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Basque Country – Bilbao, San Sebastián & Dragonstone

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199,99 € City Card: 184,99 €
Book now
199,99 € City Card: 184,99 €
Book now
📅
Date
Feb 19–21, 2027
🕐
Duration
3 days / 2 nights
🏨
Accommodation
Hostel in Bilbao
🍽️
Meals
2 breakfasts

Overview

We’re taking the bus north to the Basque Country for the weekend and this one is genuinely different. Not the Spain most people have seen before. Greener, cooler, with its own language, its own food culture and a coastline that looks nothing like the south.

Three days, two cities and one very dramatic stop on the way home. We spend Friday afternoon and evening in Bilbao with a guided walking tour through the old quarter and the new city. Saturday is all San Sebastián, one of the most beautiful places in Spain, with another guided tour along the bay and through the old town. Sunday morning we make the optional trip out to San Juan de Gaztelugatxe, better known as Dragonstone from Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon.

Transport and accommodation are sorted. Both mornings come with a complimentary breakfast at the hostel. You just need to eat as many pintxos as possible and enjoy!

What to expect
✓
Pintxos in Bilbao
The Basque version of tapas. Bars lined with them, all different, all good. You’ll end up eating more than you planned.
✓
La Concha beach in San Sebastián
One of the most beautiful urban beaches in Europe. The kind of view that makes you wonder why you haven’t been here sooner.
✓
Dragonstone in real life
The staircase, the cliffs, the little chapel on top. Whether you’ve watched the show or not, the place is genuinely spectacular.
✓
A part of Spain most people skip
The Basque Country doesn’t get the attention it deserves. You’ll come back wondering why you left it this long.

You can either book now at the bottom of this page or in our office on Calle Gran Vía 33, 8D. If you have any questions please get in touch with us at [email protected].

Please be advised that in accordance with our terms and conditions the City Card membership cannot be used to obtain discounts for anyone but the card holder.


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Marcus Bendixen profile picture
Marcus Bendixen
28 October 2026
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Had a wonderful trip to Egypt. Everything were sorted out and we had the best guide Islam. Would recommend other people to do the Egypt tour through CityLife
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E E profile picture
E E
28 October 2026
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5
Adam is the best guide!!! He has so much energy and is the most fun. I loved Basque Country, it’s super convenient traveling with city life!
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Julia Tahmoush profile picture
Julia Tahmoush
27 October 2026
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5
Bestt trip ever with city life
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Laura profile picture
Laura
27 October 2026
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5
The trip was incredibly well organized and I had fun all along. Not only did I meet great people but I could also step out of my comfort zone without regretting it. Adam was an incredible tour guide and made it one of the best organized trips I had so far :) (Dragonstone was incredible)
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Manuel Dreier profile picture
Manuel Dreier
27 October 2026
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5
Adam is the best!

Itinerary

Day 1
Bilbao
Private bus from Madrid · free time · official guided walking tour
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We leave Madrid at 08:00 and arrive in Bilbao around 13:00. After checking in to the hostel you’ll have free time to grab lunch, explore and get your bearings. This is a great window to visit the Guggenheim Museum if you want to go inside. Tickets can sometimes be bought at the door but booking in advance is safer. Contact us at [email protected] for the best time slots to pick. Later in the afternoon we’ll do our official walking tour through Bilbao’s historic old quarter (Casco Viejo) and its modern riverfront areas. The evening is free after the tour to explore, eat and enjoy pintxos bar-hopping in the city.

Day 2
San Sebastián
Complimentary breakfast · bus to San Sebastián · official guided tour · free afternoon · return to Bilbao
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After your complimentary breakfast at the hostel we head to San Sebastián, arriving around 11:00. Our official local guided tour takes you through the beautiful streets of the old town and along the entire coastline, from the Miramar Palace to the baroque church of Santa María. You’ll walk along Playa de la Concha, one of the finest urban beaches in Europe, and through the old quarter’s cafés and pintxos bars. After the tour the afternoon is completely yours to wander, eat and take it all in. At 18:00 we head back to Bilbao for a second free evening.

Day 3
Dragonstone · return to Madrid
Complimentary breakfast · optional excursion to San Juan de Gaztelugatxe · free time in Bilbao · return to Madrid
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After your complimentary breakfast we depart at 10:45 for the optional excursion to San Juan de Gaztelugatxe, the famous islet used as “Dragonstone” in Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon. Arriving around 11:45, you’ll have time to explore the dramatic cliffs, the winding stone staircase and the small chapel at the top. Whether you’ve watched the show or not, the location is genuinely stunning. If you prefer to stay in Bilbao, that’s completely fine. It’s another good opportunity to visit the Guggenheim or simply enjoy the city at your own pace. We return to Bilbao around 15:00 for free time and lunch before departing for Madrid at 17:00, arriving back around 22:00.

