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Discover what to see and do in Laguardia, one of the most beautiful villages of the Rioja Alavesa.
What to see and do in Laguardia? This is one of the questions you ask us most about the Rioja Alavesa. An unknown that we hope to solve along with the rest of the doubts you may have about this incredible walled town. Laguardia is presented to us as the most beautiful village in the Rioja Alavesa. One of the many treasures hidden in the Basque Country. A must-visit place, which offers a varied selection of experiences and places to visit along its geographical boundaries. We encourage you to discover what to see and what to do in Laguardia through a nice tour inside and outside its walls. 100% recommended. You will not regret it.
Laguardia keeps the gates of its walls open 24 hours a day, a converted fortress, which welcomes us with open arms to enjoy its architecture, gastronomy and history. The narrow streets, the enormous access gates and the imposing walls that we find make anyone who enters this medieval-looking urban center fall in love with it. A small welcome, which summarizes the historical and architectural heritage that keeps inside. In addition to its walled appearance, this urban center is known worldwide for its subway cellars and gastronomy, two attractions that have made this medieval town one of the most visited places in the Basque Country. Strategically located on a natural vantage point, Laguardia, capital of the Rioja Alavesa, has played a very important role throughout history, both when it was part of the Kingdom of Navarre and when it was conquered by the Castilians. A very special place, which, together with the incredible landscape formed by the kilometers of vineyards that surround it, forms a tourist destination to take off your “txapela”.
Information about what to see and do in Laguardia.
- Guided tours: Here.
- Attractions: Underground caves, wineries, walled enclosure, gastronomy, architecture and history.
- Population: 1500.
- Area: 81 km².
- Festivals: San Juan and San Pedro, both in June.
- Location: Laguardia, Rioja Alavesa, Araba, Euskadi.
Located less than 50 kilometers from Vitoria-Gasteiz, capital of the province of Araba (Alava in Spanish), Laguardia has the largest population of the Rioja Alavesa (1500 inhabitants) and a large number of resources to make our stay the best possible adventure. Undoubtedly, the most important urban center of the area. The charm of this Basque village has been recognized by many prizes and awards. A very solid argumentation to remember that the views, the architecture, the gastronomy and its inhabitants make Laguardia be presented internationally as one of the most beautiful villages in Europe.
What to see and do in Laguardia, heart of the Rioja Alavesa.
If you have come to Laguardia with the idea of spending more than one day, if you are a fan of wine culture, we recommend that you take the opportunity to visit one of its subway cellars, it is very worthwhile. Otherwise, if wine is not one of your passions, don’t worry. There are many other options that will really catch your attention. An example of them are the Lagunas de Laguardia, another of the charms of this Basque town. By the way, as good Basques, the kindness and politeness of all the people from Laguardia are of great help during our stay within these walls. If you have any doubts, we recommend that you talk to a local resident, who will surely provide you with information that will make your stay in Laguardia more practical and comfortable.
History of Laguardia: Located in the south of Araba, Laguardia is located in the heart of the Rioja Alavesa. A strategic location, which responds to the function that was entrusted to it. It is said that the Navarrese kings built Laguardia as a defensive fortress in the south of the Kingdom of Navarre. It is curious to see that, in the beginning, the name by which this Basque area was known was “La Guarda de Navarra“, a name that eventually became Laguardia. Sancho the Wise, granted to this urban nucleus the charter and the title of town in 1164, turning it into a reference of the commerce of that time. Until that time, in this place we only found a castle with military function, a fact that changed in the thirteenth century with the arrival of Sancho el Fuerte, who, after fortifying the town with part of the walls that we find today, gave this urban center a much more solid appearance. The Middle Ages was a time of conflict in Laguardia, and this town was the scene of violent clashes between Navarrese and Castilians, a conflict that fell in favor of the Castilians, thus making Laguardia a town of Castile. In 1486, Laguardia was incorporated into Araba, becoming part of Euskadi, a situation with which we have come to the present day.
