided tour.
In the Basque language, cider is known as Sagardoa which translates to apple wine. It’s been said that cider culture has been part of the Basque region as far back as the 11th century. On this tour, you’ll get a glimpse into the important role cider has played over the centuries and where it is heading.
The museum tour is divided into three different sections.
First, head to the small orchards outback and see how apples have been harvested and cultivated. This is the perfect opportunity to see the different varietals of apples found in the region. Basque cider combines a mixture of sweet, bitter, and acid apples, so the taste is quite different than typical ciders you might be used to.
For me, I loved the balanced flavors and it was quite light and less syrupy than the ciders I’m used to in the United States.
The orchard section of the museum is interactive and a fun way to spend time in the natural surroundings.
Afterward, head to the exhibition to see how cider production has changed over the years. In the past, most ciders were produced in small batches for families. With the Basque culture having deeply rooted ties to the sea, many sailors relied on drinking cider to help prevent Scurvy.
Today, Basque Cider is part of the heritage and there is much revival to maintain the traditions.
The tour concludes in the tasting room. Here, find barrels on the wall and learn all about “Txotx.” Txotx translates from the Basque language to a small wooden stick. The txotx in cider terms refers to the small wooden stick that would seal the wooden barrels or “kupelak” that were filled with Basque cider.
Wondering how to pronounce Txotx? It’s like “Choach” in English
In traditional cider houses, when you hear Txotx being shouted, it means that the barrel will be tapped, so grab your glass and be ready to sample the cider that flows straight from the barrel.
In the tasting room, learn all about how to hold your glass the proper etiquette to receive cider, and how much to take. Here, you’ll also learn about the different labels on the bottles that differentiate between standard and premium ciders. The grand finale is tasting the delicious ciders.
Love what you tasted? There are plenty of local ciders and apple products for sale at the gift shop.
How to Visit Sagardoetxea
Admission tickets to Sagardoetxea include a guided tour to visit the orchard, the exhibition, and the cider tasting. Guided tours start on the hour. Tours are offered in Basque, Spanish, and English, but it’s best to reserve in advance for English tours.
Sagardoetxea (Museum of Cider) | Find it here: Kale Nagusia Kalea, 48, Astigarraga, Gipuzkoa, Spain | Hours: Tuesday – Saturday: 11:00-13:30 & 16:00-19:30 / Sundays: 11:00-13:30, Closed Mondays except during July and August | Admission Fee: €5 | Duration: Guided tours take around an hour and start at the top of the hour | Official Website
Thoughts on Sagardoetxea, the Museum of Basque Cider
I went in with little expectations of the Museum of Basque Cider, but ended up loving the visit! From the songs in the orchards to all the information, and etiquette with cider, I highly recommend visiting the museum. It became a highlight of visiting Astigarraga.
Our guide was so kind and you could really see her enthusiasm for the cider culture in the Basque region. The tasting room gave us the confidence and knowledge on how to best experience the cider houses.
Additionally, as we visited during the start of the high season, our sweet guide arranged reservations at a local cider house.
Don’t miss the opportunity to visit the Museum of Basque Cider!
2 | Take a Stroll Through the Village
Astigarraga is a small village with less than 7,000 people, yet is a huge hub for the Basque cider houses. Many of the cider houses are found within walking distance of the village or a short taxi ride away. Astigarraga is home to around 19 cider houses.
This map highlights all of the registered Basque Cider Houses, and it’s easy to see why Astigarraga is called the Capital of Basque Cider.
The small town of Astigarraga has plenty of cafes and a lively main plaza. When we visited local musicians were playing in the plaza while onlookers appreciated the sunny day.
3 | Experience a Typical Meal at one of the Basque Cider Houses
The best way to participate in the Basque Cider Culture is to eat at a Sagardotegia (cider house).
Remember, the Basque have their distinct language of Euskara, so it’s normal to see the cider houses referred to as Sagardotegia comparative to the Spanish name of Sidrería.
Basque cider houses are typically open during the cider season from January to May. Apples are harvested from September to November.
The apples naturally ferment in barrels with no sugars or yeast added and are commonly enjoyed fresh from the barrel from January to May. This time frame is also known as the Txotx season.
Most cider houses are only open during Txotx cider season, but there are a few that are open all year round. If visiting during the low season, chances are you might be enjoying the Basque cider from a bottle rather than from the kupelak, or barrels.
