Exploring Barcelona & Basque Country
There’s something familiar about Spain that draws visitors, who maybe remember a few phrases of high school Spanish or harbor a vague curiosity of bullfighting or siestas. But it’s the staggering diversity—of cultures, languages, cuisines, and landscapes—that keeps travelers coming back again and again. Every barrio and pueblo offers something unique, and the Spain you thought you knew is suddenly full of surprises.
Aug 31 – Sep 3, 2023: Barcelona (3 nights)
Sep 3 – 6, 2023: Donostia (3 nights)
Sep 6 – 7, 2023: La Rioja (1 night)
Sep 7 – 8, 2023: Barcelona (1 night)
September offers pleasant weather in Spain; the intense summer heat usually subsides, yet it remains warm enough for beach activities. Barcelona typically experiences temperatures in the high 80s, while San Sebastian enjoys slightly cooler temperatures due to the ocean breeze.
We have put together this Destination Guide for you, full of unique insights and ways to get excited before you travel, such as:
- Spotify playlists
- Dishes to try
- Helpful phrases
- Packing guide
- Tipping guides
- And more!
U.S. passport holders need no special visa to visit Spain.
These guidelines are for reference only. Scenset holds no responsibility for travel restrictions. Travelers are responsible for ensuring the right documentation to travel.
It’s clear from the moment you step foot in Barcelona that it’s unlike any other Spanish city. The boulevards are wider, the architecture is quirkier, and, if you have an ear for languages, you may hear that the locals are speaking Catalan, not Spanish. Gaudi’s masterpiece, the Sagrada Familia, is just one of his architectural gems scattered about the city. With something to offer art enthusiasts, adventurous foodies, and beach loungers, it’s no wonder that Barcelona is one of Europe’s top destinations.
Upon exiting baggage claim, meet your driver for a private transfer to your hotel in the city center.
Driver: will be provided
Contact: will be provided
Booked By scenset
As a special perk for using scenset, we've guaranteed you early check-in for when you arrive to Almanac Hotel.
Meet your driver and expert guide for a tour of Barcelona. You will visit The Sagrada Familia, Gaudí's most famous work and a worldwide symbol for Barcelona. The temple is a synthesis of his overall conception of architecture. Your guide will provide in-depth knowledge on its detail and significance giving you an insight into the fascinating and extraordinary mind and genius of Gaudí. You will also visit Park Güell where Gaudí worked for 14 years, considered the second most important work of the architect.
Pick-Up Time: Afternoon
Pick-Up Location: In front of hotel
Guide: will be provided
Contact: will be provided
Booked By scenset
A more casual eatery with a fun vibe and delicious menu to accompany it. It's always filled with locals, a good sign for any place to eat.
Reservation: Evening (under a name)
You can ask your driver after the tour to leave you at the restaurant if the timing works out. Otherwise, it's a 15-minute walk from your hotel.
There's no shortage of great food in Barcelona, and some of the best meals are at the bar you stumble into by surprise. Here's a list of some top places to eat. Please let us know if you'd like reservations.
- Cocina Hemanos Torres: The well-known Torres brothers present their innovative gastronomic proposal located in the neighborhood of Les Corts. We can enjoy a nice evening while the chef cooks for us in one of the 3 islands.
- Atempo: Atempo offers a new gastronomic format merging the waiter’s trade with the passion and creativity of the chefs. An offer based on products with soul, in an intimate and cozy environment.
- Hoffman: Hoffman is the restaurant run by the individual responsible for the prestigious cookery school with the same name. With a Michelin star, their menu presents modern creations that have Mediterranean-Catalan and French haute cuisine as a starting point. Desserts are simply spectacular. It is essential to book in advance.
- Can Ramonet: Paella is perhaps the quintessential Spanish dish, and the best place to eat it is near the coast. Head to Barceloneta neighborhood near the water and try one of their famous paellas (remember in Spain, paella is traditionally lunch food, not dinner!).
- Solomillo: Indulge all your darkest carnivorous desires at this meat-lovers’ paradise, where the name of the restaurant is the same as your order (solomillo means “sirloin steak”). This is the best steak in Barcelona and the menu is customizable to your liking.
- Berbena: Few tourists have heard of Berbena. Inside, there are daily batches of home-baked bread that smell like your grandma’s kitchen, comfort food like hearty beef with wine stew and gooey slices of Spanish omelet, platters of locally sourced cheese and charcuteries.
- Bocanariz: Visit this unassuming wine bar which has a selection of hundreds of bottles, from Cataluña, around Spain, and the world. Paired with some small bites to snack on, it's the perfect Spanish bar experience.
- La Pepita: A more casual eatery with a fun vibe and delicious menu to accompany it. It's always filled with locals, a good sign for any place to eat.
