Food and Wine Travel
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Spain — Catalonia, Basque Country, La Rioja & Galicia
Explore Basque Food & Wine
Northern Spain's greatest food and wine cultures — from Barcelona pintxos to Rioja cellars and Galician seafood
Duration
9 Days / 8 Nights
Travel Style
Small Group
Starting In
Barcelona
Ending In
Santiago de Compostela
Departures
Contact us for current departure dates
Reference
ESBCNINFW
Spain — Catalonia, Basque Country, La Rioja & Galicia
Explore Basque Food & Wine
Northern Spain's greatest food and wine cultures — from Barcelona pintxos to Rioja cellars and Galician seafood
Duration
9 Days / 8 Nights
Travel Style
Small Group
Starting In
Barcelona
Ending In
Santiago de Compostela
Departures
Contact us for current departure dates
Explore Basque Food & Wine — 9 Days / 8 Nights
Overview
Northern Spain is one of the world's great food and wine destinations — and this nine-day small group journey moves through its most compelling chapters. From the vibrant market culture of Barcelona and the world-famous pintxos bars of San Sebastián, to the cellar doors of La Rioja and the wild seafood tables of Galicia, every stage of this journey is shaped around eating and drinking extraordinarily well.
The route traces the northern coast and wine heartland of Spain: Catalonia, the Basque Country, La Rioja, and finally Galicia, finishing in Santiago de Compostela. Each region has its own identity, its own grape varieties, its own culinary traditions — and on this journey, the group goes deep into all of them. Private wine tastings, local market visits, hands-on food experiences, and meals at restaurants that locals actually love.
Travelling in a small group means access to experiences that larger tours simply cannot offer. The group is kept intentionally small, the pace is considered, and the focus throughout is on the kind of food and wine encounters that stay with travellers long after the trip is over.
Trip Highlights
- —Explore La Boqueria and the born neighbourhood of Barcelona with a local guide
- —Taste Cava at a traditional Penedès estate in Catalonia
- —Discover the pintxos culture of San Sebastián — widely regarded as the world's greatest food city
- —Visit a Txakoli producer in the Basque hills for a tasting of this lively, mineral white
- —Tour a prestigious bodega in La Rioja — including barrel halls and a tutored wine tasting
- —Dine at a local restaurant in Logroño's celebrated Calle Laurel bar district
- —Explore the Rías Baixas by boat and taste Albariño at source
- —Enjoy a Galician seafood feast in Santiago de Compostela
Day by Day
Arrive Barcelona
Arrivals day in Barcelona. The group gathers this evening for a welcome dinner at a neighbourhood restaurant in the Eixample — a chance to meet fellow travellers over Catalan wine and local cuisine before the journey begins.
Check in
Arrive independently and settle into the centrally located group hotel.
Welcome dinner
Group dinner at a local Catalan restaurant — introductions over shared plates and regional wine.
Barcelona — Markets & Modernisme
A full day in Barcelona with a local guide. The morning begins at La Boqueria market — one of Europe's great food halls — exploring seasonal produce, cured meats, cheeses, and the vendors who have been trading here for generations. The afternoon moves through the El Born neighbourhood and the old city at a relaxed pace.
La Boqueria market tour
Guided walk through the market with a local food specialist. Time to explore, taste, and discover.
El Born neighbourhood
Walking the medieval streets of El Born — tapas bars, wine shops, and one of the finest collections of medieval architecture in Spain.
Dinner at leisure
Free evening to explore Barcelona's extraordinary restaurant scene independently.
Penedès — Cava & Catalan Wine
A morning excursion into the Penedès wine country, less than an hour from Barcelona. The region is best known internationally for Cava, Spain's traditional method sparkling wine, but it also produces serious still wines from indigenous varieties. A private visit to a family-owned estate includes a tour of the cellars and a tutored tasting, followed by lunch at the estate before returning to Barcelona.
Penedès wine estate visit
Private tour and tasting at a Catalan wine estate — understanding the region's grape varieties, winemaking methods, and the Cava production process.
Cellar lunch
Lunch at the estate paired with the producer's wines.
Return to Barcelona
Afternoon return to the city. Evening free.
Barcelona to San Sebastián
Travel by high-speed train to San Sebastián — a journey that crosses the Pyrenean foothills and arrives in one of the world's most celebrated food cities. The afternoon is free to explore the old town (Parte Vieja) and its extraordinary concentration of pintxos bars. Tonight, the group eats together at a traditional Basque restaurant.
Train to San Sebastián
High-speed rail from Barcelona Sants. Approximately five hours with spectacular scenery through northern Spain.
Parte Vieja exploration
Free time in the old town — famous for its density of Michelin-starred restaurants and pintxos bars.
Group dinner
Traditional Basque dinner at a restaurant selected for its regional credentials and local following.
San Sebastián — Pintxos & Txakoli
A full day in San Sebastián, shaped around food. The morning begins with a guided pintxos tour of the Parte Vieja — learning how to navigate the bars, what to order, and the culture behind one of the world's great casual dining traditions. The afternoon moves to the Basque hills for a visit to a Txakoli producer — the lively, slightly sparkling white wine that is inseparable from Basque cuisine.
Guided pintxos tour
Bar-to-bar walk through the Parte Vieja with a local guide — tasting pintxos and Txakoli at some of the neighbourhood's most respected bars.
Txakoli winery visit
Private visit to a Getariako Txakolina producer in the hills above the coast. Vineyard walk and cellar tasting.
