The Best Things to Do in Vitoria-Gasteiz in 1 Day

Do you ever travel to a place that you know nothing about, go in with little expectations, and then are just completely blown away by it? That was me visiting Vitoria-Gasteiz, the contemporary and let’s face it, the cool capital city of the Basque Country in Spain.

There are plenty of things to do in this overlooked Basque city that I wish I had planned for more than one day. However, if you have a full day some of the best things to do in Vitoria-Gasteiz are found within the almond-shaped Old Town.

Besides a well-persevered medieval quarter, Vitoria-Gasteiz is blessed with tons of museums (many of them are free), delicious pintxos bars, and sprawling green spaces. Vitoria-Gasteiz was awarded one of Europe’s Green Capitals and more recently a respected Global Green City. Throw in the energy of the University and it’s easy to see why Vitoria-Gasteiz is worth visiting.

This guide about Vitoria-Gasteiz showcases how to make the most of one day in this overlooked Basque city. It also includes highlights and tips to enjoy the city and what to add to your Vitoria-Gasteiz itinerary if you have more time.

Here’s some of the best things to do in Vitoria-Gasteiz in one day.

Table of Contents

• How to Get to Vitoria-Gasteiz
• One Day Itinerary for Vitoria-Gasteiz Spain
• Arrival into Vitoria-Gasteiz
• Explore Casco Medieval & Top 10 Things to See
• Menu del Dia for Lunch
• Visit One or Both of the Art Museums in Vitoria-Gasteiz
• Revisit Old Town & Ensanche District
• Eat Pintxos & Nightlife in Vitoria-Gasteiz
• Where to Sleep in Vitoria-Gasteiz
• Things to Do in Vitoria-Gasteiz if You Have More Than a Day
• Conclusion | Best Things to Do in Vitoria-Gasteiz Itinerary & Guide

How to Get to Vitoria-Gasteiz Spain

The most famous cities in the Basque Country in Spain are San Sebastian and Bilbao. San Sebastian sits picturesquely on the Bay of Biscay and is arguably one of the top culinary destinations in Spain. Bilbao straddles the Nervión River and has the famous Guggenheim Museum.

Vitoria-Gasteiz is landlocked with rolling hills encompassing it and is the actual capital of the autonomous Basque region. Close to the Rioja wine region and one of the most progressive green cities, don’t skip a visit to Vitoria-Gasteiz.

As a political and cultural hub, Vitoria-Gasteiz is well connected to the most popular places to see in the Basque Country.

By Bus

From San Sebastian, frequent buses via Alsa Bus Company connect Vitoria-Gasteiz to San Sebastian. Direct buses from San Sebastian take around 1 hour and 15 minutes to arrive at the bus station in Vitoria-Gasteiz. Note that there are buses that are not direct and take a little bit longer.

If coming from Bilbao, direct buses run via Autobuses La Unión and arrive in Vitoria in around an hour’s time.

By Train

While less frequent than buses, it is also possible to take the train from San Sebastian and Bilbao to Vitoria-Gasteiz. Trains from Bilbao are longer and offer fewer services than from San Sebastian.

The train station in Vitoria-Gasteiz is closer to the Old Town than the bus station.

🚆 Trains are run by Spain’s Rail Company Renfe

By Car

Vitoria-Gasteiz is easy to reach by car, although once in the city, a car becomes quite unnecessary. With over 180 kilometers of bike trails and numerous pedestrian-friendly streets, a car can be more of a hassle.

However, we utilized Vitoria-Gasteiz as a place to pick up a rental car and explore the nearby La Rioja wine region. Some of the best small villages in Rioja Alavesa (actually part of Basque Country) are less than an hour’s drive from Vitoria. That makes Vitoria-Gasteiz an ideal location to begin a La Rioja road trip.

By Air

There is a small airport that services Vitoria-Gasteiz (VIT). In fact, only Ryanair currently operates at this airport and flights are limited.

Domestic Flights include Sevilla and Alicante with international flights to Milan and Brussels.

One Day Itinerary for Vitoria-Gasteiz

With only one day in Vitoria-Gasteiz focus on the medieval old town and nearby museums and green spaces. Here are some of the best things to see and do in Vitoria-Gasteiz in one day.