Architecture of Laguardia: Its cobbled streets, its walls and the emblazoned houses of this town, make a walk through the interior of Laguardia becomes a journey into the past. Laguardia retains much of the structure with which it was conceived in the Middle Ages. The 3 main streets, remain intact since then, running through the bowels of this town along with the sections of the wall, towers and gates. Thus creating one of the most impressive urban complexes of the entire peninsula. Of its architecture we highlight the church of San Juan and Santa Maria de los Reyes, both of medieval origin. We recommend strolling and getting lost among the narrow streets and squares of Laguardia while enjoying its emblazoned houses, palaces and other buildings, we are sure you will love it.
Location of Laguardia: Laguardia is located 50 kilometers from Vitoria Gasteiz, capital of Araba and one of the Basque cities with the highest quality of life. Surrounded by vineyards and impressive natural spaces, it provides an ideal rural space to disconnect from the stress of the big cities. Laguardia is located in the heart of the Rioja Alavesa, a land bounded by 2 great natural resources such as the Sierra de Cantabria and the Ebro river. On the other hand, Laguardia is only 20 kilometers from Logroño, another of the large urban centers in the area.
Views from Laguardia: As mentioned above, Laguardia is located on a hill, in a natural vantage point, a strategic area that gave it an advantage against any enemy intrusion. Today, far from being used for this purpose, it is used to enjoy excellent views of the lands surrounding Laguardia. A perfect place to enjoy a movie sunsets.
Guided tours in Laguardia: If you want to know in detail this Basque village, we recommend you to do it with a local guide. A good, nice and cheap experience, which we encourage you to do in any trip to Rioja Alavesa. If you are interested in this option, you can get more information in the article we published on our website about guided tours in Laguardia. You can book from here. 
What to do in Laguardia: In this section, the main protagonists are undoubtedly the wineries and the wine experiences that take place around the vineyards. Although Laguardia has all kinds of spaces, visits to the wineries are one of the great attractions of the capital of the Rioja Alavesa. If you want to enjoy other types of activities or simply do not like to visit the wineries, here are a few things you can do during your stay in Laguardia.
- Visit some of the best wineries in the Rioja Alavesa: One of the main economic activities of the town of Laguardia is winemaking. This is attested by the dozens of farms that we find throughout its geography. It is also one of the main tourist attractions. The amount of experiences that we find linked to the world of winemaking makes a trip to this land very attractive.
- Routes through vineyards: The vineyards at the foot of the Sierra de Toloño and the Sierra de Cantabria offer some impressive routes through vineyards. A typical stamp of the Rioja Alavesa that surprises us with great views over everything around us.
- Visit a trujal: The trujales, together with the wineries, are another of the great protagonists of the Rioja Alavesa. Although today Laguardia does not have any olive press in its immediate surroundings, we must emphasize that this land once had a large representation of olive trees. Nowadays, we have to go to Moreda or Lanciego to visit one of these giants of our history.
- Do the route of the dolmens: Laguardia and the rest of the towns in the south of Araba have a large collection of dolmens. In fact, there is a specific route to know all of them.
- Learn how to do an oil tasting: Oil tastings are one of those activities that everybody does not know about. A highly recommended experience, which perfectly complements the wine tastings that take place in the wineries.
- Visiting some of the most beautiful villages of the Rioja Alavesa: As we have already mentioned, taking a short route by car to visit the small and charming villages surrounding Laguardia is practically mandatory.
- Active tourism in the Rioja Alavesa: Lovers of sport and active tourism have two great accomplices in the so-called wine and fish route (GR-38) and the Ignatian path (GR-120) to continue exercising their muscles.
As you can see, you will not get bored. There are a thousand and one options to complete the traditional visits to the wineries. If you are looking for more specific or different activities, do not hesitate to contact us, we will try to recommend you a complete guide to enjoy Laguardia and surroundings.
What to see in Laguardia: Although the town of Laguardia is not a large urban center, we can say with absolute certainty that it has many things to see and enjoy. Laguardia is one of the most touristic towns in the south of Araba, the place with the most attractions and also the one that offers the most services. One of the most beautiful. Many of what we recommend are simply logical, others, not so much. Choose and enjoy.
- Strolling: Just walking. It is no secret. Walking and walking, getting lost and finding yourself, is one of the best recommendations to get to know an urban center. Besides, in this case, the town of Laguardia does not have a large number of streets. It can be seen quickly. Both inside the walls and outside.
- Subway caves: Even if you do not like wineries, we recommend you to visit one of the 3 wineries that still produce their wines under the ground of Laguardia. And is that knowing the network of subway tunnels that we find under the ground of the town of Laguardia helps us to get an idea of what is hidden beneath us.
- Plaza Mayor: The Plaza Mayor of Laguardia is known for keeping one of the biggest attractions for the youngest of the house. And is that the town hall of this charming Basque town, hides a peculiar carillon clock on its main facade since 1997. A clock that contains in its interior some automatisms that represent the group of dances of Laguardia. Many people gather in this square to see this small spectacle. Undoubtedly one of the symbols of the municipality. In addition, we must emphasize that this is the most important square of Laguardia, a space in which numerous events are held throughout the year. Remember that this small event has a special timetable. Opening hours of the clock in the Plaza Mayor of Laguardia: From June to September at 12:00, 13:00, 14:00, 17:00, 20:00 and 22:00. From October to May at 12:00, 14:00, 17:00 and 20:00.
- Town of La HoyaThis archaeological site is unique in the Basque Country. A historical space, where we are offered to discover the way of life of our ancestors. A free and very interesting space that helps us to understand the agricultural culture that exists today in this area of Euskadi. This museum is composed of two completely different spaces, the first one is the interpretation center, where we find detailed information about what was found in the site, on the other hand, we find the remains of the village, where you can see perfectly the marks left by the carriages of that time. Mind-blowing.
- Protected biotope complex of the lagoons of Laguardia: The lagoons are one of the favorite places of the inhabitants of Laguardia. An area of great natural value, which allows the visitor to relax while walking through it. This protected biotope is one of the main natural attractions of the town due to the large amount of birds and vegetation that can be found. However, access to this area is supervised due to its characteristics. Let’s take care of it.
- Dolmen of the sorceress’ hut: In the territorial limits of Elvillar, on the outskirts of the town, we find one of the most famous dolmens in Araba. Please respect the signs, do not exceed the established limits, respect our history, our heritage.
- Most beautiful villages of the Rioja Alavesa: As we already revealed in our last article about the most beautiful villages of the Rioja Alavesa, Laguardia leads this list in which we find 9 villages that we highly recommend.
- Villa Lucia Museum: This wine theme center, also known as the gastronomic complex of Laguardia, Villa Lucia offers an interesting fusion of a museum dedicated to wine, an impressive 4D cinema and a restaurant where you can taste local products. A true 3 in 1.
- Churches of Santa Maria de los Reyes and San Juan: In Laguardia there are two churches that represent part of the historical and architectural heritage of this urban center. The church of Santa Maria de los Reyes whose origin dates back to the 12th century. One of its most striking features is its polychrome portico. On the other hand, the church of San Juan Bautista, has a beautiful collection of pieces of religious art, which, together with the main altarpiece, are part of the heritage of Laguardia.
- Torre Abacial: This tower of military/defensive type that we find next to the Church of Santa Maria, defended the north of the town of Laguardia during the Middle Ages. Its Romanesque style origin, XII century, together with the rest of the buildings in the historic center of Laguardia, forms an impressive monumental complex. In addition, from the top of the tower, we obtain an impressive panoramic view of the entire Rioja Alavesa.
- Balcony of the Rioja Alavesa: In the surroundings of Laguardia, in the different villages that make up the Rioja Alavesa, we find numerous natural balconies from which we obtain privileged views. Among them, the balcony of the Rioja Alavesa, a great natural viewpoint located in Samaniego that gives us stunning views of all the villages we drive through.
- Balcony of the Ebro: Although it is not as impressive as the previous one, the balcony of the Ebro, is another of the corners from where to appreciate the beauty of this land. Located in Lapuebla de Labarca, in the geographical limit of Araba, the Ebro river draws a beautiful mosaic of land and water that shows us the border with the provinces it limits.
Wineries of Laguardia: There are many types of wineries scattered throughout Laguardia, but those that we find inside, within the walls, gain special interest. Many years ago, there were more than 300 wineries under the soil of Laguardia, today, the needs of these farms have changed, being necessary more space for the production and storage of their wines. Most of them have guided tours to show us how they elaborate their wines. It is not going to be for options.
What and where to eat in Laguardia: Laguardia has a great gastronomic representation. In addition to the typical menu of the Rioja Alavesa (Rioja-style potatoes and lamb chops), there are many restaurants that have merged the local cuisine with the famous modern cuisine. Thus obtaining a high culinary level in Laguardia. We recommend you to taste the creations of Capricho de Baco or Villa Lucia. Good, nice and cheap. If you don’t mind going a bit further away from this charming village, we recommend the Alai restaurant in Labastida, amazing.
Where to sleep in Laguardia: This medieval town has a multitude of hotels, but most of them are crowded in high season, thus increasing the price per overnight stay. A recommendation: If your idea is to visit the whole Rioja Alavesa and not only Laguardia, it is best to compare the prices of all the hotels in the area and choose the one with the best value for money. In our case, after checking all the hotels that were within our budget, we opted for the Casona de Alutiz, a rural house located in the historic center of Samaniego that offers a better value for money than all those we found in Laguardia. Highly recommended.
Where to park in Laguardia: In summer, in high season, Laguardia becomes one of the most demanded places in the Basque Country, which is why finding a place to leave our vehicle can become a somewhat complicated task. We must emphasize that the subsoil of the town of Laguardia is full of tunnels that are part of wineries, restaurants or private houses. These spaces make it totally forbidden to enter the town center with vehicles. Laguardia is pedestrian. On the outskirts of the walls, less than 5 minutes walking, there are 3 free public parking lots where we can leave our cars. 
Recommendations for visiting Laguardia: The town of Laguardia is small and can easily be seen during a weekend, but if we want to take advantage of the visit to know the surrounding villages and the experiences they offer us, 2 days may be too short. In these cases, we recommend extending our stay. It is worth it. As you can see, everything depends on your tastes and preferences. In the case of just wanting to see Laguardia, we recommend a nice route through its cobbled streets without losing sight of the stately homes that surround us until we reach the Plaza Mayor, where we must be attentive to its famous clock. After knowing the interior, it is mandatory to enjoy the places that surround the town center, for this we recommend going outside, beyond its walls. To finish, what better than to taste the gastronomy of the area through a good menu or a good amount of pintxos. A meal in conditions.
Instagram: Postureo photos are the order of the day in Laguardia. And the fact is that everyone who visits this medieval town fills their social media profiles(Twitter, Facebook and Instagram) with the typical photos. Although we recommend you to try to avoid the topics, we leave you a list of snapshots that you can take while enjoying our proposals on what to see and what to do in Laguardia. We are sure that all your followers will love it.
- Sunset from Laguardia.
- Laguardia from the Lagunas.
- Subway cellars.
- Walls of Laguardia.
Videos about Laguardia: Once again, we have uploaded several videos about Laguardia to our YouTube channel. We hope they will help you during your trip to the Rioja Alavesa. We leave you 5 videos that perfectly represent what you will find in these lands. By the way, if you want to see more videos about the villages of the Rioja Alavesa or any other place, we recommend you to search among the latest videos of our channel.
We hope this article about what to see and do in Laguardia will help you during your trip to this magical corner of the Rioja Alavesa. Remember that you can leave us your suggestions and doubts in the comments of this article. As we say around here, ondo pasa!
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