Easter in the Basque Country

Going to the Basque Country is always a good idea, but if you visit us in Easter Week you there are lots of special ideas for you to enjoy.

We suggest 9 ideas for enjoying this Easter Week in Bilbao, San Sebastián, Vitoria-Gasteiz and throughout the Basque Country.
Processions, country sports, nature trails, the finest food and more - experience Basque culture for yourself this Easter!

Events

Bilbao Basque Fest 2023

Over 200 experiences will fill the streets of Bilbao with the best of Basque culture. Concerts, country sports, street theatre, processions, gastronomy and more. This year's event is to pay homage to Basque film.

You can also shop 100%basque in the Arenal neighbourhood with a Txoko Gourmet and a craft fair.

Gastronomy

Pintxo bars

Try the finest of our "gastronomy in miniature", with our delicious pintxos. Wash each pintxo down with the drink it goes best with: Txakoli or Rioja Alavesa wine, or cider. While you can eat pintxos anywhere in the Basque Country, we recommend you sample the different pintxo bars in our three provincial capitals.

Visit a winery in Rioja Alavesa

We suggest a stroll through the vineyards of Rioja Alavesa and a visit to one of the area's many winemakers. The choice is endless, from small family wineries to big cutting-edge buildings.
You can also discover all the secrets of wine-making on a guided tour.

Plans

Visit Hondarribia in Easter Week

Hondarribia overlooks the bay of Txingudi in a unique spot where sea, mountains and river meet. In the centrally-located neighbourhood of La Marina with its colourful fishermen's houses, there is a wide variety of restaurants and typical pintxo bars where you can enjoy the best Basque food and drink.

Añana Salt Valley

The Salt Valley is one of the most spectacular, best-preserved cultural landscapes in Europe. It is one of the most ancient salt works in the world, with over 6,500 years of history behind it.

Book your visit to the Salt Valley this Easter Week.

Explore our nature parks

This Easter we suggest you connect to nature in the Basque Country, whether actively or in a relaxing way. Each of our 9 nature parks has a personality of its own. Find the route that's right for you or discover them all.

Ohoto of a mountain in the Basque Country

Processions

Easter in Segura

On Thursday and Good Friday processions of over 300 people have wound their way through the streets of the mediaeval town of Segura since the 17th century. The procession, in 10 stages, sets out from the church and goes along the Calle Mayor, stopping several times before returning to the church. Music is part of the whole route, with txistu pipers, a choir and a band.

Segura's old town, a listed mediaeval site, conserves its mediaeval street plan with many old houses and palaces reflecting a splendid past.

The Balmaseda Passion Play

On Thursday and Good Friday in Easter Week Balmaseda is the setting for a living Via Crucis. Every year thousands of visitors come along to see the recreation of Christ's final hours portrayed in detail by the local residents.

An entrance ticket is needed for some of the performances. Buy them here.

Balmaseda has a wide range of cultural heritage, highlights of which include La Muza Old Bridge with its tower. It is also surrounded by a stunning natural setting of mountains, forests and rivers, with plenty of routes to follow.

Easter Week in Laguardia

Laguardia throws itself into its processions on Thursday and Good Friday, but the high point is on Friday afternoon with the "Desenclave" or descent from the cross. To the beat of drums, members of local brotherhoods remove the nails from the hands and feet of the figure of Christ and place it in a transparent coffin which is carried to the church of Santa MarÃa de los Reyes.

The mediaeval town of Laguardia is full of mediaeval, renaissance, baroque and neoclassical buildings. Wine is what has marked its history, so you can't miss tasting some at one or more of the many local wineries.