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Vitoria-Gasteiz packs a Gothic cathedral under restoration, a first-rate contemporary art museum and a 33 km ring of parks into a walkable city of about 255,000 people. The Basque capital was named European Green Capital in 2012, and that mix of medieval stone and green space is its signature. Here are the best things to do in Vitoria-Gasteiz, with hours, prices and practical tips, plus a note on when to visit in our best time to visit Vitoria-Gasteiz guide.
Things to Do in Vitoria-Gasteiz: The Medieval Quarter
Santa Maria Cathedral
The 13th-century Gothic Cathedral of Santa Maria is the city’s flagship sight, and its restoration is open to visitors as a working archaeological site, a model that inspired Ken Follett’s novel World Without End. Guided tours run daily from 10:00 to 14:00 and 16:00 to 19:00, and cost EUR 8.50 for the cathedral, EUR 10.50 for cathedral plus tower, or EUR 10 for cathedral plus the city wall. The Portico of Light, a projected polychrome light show, runs every evening at 19:45 from July 1 to August 30 for EUR 3. Book on 945 255 135 or at catedralvitoria.com.
Plaza de la Virgen Blanca
This is the city’s main square and the natural meeting point, ringed by cafes and marked by the white monument commemorating the 1813 Battle of Vitoria. It is free and open around the clock, and it is where the Celedon fiesta descent happens each August 4, part of the annual calendar in our events and festivals in Vitoria-Gasteiz article. The square sits at the foot of the medieval hill, so it is the obvious start point for exploring the streets above.
Plaza Espana and Los Arquillos
Plaza Espana is the arcaded Neoclassical square built in the 1780s, where the old town meets the 19th-century Ensanche. Los Arquillos, the terraced arcade connecting the two levels, is a covered walkway of shops and pintxo bars with no entry fee. Visit at aperitivo time around 13:00 to see it at its busiest, then wander the streets described in our neighborhoods in Vitoria-Gasteiz guide.
Things to Do in Vitoria-Gasteiz: Museums and Culture
Artium Museum
Artium, the Basque Centre for Contemporary Art, opened in 2002 at Calle Francia 24 and holds one of the largest modern art collections in northern Spain, much of it in an underground gallery. It opens Tuesday to Friday 11:00 to 14:00 and 17:00 to 20:00, and weekends 11:00 to 20:00, closed Mondays. General admission is EUR 6, and every Wednesday you pay what you decide. Phone 945 209 020.
Museo Fournier de Naipes
The Fournier Playing Card Museum, in the Bendana Palace in the old town, holds more than 20,000 decks of cards from across five centuries, and entry is free. It opens Tuesday to Saturday mornings and afternoons and Sunday mornings. It is a quick, worthwhile stop between the cathedral and the old town walls.
Cathedral of Maria Inmaculada
The New Cathedral, a neo-Gothic church built between 1907 and 1969, stands in the Ensanche with free entry outside service times. Its scale and stained glass are worth a look, and it offers a quiet contrast to the busy Gothic old cathedral. Pair it with the nearby Museum of Fine Arts, which charges EUR 3 and focuses on Basque painting from the 19th and 20th centuries.
Things to Do in Vitoria-Gasteiz: Parks and Green Spaces
The Green Ring (Anillo Verde)
The Anillo Verde is a 33 km network of paths linking six large parks that wraps around the city, built to make Vitoria-Gasteiz the European Green Capital of 2012. You can walk or cycle the full loop or do short sections, and it is entirely free. The Salburua, Zadorra, Zabalgana, Olarizu and Armentia parks each have their own character, and the flat terrain suits families and casual cyclists.
Salburua Wetlands
The Salburua wetland park on the eastern edge of the city is a restored marsh with boardwalks, hides and a visitor centre, and it is free to enter. It is the best spot in the city for birdwatching, with herons and waterfowl present year-round. Allow two hours to walk the loop, and combine it with the where to stay in Vitoria-Gasteiz options in the Salburua area if you want to stay nearby.
Things to Do in Vitoria-Gasteiz: Day Trips
Rioja Alavesa Wine Country
Rioja Alavesa, the Basque section of the Rioja wine region, lies about 40 km south of the city and is built around the medieval wine town of Laguardia, where dozens of wineries offer tours from around EUR 15. The drive down the Ebro valley takes 40 minutes. Go on a weekday to avoid weekend tasting crowds, and check the Vitoria-Gasteiz weather by month forecast before you set out.
Monte Gorbea and the Alava Mountains
Monte Gorbea, at 1,481 metres, is the highest peak in the Basque Country and a 20 km drive from the city. A marked trail from the Sarria car park reaches the summit cross in about three hours round trip, with no permit needed. For transport and packing advice, read our travel tips for Vitoria-Gasteiz article before you go.
