Laguardia Holidays: Wineries and Archaeology in Rioja Alavesa
Araba / Álava · Basque Country · Spain · 1,498 residents
Laguardia is a small village of around 1,498 people in Araba / Álava, in the Rioja Alavesa corner of the Basque Country. It sits at 639 metres, well away from the coast, and its appeal is concentrated in a tight radius. The Torre Abacial and Laguardia Castle stand within a few minutes' walk of the centre, a Celtiberian pool lies at Barbacana, and wineries such as Bodegas Ysios and Campillo are a mile or less away. Just beyond the village are two archaeological sites, the settlement of La Hoya and a final Neolithic necropolis. For British travellers it is an easy drive from Bilbao, which has direct flights from the United Kingdom, and it suits couples drawn to history and wine.
Why go
- Bodegas Ysios, Campillo and Eguren Ugarte wineries all lie within 2 miles of the village.
- La Hoya and the Neolithic necropolis of San Juan Ante Portam Latinam are under 2 miles away.
- Bilbao airport, with direct UK flights, is about 54 miles away, roughly 77 minutes by car.
Top sights in Laguardia
Towers, Wineries and Ancient Sites
The village itself, Laguardia - Guardia, is the main draw, and its core holds most of what you will want to see on foot. The Torre Abacial, a fortified tower, is right in the centre, Laguardia Castle is about 0.1 miles away, and the estanque celtibérico de Barbacana, an archaeological site built around an old Celtiberian pool, is about 0.2 miles from the centre.
Wine is the other thread. Bodegas Ysios is about a mile out, Campillo winery around 0.6 miles, Eguren Ugarte about 1.8 miles and Launa roughly 3.7 miles. For older history, the settlement of La Hoya lies about 0.7 miles away, and San Juan Ante Portam Latinam, a necropolis of the final Neolithic, is around 1.6 miles from the village.
Tours and tickets for the area can be booked directly on this page through the booking cards below.
1beautiful village
2wineryBodegas Ysios
1 mile from the centre · Photo
3winery
4archaeological site
5archaeological site
6castleTorre Abacial
In the centre · Photo
7archaeological siteestanque celtibérico de Barbacana
In the centre · Photo
9wineryLauna
4 miles from the centre · Photo
Laguardia Castle
castle · In the centre
Campillo winery
winery · In the centre
Tours & tickets in Laguardia
Guided tours, day trips and tickets in and around Laguardia can be booked in advance, priced in GBP.
See tours & tickets (opens GetYourGuide in a new tab)Where to stay in Laguardia
Staying in a Small Village
With fewer than 1,500 residents and no coastline, Laguardia is a quiet base rather than a lively one. Staying within the village puts the Torre Abacial, the castle and the Barbacana site on your doorstep, while the wineries scattered in the surrounding countryside make sense if you have a car and prefer rural calm.
If you want more going on in the evenings, Logroño, a city of over 150,000 people, is about 9 miles away. This page shows live hotel prices so you can compare options in and around Laguardia.
Hire a car
The easiest way to reach Laguardia and the villages around it is a hire car from Bilbao (BIO), about 1 h 17 min away.
Best time to visit Laguardia
When to Visit Laguardia
- 9°CJan65 mm
- 11°CFeb61 mm
- 15°CMar48 mm
- 18°CApr34 mm
- 20°CMay85 mm
- 25°CJun52 mm
- 30°CJul8 mm
- 30°CAug41 mm
- 23°CSept54 mm
- 20°COct104 mm
- 14°CNov63 mm
- 9°CDec39 mm
Highlighted months are the sweet spot for warm, dry weather.
July and August are the most reliable months. Both reach highs of around 30°C, and July is by far the driest month of the year, with about 8 mm of rain over roughly 2 days. August sees around 5 rain days, with nights cooling to about 16°C, which is welcome after a warm afternoon.
October is the wettest month, with about 104 mm across 13 days, and May is also damp at around 85 mm. April is a gentler shoulder option, with highs near 18°C and about 7 rainy days. Winters are cold at this altitude: January and December top out around 9°C, with lows of 2 to 3°C. As Laguardia is not on the coast, there is no sea temperature to consider.