🗺️ View route map

What’s included

Included

✓ Private bus Madrid ↔ Bilbao ↔ San Sebastián ↔ Dragonstone
✓ 2 nights hostel accommodation in Bilbao
✓ 2 complimentary breakfasts at the hostel
✓ Official guided walking tour of Bilbao (Friday)
✓ Official guided tour of San Sebastián (Saturday)
✓ Excursion to San Juan de Gaztelugatxe (Sunday)
✓ Citylife representative throughout
✓ All taxes included

Not included

✗ Lunches & dinners
✗ Guggenheim Museum entrance ticket
✗ Towels and padlock (hostel)
✗ Anything not mentioned above

Rooming info

In Bilbao we will be staying in a shared hostel. Rooms accommodate between 4 and 8 people. All rooms include shower facilities and lockers. Please bring your own towel and a padlock for the locker.

Room assignments
Room assignments are determined based on the information you provide when signing up. We will always do our best to keep your group together but we cannot guarantee it.
Travelling with friends?
When signing up indicate a “group name” to let us know who you’d like to share a room with. No group name means we’ll assume you’re happy to share with someone new. Questions? Email [email protected]

Meeting point

Paseo de Moret 2, Madrid
Metro: Moncloa (Lines 3 & 6)

Meet us at 07:45 on the street outside Moncloa, not inside the bus station itself. Look for the Citylife group and our representative. Bus departs at 08:00 sharp.
View on Google Maps →
Important
The exact meeting spot on the street will be confirmed by your trip coordinator before the event. Please make sure your contact details are correct when booking and keep an eye on your email in the days before the trip.

Travel insurance

Citylife offers a basic travel insurance package provided by Innovac in partnership with Caser. It covers basic medical emergencies for the duration of the trip and can be added on when booking.

Taking our insurance is not mandatory, however it is your responsibility to ensure you are travelling with proper coverage. If you do not take it, we will assume you are covered by another policy.

Coverage breakdown

For a full breakdown of what is covered, download the insurance documents below.

FAQs

What is the City Card discount? +

City Card holders pay 184,99€ instead of the standard 199,99€. The discount applies only to the card holder. Get your City Card at citylifemadrid.com/city-card.

Where do we meet? +

We meet at Paseo de Moret 1 (Metro: Moncloa) at 07:45 on Friday morning. We meet on the street outside, not inside the bus station. The exact spot will be confirmed by your trip coordinator before the event. The bus departs at 08:00 sharp so please don’t be late!

Is the Dragonstone excursion optional? +

Yes, the excursion to San Juan de Gaztelugatxe on Sunday morning is optional. If you prefer to stay in Bilbao you are welcome to spend the morning exploring the city at your own pace. This would be a good chance to visit the Guggenheim Museum if you haven’t already.

Should I book the Guggenheim in advance? +

Tickets are sometimes available at the door but booking in advance is the safer option. Contact us at [email protected] for advice on the best time slots to pick based on our schedule. You can also book directly here.

Is lunch included? +

No, lunches and dinners are not included. You will have free time in each city to eat at your own pace. Breakfasts on Saturday and Sunday are included at the hostel.

What are pintxos? +

Pintxos are the Basque version of tapas, small bites usually served on a piece of bread and topped with anything from anchovies to foie gras. In the Basque Country the bar culture around pintxos is a whole experience in itself. Budget around 2 to 4€ per pintxo and plan to try several bars.

What should I bring for the hostel? +

The hostel provides beds and lockers but not towels. Bring your own towel and a padlock for the locker if you want to secure your valuables.

What is the age range on your trips? +

Our trips are designed for young internationals between 18 and 30 years old. This age range helps create the right social atmosphere: a fun, energetic group of like-minded travelers from all over the world.

What language is spoken on the trip? +

Our trips are principally run in English. However we always adapt. If the group has Spanish speakers, our coordinators are fully comfortable switching between English and Spanish to make sure everyone feels included.

¿Qué pasa si soy hispanohablante? +

¡No hay problema! Aunque el viaje se lleva a cabo en inglés, nuestros coordinadores hablan tanto inglés como español. Todo el mundo es bienvenido, independientemente de su idioma. 🇪🇸

What happens if I have more questions? +

Just shoot us an email at [email protected] and we’ll be happy to help!

Reserve your Tickets Now

Tickets

The numbers below include tickets for this event already in your cart. Clicking “Get Tickets” will allow you to edit any existing attendee information as well as change ticket quantities.
The Basque Country – General Ticket (Feb. 19, 2027)
199.99 €
51 available
The Basque Country – Insurance
9.00 €
51 available

Terms & Conditions

We encourage all travelers to read our Terms & Conditions carefully before booking any event with us. By completing your booking you are agreeing to those terms.