Visit Vitoria-Gasteiz capital city of the Basque Country in northern Spain, walk through the old town to see the historical sites, admire original street art, eat the best pintxos, join in the festivities and find out what to do there in our insider guide.
Vitoria-Gasteiz is one of my favourite places in the world and not just because my wife was born here in the Basque Country! It is immaculately clean and harmoniously blends nature with a rich architectural patrimony, so put it on your bucket list of places to see in Spain.
Authored by Michael Lloyd-Green.
Table Of Content
- Vitoria-Gasteiz Capital Of The Basque Country
- Best Pintxo Bars In Vitoria-Gasteiz
- Vitoria Is A Great Place To Live With Kids
- Global European Green City
- Vitoria-Gasteiz Historical Old Town
- Street Art In Vitoria-Gasteiz
- Best Places To Eat In Vitoria
- ‘La Blanca’ August Fiestas In Vitoria
- Useful Information on Vitoria-Gasteiz
- More Spanish City Guides
Vitoria-Gasteiz
Capital Of The Basque Country
In 2012, Vitoria-Gasteiz was named the European Green Capital and in 2019 was given the esteemed honour of being proclaimed Global Green City thanks to its environment, water and heritage protection among other things. Seriously guys, it’s a crime more people don’t know about this city! Vitoria is the capital of the Basque Country in the north of Spain (that’s right, Bilbao is not the capital).
Best Pintxo Bars In Vitoria-Gasteiz
Like in the rest of Basque country, the food here is delicious and going out to any of the many bars for a Pintxo (a small snack) and a Vermouth (an aromatized, fortified wine pronounced ‘Bermut’) is a regular custom, especially on Thursday nights which is the famous Pintxo Pote!
Pintxo Pote is basically a pub crawl with style! You and a group of friends go from one bar to the next having a drink at each (for which they give you a free pintxo) and stand outside socializing with people, or inside in cold weather. It’s about enjoying the ambience of the bars and street life while having a nice drink and some yummy food to go with it, plus it’s very, very cheap! One of the most famous places in Vitoria is Calle Gorbea, where you’ll find a collection of the best pintxos bars all in the same vicinity, full of the locals and with a really lively vibe.
Vitoria Is A Great Place To Live With Kids
I’ve called a few different places home here in Spain during the 10 years I’ve been living here… La Puebla de Cazalla (a little village in Andalucía), Seville, Mallorca and Santander to name a few. However, Vitoria is the only place I’ve lived in twice!
I met my wife when I was travelling alone through Spain at the beginning of my time in this country. She was on the other side of Bilbao airport but it’s crazy, my eyes were just drawn to her like a magnet and I’m telling you from experience that love at first sight does exist! We spent the next few days hanging out together in Ibiza but the problem was that I lived in the south of Spain (Andalucia) and she lived in the north (Vitoria-Gasteiz) so there was a big distance between us! Once a month we would meet up in Madrid to spend real time together so finally I moved up to the Basque Country.
This was the first time I lived in Vitoria-Gasteiz and absolutely loved it. The lay of the land in Vitoria is basically flat and it’s not too far to walk anywhere so it’s a fantastic place for those of you who like to get out and about to see everything without the need of a hire-car!
In big cities like Seville, Barcelona and Madrid you need to take care in some areas at night. Vitoria, on the other hand, is the safest place I’ve ever lived in my life! It’s a city that feels like a big village where everyone looks after each other. This is one of the main reasons why, after leaving Vitoria for a few years to have adventures in Mallorca and Santander, my wife and I decided to return to Vitoria to start a family.
If you have kids then this is the city for you. There are so many playgrounds, it is super safe like I mentioned earlier and get this… UNICEF has named Vitoria ‘Ciudad Amiga de la Infancia’ which roughly translated means ‘Friendly City for Children’!
Did I mention it’s a shame this place isn’t more well-known? Well, I had to say it again!
Global European Green City
If you like getting out and about in nature then you’ll be happy to know that Vitoria has its famous ‘Green Ring’. These are a series of nature walks on the outskirts of town that form a circle around the city where you can see deer down by the lakes and woods, among other wildlife. The walk is such a peaceful and relaxing experience, perfect for disconnecting and realising that the best things in life truly are free!
Vitoria-Gasteiz Historical Old Town
My favourite place in Vitoria though has to be the ‘Casco Viejo’. This is in the historical town centre, a large area of streets and squares where all the really old buildings and typical Basque architecture dating back to medieval times are still preserved. It is seriously like stepping back in a time warp! You can almost hear the clopping of horses’ hooves and the soldiers in the towers shouting out “Who goes there?”
Just walking through the old town is enough to warrant coming to Vitoria alone. Streets like ‘Cuchillería’, ‘Zapatería’ and ‘Pintoreria’ are so well conserved, with enchanting stone paths and the most inviting little taverns in every nook and cranny. The majority of the centre is a completely pedestrian only area which means you don’t have to watch your back for some crazy driver or have the beeping of a horn break your time-warp experience.
The iconic city square is smack bang in the middle of town and is called ‘La Virgen Blanca’ or ‘The White Virgen’ in English. The famous sign saying ‘Vitoria-Gasteiz’ is made out of grass, and is a must-have photo for any visiting tourist – taken from the right angle, you can include the San Miguel church clock tower and the timeless architecture surrounding the square too.