Jump to | Medieval Quarter | Lunch | Art Museums | More Places to See | Pintxos

Arrival into Vitoria-Gasteiz

Head to the living room of the city. This is the perfect place to start touring Vitoria-Gasteiz

Plaza de la Virgen Blanca

Plaza de la Virgen Blanca feels kind of like the central heart of Vitoria. Oftentimes referred to as the New Plaza, this hub was built around the 17th century and now showcases a Monument to the Battle of Vitoria-Gasteiz.

One of the most iconic things in Plaza de la Virgen Blanca is the Vitoria-Gasteiz signboard made from green plants, a nod to being one of the innovative Green Capital cities. The plaza is surrounded by coffeeshops and pintxo bars.

There is no better place to enjoy a sunny day!

This is an excellent place to start exploring Vitoria as it’s steps away from the Plaza de España, the Medieval Town, and is located in the more modern Ensanche District.

Plaza de España

The Plaza de España is home to the Town Hall and the extremely helpful Tourists Information Center. Stop here first to get useful city maps and attractions, walking routes to and from the urban parks, and even an artistic mural map.

The Tourist Information Center can also help arrange guided tours and visits to the many attractions throughout the city.

Additionally, the Plaza de España is an ideal place to grab a coffee and people-watch, especially in the morning. The incredible plaza was designed by the local architect Justo Antonio de Olaguíbel.

Explore Casco Medieval (Old Town)

With maps in hand, head to the Medieval Quarter of Vitoria-Gasteiz. This is one of the best-preserved medieval quarters in all of Spain and dates back to the 12th century.

Filled with numerous historical buildings, art murals, and attractions that can be seen on foot, this is an ideal place to spend the morning until lunch.

Remember, the Old Town is shaped like an almond so touring it may feel like going in circles.

The Casco Medieval of Vitoria-Gasteiz is pedestrian-friendly. You’ll find elevators and escalators to help you move through the twisting old quarters as it’s built on a hill. The idea is to make the city more accessible for everyone. Vitoria-Gasteiz is truly full of wonderful surprises!

Again, with one day in Vitoria-Gasteiz, you’ll be spending most of your time in the Casco Medieval and the nearby more modern Ensanche district.

These are some of the best things to do in Vitoria-Gasteiz in the Medieval Old Town and the best attractions and museums.

1 | Santa Maria Cathedral

The Santa Maria Cathedral is by far one of the most popular things to do in Vitoria. The current cathedral’s foundation can be documented back to the 12th century.

Visiting the Santa Maria Cathedral is a unique experience, as the current cathedral is currently under restoration work. Due to this, you must join a guided tour to visit the Santa Maria Cathedral.

Don a hard hat and explore the crypts and the Cathedral to see the actual restoration work in progress.

➜ You must request an entrance time before visiting. See the current visiting schedules here.

2 | Plaza de la Burullería

After visiting the Cathedral, head behind the church to the Plaza de la Burullería. This plaza got its name from the weavers who traded here. Look for the colorful mural paying homage to the weavers.

There are lovely views of the church and bell tower.

3 | El Portalón

One of the most iconic buildings off of Plaza de la Burullería is El Portalón. This was a 15th century inn and the building still retains much of its character. What’s unique about the building is that it boasts different architectural styles including Renaissance, Gothic, and Mudejar.

Today, El Portalón is a restaurant where locals and travelers alike can travel back in time to enjoy an exquisitely modern meal. Additionally, there is a bar on the ground floor if you want to take a peek and sample local beverages from wine to cocktails.

4 | Appreciate the Art Murals

One of the best things to do in Vitoria-Gasteiz is to look for the many art murals found scattered around the city. A majority of these murals, at least 12, are found throughout the Medieval Quarter.

Make sure to pick up a mural map from the Tourist Information Center to get the meaning and importance of each work of art.

5 | Vitoria-Gasteiz City Walls & Palacio Escoriaza

Head down Calle Fray Zacarías Martínez and pass by the Santa Maria Plaza with its water fountain. The road leads to the Escoriaza Palace and its 11th-century city walls. Here is where you can also find gardens and an old arched gateway.

6 | Palace of Montehermoso

Continue on the street to come to the Palace of Montehermoso. The palace is also connected to an old water storage tank. Today, this old palace is a cultural center with different exhibits and events.

