Vitoria-Gasteiz

Vitoria-Gasteiz is the capital of the Basque Autonomous Community, in Alava, Spain, about 65 km south-east of Bilbao. The easiest way to reach it is a direct coach from Bilbao Termibus (Gurtubay kalea 1) to the Vitoria-Gasteiz bus station on Calle los Herran 50. Coaches run about hourly, take roughly one hour, and fares start around EUR 7 one way on aggregator listings, so confirm the current price. By car, the AP-68 takes about 55 minutes. The city's compact centre makes it an easy trip without a car.

The heart of the visit is the medieval old town on a hill, with the Plaza de la Virgen Blanca at the foot and the Plaza de España, a neoclassical square, nearby. The Santa Maria Cathedral can be visited on guided hard-hat tours that show the restoration work beneath the building. The Artium museum presents contemporary Basque and Spanish art, and the Salburua wetlands and the green ring of parks reflect the city's title as European Green Capital in 2012. The streets around Calle Cuchillería and Calle Cuesta de San Francisco are lined with pintxo bars.

A suggested day starts with a morning coach, a walk through the old town and the cathedral tour, and a visit to Artium before lunch. At lunch, try pintxos in the Cuchillería area and local dishes such as potatoes with chorizo. The afternoon can be spent in the green ring, either walking to the Salburua wetlands or relaxing in the Florida park, before an evening coach back to Bilbao. Cathedral tours often need advance booking, so check availability.

April to June and September to October offer the mildest weather. Winters are cold and can bring fog, while July and August are hot. Arriving by mid-morning gives time for the cathedral tour and a relaxed lunch.