San Sebastian & the Basque Country: An Overnight Journey from Madrid

It's our answer to the rushed day trip. Overnights take some of our favorite journeys and extend them — adding an overnight stay, an evening to explore, and the time to actually experience a place instead of just passing through. The San Sebastian Overnight is a perfect example: trying to do Rioja Alavesa, San Sebastian, and the Basque coast in a single day is impossible.

Yes, and it's a highlight. Your first evening includes our award-winning Ultimate San Sebastian Pintxos & Wine Tour, the same experience that's earned thousands of five-star reviews. You'll eat, drink, and learn your way through the Old Town's best bars with a local guide. It's included in the price of the Overnight.

You'll experience two very different Spanish wine regions in the Basque Country. In Rioja Alavesa, you'll taste several wines during a guided winery visit — from young, fruit-forward reds to aged reservas. On the Basque coast, you'll try Txakoli, a crisp, lightly sparkling white that's the signature pour of the region. Both tastings include food.

If you're already planning to get from Madrid to San Sebastian, this is a far better way to do it. Instead of five hours on a train, you'll stop in Rioja Alavesa wine country for a winery visit and lunch, arrive in San Sebastian with a pintxos tour waiting for you, and continue to the Basque coast and Burgos the next day. Same journey, completely different experience.

A maximum of 10 guests. Small enough to feel like traveling with friends, not following a flag.

A comfortable 4-star hotel in San Sebastian with breakfast included the next morning. After a full day of wine country and pintxos bars, you'll sleep well.

A full meal! You’ll enjoy cheese, street bites, wine, beer, pasta, dessert, and more. This isn’t just a tasting tour—it’s dinner, Neapolitan style.

Yes. You'll have the evening in San Sebastián after the *pintxos* tour, free time in Getaria to explore and eat lunch, and 1.5 hours in Burgos to wander. The pacing is designed so you never feel herded.

Yes, we can accommodate no-pork and pescatarian diets. Just let us know when you book. This trip isn't recommended for vegans or people with celiac disease due to the nature of the food experiences.

Moderate walking on cobblestone streets, especially in San Sebastian's Old Town and Burgos. The pace is relaxed with plenty of breaks. Comfortable shoes are a must. You'll thank us on the cobblestones.

A private 2.5-hour tour with an expert family guide, all food and drink tastings (churros, hot chocolate, Iberian ham, cured meats, olive oil, coffee, and drinks for parents), and all activities.

Consider what you're getting: two full days of private guided travel across northern Spain, two winery experiences, our best-selling pintxos tour, a night in a 4-star hotel in San Sebastian, and all the food, wine, and logistics handled for you. Planning this independently would cost a comparable amount in train tickets, hotels, winery fees, and food tour bookings — and you'd spend hours coordinating it all. This is the same trip, minus the spreadsheet.

This tour is not recommended for children under 15 years of age due to busy, crowded bars. We love hosting families and we recommend you look at our other daytime offerings for more family-friendly experiences.