Vitoria-Gasteiz in 1 or 2 days: what to see and do in the European Green Capital

It has been pending for a long time visit the city of Vitoria, the only one of the the Basque Country that until now I had not had the opportunity to know.

This interest has been increased by knowing the keys by which Vitoria was declared European Green Capital in 2012. .

I recently had the opportunity to travel to Vitoria and from the first moment I have been able to understand the meaning of that statement.

Indeed, the modern neighborhoods that extend around the historic center show an aspect of a very pleasant city to live in, in which large areas of parks and gardens surround modern buildings with architecture with a truly attractive design.

This is the experience of visiting Vitoria-Gasteiz

Additionally, when you visit Vitoria, from the first moment you will be struck by the profusion of lanes enabled for tour the city by bicycle,

This is facilitated by the completely flat surface of the entire city, except in the case of the aforementioned historic center, and the availability of up to 171 kilometers of bike lanes.

La experience of cycling through Vitoria It reminded us of a similar one we made recently during our visit to the German city of Potsdam, combining green and residential areas, and also the prominence that bicycles have in Berlin.

What to see and do in Vitoria-Gasteiz in 1 or 2 days

Looking ahead to your possible getaway Visit Vitoria in one or two days, we propose 10 plans to get to know this city in a different way, from the experience of our visit.

Our proposal goes beyond walk through the historic center, since it includes proposals for know the most outstanding green areas of the city, taste the local gastronomy and attend shows traditional sports of the Basque Country.

Sleep in a sustainable hotel in Vitoria

To spend the weekend in a city whose flag is to be European Green CapitalWhat better than staying in a hotel that is committed to sustainability.

For this we propose the Ibis Budget Vitoria-Gasteiz hotel, where we slept on our recent getaway.

Belonging to the brand Ibis budget of the Accor group, this hotel is in a very good location just 15 minutes from the old town, very close to the bus station and the headquarters of the Basque government, next to the exit to the highway access to the city.

That hotel is a bet on energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy, and has 119 rooms.

It is characterized by its young and sporty style and by its tight budget of between 55-60 euros per night, with a very good quality-price ratio.

In case you don't know it, I'll tell you that the brand Budget is the one that offers the cheapest prices in the Ibis hotels.

Sustainability is based, among other reasons, on the availability of photovoltaic panels with aerothermal installation.

The comfortable and dynamic style of this hotel has its center in the room where breakfast is arranged and life in common takes place.

Visit the Old Town of Vitoria

The city of Vitoria has a medieval historic center, which is popularly known as Casco Viejo.

Located on a hill, its origin dates back to the end of the 12th century when the Navarrese king Sancho VI He conquered the village of Gasteiz.

Throughout its history, Vitoria has had three walls, and two sections of the oldest from the 11th century can still be seen.

There is also preserved a great towerThat of Doña Ochanda, a true strong house located in the western part and which currently houses the Museum of Natural Sciences de la ciudad.

Plaza de la Burullería and Cathedral of Santa María

The oldest area inside the old wall is configured with several parallel streets at one end of which is the Burulleria Square, where you can visit the old cathedral of saint mary, the jewel of tourism in the city.

In this square they also stand out The Portalón, a 15th century building, and the Torre de los Andar Hurtado.

And at the other end you find the Machete Square, limit of the medieval town with the church of san miguel, Virgen Blanca Square, a popular extramural meeting center, and the Plaza de España , a neoclassical expansion of the medieval center where the town hall is located.

Murals and urban art in the Old Town

In your walk through the Old Town You will also have as a center of attention the various murals that over time have been created by local artists and residents of the city.

This example of urban art is configured by what is known as Muralistic Itinerary of Vitoria Gasteiz.

The first of them dates back to 2007, and there are already numerous that you can see in the city, currently, 19 murals distributed throughout the Old Town, as well as in Zaramaga neighborhood and in Ariznavarra.

Cuchillería Street, leisure hub in the Old Town

The city of Vitoria has as its leisure center the Cuchilleria Street, which runs from one end to the other of the aforementioned medieval old town, and is currently the typical place with numerous bars and restaurants where can you go to take the typical pinchos or to eat.

Throughout history it has been the most emblematic place in Vitoria, not only for its gastronomic wealth, but also for its history and importance in the social life of the city.

In the various bars and taverns that are concentrated in Cuchillería You can enjoy the famous pinchos and tapas, both traditional and more innovative, and you will always find a great atmosphere.

Gastronomic experience at the Food Market

Another way to delve into the gastronomic wealth of Vitoria is to visit the Food Market.

It currently has eight gastrobars where you can taste the famous pintxos, in practice it has become a gastronomic meeting place similar to that of Madrid. Mercado de San Miguel.

The origin of the building dates back to the 19th century, and it has a Gastronomy Thematic Center where workshops and courses are offered to learn how to cook.

Here you have information about Vitoria Food Market and dining experiences which you can sign up for.

Get to know the Green Ring and Salburua Park

The spirit of Green Capital and the place to go by bicycle that characterizes the city of Vitoria, dates back to 1993 when what is known as Green Ring.

This landscape recovery project allowed the recovery of various areas of ecological value, forming a set of parks in the outer area of ​​Vitoria.

El Vitoria Green Belt It has an area of ​​645 hectares and six large parks, including the Armentía natural forest or Zadorra river in Salburua.

Bicycle tour through Vitoria

In order to visit it, we suggest you make a bicycle tour in which starting from the Old Town, you will visit the most prominent places of the historic center until you reach the Salburua Park, on a route perfectly configured to go on two wheels.

This experience we lived during our visit to Vitoria It took us to discover a truly surprising natural area, touring wetlands where you can see various birds and fauna.

The tour takes you to visit Ataria, the interpretation center of this park.

Here you have information to sign up for one bike tour through Vitoria, which is the best way to understand the consideration of Vitoria as European Green Capital.

Cesta Punta Competition at the Frontón de Vitoria

La Cesta Punta, known internationally as hai alai (happy party)Is a traditional basque sport that you can discover during your getaway to Vitoria.

Competitions are periodically held at the city fronton, one of which you can attend.

You can also sign up for an experience like the one we participate in in which they will teach you the keys to jai alai, both theoretically, and even doing your first practice in which you will see that it is not as easy as you may think.

Stone lifting exhibition

The dates of your Vitoria getaway may coincide with another activity of the traditional basque sport that is worth knowing.

I mean the stone lifting, whose competitions and exhibitions are also held in the Basque capital on certain dates such as, for example, the local festivals of the White Virgin each year they take place at the beginning of August.

In our case we had the opportunity to see an exhibition of Inaxio Perurena, son of Iñaki, who was the great champion who promoted and made this sport known throughout Spain, and whom we recently met during the visit of his Stone Museum, Peru-Harri, in Leitza, north of Navarra.

Father and son are two of only three stone lifters to have surpassed the 300 kilo milestone.

During the exhibition we were able to learn some of the secrets of this rural sport which has become one of the emblematic images of the Basque Country.

Not only were we able to see how he gradually lifted stones whose weight was increasing, but we also learned about the various modalities that exist for this activity.

In short, the possibility of watching one of these competitions is another of the great attractions of doing a Vitoria city break.