Semana Santa in 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.
March 20–24, 2024: Barcelona (4 nights)
March 24–26, 2024: La Rioja (2 nights)
March 26–28, 2024: Bilbao (2 nights)
March 28–April 1, 2024: San Sebastián (4 nights)
April 1, 2024: Departure Day
End of March is full-blown springtime in Spain, and spring is always a fickle season. Days can range from pleasantly warm and sunny to rainy, so be prepared for anything. Average temperatures in March hover around 60 degrees F, but nights get chilly.
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. An architect's masterpiece, the Sagrada Familia, is just one of the 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.
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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
Panama Queen Room x2
- Breakfast included
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.
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Cotton House
Panama Queen Room x2
- Breakfast included
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.
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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!
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Cotton House
Panama Queen Room x2
- Breakfast included
Walk through the medieval streets of Barcelona's Gothic Quarter or Barri Gotic. Here you'll discover over 2,000 years of history, seeing Ancient Roman Walls, the original cathedral, and more. Afterward, stop at the only museum dedicated to Picasso that was founded during his lifetime, located in a scenic medieval palace.
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Cotton House
Panama Queen Room x2
- Breakfast included
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 from your hotel for the ride to Barcelona Sants station to catch your train.
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Catch your high-speed train from Barcelona to the historic city of Zaragoza.
Travel Time: Approx. 1 hour 20 min
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Upon arrival at Zaragoza Station, your driver will meet you to finish the journey to Spain's iconic La Rioja wine country.
Travel Time: About 2 hours
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Why we love it for you: Frank Gehry-designed buildings are meant to stand out, and the dreamlike Marqués de Riscal winery at first feels a bit out of place compared to the medieval towns and sweeping vineyards that surround it. But once your eyes adjust to the tempranillo-colored aesthetic, it's so captivating that you won't be able to look away. The architecture may be contemporary, but this is one of the oldest wineries in the area.
Marques de Riscal
Vineyard View Gehry Deluxe Room and Village View Premium Room
- Breakfast included
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.
Wine tastings and meal included. Exact bodegas to visit will be included soon.
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Marques de Riscal
Vineyard View Gehry Deluxe Room and Village View Premium Room
- Breakfast included
Don’t be fooled by its tiny size, because the Basque Country punches well above its weight. A city in the region grew into fame as the industrial powerhouse, but today it's a cultural epicenter for some of the best art and restaurants in all of northern Spain.
You'll be picked up from your vineyard estate and dropped off at your hotel in Bilbao.
Travel Time: About 1 hour
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Why we love it for you: It's hard to get tired of looking at the Guggenheim, so take in the view from your bedroom window at Grand Hotel Domine. The hotel's very hip design stands up next to Frank Gehry's masterpiece, and the comfortable rooms are a perfect place to relax after a day of trekking around the city after pintxos.
Gran Hotel Domine
Deluxe Guggenheim View x2
- Breakfast included
Start your tour by diving into Bilbao's fascinating history, with an in-depth look into Basque culture and how it's evolved within Spain. The last stop of the tour is the renowned Guggenheim Museum, with your entry tickets included.
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Gran Hotel Domine
Deluxe Guggenheim View x2
- Breakfast included
Forested mountains arrive all the way to the coast where they drop into dreamy beaches in San Sebastián, 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.
Today you'll be picked up for a tour of some of the most charming and historic towns in Spain's Basque Country. Bring your bags with you, because after the tour you'll be dropped off at your hotel in San Sebastián.
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The name San Juan de Gaztelugatxe isn't easy to pronounce, but many people today know it as Dragonstone, the fictional Game of Thrones setting filmed here. This full day tour includes several stops in some of Basque Country's most beautiful spots, including the fishing village of Bermeo, the Urdabai estuary, and the historical town of Gernika.
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Take a lunch break during your full-day tour with a stop at the traditional Basque kitchen of Baserri Maitea located in the woods and beloved by locals.
Lunch will be provided.
Why we love it for you: The Belle Epoque design of Villa Favorita should be its most arresting feature, but even that detail is upstaged by the picturesque views of La Concha Bay from your bedroom windows. On the beach and just a short walk away from San Sebastian’s old town, the location truly couldn’t get any better. And in a city that’s known for the quantity of Michelin-starred restaurants, the nearest one is right in your hotel lobby.
Villa Favorita
La Concha Bay Terrace & La Concha Bay Classic
- Breakfast included
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 a local guide walking through the streets of the Casco Antiguo neighborhood, trying specialties like mussels, truffled Spanish tortilla, or grilled chuleton steak.
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Even though southern Spain is best known for its Semana Santa Processions, you can get a taste of them in the Basque Country as well. As your trip gets closer, we'll recommend specific processions to see and include the option to add on a special behind-the-scenes tour.
Recommended by scenset—more information to come as trip gets closer.
Villa Favorita
La Concha Bay Terrace & La Concha Bay Classic
- Breakfast included
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!
Lunch included.
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Villa Favorita
La Concha Bay Terrace & La Concha Bay Classic
- Breakfast included
Enjoy Easter Sunday at leisure in San Sebastián. Churches will be celebrating Mass throughout the day and being a holiday, the streets are likely to be bustling with activity.
We'll be happy to make suggestions of what to see and do as your trip gets closer.
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. It won't be warm enough to swim, but there are beautiful walking paths along the coast for a scenic walk.
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Villa Favorita
La Concha Bay Terrace & La Concha Bay Classic
- Breakfast included
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 and taken to the local San Sebastian Airport to catch your flight to Barcelona for your flight home.
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Catch a short flight from San Sebastián to Barcelona Airport in time to catch your international flight home.
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Scenset invests in making the world a better place. Scenset will offset the fuel used during the trip. On top of that, an extra 10% will be offset to make your trip a carbon-positive experience.
Currently, we support Gold Standard Climate+ Projects from the Gold Standard Foundation.