Logroño

Spring and early autumn are the best seasons, with mild weather. Summers are hot and dry, and winters are cold with some frost and fog.

The San Mateo festival in September celebrates the grape harvest, with parades, bullfights and wine in the streets. It is the busiest time of the year.

• Concatedral de Santa María de la Redonda is the co-cathedral, with a Baroque façade and twin towers, in the old town.
• Calle del Laurel and nearby streets are the heart of the city's tapas scene, with dozens of small bars.
• The Puente de Piedra is a stone bridge over the Ebro that pilgrims on the Camino de Santiago cross.
• The Church of Santa María de Palacio has a tall pointed spire that is a landmark of the city.
• The Museum of La Rioja, in a Baroque palace, has art and local history.
• The Revellín Gate is a remnant of the old city walls.
• The Ebro Park is a long green space along the river.

• Go on a tapas crawl along Calle del Laurel, trying one small dish and a glass of Rioja in each bar.
• Visit a winery in Rioja Alavesa or around Haro for a tour and tasting.
• Walk along the Ebro and cross the old Stone Bridge, as pilgrims have done for centuries.

• Laguardia and Rioja Alavesa (about 20 km, 25 minutes by car): a walled wine town with wineries below the streets.
• Haro (about 45 km, 40 minutes by car): a wine town known for its historic wineries.
• Vitoria-Gasteiz (about 95 km, 1 hour): the capital of the Basque Country.
• Pamplona (about 90 km, 1 hour): known for the running of the bulls.
• Burgos (about 125 km, 1.5 hours): a Gothic cathedral city.

Other places nearby:

• Cities: Vitoria-Gasteiz, Pamplona and Zaragoza.
• Old cities: Burgos.

• By air: Logroño airport (RJL) has very few flights. Bilbao, Pamplona and Zaragoza airports are the main alternatives.
• By train: Train service is limited, with connections to Zaragoza and Madrid. Book on Renfe.
• By bus: Coaches run to Madrid, Bilbao, Vitoria, Pamplona and Zaragoza, and they are often faster than the train.

• On foot: The old town and center are compact and flat, and most things are within a 15 minute walk.
• Cycling: The city is flat, and a path runs along the Ebro.
• Public transport: City buses cover the wider area.

• Is a car worth it?: Not for the city. A car is useful for wineries and villages.
• Parking: Use an underground car park near the old town.
• Restrictions: Much of the old town is pedestrian only. If you plan to taste wine, arrange a driver or a tour.

Logroño is a major tapas city. The bars on Calle del Laurel specialize in one or two dishes, such as mushrooms, grilled peppers, fried quail eggs or small skewers (pinchos).

La Rioja is famous for its red wines, and local dishes include potatoes with chorizo (patatas a la riojana) and lamb chops grilled over vine cuttings.

Logroño is a very safe city. The tapas streets get crowded at night, so keep an eye on your belongings. Wine tastings add up, so pace yourself and avoid driving afterward.

Logroño grew up as a river crossing and a stop for pilgrims on the Camino de Santiago, and its bridge over the Ebro has been important since the Middle Ages.

The city took on its modern role as the capital of the Rioja wine region in the 19th century, when wine makers adopted new methods and the area became known abroad.

Quick practical facts for Spain at a glance: