A staged itinerary to relive the journeys of the Nobel Prize-winning author amidst seas, mountains and Basque tradition

Ernest Hemingway traveled through the Basque Country during the 1920s and was forever captivated by its character, gastronomy and people. The Hemingway Basque Route invites you to relive that fascination today through six stages that cross mountains, cliffs and historic cities. It is an experience for those seeking to travel with excitement, discover authentic landscapes and follow in the footsteps of a writer who made life his greatest novel. For Ernest Hemingway, the Basque Country was more than just a literary setting: it was a way of understanding the world. Between the sea and the mountains, between cider and wine, the author — with a Nobel Prize in Literature — found a place where time seemed to flow at a different pace. Today, a century later, his spirit remains alive in the Hemingway Basque Route, a tourist route that revives his journeys through the region and his profound love for this land. The itinerary, comprising six stages, traces a circle of emotions. It starts in Donostia-San Sebastián, where the writer bathed in La Concha Bay and shared long conversations with friends. From there, the route advances towards Txingudi, between Hondarribia and Irún, where borders dissolve in the salty air of the Cantabrian Sea.

Map of Stage 2 of the Hemingway Basque Route © Turismo de Euskadi

The second stage leads to Eibar, land of gunsmiths and religious tradition, where the writer delved into the figure of Ignacio de Loyola and completed his own collection of weapons. Further along, the path opens towards Bermeo, the maritime heart of Biscay, with the echo of Gernika and the roar of the sea striking Matxitxako Cape. There, travelers can sense the pulse of history and the resilience of a people firmly rooted in their identity. From Bermeo, the route winds its way to Bilbao, the city of elegance and art, which Hemingway described as “rich and solid.” Then it rises towards Vitoria-Gasteiz, where the landscapes shift from green to golden and every conversation is accompanied by clarete wine. Finally, the route returns to San Sebastián, passing through Tolosa and valleys that smell of cheese, bread and apple. In every stretch, you breathe the passion Hemingway felt for simple pleasures: good food, cycling, fishing and conversation. And also the “txapela” (Basque beret), a symbol of Basque identity that he adopted naturally. The Hemingway Basque Route is an invitation to see the Basque Country through the eyes of a traveler who knew how to pause to appreciate beauty, savor every moment and find a story to tell in every village.

Location

The Basque Country is located in northern Spain, alongside the Bay of Biscay and the border with France. Its main access points include the Bilbao, San Sebastián and Vitoria airports; the ports of Bilbao and Pasaia; the rail network including connections to Madrid and France; and roads such as the AP–8, AP–1 and A–1.