Full monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Sun |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 9°C | 2°C | 65 mm | 6 h |
| Feb | 11°C | 2°C | 61 mm | 7 h |
| Mar | 15°C | 4°C | 48 mm | 9 h |
| Apr | 18°C | 6°C | 34 mm | 10 h |
| May | 20°C | 9°C | 85 mm | 11 h |
| Jun | 25°C | 13°C | 52 mm | 11 h |
| Jul | 30°C | 15°C | 8 mm | 13 h |
| Aug | 30°C | 16°C | 41 mm | 12 h |
| Sept | 23°C | 13°C | 54 mm | 10 h |
| Oct | 20°C | 11°C | 104 mm | 7 h |
| Nov | 14°C | 7°C | 63 mm | 7 h |
| Dec | 9°C | 3°C | 39 mm | 6 h |
Averages 2015–2024. Highlighted months are the sweet spot for warm, dry weather.
Getting there from the UK
Getting There from the UK
Bilbao is the nearest airport, about 54 miles away and roughly 77 minutes by car, with direct flights from the United Kingdom. Santander, around 87 miles away and about 123 minutes' drive, and Zaragoza, around 100 miles away and about 142 minutes' drive, also have direct UK flights. Car hire from the airport is the practical choice, as the wineries and archaeological sites are spread around the village.
If you would rather bring your own car, Brittany Ferries sails from Portsmouth to Bilbao in about 28 to 32 hours, with the port about 59 miles from Laguardia. Santander's port, about 88 miles away, is served from Portsmouth in around 24 to 32 hours and from Plymouth in about 20 hours. Driving the whole way from Calais takes roughly 14 hours behind the wheel.
By air
- Bilbao (BIO)54 miles, about 1 h 17 min by roaddirect flights from the UK
- Zaragoza (ZAZ)100 miles, about 2 h 22 min by roaddirect flights from the UK
- Santander (SDR)87 miles, about 2 h 3 min by roaddirect flights from the UK
By car and ferry
Driving from Calais takes roughly 14 h 20 min without stops. Nearest ferry ports: Bilbao (59 miles), Santander (88 miles).
Laguardia is good for
Around Laguardia
Day Trips Across Rioja
Elciego, a fellow Basque Country village, is only about 3 miles away, and Fuenmayor in La Rioja is around 6 miles. Logroño, the largest place nearby, is about 9 miles away and gives you a proper city outing.
Further out, Briones is around 10 miles, Bastida / Labastida about 11 miles and Haro roughly 14 miles away. Badarán lies about 17 miles off, and Miranda de Ebro, in Castille and León, is around 21 miles away.
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Tips from Robin
Practical Tips for Your Visit
Pack layers outside high summer. At 639 metres, winter nights drop to around 2°C, and even in July the evenings cool to about 15°C after highs of 30°C.
Laguardia is a village of around 1,498 people, so it is small and quiet; plan meals and visits with that in mind, and treat Logroño, about 9 miles away, as your option for a larger town. If you are coming in autumn, note that October is the wettest month, so keep a waterproof handy for walks out to La Hoya or the wineries.
Questions people ask
What is the nearest airport to Laguardia?
Bilbao is the nearest, about 54 miles away and roughly 77 minutes by car, with direct flights from the United Kingdom. Santander, about 87 miles away, and Zaragoza, about 100 miles away, also have direct UK flights.
Can you take a ferry from the UK to near Laguardia?
Yes. Brittany Ferries sails from Portsmouth to Bilbao in about 28 to 32 hours, and to Santander in around 24 to 32 hours, with a Plymouth to Santander crossing of about 20 hours. Bilbao's port is about 59 miles from Laguardia.
When is the best time to visit Laguardia?
July and August are best, with highs around 30°C. July is the driest month, with about 8 mm of rain over two days. October is the wettest, and winters are cold, with January highs of around 9°C.
Are there wineries within walking distance of Laguardia?
Campillo winery is about 0.6 miles from the village and Bodegas Ysios around a mile, both reasonable on foot. Eguren Ugarte is about 1.8 miles away and Launa roughly 3.7 miles, so a car or a booked tour helps.
Is Laguardia good for a day trip from Logroño?
Yes, Logroño is only about 9 miles away. In a day you can see the Torre Abacial, Laguardia Castle and the Barbacana Celtiberian pool in the village, then visit a nearby winery or the Neolithic necropolis of San Juan Ante Portam Latinam.