Our bespoke, luxury hotel holidays can be
● Single centre or multi-centre● Long or short stays
● Combine several different hotels in different regions
● Utilise a variety of transport arrangements to Spain and within Spain, combining flights, hire-car, rail, ferries and private transfers
Our special interest holidays to La Rioja
● Food and wine holidays● Art holidays
● Cultural holidays
● Walking holidays
● Private guided sightseeing
● Spa holidays
Included in all our holidays
● Concierge service● Handcrafted helpful hints and local information provided with all our holidays
● Personal service by your sales consultant who looks after all aspects of your holiday
Call us on 01392 441245
Highlights of La Rioja
Wine-producing towns across La Rioja DOC region where visitors can enjoy cellar tours and wine tastings, which can also be enjoyed at the luxury vineyard hotels which we feature. La Rioja is subdivided into three zones; Rioja Alta, Rioja Baja and Rioja Alavesa. Follow the wine routes of each of these areas. The beautiful Iglesia de San Bartolomé and cathedral in Logroño. The Cathedral of Santo Domingo de la Calzada, stopping point on the Saint James’ Way pilgrimage route. Numerous bars across the region which serve ‘pintxos’ (a Basque version of tapas), including those in Logroño. The attractive old town of Haro. The Museum of Wine Culture in Vivanco. San Millán Yuso and Suso (Upper and Lower) Monasteries, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in La Rioja, known for their role in the early development of the Spanish language. The hilltop walled town of Laguardia. Walking and nature watching in the Sierra de Cameros Natural park near Soria. “El Barranco Perdido” paleontology-themed amusement park. The pretty village of Ezcaray in the Oja River Valley, made wealthy by the wool trade, is popular with visitors for its outdoor pursuits and host of tapas bars.
Festivals in La Rioja
April: “Los Picaos” Easter procession in San Vicente de la Sonsierra. May: Saint’s Day festivities in Santo Domingo de la Calzada. June: Festivities of San Bernabé in Logroño, Haro Wine Festival and the Battle of Wine, Briones Medieval Festival. August: Bread and Cheese Festival in Quel. September: San Mateo Wine Harvest Festival (Logroño).
Gastronomy in La Rioja
La Rioja is best-known for its high-quality reds as well as many excellent white and rosé wines. A regional variation of tapas called ‘pintxos’ can be found throughout La Rioja, frequently eaten as a snack in bars. Enjoying pintxos like a local means visiting several bars and trying one or two small dishes in each, accompanied by local wines. Regional cooking varies from place to place but the key flavours and ingredients are simple and wholesome with high quality products from the region. Of particular note are the traditional stews made with fava or caparrón beans and a wide array of vegetables and pulses. Christians and Muslims have each left their mark on the region with pork and lamb forming popular bases for dishes, whilst fish caught from the Ebro also appear on the menu.
Climate in La Rioja
La Rioja is one of the colder regions of Spain and tends to have fairly mild summers and wet winters. The preferred time for visitors tends to be from June to September with most tourists avoiding the winter months of November to March. This part of Spain escapes the fierce summer heat found in the centre and south of the country with pleasant temperatures of around 20-25 degrees typical.
La Rioja travel information
La Rioja is best reached from the UK by air. We can arrange for you to travel by train with overnight stops and some clients choose to take their own car all the way using ferries to Santander or Bilbao, or by travelling overland through France.By air
Bilbao airport is closest and is served by low cost airlines including EasyJet, with flights to the UK and to other cities within Spain. Other guests might choose to fly into Madrid and combine their visit to La Rioja with Central Spain. There is also a small airport in Logroño which can be reached from Madrid and other Spanish cities.Rail travel
There is a train station in the main town of Logroño, which is accessible from Madrid and Barcelona.Car hire
We recommend a hire-car for all holidays to La Rioja as the majority of the highlights in this region are in rural locations and not easily accessible by public transport.Self-drive
Brittany Ferries offers twice weekly ferries from Portsmouth to Bilbao (journey time 24 hours), allowing you to travel to Spain with your own car. Crossings can also be made from Portsmouth or Plymouth to Santander which may offer better logistics to suit you despite being slightly further away. It is a journey of 1.5 hours by car from Bilbao to Logroño or 2.5 hours from Santander.Two centre recommendations
Combine the fantastic gastronomy of the Basque city of San Sebastian with a wine-focussed stay in La Rioja. Explore part of the Saint James’ Way pilgrimage route visiting the Navarran capital of Pamplona and small town of Santo Domingo de la Calzada in La Rioja. Spend a few days exploring the bustling city of Madrid before driving to La Rioja to wind down with wine tastings and vinotherapy treatments.Our bespoke, luxury hotel holidays can be
● Single centre or multi-centre● Long or short stays
● Combine several different hotels in different regions
● Utilise a variety of transport arrangements to Spain and within Spain, combining flights, hire-car, rail, ferries and private transfers
Our special interest holidays to La Rioja
● Food and wine holidays● Art holidays
● Cultural holidays
● Walking holidays
● Private guided sightseeing
● Spa holidays
Included in all our holidays
● Concierge service● Handcrafted helpful hints and local information provided with all our holidays
● Personal service by your sales consultant who looks after all aspects of your holiday
Call us on 01392 441245
Our bespoke, luxury hotel holidays can be
● Single centre or multi-centre● Long or short stays
● Combine several different hotels in different regions
● Utilise a variety of transport arrangements to Spain and within Spain, combining flights, hire-car, rail, ferries and private transfers
Our special interest holidays to La Rioja
● Food and wine holidays● Art holidays
● Cultural holidays
● Walking holidays
● Private guided sightseeing
● Spa holidays
Included in all our holidays
● Concierge service● Handcrafted helpful hints and local information provided with all our holidays
● Personal service by your sales consultant who looks after all aspects of your holiday
