A capital of the province of La Rioja in northern Spain, Logroño really exceeds my expectations. I love the easy going and chill vibe as the city is not yet exposed to over tourism like in some other European cities. Many foreign travellers visiting Spain tend to aim at big cities like Madrid, Barcelona or in southern Spain like Seville, Malaga or Granada. I will tell you 4 reasons why you should add Logroño in your itinerary for Spain.
First, the great FOOD SCENE. Here people enjoy good food, good wine and easy going life. You can get really good meal with a reasonable price here in nice restaurants. However, as foreigners, you should know that people here take eating seriously, as they tend to spend a few hours for lunch and dinner. My lunch time here is usually from 2.30 – 5 PM and dinner is around 9 PM onwards. For food lovers, you cannot miss a chance to visit Calle del Laurel in the old town and enjoy trying different pinchos or small tapas being served in one portion. There is so much to write about pinchos hence I will dedicate another post just for them.
Secondly, La Rioja is famous for WINES! You will find world class wineries just in less than an hour drive from Logroño. Fortunately, I had a privilege to visit some of them, including Vivanco Wine Museum, Bodegas Ysios, and Marqués de Riscal.
Thirdly, the reasonable PRICE for food and drinks here which is cheaper than other cities in Spain. For example, you can get a decent glass of wine for just less than 2 euros, the bus ride is 70 cents anda pincho is around 1.5 euros.
Fourth, ARCHITECTURE here is second to none. The Spanish appreciate arts and in La Rioja, design lovers will never get bored. Located 1.5 hours away is Bilbao International Airport and that makes it convenience for international travellers. The gem of Bilbao is the Guggenheim Musuem, designed by Canadian architect Frank Gehry who also designed the Hotel Marqués de Riscal at Marqués de Riscal winery.