Why we love it for you: In a city as cool as Barcelona, the Almanac Hotel injects that avant-garde vibe into every detail of the property. The art deco design harmonizes with Barcelona architecture, tapas are served on a painter’s palette in homage to Dalí, and the rooftop pool with views of the Sagrada Familia is the indisputable crown jewel. Centrally located, most of Barcelona’s landmarks are just a casual stroll away.
Almanac Barcelona
Almanac Suite
- Breakfast included
- Room Size: 506 sq. feet
Montserrat has something magical that everyone falls in love with, whether it’s for the mountain formation with a trail that goes on for two days or for the spiritual life of the monks who have been leading the monastery for almost 1,000 years. Montserrat is a source of culture, nature, and spirituality and is waiting for you.
Pick-Up Time: Morning
Pick-Up Location: In front of hotel
Guide: will be provided
Contact: will be provided
Booked By scenset
You'll have time between Montserrat and the cooking class to return to your hotel to freshen up or relax for a bit.
Meet with a professional chef and enter the world of Spanish cuisine. You'll start with a visit to the local market to pick out in-season ingredients. Then, head into the kitchen to whip up your meal and enjoy the fruits of your labor!
This class has been adapted for more advanced travelers since you're a part time chef!
Pick-Up Time: Evening
Pick-Up Location: In front of hotel
Contact: will be provided
Booked by scenset
Almanac Barcelona
Almanac Suite
- Breakfast included
- Room Size: 506 sq. feet
Girona is a charming city surrounded by rivers and dominated by an imposing cathedral on top of a hill. Its rich history that dates back to Ancient Rome, the Islamic Empire, and Jewish residents presents itself around every corner. Stroll through the maze of alleys that make up one of the best-preserved Jewish quarters in Europe while visiting some sites that may look familiar if you've seen "Game of Thrones."
Pick-Up Time: Morning
Pick-Up Location: In front of hotel
Guide: will be provided
Contact: will be provided
Booked By scenset
Visit the medieval town of Besalú, whose thriving Jewish community fled the town in 1436 after relentless Christian persecution. It left behind a 12th-century riverside miqvé (ritual bath), a rare survivor of its kind in Spain, which was rediscovered in 1964. It sits inside a vaulted stone chamber, around which remnants of the 13th-century synagogue were unearthed in 2005.
You'll be visiting during a Medieval Festival in Besalú, and your guide will be able to guide you through it and dive deeper into the town's long history!
Booked By scenset
Almanac Barcelona
Almanac Suite
- Breakfast included
- Room Size: 506 sq. feet
Don’t be fooled by its size, because the Basque Country punches well above its weight. Forested mountains arrive all the way to the coast where they drop into dreamy beaches in a coastal city, known in the local language as Donostia. But above all, the Basque Country is a destination for gastronomy. The sheer number of Michelin-star restaurants is blinding, but a glass of fizzy txakoli wine and a sampling of pintxos from the local bar are just as gratifying.
You'll be picked up from your hotel in a private transfer to the Barcelona Airport in time for your flight to San Sebastián.
Pick-Up Time: Afternoon
Driver: will be provided
Contact: will be provided
Booked by scenset
You're all checked in for your flight.
Click here to find your boarding passes.
Your boarding passes for your San Sebastián flight and your train tickets back to Barcelona have been sent ahead to Almanac Hotel to be printed out. You can ask for them at the front desk.
You'll be picked up from the airport upon arrival for a private transfer to your hotel.
Driver: Will be provided
Contact: Will be provided
Booked By scenset
On the first Sunday in September, San Sebastián celebrates one of its biggest annual festivals: La Bandera de la Concha. This is a sailing regatta that brings out huge crowds into the city who gather to watch the racers in the bay. Afterward, expect an especially ebullient atmosphere downtown.
Nothing has been booked—enjoy the races and bars at your leisure!
Located opposite the city’s Buen Pastor cathedral, Narru boasts a modern dining room in which the menu features traditional, market-inspired cuisine with a strong focus on high-quality ingredients and presentation.
Reservation: Evening
Narru is a 10-minute walk from your hotel.
The Basque language, known locally as Euskera, is unique not just in Spain but globally, as it has no known roots to any other language. Linguists don't know where its scenset is.
Try speaking a few simple words of Basque to impress the locals.
- Hello: Kaixo (kai-sho)
- Goodbye: Agur
- Thank you: Eskerrik asko
- Topa!: Cheers!
Here are some great places to eat at in San Sebastián, from pintxo bars to restaurants.
This list focuses on non-pintxo bars, since you'll be taking a pintxos tour during your trip.
- Amelia: A two-Michelin star restaurant inside the gorgeous hotel Villa Favorita.
- Txepetxa: This small traditional pintxos bar found in the Old Town may look a little rough and ready, but it’s particularly famous for one thing: anchovies.
- Saltxipi: Saltxipi is housed in a picturesque villa lying just outside the Gros neighborhood on the edge of San Sebastian. One of the best restaurants in San Sebastian for fine dining without a Michelin star, they specialize in spider crab.