7 | Villa Suso Palace y Ice House (Nevera)

Continue down the street to perhaps one of the most interesting parts of the Medieval Quarter. Behind the Church of San Miguel is the Ice House. Here, ice was brought down from Mount Gorbeia and stored. It was said that this ice house could store around 45,000 liters of ice. There are also wooden structures to show what the wall would have looked like.

The Villa Suso Palace is also built into the Old City Walls.

From here you can visit the Plaza del Machete to get a great view of the newer part of the city.

8 | Visit the Fournier Karta Museoa – BIBAT (Card Museum)

Now is a good time to loop back to the Fournier Karta Museoa – BIBAT. This is one of the more unique things to do in Vitoria-Gasteiz. This museum is housed in the 16th century Bendaña Palace and also has the Archeology Museum.

The Fournier Card Museum of Álava is a fun museum dedicated to all things playing cards. From the Fournier Playing Cards private collection, discover things from old tarot cards to unusual decks of cards from across the globe. There are decks of cards from five continents!

Onsite is some of the old machinery used by Heraclio Fournier, who is given credit for being the creator of Spanish playing cards.

This was a super fascinating museum to visit in Vitoria-Gasteiz and is free to visit.

9 | Stop by Casa del Cordon

Just down the road, stop in the Casa del Cordon to peek at the 15th-century palace.

10 | Calle Cuchillería “La Kutxi” One of the Gastronomy Streets

The last two stops are on Calle Cuchillería, one of Vitoria-Gasteiz’s top culinary streets. The street is lined with numerous restaurants, pintxos bars, and cafes. This makes a great place to stop for lunch.

Notice that on the signboard it may read as Aiztogile Kalea in the Basque language.

I frequented this fun street multiple times on my day in Vitoria-Gasteiz.

A Menu del Dia for Lunch in Vitoria-Gasteiz is a Must

After exploring the Medieval Quarter, Calle Cuchillería, or “Kutxi” has many restaurants offering a hearty Menu of the Day for a fair price.

We loved our filling and equally delicious meal at Restaurante El Siete. In fact, it was one of my most memorable meals this time traveling through the Basque region.

There are numerous restaurants next door to El Siete that also offer menu del dia, which also comes highly recommended.

Visit One or Both of the Vitoria-Gasteiz Art Museums

Vitoria-Gasteiz is known for its contemporary Art Museum Artium, but also has the Museum of Fine Arts of Álava.

Keep in mind that the Museo de Bellas Artes de Álava closes much earlier than the Artium, so plan accordingly.

Artium Art Museum (Artium Museoa)

Artium is the most famous art museum in Vitoria-Gasteiz. This museum houses contemporary art from the Basque region and other artists from Spain.

The Artium Museum is free every afternoon and all day Sunday. It is closed on Mondays.

Museum of Fine Arts of Álava (Museo de Bellas Artes)

I only had time for one art museum, so I chose to visit the Museum of Fine Arts of Álava. This art museum is housed in the Augustin Zulueta Palace. I had heard that the actual building was more interesting to visit, which is why I chose the Museo de Bellas Artes over the contemporary art museum.

In the museum, find artwork created by Basque artists from the 19th century. There are also rotating exhibits found throughout the palace, including the chapel.

The Museo de Bellas Artes comes with a free audio guide and is free to visit. Closed on Mondays.

The Walk to the Museum of Fine Arts

Perhaps one of the highlights is the walk from Plaza de la Virgen Blanca to the Museum of Fine Arts of Álava. The footpath passes by the Parque La Florida, a French-inspired park dating back to the 19th century.

The path is Paseo de la Senda and leads directly to the Museum of Fine Arts as it passes by historic homes and tall trees.

This walking trail is a fine example of why Vitoria-Gasteiz is a Green Capital City.

This route is also a part of the Inland Camino Vasco, a medieval and important Camino route that connected Irun (Camino del Norte) to the Camino Frances at Santo Domingo de la Calzada or Burgos. It’s no wonder I felt quite at home on this path, as I have a deep love for the Camino de Santiago.

👣 If you feel called to walk a Camino, check out these useful tips for first-time pilgrims, and make sure to pack light! Buen Camino

Return to Old Town & Ensanche to Visit Anything You Missed

Again, there is so much to see in this beautiful city. While I covered some of the best things to do in Vitoria-Gasteiz, I didn’t have time to see it all.

If you are feeling ambitious, these are some more things you could opt to visit before heading out for the evening.