Don’t forget that meal times in Spain are typically 13:00 – 16:00 with a break in the afternoon, or siesta. Many cider houses reopen for dinner around 20:00.
Typical Menu at Basque Cider Houses
Most of the Basque cider houses have a typical set menu.
Of course, the menu is complimented best with all-you-can-drink cider straight from the barrels.
This menu includes a loaf of bread simply set on the table because you won’t find a plate at your place. Maybe there will be a starter of a chorizo cooked in cider, or maybe not.
There’s always almost an omelet of cod, or tortilla de bacalao. Next, eat a hearty portion of cod topped with fried peppers, or bacalao al pil-pil.
The highlight for many is the Basque T-Bone or Txuleta. These hearty slabs of meat are grilled simply over coals with salt but are almost always served blue rare, so make sure you say your preference if you want it cooked longer.
Dessert is oftentimes local cheese and nuts.
Basque cider house menus run anywhere from 30 -to 40 Euros a person, depending of course how much you eat. The price can fluctuate by how much meat you eat, as it is priced by weight.
Be mindful that menu and dietary preferences should be arranged before ordering and are not always possible.
10 Useful Tips to Enjoy the Basque Cider Houses
It can be a little intimidating to visit a typical cider house, especially if language skills are a barrier. Here are some tips to enjoy the cider houses if visiting independently without a tour.
✔ During the Txotx season (January – May) the cider houses are extremely busy. It’s best to have a reservation. Remember, this is during the winter in the Basque region, so dress in warm layers as the dining halls are almost in a warehouse-like setting.
✔ Basque cider is something to sip and enjoy with a good meal. Only take a little at a time as it can be sneaky as it’s so light. It’s best to only fill your glass with a few sips. This is also to keep the cider fresh in your glass so it doesn’t sit as long.
✔ Feel free to return to the barrels as many times as you wish, but only with an empty cup.
✔ To receive the fresh cider from the txotx, make sure to stand in line and with a tilted glass. Tilting the glass allows the cider to bounce off the glass and oxidize.
✔ The person in front of you receiving their cider will remove their glass while the tap is still flowing. You must be prepared to “catch” the cider. Try to waste as little as possible. If no one is behind you, start moving your glass closer to the spout to altert the person pouring that you would like no more.
✔ Traditional cider houses have no plates. The idea is to share good food and cider together in a social setting.
✔ Do try ciders from different barrels. The ciders are fermenting in the barrels, so each barrel will taste a little different.
✔ The T-bone meat (Txuleta) is served almost rare, so make sure to tell the server if you wish for it to be cooked longer.
✔ Plan on the whole experience at the cider houses to take at least two hours or longer, especially if you are enjoying the company of those around you. The seating is meant to be social on long benches.
✔ Basque cider houses are a really fun way to experience the delicious culinary scene in San Sebastian and to take cider in this way is unique to the Basque region.
Popular Cider Houses in Astigarraga
There are some of the most popular cider houses to eat at in Astigarraga. However, there are plenty more to choose from with almost 19 cider houses located within the limits of Astigarraga.
➜ Alorrenea is a popular cider house in Astigarraga that offers txotx year round. This is personally where my mom and I visited. We had great service and were able to sample a few different ciders from the barrel. Alorrenea is less than a 10-minute walk from the museum in Astigarraga.
➜ Astarbe is one of the oldest cider bars with a history dating back to 1563. Astarbe offers txotx all year round and is easy to reach on foot from Astigarrage.
➜ Petritegi is a 15-minute walk from the center of Astigarraga but offers three unique dining rooms to sample cider with a traditional tasting menu. Petritegi has been part of the Basque Cider culture since 1526.
➜ Lizeaga is a highly-rated cider house that has been making cider since the 16th century. It’s easy to reach via foot from Astigarraga.
Overview | How to Visit Astigarraga The Capital of Basque Cider on a Day Trip from San Sebastian
This quick guide is an overview of Astigarraga, the unofficial capital of Basque cider houses and culture.
Astigarraga makes for an easy day trip from San Sebastian, one of the best foodie destinations in Spain and a highlight of the Basque Country.
Astigarraga can be explored in a few hours and highlights of a visit include the Museum of Basque Cider and indulging in a tasting menu at a typical Basque Cider House. As the Basque Country is known for its cuisine and gastronomy, don’t miss a chance to eat a menu from one of the cider houses.
Have you visited Astigarraga in the Basque Country in Spain? What did you think of Basque cider and the cuisine? Let me know in the comments below!
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