Gasteiz / Vitoria Holidays: Cathedrals, Museums, Old Town
Araba / Álava · Basque Country · Spain · 257,407 residents
Cathedral of Santa María de Vitoria
Ajuria Enea
Cathedral of María Inmaculada of Vitoria
Artium Museum
Fournier Museum of Playing CardsGasteiz / Vitoria is an inland city of around 257,000 people in Araba / Álava, set at 547 metres above sea level in the Basque Country. Its draw is culture on foot: the Cathedral of Santa María and the Fournier Museum of Playing Cards sit within the Casco Viejo, the protected old quarter, while the Artium Museum and the Cathedral of María Inmaculada lie a short stroll away. A little further out, the Salburua protected area adds a green counterpoint. Summers are warm and fairly dry, winters cool and damp, and Bilbao Airport, with direct flights from the United Kingdom, is roughly 34 miles away. It suits a culture-led city break and travels well with children.
Why go
- The Cathedral of Santa María and the Casco Viejo old quarter sit side by side in the centre.
- Family-friendly museums, from the Fournier Museum of Playing Cards to the natural sciences museum, lie within walking distance.
- Bilbao Airport, with direct UK flights, is roughly a 47-minute drive away.
Top sights in Gasteiz / Vitoria
Cathedrals, Palaces and Museums
Start in the Casco Viejo de Vitoria, the protected old quarter right in the centre, where the Cathedral of Santa María de Vitoria, the city's best-known sight, stands about 100 metres from the heart of town. The Fournier Museum of Playing Cards is equally close, and the Museo de Ciencias Naturales de Álava and the Palacio de Montehermoso are both around 0.1 miles away. The House of Cordón, a listed palace, is roughly 0.2 miles off.
Within a quarter of a mile you will also find the Artium Museum, the city's contemporary art museum, and the Centro para la Memoria de las Víctimas del Terrorismo. The Cathedral of María Inmaculada, the newer of the two cathedrals, is about 0.4 miles out. Around 0.7 miles from the centre lie Ajuria Enea, the official residence of the Basque president, the Museo de Bellas Artes de Álava and the Augustin Zulueta Palace, with the Iradier Arena, a multi-purpose venue, just beyond.
For open space, the Salburua protected area is about 1.7 miles from the centre. Tours and tickets for the city can be booked directly on this page.
- 1Cathedral of Santa María de Vitoria
- 2Ajuria Enea
- 3Cathedral of María Inmaculada of Vitoria
- 4Artium Museum
- 5Fournier Museum of Playing Cards
- 6Iradier Arena
- 7House of Cordón
- 8Casco Viejo de Vitoria
- 9Museo de Bellas Artes de Álava
- 10Salburua
- 11Centro para la Memoria de las Víctimas del Terrorismo
- 12Museo de Ciencias Naturales de Álava
1cathedral- 2palace
Ajuria Enea
1 mile from the centre · Photo
official residence of the president fo the Basque Autonomous Community in Vitoria-Gasteiz
- 3cathedral
- 4museum
- 5museum
6amphitheatre
7palace
8protected area
9museumMuseo de Bellas Artes de Álava
1 mile from the centre · Photo
art museum in Vitoria-Gasteiz, the capital of the Basque Country in Spain
10protected area_06.jpg/500px-Vitoria_-_Centro_Memorial_de_las_V%C3%ADctimas_del_Terrorismo_(edificio_del_antiguo_Banco_de_Espa%C3%B1a)_06.jpg)
11museumCentro para la Memoria de las Víctimas del Terrorismo
In the centre · Photo
12museum
Tours & tickets in Gasteiz / Vitoria
Guided tours, day trips and tickets in and around Gasteiz / Vitoria can be booked in advance, priced in GBP.
See tours & tickets (opens GetYourGuide in a new tab)Where to stay in Gasteiz / Vitoria
Old Quarter or Wider City
Gasteiz / Vitoria is inland, so the choice is between the old town and the rest of the city rather than coast and centre. Staying in or beside the Casco Viejo puts the Cathedral of Santa María, the Fournier Museum and the Artium all within a few minutes' walk, which makes it the natural base for a short break.
With around 257,000 residents this is a proper working city, so expect city-centre activity around the old quarter. Families or those wanting more green space may prefer the eastern side towards Salburua, about 1.7 miles out. The page shows live hotel prices so you can compare areas.
Hire a car
The easiest way to reach Gasteiz / Vitoria and the villages around it is a hire car from Bilbao (BIO), about 47 min away.
Best time to visit Gasteiz / Vitoria
When to Visit Gasteiz / Vitoria
- 9°CJan94 mm
- 11°CFeb89 mm
- 13°CMar74 mm
- 15°CApr68 mm
- 19°CMay58 mm
- 23°CJun60 mm
- 26°CJul23 mm
- 27°CAug29 mm
- 23°CSept42 mm
- 19°COct66 mm
- 13°CNov101 mm
- 10°CDec75 mm
Highlighted months are the sweet spot for warm, dry weather.
July and August are the most pleasant months, with highs of 26°C and 27°C, lows around 14°C to 15°C and only about six rainy days each. They are also the driest months, with under 30 mm of rain, which makes summer the easiest time to explore on foot.