• Museum of the Memorial Center of the Victims of Terrorism (I really wanted to visit this powerful museum, but we didn’t have enough time, free entrance)
• Museo de los Faroles shows the colorful stained-glass lanterns used in the “Rosary of the Lanterns” procession. (free entrance and only open in the mornings)
• The Museum of Sacred Art of Vitoria-Gasteiz is housed in the Cathedral María Inmaculada of Vitoria (free entrance)
• Plaza de Abastos is a local market that offers restaurants, food stalls, and even wine tasting. It’s most lively in the morning. (So, maybe hit it on the way out)

Eat Pintxos & Nightlife in Vitoria-Gasteiz

To top off this one-day itinerary for Vitoria-Gasteiz, head out to sample pintxos. Again, pintxos are common to the Basque region and are bite-size snacks typically found on a piece of bread or skewer.

It is very common to go out at night and move from one pintxos bar to the next enjoying a drink and a snack.

Some of the best pintxos bars are found in the Medieval Quarter. Again, Kutxi Street is a hip and lively street to sample pintxos and go on a “crawl.” Additionally, the street parallel to it, Pintoreria Street, is filled with popular places to have a drink and pintxos. Extitxu Bar is known to have live music throughout the week.

There are numerous pintxos bars lining the Plaza de la Virgen Blanca and surrounding streets. Maybe my favorite pintxos bar was PerretxiCo, in the Ensanche district.

If looking to really dive deep into the pintxos bars, check out the official Star Guide that covers the city’s best restaurants and top pintxos bars with their “featured” pintxo.

In addition to an interesting pintxos food scene, Vitoria-Gasteiz also has quite a few restaurants on the Michelin Star radar.

Where to Sleep in Vitoria-Gasteiz Spain

There are lots of different sleeping options in Vitoria-Gasteiz.

• Hostal Del Arquitecto is where we stayed and I can’t recommend it enough. Jose, the owner, is so passionate about Vitoria-Gasteiz and goes out of his way to make sure you get to experience and see the city through the eyes of a local. You’ll love the views, how clean the rooms and bathrooms are, and the warm hospitality of Jose and all of his incredible recommendations.
• Hotel Arts-Gasteiz is a unique hotel that is decorated in art.
• HABITAKA, Hogares de Paso is located in the heart of the city and is a popular place to stay in Vitoria-Gasteiz
• Nirea Hotel is found in the lively Ensache District and is a favorite among travelers

➜ Browse all the Places to Sleep in Vitoria-Gasteiz

Things to Do in Vitoria-Gasteiz With More Time

If you have longer than one day, take advantage of the many green spaces in Vitoria-Gasteiz. The city has worked hard to provide ample urban parks for biking, walking, and observing wildlife from birds to deer.

The Tourist Information Center offers Rutas Verdes or Green routes. These trails are all mapped out by convenient footpaths. There’s also the 20.5 mile (33 KM) Green Belt bike route that circles the entire city and an option to visit all the major parks.

If I had an extra day, I would have opted to bike the Green Belt in its entirety.

The most popular park to visit in Vitoria-Gasteiz is Salburua, with its Atrium and Center of Interpretation. This is an ideal place to see wildlife and birdwatch. Each park also has walking paths to appreciate the beauty.

➜ Those looking for something a little more unique may opt to visit the Salt Valley of Añana. If you trade in your car, this guided private tour runs from major Basque cities including Vitoria-Gasteiz.

Conclusion | Best Things to Do in Vitoria-Gasteiz Itinerary & Guide

In short, these are some of the best things to do in Vitoria-Gasteiz in one day. I knew little about this city before arriving and was blown away by the spectacular Medieval Quarter, the delicious food scene, and the lovely green parks and paths found throughout the city.

With only one day, it’s best to spend most of your day between the Casco Medieval, the more modern Ensanche district, and visiting the many unique museums.

With so much to see, it’s better to spend more than one day in Vitoria-Gasteiz. If you have an extra day, take time to appreciate the many urban parks and walking trails. This Green City is inspiring cities all across Europe.

Vitoria-Gasteiz was such a “cool” city and is worth visiting and adding to any Basque itinerary.

Have you visited Vitoria-Gasteiz? I can’t believe how many times I’ve overlooked this hip city in the Basque Country. Did you visit or explore a place in Vitoria-Gasteiz that you absolutely loved? Let me know in the comments below!

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