- Topa: There's a long shared history between Basque Country and Latin America, and Topa explores those shared roots through its fusion menu.
- Zelai Txiki: The star item is the suckling pig, which has to be pre-ordered with your reservation, although even the simple charcuterie boards are mindblowing.
Why we love it for you: Lasala Plaza boasts one of the city's best locations, perched right on La Concha Bay. The rooftop pool is breathtaking, thanks to amazing views over the city (and a staffed bar). The lobby-lounge is expansive, and a library stocked with fascinating books on local art and cuisine is perfect for chilling in style.
Lasala Plaza Hotel
Premium Historical Room
- Breakfast included
- Room Size: 420 sq. feet
You'll learn about fascinating Basque history on this tour to some traditional mountain towns and sleepy fishing villages. You'll also visit a txakoli bodega, which is an effervescent white wine typical of the Basque Country. Pair your wine with an included lunch: grilled Basque chuletón, one of the most mouthwatering steaks you'll ever try!
Pick-Up Time: Morning
Guide: will be provided
Contact: will be provided
Lunch included.
Booked By scenset
Enjoy an afternoon at leisure doing what the locals do: hitting the beach. The famously beautiful Playa de la Kontxa is just a 5-minute walk from your hotel, or head to Playa Zurriola just a little further and famous among surfers.
Recommended by scenset
Lasala Plaza Hotel
Premium Historical Room
- Breakfast included
- Room Size: 420 sq. feet
San Sebastian is the food destination of Spain, and nothing is more vasco than pintxos. These are the Basque versions of tapas, meaning bigger and better. Take a tour with your local guide walking through the streets of the Casco Antiguo neighborhood, trying specialties like mussels, truffled Spanish tortilla, or grilled chuleton steak.
Pick-Up Time: Late morning
Guide: Colm
Contact: will be provided
Booked By scenset
The best way to experience the water is to be on it: so head out this evening around sunset on your private boat, feeling the sea breeze on your faces. Enjoy a glass of local txakoli during your ride and be prepared to fall head over heels with San Sebastian.
Pick-Up Time: Evening
Guide: will be provided
Contact: will be provided
Booked by scenset
Lasala Plaza Hotel
Premium Historical Room
- Breakfast included
- Room Size: 420 sq. feet
Welcome to Spain's biggest and best-selling wine appellation, La Rioja. This region is perfect for wine lovers, culture lovers, foodies and hikers. Enjoy the fantastic roads bursting with luscious vineyards, rolling hills, picturesque medieval villages, and Spanish sunshine, unwind in the grounds of your spectacular hotel and indulge in world-renowned wines.
You'll be picked up this morning for your private transfer to La Rioja wine country for a full-day visiting vineyards and trying plenty of local wines!
Pick-Up Time: In the morning
Guide: A guide will be provided
Contact: will be provided
Start off your time in La Rioja the right way, by tasting the region's finest tapas, together with your introductory wine tasting! You'll visit a few of the local bodegas, learning about the wine making process at each one (some of them have been at work for centuries!) and of course tasting plenty of wine along the way.
Guide: A guide will be provided
Contact: will be provided
Wine tastings and meal included. Exact bodegas to visit will be included soon.
Booked by scenset
Why we love it for you: An impressive winery, with a hotel part to it, Eguren Ugarte is a wonder to explore. With the Sierra de Cantabria at its backdrop, you will immediately feel sheltered from all noise and stress. Situated in the heart of the Rioja wine region, this is the perfect place to explore the local wines, bodega to bodega.
Eguren Ugarte
Premium Double Room
- Breakfast included
- Room Size: 452 sq. feet
You'll be picked up from the winery and continue on to Zaragoza for your train ride into Barcelona.
Travel Time: about 2 hours
Booked By scenset
Your train reference number is YVFVMB.
Car: 7
Seats: 1A, 1B
Click here to find your train tickets.
You'll be picked up from Barcelona Sants train station and taken to your hotel.
Booked By scenset
We'll make recommendations for where to eat as well as a reservation for your final dinner in Spain, so you can end the trip on a high note with an unforgettable meal!
Recommended by Scenset
Why we love it for you: Members of a bygone cotton guild—who once occupied this very building—would be honored that the Cotton House hotel pays homage to their humble roots. In addition to the name, there’s an in-house atelier and decorative touches that blend its storied past with an avant-garde present. In fact, the long-ago textile workers would surely be just as impressed by the tropical-themed patio, chic cocktail bar, and rooftop pool overlooking the city.
Cotton House
Tafetan Suite
- Breakfast included
- Room Size: 505 sq. feet
It's been a whirlwind week seeing some of the best of northern Spain, but it's time to depart. Thankfully in Spain we don't say adiós, but rather hasta luego, or until next time.
You'll be picked up from the hotel in time to catch your international flight back home.
Driver: An individual will be driving you.
Booked By scenset
