25 Unforgettable Places to Go in 2026: Basque Country

In 2026, the Basque region has a front-row seat for one of the decade’s biggest sky shows: the total solar eclipse on August 12. The path of totality is expected to slice across northern Spain, with cities like Bilbao and Vitoria-Gasteiz likely to experience up to a minute of full darkness as the moon covers the sun. Travel companies from culture-focused Smithsonian Journeys to outdoorsy Wilderness Travel have custom trips focused on the celestial event.

Photo: Turespaña

Even without the eclipse, Basque Country belongs on a 2026 shortlist for travelers who plan trips around gastronomy, wine, and time outdoors. Of these, food is the main calling card, and the town of San Sebastián has one of the highest concentrations of Michelin-starred restaurants on earth. For budget travelers, the city’s pintxo bars mean you can eat extraordinarily well for just a few bucks. From San Sebastián, it’s also easy to day-trip to Bilbao, another one of Spain’s top cities for eating.

Beyond the dining scene, the Basque coast delivers for travelers who want time outside. You can base yourself near the marshes and beaches of the UNESCO-listed Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve, hop between fishing towns like Bermeo and Getaria, and hike out to San Juan de Gaztelugatxe — the shooting location for Dragonstone in Game of Thrones. Add in the fact that a single region in Álava (Cuadrilla de Laguardia-Rioja Alavesa) has more than 100 wineries, and it’s a clear choice for travelers keen to slow-travel their way through Europe.