Vitoria Area Guide

Vitoria is located on the road that joins Madrid to the rest of Europe via the N-1 highway acting as a bridge between Europe and the rest of the Iberian Peninsula. The city is less than an hour from Bilbao, one hour from Pamplona, two hours from Santander and three hours from Zaragoza.

Vitoria has a medieval quarter with narrow streets arranged in concentric ovals named after artisan guilds. It is full of charming gardens and tree-lined boulevards (it has one of the highest percentage of green areas per inhabitant in Europe). The Plaza de la Virgen Blanca is in the centre of the city presided over by the Battle of Vitoria Wellington monument and Iglesia de San Miguel, which houses the image of the city’s patron saint White Virgin.

Vitoria holds an internationally acclaimed Jazz Festival every July where musicians play in the streets of Vitoria for a week.

The medieval district in Vitoria is constructed on a series of steps and terraces with streets arranged in concentric ovals with northern end marked by the Catedral de Santa María and the southern end by the Iglesia de San Miguel. Visit our guide to local attractions in Vitoria to find out more about this fascinating historic city which is rich in cultural heritage and tradition.

 

There are four excellent golf courses on the outskirts of Vitoria. We have provided full details and contact numbers in our guide to Vitoria golf courses. If you planning to play golf in Vitoria it is well worth hiring a car to get around.

 

Vitoria's cuisine is based on its local products which include potatoes and beans, all kinds of meats (with a preference for pork) and has mountains which are rich in wild mushrooms "perretxikos" (also called St George's mushrooms) and species of game. The Rioja Alavesa region also yields some excellent wines. Our guide to restaurants in Vitoria provides menu details and contact details of some of the best places to eat in the area.

 

Vitoria offers some excellent shopping with two large shopping malls on the outskirts of the city, exclusive shops in the Medieval Quarter selling beautiful local wooden and silver crafts and cake shops (some of which are over 100 years old) offering some irresistible fare. Our shopping guide to Vitoria and article on markets in Vitoria tell you all you need to know about shopping here.

 

If you are planning to explore the area outside of the city centre and play some golf or go to some of the more out of the way beaches then you might consider hiring a car. There are a number of car hire firms based at Vitoria Airport who will be pleased to have a vehicle awaiting your arrival. This also cuts down on transfer costs for you and your family.

We also provide information on sporting and leisure amenities in Vitoria in our Vitoria Area Guide which includes the best Vitoria Shopping Areas, Vitoria Markets, Vitoria Golf Courses, recommended Vitoria Restaurants and Vitoria Local Attractions