Previously, I gave you five ideas for a cultural stay in Bilbao.  Once you have done the city visits, you may want to explore the basque countryside.

So here are four places where you could relax, drink wine and lost yourself in the countryside.

Hotel Marques de Riscal

• 1h40 from Bilbao
• 43 rooms
• from 250 euros
• Website

We stayed there a couple of years ago.  The building is an architectural curiosity and the bedrooms in corners are interesting. There is a spa and a wine bar to taste their production.  We found the place lacking of atmosphere though but others like the combination of design and rural location. I’ll tell you more in a review soon.

Hotel Viura

• 1h 13 from Bilbao
• From 110 Euros
• website

This is another example of ultra modernist architecture in the middle of a typical village. A good base to explore the region’s many wineries, go cycling or walking or just relaxing as they offer massages on site.

Hotel Iturregi

• Getaria, 35 km from Bilbao
• From 180 Euros
• Website

Pretty view onto the sea and charming bedrooms. My parents stayed there and I’ll make sure they give me more insight info about it for you soon.

Hotel Urrune

• 30 min from Bilbao
• 8 rooms
• From 102 euros
• Website

Adept of slow travel, the owners of this hotel have renovated an old farmhouse and transformed it into a welcoming retreat not far from Guernica and Bilbao.  Rooms are simply designed and food is renowned to be very good.