I Visited a European Country That Doesn’t (Officially) Exist

The Basque Country is a fascinating corner of Europe, filled with historic towns, incredible gastronomy, and its very own language. Straddling the border of Spain and France, over the course of this travel guide we'll cover the very best things to do in the Basque Country, including top attractions, hidden gems, and meeting with locals.

We'll begin our time in the Basque Country by exploring San Sebastián (known as Donostia in Basque), a gorgeous coastal city famed for its abundance of delicious bars and restaurants. An iconic seaside resort since the 19th century, this is a destination filled with beautiful architecture and plenty of history.

The next day we'll head to smaller fishing villages. Frozen in time, some of the most stunning in the region include Mundaka and Bermeo. Afterwards we'll head inland to Guernica. Made famous by Picasso's painting, today Guernica is a thriving town with lots to see and do. Nearby we'll stay in a castle and even visit a wildlife centre.

The following day we'll head to Bilbao. With over 340,000 residents, this is the largest city in the Basque Country and here you can enjoy the local pace of life, heading to bars for Pintxos (a kind of snack served with a drink), visit the Guggenheim Museum, and explore centuries of architecture (including one of the most unique train stations in Europe).

The Basque Country also covers part of France and so for this portion of the trip we'll begin by heading to Espelette, a quaint village closely associated with its own type of chilli pepper. Afterwards we'll head towards the sea, visiting the town of Bidart before heading to Bayonne. There we'll dive deep into a living heritage company, learning about how the French beret is born. Finally we'll head to Biarritz for sunset.