Eltziego A Fantastic Place to Sip Wine & 7 Best Things to Do

A beautiful village found in the La Rioja Wine Region is Eltziego (Elciego). This picturesque pueblo is found in the Rioja Alavesa sub-climate, a region that belongs to the Spanish Basque Country.

There are many things to do in Eltziego, but perhaps the biggest draw to the town is to tour the famous Bodegas Marqués de Riscal. As the village is located in the heart of the Rioja Alavesa region, there is a small handful of wineries to sample this varietal of wine.

Elciego has more than wine. There is a charm to the village, a lovely church, and is a short drive away from some of the most beloved hilltop villages.

This quick guide highlights why Elciego makes an ideal base to explore the La Rioja Wine Region. It also provides helpful information on how to get to Eltziego, the best things to do, and where to eat and sleep in this quiet and cute town.

Here’s all the reason that Elziego Spain is worth visiting.

Table of Contents

• How to Get to Eltziego Spain
• How Much Time to Spend in Eltziego
• The Best Things to Do in Eltziego Spain
• Where to Eat in Eltziego
• Where to Sleep in Eltziego
• Is Eltziego Worth Visiting?
• Conclusion | A Quick Guide to Visiting Eltziego Spain

How to Get to Eltziego Spain

Elztiego is found in the autonomous region of Pais Vasco (Basque Country). It is located in the southern Basque Country and sits close to the border of the La Rioja autonomous community.

While most people think of La Rioja wine coming directly from the La Rioja region, it is in fact spread across the Basque Country, La Rioja, and Navarre autonomous communities.

Eltziego is found in the Rioja Alavesa sub-climate, which is the north-easternmost area of the La Rioja Wine Region.

The easiest way to access the village is by car. We included Eltziego as part of a road trip through the La Rioja Wine Region. If planning a road trip, the two closest cities to pick up a car would be Vitoria-Gasteiz or Logroño. Vitoria-Gasteiz is the Basque capital city and is about one hour from Eltziego.

Logroño is the capital of the La Rioja region and is less than 30 minutes away from Elciego. This capital city is also an important stopping point for pilgrims walking the Camino de Santiago.

How Much Time to Spend in Eltziego?

Elciego is a small town and a majority of the highlights can be seen in a few hours. The village is pedestrian friendly and no unregistered cars are allowed to drive through the Old Town.

Those planning on enjoying a wine tour should plan on spending at least one night in Eltziego.

We arrived mid-day at Eltziego and booked an afternoon tour for Marqués de Riscal. This gave us ample time to wander through the village, check out a tapas bar, and walk to our wine tour.

In the morning we were able to visit the church, check out the flea market, and then tour the Museum at Bodegas Valdelana which also included a tasting. This was an ideal itinerary to make the most of our time in the Eltziego village.

The Best Things to Do in Eltziego

Here are some of the best things to do and see in Eltziego.

1 | Tour the Bodegas Marqués de Riscal

The most famous bodega in Eltziego is Marqués de Riscal. This winery has been producing wine in La Rioja since 1858 and continues to be an iconic wine of the region. Marqués de Riscal can be found in 110 countries across the globe. It has also been named the second-best vineyard in the world for three years in a row!

Marqués de Riscal is a fabulous option for a wine tour in the La Rioja Wine Region. It’s a beautiful facility with a mixture of old historical buildings and a modern hotel that was inaugurated in 2006. The unique Hotel Marqués de Riscal was designed by Frank Gehry (architect of the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao) and is one of the more luxurious places to stay in the La Rioja wine country. The hotel boasts a Michelin Star Restaurant and a Wine Spa.

My mom and I loved our wine tour at Bodegas Marqués de Riscal. We opted for the basic tour which included a walk along the vineyards, an informative video in the original bodega, a visit through the barrel cellars and private cellars, and a glimpse into the bottling facilities. The tour ended in the tasting room with a sample of three varietals of wine from Marqués de Riscal.

There is a cafe onsite if you are hungry before or after your tour. We also spent some time browsing the giftshop.

Overall, I can highly recommend a wine tour at Marqués de Riscal. They offer multiple tours throughout the day in Spanish and English. Tours can be booked online, but were able to secure an English tour in the winter months on a walk-in basis. They are also open daily and during the offseason. Since we visited in January my mom and I were the only two people on the tour and our guide was also fantastic.

Bodegas Marqués de Riscal Wine Tour Options

There are three different tour options and we opted for the Basic Tour (Level 1).

Bodegas Marqués de Riscal | Basic Tour (1) | Tour Fee:  €25 | Admission Includes Guided Tour &Tasting of 3 Wines | Duration: 90 minutes | Tour Available in English, best to reserve in advance here

More Bodegas in Eltziego

While Bodegas Marqués de Riscal is the most famous vineyard in Eltziego, there are a few smaller bodegas in town.

These are all bodegas found close to Eltziego and in the village.

• Luberri Monje Amestoy
• Bodegas Murua
• Bodegas Bauza
• Bodegas Muriel
• Bodegas Diez-Caballero
• Bodegas Fos

2 | Visit the Iglesia de San Andrés

In the heart of Eltziego village is the 16th-century Church of San Andrés. Like many churches in Spain, this town church is a mixture of architectural components from Gothic to Neoclassical and Renaissance styles.

Inside is an impressive 18th-century built organ that is still used today.

3 | Wander the Medieval Streets

Even if you aren’t staying in the heart of the village, do take some time to wander the medieval streets of Elciego. There are a few cafes, plazas, and picturesque streets to saunter about. Within the old town are a few tapas bars, cafes, and restaurants in the heart of Eltziego.

