Surprising, modern incentive destinations in Northern Spain!
Spain, for many a familiar (annual) destination for a business trip, incentive trip or private holiday. However, the north of Spain, including San Sebastian and Bilbao, is far less known to many. Nevertheless, this region is certainly worth a visit! In this blog, we therefore take you to the surprising Bilbao, San Sebastian and La Rioja.
Flights to Bilbao
When visiting Northern Spain, Bilbao Airport is the ideal place to begin your journey. There are direct flights from both Amsterdam and Rotterdam to this airport. The centre of Bilbao is only a 15-minute drive from the airport.
Bilbao: History, Culture and Modern Architecture
Bilbao has flourished since the arrival of the Guggenheim Museum in the 1990s. The exterior of the museum is a work of art in itself, designed by Canadian-American architect Frank Gehry. Inside, works by artists such as Dalí, Warhol, and Picasso are exhibited. Next to the building, you mustn't miss the ‘Puppy’ (over 12 metres high and covered with about 70,000 flowers) and the giant spider ‘Maman’ (9 metres high and 10 metres wide).
Besides the Guggenheim, Bilbao has much more to offer! The oldest part of the city, Casco Viejo, is a maze of narrow alleyways between old and colourful houses. There's certainly no shortage of food and drink in Bilbao either. You'll find charming restaurants everywhere with a huge selection of pintxos and local wines. Every bar has its own speciality, so be sure to try several bars during lunch, dinner, or as part of a cosy bar crawl. For groups, we naturally know the most surprising spots for the most diverse groups.
To discover multiple highlights in a short space of time and get to know the city well, a bike tour in this city is definitely recommended! Our local guides will show you the city's most important sights and give you great ‘insider tips’. Another unique activity, and certainly a special one, is a boat trip to the ‘underwater cellar’ off the coast of Bilbao. Here lies the world's only fully certified underwater wine cellar. Here, unique wines are brought to the surface in limited editions. They have been maturing on the ocean floor for a year, achieving a maturation result that is unique, surprising, and of sublime quality. During this boat trip, you will sail towards the underwater wine cellar and enjoy their wine with a snack.
San Sebastian: A Culinary Delight
It is also definitely worth combining a visit to Bilbao with San Sebastian, or Donostia in Basque. This city with fewer than 200,000 inhabitants is located about a 1.5-hour drive away on beautiful roads through the mountains. This Spanish coastal town is situated in a stunning bay on the Bay of Biscay and is also known as the culinary capital of the world. San Sebastian has the most Michelin stars per square meter in the world! However, for those on a lower budget, there is also a huge choice of bars and restaurants here.
Furthermore, it is *the* seaside resort of the Basque Country, and this city is also called the little Rio de Janeiro. The beautiful city beaches are ideal for water sports or boat trips. Enjoy a day at the seaside with your colleagues or learn to surf from the locals. You are also definitely in the right place for a top dinner with your clients.
La Rioja: A cultural wine paradise
An alternative or additional option during your incentive trip to Northern Spain is a visit to the La Rioja region. Less than an hour's drive from Bilbao, you'll find this region, home to around 600 wineries. The landscape is stunning, with endless vineyards, various old and modern wineries, and picturesque villages. Each winery is happy to show you the winemaking processes. Although the general process is the same everywhere, you'll learn different facts or see different parts of the process at each winery. For example, visit the unique cellars of Eguren Ugarte, the special design of the Ysios winery, or the final stage of the process: labelling the wine bottles at Marqués de Riscal. Of course, after the tour, all vineyards will also be happy for you to taste two or three of their wines. An exclusive lunch amidst the vineyards is a must-do unique activity during your group trip.
As well as the wineries being located amongst all the vineyards, the villages of Laguardia and Logroño are also well worth a visit. Laguardia is situated on top of a hill and is walled by 13e centuries-old walls, with access only through one of the five entrance gates. Here you can enjoy a local lunch or visit one of the ancient wine cellars steeped in history.
Logroño is located about a 20-minute drive from Laguardia and is the capital of La Rioja. A must-do here is a visit to Calle del Laurel. Calle Laurel is known for its Sidrerías and is considered one of the best tapas streets in Spain. Every bar on the street has its own speciality that will make your fingers tingle! Of course, a delicious matching Rioja wine is a must!
Make the Spanish experience even more intense!
At goMICE, our aim is to elevate your meeting, event, or incentive trip to the next level. The impact of a trip or event can be enhanced in many ways. If you wish, we will collaborate with you on the complete communication journey surrounding your LIVE moment:
- How can we involve and inform participants for longer and more effectively?
- How can we ensure that the objectives are met?
- How can we make the experience EVEN more complete?
For this, we create a bespoke concept with a detailed communication plan, which we implement meticulously in every aspect, before, during, and after your meeting, event, or group trip. We use our unique goMICE Stretching Method This way, your organisation or message will remain top of mind with your target audience for longer, and we will ensure even greater impact!
Discover Northern Spain on a group or incentive trip with your colleagues and business associates!
Would you also like to organise a surprising group or incentive trip in a relatively undiscovered region? Then consider Northern Spain with a visit to Bilbao, San Sebastian and La Rioja. We Happy to help!