Evening at leisure
Free evening in San Sebastián — widely considered one of the best cities in the world for independent dining.
La Rioja — The Heart of Spanish Wine
The group travels south into La Rioja — Spain's most celebrated wine region, producing Tempranillo-based reds that range from everyday drinking wines to some of the country's greatest age-worthy bottles. A private visit to a prestigious bodega includes a guided tour of the cellars, barrel halls, and a tutored tasting of current releases. The evening is spent in Logroño, the region's capital — dinner is in the famous Calle Laurel bar district.
Travel to La Rioja
Drive south from the Basque Country into the Ebro Valley and La Rioja.
Bodega visit and tasting
Private tour and tutored tasting at a well-regarded La Rioja producer. The tasting covers the regional classification system (Crianza, Reserva, Gran Reserva) with examples of each.
Dinner in Logroño
Group dinner in the Calle Laurel bar district — Logroño's answer to San Sebastián's Parte Vieja, and a remarkable evening for anyone who loves Spanish food culture.
La Rioja to Galicia
An inland travel day as the group moves west across northern Spain to Galicia. The landscape changes dramatically — from the dry plateau of the Meseta to the green, Atlantic-influenced hills of Galicia. Arrival in the evening allows time to explore the old town of Santiago de Compostela before dinner.
Travel to Galicia
Drive west through northern Spain — a journey through contrasting landscapes and the final section of the ancient Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route.
Arrive Santiago de Compostela
Check in and free time in the old town — a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of Spain's most atmospheric cities.
Dinner at leisure
Independent dinner exploring the old town's tapas bars and restaurants.
Rías Baixas — Albariño on the Atlantic
A day in the Rías Baixas wine country — the coastal appellation responsible for Spain's finest white wine, Albariño. The region's estuary landscape is unlike anywhere else in Spain: green and Atlantic, with vineyards trained high on granite pergolas above the coastal inlets. A private boat excursion on the Rías provides a different perspective on the landscape, followed by a winery visit and Albariño tasting. The evening brings the journey's final group dinner — a proper Galician seafood feast.
Rías Baixas boat excursion
Boat trip through the coastal inlets of the Rías Baixas — the best way to understand the geography of this extraordinary wine region.
Albariño winery visit
Private visit to a Rías Baixas producer for a tasting of their Albariño wines — understanding the influence of the Atlantic on the grape and the wine.
Farewell dinner
Group farewell dinner — a Galician seafood feast featuring the region's extraordinary shellfish, percebes (barnacles), and pulpo a la gallega, paired with Albariño.
Depart Santiago de Compostela
The journey concludes in Santiago de Compostela. Morning is free for final exploration of the old town — the cathedral, the market, one last café con leche — before independent departures.
Morning free
Free time in Santiago for final exploration, shopping, or a visit to the cathedral and its extraordinary architecture.
Departures
The tour concludes after breakfast. Guests depart independently. Santiago de Compostela Airport serves direct routes; connections via Madrid or Porto are also available.
What's Included
Included
- ✓8 nights accommodation in centrally located hotels (twin-share basis)
- ✓Welcome dinner (Day 1) and group dinners as specified in the itinerary
- ✓Penedès wine estate visit with tutored tasting and cellar lunch
- ✓Guided pintxos tour of San Sebastián's Parte Vieja
- ✓Txakoli winery visit and tasting
- ✓La Rioja bodega visit with tutored tasting
- ✓Rías Baixas boat excursion and Albariño winery visit
- ✓Guided La Boqueria market tour in Barcelona
- ✓High-speed train from Barcelona to San Sebastián
- ✓Private air-conditioned vehicle and driver/guide for regional travel
- ✓English-speaking group leader throughout
Not Included
- ✕International and domestic airfares
- ✕Airport transfers (available on request)
- ✕Meals not specified in the inclusions
- ✕Drinks with meals (unless otherwise stated)
- ✕Personal travel insurance (strongly recommended)
- ✕Personal expenses and gratuities
- ✕Optional activities not listed in the itinerary
Ready to start planning?
This itinerary can be tailored to suit different travel dates, group sizes, and preferences. Book a free chat to start the conversation.
Trip at a Glance
Accommodation
Boutique hotel, Barcelona city centre
3 nights
Barcelona, Catalonia
A well-located four-star hotel in the heart of Barcelona, within easy walking distance of La Boqueria, the Gothic Quarter, and the El Born neighbourhood.
Boutique hotel, San Sebastián old town
2 nights
San Sebastián, Basque Country
A characterful hotel in or adjacent to the Parte Vieja — the ideal base for exploring San Sebastián's extraordinary pintxos culture on foot.
Hotel, Logroño
1 nights
Logroño, La Rioja
A four-star hotel in the centre of Logroño, walking distance from the Calle Laurel and the old town.
Hotel, Santiago de Compostela
2 nights
Santiago de Compostela, Galicia
A centrally located four-star hotel in the old city of Santiago de Compostela — within the UNESCO World Heritage precinct.
Good to Know
iThis is a small group departure with a maximum group size — confirm availability before booking flights.
iThe itinerary includes a mix of private vehicle travel and high-speed rail; comfortable walking shoes are recommended for market and old town exploration.
iNorthern Spain has a temperate Atlantic climate; light layers are recommended year-round, particularly in the Basque Country and Galicia.
iMost food experiences involve walking and standing; guests with dietary requirements should advise at time of booking.
iAustralian travellers require a valid passport; no visa is required for stays under 90 days in Spain.
iTravel insurance is strongly recommended and can be arranged through Food and Wine Travel.