With more time, you could take a hike out of town and visit one of the hilltop chapels, the Chapel of Saint Roch or the Chapel of Saint Vincent. There are also numerous hiking trails all detailed here by the Eltziego Tourism Office.

4 | Stroll Through the Plaza Mayor

The main Plaza of Elciego is the Plaza Mayor and is where you can find the Town Hall, the small hermitage of Nuestra Señora Virgen de la Plaza, and a gazebo. The open plaza is lined with trees and offers plenty of benches to relax.

5 | Take the Museum Tour at Bodegas Valdelana

Bodegas Valdelana is another small bodega found in Eltziego. The family-run business has ties to winemaking since 1583. Besides the wine tasting, Bodegas Valdelana has a Winery Museum and cozy accommodation options at the Agroturismo Valdelana.

The Wine Museum is kind of like four separate museums and isn’t like a typical La Rioja wine tour. The owner looks to provide something a little different than the standard wine tour.

The first section of the tour focuses on the prehistoric history and items found near the village from fossils to tools. This section of the tour is found in the original 16th-century cellar. The next section of the tour shows the old wine-making tools from the 19th century. There are lots of photos that show how challenging winemaking was by hand. Next, move to the Tunnel of Senses which is a quick crash course on the wine varietals. Finally, the tour ends with an olive oil and wine tasting on the covered outdoor terrace.

There is a chance to add an option to visit the viewpoint and vineyards a short drive away from the main facilities. This Garden of Varieties boasts a stellar viewpoint of the Ebro River and over 130 different varietals of wines, one that is said to be the same varietal that Jesus drank at the Last Supper.

You must take a shuttle to the Jardín de las Variedades and can not visit on your own.

In my opinion, the Wine Museum Tour at Bodegas Valdelana is a nice complementing tour to the standard wine tours in La Rioja. The best part is if staying at Agroturismo Valdelana, the Wine Tour is included for free with your stay!

Bodegas Valdelana Wine Museum | General Admission: €18 / Included with a stay at Agroturismo Valdelana / €25 for Wine Museum & Jardín de las Variedades | Museum Tours: Daily, 11:00, but always verify the current schedule

6 | Visit Nearby La Rioja Villages

Eltziego is close to many lovely La Rioja villages, both in the Rioja Alta and Rioja Alavesa wine regions.

A short distance from Eltziego is Laguardia, a beautiful and well-preserved medieval hilltop village. Briones, home to the Vivanco Museum of Wine Culture is nearby.

The small towns of Najera and Navarette are a short drive away and are historical towns on the Camino Frances.

7 | Appreciate a Lived in La Rioja Village

Finally, one of my favorite things about Eltziego is that it feels very authentic. While the population is small, close to 1,000 people, the town still felt very lived in. People were sitting outside at tapas bars and locals were out walking their dogs.

During my winter visit, I was there when a flea market was set up in the Plaza Mayor. During the summer months, there is a municipal pool within the town.

Where to Eat in Eltziego

There are a handful of places to eat in Eltziego. We had an awesome Menu del Dia at Taberna Gastronómica 1583. It’s also a scenic place to catch a nightcap with views of the church and the Hotel of Marqués de Riscal.

Another fantastic place to eat a hearty home-cooked meal is Bauza Comedor. This little restaurant offers traditional cuisine, but it’s best to have a reservation in advance so the chef has ample time to prepare your meal.

Bar Restaurante La Caprichosa is a great restaurant that is close to the Plaza Mayor. We enjoyed sitting outside at one of the many tables spilling out into the cobblestone street.

Bar del Jubilado “3 Limas” opens early for coffee.

Where to Sleep in Eltziego Spain

By far the most luxurious place to sleep in Eltziego is the Hotel Marqués de Riscal. This experience is for those looking for a splurge experience while visiting the La Rioja Region.

We loved staying at the cozy Agroturismo Valdelana which included free admission to the Bodega Valdelana Wine Museum. The rooms were perfect for us.

➜ Casa Rural La Corchea is a fabulous renovated old country house with welcoming hosts.

➜ En BLANCO y TINTO is a beautiful two-bedroom house that boasts a terrace, a well-stocked kitchen, and all the amenities and is located a short distance from the Plaza Mayor.

➜ Casa Rural Rojanda welcomes guests with warm hospitality, large rooms, onsite parking, and a perfect base to explore the region.

➜ Browse all the best places to stay in Elciego Spain

Is Eltziego Worth Visiting?

Yes, Eltziego is worth visiting! In fact, it makes for a perfect place to base and explore the surrounding La Rioja Wine region.

Eltziego has many vineyards to discover the Rioja Alavesa sub-climate, a lived-in feeling town, a wine museum, and one of the top-rated wineries in the world (Marqués de Riscal).

Conclusion | A Quick Guide to Eltziego Spain

In short, this is a quick guide to visiting Elciego Spain. This medieval town is found in the Rioja Alavesa sub-climate of the La Rioja Wine Region and offers plenty of things to see and do.

Eltziego is known for the Bodega Marqués de Riscal with its famously designed hotel by iconic architect Frank Gehry. The small town is home to many family-run wineries and a Wine Museum.

This short guide includes how to best visit Elciego, what to do there, and recommendations on where to eat and sleep in this quiet village in La Rioja Wine Country.

My mom and I loved our time in Elciego and would recommend staying here in a heartbeat!

Have you spent time in Eltziego? What did you think? Is there anything I’m missing in this quick guide or any updates I need to know? Let me know in the comments below!

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