56 Best Hotels in The Basque Country, Navarra, and La Rioja, Spain

More famous for its world-class Michelin-starred restaurant on the ground floor, this modestly priced hotel is one of Pamplona's best-kept secrets, a block and half from the bullring and within shouting distance of party central, Plaza del Castillo. The newly renovated property—awash with grays and whites—is a far cheaper alternative to most of the competition.

This cheery inn across from the confluence of the Urbión and Najerilla Rivers has spartan wood-trimmed bedrooms with red-checked bedspreads and an excellent restaurant specializing in caparrones (kidney bean stew) and game dishes. The hotel has various lodging and meal options, and friendly staff can advise on area hikes.

This modern property is tucked away on a relatively quiet pedestrian street yet steps from the action on Plaza del Castillo and Calle Estafeta. It's popular with business travelers, thanks to reliable Wi-Fi, a gym, and a sauna. There are suites and triple rooms for families.

Between the Guggenheim and the Museo de Bellas Artes, this quiet boutique hotel with floor-to-ceiling windows and impeccable service is the sister property of The Artist hotel just up the street. Its Y2K aesthetic—picture all-white rooms, crimson throw pillows, and white leather sofas with polished steel legs—ironically feels current once again.

This majestic hotel, occupying a reconstructed 17th-century country palace by the airport, is a peaceful country retreat with a 9-hole pitch-and-putt and nearby activities including sand, surf, and sailing 15 km (9 miles) away in Plentzia and equestrian activities in Mungia. Unabashedly Victorian rooms are spacious and appointed with antique furniture, while the decidedly less ornate restaurant, Harria, serves polished Basque cuisine.

Overlooking the Kursaal concert hall and the Zurriola beach at the mouth of the Urumea, this small but inviting two-star is also steps from the bar-lined Parte Vieja. Some rooms have views northeast across the Urumea River and out to sea, and all are adorned with oversize photos of San Sebastián.

A small, attentively run hotel near the Atxuri station, this modest pensión has modern rooms with views of some of Bilbao's oldest architecture. The owner and manager offer helpful advice about Bilbao.

Named for the three kings of Navarra, Aragón, and Castile—who, it was said, could meet at La Mesa de los Tres Reyes, in the Pyrenees, without stepping out of their respective realms—this modern glass-and-stone refuge operates on the same principle: come to Pamplona without leaving the comforts of home. Most rooms have a great view of the city.

The sharp angles and bright colors of this architecturally avant-garde luxury hotel cut a striking contrast to the vernacular architecture surrounding it. The location—12 km (7 miles) west of Laguardia in the sleepy village of Villabuena de Álava—makes it a good base for exploring La Rioja Alavesa and neighboring Rioja Alta. On the grounds are an upscale restaurant, wine cellar, and rooftop bar and gym.

At the foot of Monte Ogoño in the upper part of the charming and colorful fishing and seafaring village, this amicable inn rents simple, cheery rooms and serves house-cooked Basque cuisine in its diminutive dining room. Rooms with wood beams overhead look directly down into the deepwater harbor below; fourth-floor rooms have the best views. The hotel is a family enterprise, and the staff is unfailingly helpful.

Inspired by the work of Basque sculptor Eduardo Chillida, this blocky high-rise hotel was built over what was once the nerve center of Bilbao's shipbuilding industry—which explains the collection of Spanish ship models. Rooms are high, wide, and handsome, with glass, steel, stone, and wood trimmings. The views from upper floors are superb. 

The Bilbao outpost of this trusted chain is a good value and offers choice extras—morning newspapers at your door, tasty breakfast, comfortable rooms, and professional service—all in a central location within walking distance of all the main attractions. The adjacent Doña Casilda park becomes part of your day as you set out for sightseeing. 

This four-star near the old quarter has contemporary rooms, a well-trained staff, and a businesslike calm about it. The decor is dated and a bit hodgepodge in spots, but the efficiency—including complimentary valet parking upon request—makes up for any aesthetic shortcomings. The restaurant, Brasserie Zarcillo, with a grill for cooking over coals, has a good wine list.

