Wanderyn
Laguardia
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
city · ES

Laguardia

Recommended stay: 1 day
Getting around: Laguardia's walled old town is tiny and entirely walkable, with underground bodega tunnels beneath many streets adding another, literal layer to explore. There's no train station; it's reached by car or infrequent regional bus from Vitoria-Gasteiz (about 45 minutes) or Logroño, and a car is genuinely necessary if you also want to visit the surrounding Rioja Alavesa wineries, several of them architecturally notable (Ysios by Santiago Calatrava, Marqués de Riscal by Frank Gehry).
Hours: Winery visits require advance booking almost universally, with tour times and language options varying by bodega; the town itself has no fixed-hours monuments beyond church visiting times.

Laguardia is a walled medieval hill town in the Rioja Alavesa, the Basque-administered portion of the Rioja wine region, and it sits atop a genuine curiosity: a network of medieval wine cellars (bodegas) tunneled directly beneath the town's streets, some still used for aging wine today and open for tours. Above ground, it's a well-preserved walled town with commanding views over vineyard-covered plains stretching toward the Sierra de Cantabria.

The wider area is dotted with architecturally striking modern wineries built by star architects — Frank Gehry's Marqués de Riscal (with its shimmering titanium roof echoing his Bilbao Guggenheim) and Santiago Calatrava's Ysios among them — making Laguardia a strong base for a wine-and-architecture route through Rioja Alavesa rather than just a pretty stop.

Laguardia FAQs

Are the underground bodegas open to visit?

Yes, several offer tours of the medieval tunnels beneath the town, some paired with tastings; check locally as access varies by bodega.

Do I need a car to visit the famous modern wineries nearby?

Yes, effectively — Marqués de Riscal, Ysios, and similar architecturally notable bodegas sit outside town and require your own transport or a booked tour.

How far is Laguardia from Vitoria-Gasteiz?

About 45 minutes by car; public transport options are limited and infrequent.

Is Laguardia part of Rioja or the Basque Country?

Geographically and administratively it's in the Basque region of Álava, but it sits within the broader Rioja wine-growing area (Rioja Alavesa), so it carries both identities.

How much time do I need?

A full day covers the old town and one or two winery visits comfortably; more time lets you add further wineries or a slower, less rushed pace.

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