However, the jewel in the crown of Vitoria-Gasteiz has to be the ancient cathedral. The Catedral de Santa Maria is a Gothic-style, Roman Catholic cathedral located in the heart of the old town. Although it is currently being restored, a guided tour is still a must do.
Street Art In Vitoria-Gasteiz
Sections of walls scattered throughout the old town are filled with the most beautiful graffiti. Everyone has their favourite mural, it’s impossible not to appreciate this amazing street art.
Wondering why there is a statue of Ken Follet in Vitoria-Gasteiz? Well, in his novel ‘World Without End’ the famous British author conducted research trips to Vitoria’s Santa Maria Cathedral and it was his inspiration for events he portrays in that book! Cool huh.
If you’re an art fan then you have to check out the Artium Museum! It’s a contemporary art museum in the centre and has some amazing works from some of the greatest artists of all time, such as Pablo Picasso or Salvador Dali. The museum itself has a really sleek, modern look and it’s definitely worth a visit.
Best Places To Eat In Vitoria
Ok, it’s time to get to the food! I want to recommend my favourite joints so you have the best possible culinary experience here (on any budget).
If you want a great breakfast which is also super cheap then head for ‘Ohuika’, only a 12 minute walk from La Virgen Blanca square. They serve your choice of pintxo, a freshly squeezed orange juice and the best coffee in Vitoria for only 2 to 3 Euros total.
For lunch there are a few options depending on your budget. If you want to splurge then go to El Portalon Restaurant in the old town which is not only some of the best food you’ll find in the Basque country but also an experience in itself – the original doorway to the city back in medieval times and authentically preserved, eating here feels like being in an episode of Game of Thrones!
If you like meat, the best steak I ever had was in another restaurant in the centre called ‘Asador Matxete’ located in Matxete Square which, curious fact, was where they used to hold public executions back in the day.
I am now a vegetarian though so my favourite restaurant is actually the ‘Black Salad’, a 12 minute walk away from Virgen Blanca square. Everyone should check this place out, it’s a Top Chef experience, the meals are so unique and always delicious, and prices are affordable.
‘La Blanca’ August Fiestas In Vitoria
Come to Vitoria from the 4th to the 10th of August for the ‘Fiestas de La Blanca’ when the city is one huge festive party. On August 5th, Virgen Blanca Square is the focal attraction – a human sized doll representing a famous figure from Vitorian history is lowered on a cable from San Miguel bell tower and flying-foxes his way over the plaza, and eventually goes through a window on the other side of the square. As this ‘Celedon’ (who was basically the town drunk as I understand) is flying overhead an incredible euphoria erupts in the crowd and everyone starts spraying champagne, jumping about and singing the famous fiestas song. Definitely an experience to remember!
Vitoria is an amazing place and I guarantee that if you come here you won’t want to leave! It will capture your heart just like Ken Follet, satisfy your stomachs with those famous pintxos, and take you to another world of medieval times.
How To Get To Vitoria-Gasteiz
By car
Vitoria-Gasteiz is located in the north of Spain, in the Basque Country but is further south than its more well-known neighbours Bilbao and San Sebastian. As such it’s only 4 hours from Madrid by car, 3 hours from Zaragoza, 2 hours from Santander and roughly an hour from both Bilbao and Pamplona.
By train
Vitoria also has a RENFE station (the national train system) which can take you all the way to Sevilla if you have the time to spare. It is most commonly used to travel to and from Madrid in comfort and without the hassle of having to catch another plane.
By plane
Vitoria airport is quite small and routes are limited to Tenerife, Mallorca, Seville, Milan and Cologne for the moment. However, it’s slowly expanding so be sure to check out Skyscanner to see if any new destinations have been added.
If you are coming from Australia, Britain or the USA, for example, then you’ll normally have to fly to Bilbao then get a bus with the company called ‘La Union’. You can buy tickets quickly and easily at the ticket booth (no need for reserving), and the buses to Vitoria run very regularly.
Tip
Coming from overseas and want to save money?
An international flight to Madrid is usually the cheapest option. Then you can get a coach up to Vitoria which takes around 4 hours (buy tickets from the ALSA coach company online or at the airport). This is often the most economical and efficient way to get to Vitoria-Gasteiz.
How To Get Around Vitoria-Gasteiz
Once you are in the city itself you have various options to get around.
Hire a bike from a local bicycle shop, it’s cheap and Vitoria is the perfect place for cycling because everything is close and the city is pretty flat.
The local bus service is quick and efficient and costs about 1.20€ a ticket. There are stops everywhere but you’ll probably have to ask the bus driver for the right number bus to take to your destination because the lines can be a bit confusing.
The tram system is very efficient and easier to work out. You’ll need a rechargeable card to pay for your fare, so first-of-all go to the tourist information bureau in the city centre and they will help set up with one.
About The Author
Michael Lloyd-Green is a NLP Master, Blogger and ESL Teacher from Australia who lives in the beautiful Basque Country with his wife and daughter. He loves adventure and helping others to live their lives to the fullest! Check out his blog NLP Keys for an insight into Neuro Linguistic Programming or follow him on Facebook.
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I’m from Vitoria and it gave me goosebumps to read this article!! Great summary of my small and unknown city!! Thanks to the author for such beautiful words!!