Locals call this four-star newcomer a "hotel within a museum" because of its location inside the Tabakalera cultural center, a hotbed of art and innovation inaugurated in 2015 that's located 12 minutes on foot from the Parte Vieja. Expect eclectic modern decor, thought-provoking photography, and sculptural light fixtures in the guest rooms, which range from conventional doubles to airy, designer-appointed suites.

This 18th-century palace in the center of town has been restored to its original grandeur with wooden ceilings, Victorian furniture, and a grand staircase. Even the collection of carriages of the counts of Guendulain—who continue to live in the building—is on display and many of the sumptuous rooms have antique chairs and detailing. The property also has two suites.

In a renovated convent, this contemporary hotel steps from the cathedral offers a great value. The dependable restaurant in the converted chapel and simple, modern rooms make the property a practical base. (Note: prices quadruple during San Fermín.)

This 17th-century palace has panoramic views over the Álava plains and feels like a time warp with its long stone hallways decorated with bulky, opulent antiques. It's said that Napoleon's forces rested here before attacking Vitoria. Rooms have polished wood floors, and some have glass-enclosed sitting areas or hot tubs. The wood-beam dining room on the third floor makes each meal feel like a baronial feast.

This cozy, cinema-themed pensión with in-room Nespresso machines, Marshall speakers, and big TVs is a good value. Sure, there's no round-the-clock reception, and rooms aren't impeccably soundproof, but staff are exceedingly personable and all of Bilbao's main sights are at your fingertips.

This 12-room pensión (guesthouse) with shared baths may be the best value in the city center with its small but well-maintained accommodations, some of which (Nos. 1 and 2) overlook the facade of the Palacio Yohn. Pack light, or brace yourself for some cardio: Pensión Méndez is on the fourth floor of a walk-up.

This tidy 10-room hotel four blocks east of the cathedral stands out for its rock-bottom (by local standards) prices. Rooms are simple yet spacious, and details like fresh flowers in public areas make you feel like you're at a simple country inn as opposed to a city-center hotel. 

Across from the Teatro Arriaga in the Casco Viejo, this boutique hotel blends old and new design touches such as centenary limestone blocks, exposed brickwork, hand-hewn beams, and spiral staircases. The standard rooms and the showers are a tight fit, and the street below can be noisy on weekends, but amenities such as a generous buffet breakfast and free bicycle rentals make up for any shortcomings. 

An idyllic beach escape with panoramic views over the Bay of Biscay, this renovated 15th-century house on Getaria's uppermost street has cozily decorated rooms. Those facing the street have heavy stone walls and carved wooden furniture, while those on the seaside are more minimal with spectacular views.

Surrender to the slow pace of country life at this family-run hotel perched on a hilltop amid rolling vineyards. The guest rooms may be on the basic side (laminate floors, nothing-special mattresses, astroturfed balconies), but what the property lacks in traditional luxury it makes up for with pin-drop silence, sweeping ocean views, and personalized attention. 

At the foot of Mount Urgull sits this airy newcomer with streamlined modern furnishings and stunning views out over La Concha and the old harbor. With three rooms per floor and flawless soundproofing, the hotel feels a world away from the boisterous street life of the Parte Vieja, which is right around the corner.

The soaring atrium, expansive lobby, and turreted corner rooms lend this dependable seven-floor hotel a grand, conservative air. A recent renovation ripped out all the wall-to-wall carpeting and added chairs and furniture with clean lines, but the bones of the building—gold bannisters, glass elevators, natural-wood door frames—still scream ’90s. 

Set in the renovated Astoria Cinema, this film-themed hotel has a spacious lobby adorned with autographed photos of the many movie stars who have attended the famous San Sebastián Film Festival over the years. Each of the contemporary rooms is named for a different star, from Audrey Hepburn and Elizabeth Taylor to Robert De Niro, and adorned with their respective photographs and memorabilia.