June and September are milder at around 23°C but noticeably wetter. Winter is cool, with January highs of just 9°C and lows of 2°C. November is the wettest month at 101 mm, and March brings the most rainy days, at 15. As an inland city, there is no sea temperature to consider.
Full monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Sun |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 9°C | 2°C | 94 mm | 5 h |
| Feb | 11°C | 2°C | 89 mm | 7 h |
| Mar | 13°C | 4°C | 74 mm | 8 h |
| Apr | 15°C | 6°C | 68 mm | 9 h |
| May | 19°C | 9°C | 58 mm | 10 h |
| Jun | 23°C | 12°C | 60 mm | 11 h |
| Jul | 26°C | 14°C | 23 mm | 12 h |
| Aug | 27°C | 15°C | 29 mm | 11 h |
| Sept | 23°C | 12°C | 42 mm | 10 h |
| Oct | 19°C | 10°C | 66 mm | 8 h |
| Nov | 13°C | 6°C | 101 mm | 6 h |
| Dec | 10°C | 4°C | 75 mm | 6 h |
Averages 2015–2024. Highlighted months are the sweet spot for warm, dry weather.
Getting there from the UK
Flights, Ferries and the Drive
Bilbao Airport (BIO) is the closest, about 34 miles away or roughly 47 minutes by car, and has direct flights from the United Kingdom. Santander (SDR), around 70 miles and 1 hour 40 minutes away, and Zaragoza (ZAZ), about 117 miles and close to 2 hours 45 minutes away, also have direct UK flights.
If you prefer to bring your own car, Brittany Ferries sails from Portsmouth to Bilbao in roughly 28 to 32 hours; the port is about 39 miles from the city. Santander, around 71 miles away, is served from Portsmouth (roughly 24 to 32 hours) and Plymouth (about 20 hours). Driving all the way from Calais takes around 14 hours.
By air
- Bilbao (BIO)34 miles, about 47 min by roaddirect flights from the UK
- Santander (SDR)70 miles, about 1 h 40 min by roaddirect flights from the UK
- Zaragoza (ZAZ)117 miles, about 2 h 46 min by roaddirect flights from the UK
By car and ferry
Driving from Calais takes roughly 13 h 55 min without stops. Nearest ferry ports: Bilbao (39 miles), Santander (71 miles).
Gasteiz / Vitoria is good for
Around Gasteiz / Vitoria
Day Trips Within 22 Miles
Several towns lie within easy reach. Miranda de Ebro, in Castile and León, is about 18 miles away, while the Basque towns of Oñati and Bastida / Labastida are both around 19 miles. Urduña / Orduña is roughly 20 miles, and Elorrio about 21 miles.
Heading south, Laguardia in the Basque Country and Haro in La Rioja are each about 21 miles away, and the small La Rioja village of Briones, home to fewer than 900 people, is around 22 miles off. These make easy half-day or full-day outings with car hire.
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Tips from Robin
Practical Tips Before You Go
At 547 metres above sea level, the city is cooler than you might expect for Spain outside high summer, with winter lows of around 2°C, so pack a warm layer from autumn to spring and a waterproof for the wetter months.
Most of the main sights cluster within half a mile of the old quarter, so you will rarely need a car in town; save car hire for day trips. Rain is spread across much of the year, with 11 to 15 rainy days a month outside summer, so the museums make a good fallback.
Questions people ask
What is the nearest airport to Gasteiz / Vitoria with flights from the UK?
Bilbao Airport (BIO) is the closest, about 34 miles away and roughly a 47-minute drive, with direct flights from the United Kingdom. Santander and Zaragoza also have direct UK flights but are further, at around 1 hour 40 minutes and 2 hours 45 minutes by car.
Can I take a ferry from the UK to Gasteiz / Vitoria?
Yes. Brittany Ferries sails from Portsmouth to Bilbao, about 39 miles from the city, in roughly 28 to 32 hours. Santander, around 71 miles away, is served from Portsmouth and from Plymouth, the latter in about 20 hours.
What is the best month to visit Gasteiz / Vitoria?
July and August are the most pleasant, with highs of 26°C to 27°C and only around six rainy days each month. They are also the driest months. Winters are cool, with January highs of 9°C, and November is the wettest month.
Is Gasteiz / Vitoria good for families?
Yes. Several museums suit children, including the Fournier Museum of Playing Cards, the Museo de Ciencias Naturales de Álava and the Artium Museum, all within a short walk of the old quarter. The Salburua protected area, about 1.7 miles out, offers open space.
Is Gasteiz / Vitoria on the coast?
No, it is an inland city at 547 metres above sea level. The nearest coastal connection for UK travellers is the ferry port at Bilbao, about 39 miles away, which is also close to Bilbao Airport.
What day trips can I take from Gasteiz / Vitoria?
Laguardia and Haro are each about 21 miles away, Briones around 22 miles, and Oñati and Bastida / Labastida roughly 19 miles. Miranda de Ebro is the closest, at about 18 miles. Car hire makes these easy to reach.