Blog
02/07/2026
Stay in one of our associated farmhouses, rural houses or rural apartments during your holiday in the Basque Country and enjoy, without a doubt, the best way to experience authentic Basque life.
After reading "Why choose the Basque Country for your holiday: nature, gastronomy, culture and a language unlike any other in Europe", we're sure we've inspired you to spend a few days in our rural surroundings. Now we'd like to explain why choosing rural accommodation in the Basque Country is a much better option than staying in other types of accommodation in the city.
Are you looking for accommodation that's different from what a city hotel or other types of accommodation can offer? Do you enjoy immersing yourself in the local culture? Then don't think twice and book one of the rural accommodations in the Basque Country.
One of the greatest attractions of tourism in the Basque Country is the opportunity to stay in a farmhouse accommodation, a rural house or a rural apartment in a privileged setting: among vineyards, in a natural park or overlooking the sea. Staying in the Basque countryside means staying in places full of charm and history.
Many of our accommodations have been carefully restored to offer travellers every modern comfort while preserving their true essence. They are charming properties with unique traditional architecture and form part of the Basque Country's cultural heritage. These are baserris (traditional Basque farmhouses) and houses that were, or in many cases still are, working livestock and agricultural farms.
Historically, they were self-sufficient buildings that formed the basis of family life and economy, with several generations of the same family living together under one roof. Their size depended on the family's wealth, lineage and main economic activity. Many were divided into three floors: part of the ground floor was used as stables, while another part housed the family kitchen; the middle floor contained the remaining living quarters; and the top floor was the ganbara (the Basque word for loft), where food, animal hides, sheep's wool and many other products were dried and stored.
And here's an interesting fact: did you know that many Basque families adopted the name of the farmhouse where they lived as their surname? A clear example is the surname Etxebarri, which literally means new house.
Come and stay in one of our rural accommodations and let yourself be captivated by their history! Discovering the past of our baserris means discovering the history of the Basque countryside itself.
Tourism in the Basque Country is slower-paced. It's about long, relaxed conversations around the table, personalised recommendations and thoughtful touches that transform a holiday into a truly authentic Basque experience.
Forget about arriving at reception, checking in, and not speaking to anyone again until check-out. Our rural accommodations are much more than simply places to sleep; they are an essential part of your travel experience. They give you the opportunity to discover and experience Basque traditions and culture, as well as local gastronomy, all thanks to the hospitality of your hosts.
That's why so many of our guests return after their first stay.
In many of our farmhouse accommodations, rural houses and rural apartments, you'll enjoy gastronomy based on produce grown in the owners' own gardens and on products from their farms. Fresh local fruit and vegetables, artisan cheeses, homemade jams, cider, honey... all seasonal kilometre-zero products.
Would you like to enjoy an additional activity and experience the Basque Country even more closely? These are the rural accommodations in the Basque Country offering 100% Basque experiences. There you'll be able to enjoy:
As you can see, our rural accommodations offer a different way to discover, experience and enjoy the Basque Country. It's a closer, more personal way of travelling, one that is deeply connected to the countryside, because rural tourism in the Basque Country is genuinely authentic.
The hosts who run our rural accommodations will make you feel completely at home. That's why we always say "Ongi etorri etxera!" (Welcome home!). Unlike other types of accommodation, they go the extra mile to ensure your stay in the Basque Country is the very best it can be.
The hospitality, friendly approach, professionalism and extensive knowledge of the local area shown by the people who manage our rural accommodations are the qualities most frequently highlighted in reviews and guest feedback. From the moment they open the door to welcome you, they make you feel like part of the family.
In the Basque Country, we are proud of our land, our culture and traditions, our language and our gastronomy. And there's nothing more authentic than experiencing all of this through the people who live it every single day and are delighted to share it with those staying in their homes.
Stories about the origins of our accommodations, daily life in the vegetable garden or caring for the farm animals, traditional recipes prepared with local produce... Recommendations on what to see and do in the countryside, where to eat, and where to enjoy local markets, fairs and traditional festivals... all shared just as if they were coming from your own family or a close friend!
Unlike the standard rooms found in many hotels, our farmhouse accommodations, rural houses and rural apartments offer more spacious surroundings, some with their own kitchen or access to a shared kitchen, as well as communal areas, gardens, terraces and natural surroundings where you can truly relax and unwind.
The generous space available in our rural accommodations is particularly appealing to many types of travellers who, like you, enjoy:
Choosing to spend your holiday in rural accommodation in the Basque Country is also a way of contributing to the development of its regions and villages.
Behind every farmhouse accommodation, rural house and rural apartment are families and professionals committed to their local area, generating economic activity and helping to keep the countryside alive while preventing rural depopulation.
Sustainability and maintaining a healthy balance between tourism and the local area are much more than just words. Our accommodations are committed to sustainable practices and to promoting locally sourced, kilometre-zero products and services.
That is why, at Nekatur, we are committed to sustainable and inclusive accommodation, ensuring that everyone involved in the development of rural tourism in the Basque Country—both hosts and guests—is aware of and can put into practice the recommendations we promote regarding sustainability and inclusion.
The Basque Country is a compact region that is easy to explore, with relatively short driving distances. You don't need to stay in one of our cities to visit the main attractions the region has to offer! From many of our rural accommodations, you can comfortably reach the three provincial capitals, the coast or the inland areas, in most cases in less than an hour.
For example, stay in the Álava Plains (Llanada Alavesa), discover their rich heritage by visiting dolmens and stone circles, explore the Basque capital, Vitoria-Gasteiz, and enjoy a guided tour of a winery in Rioja Alavesa. All with your rural accommodation as the perfect base! These are the rural accommodations in Álava where you can stay during your holiday in the Basque Country.
In Bizkaia, wake up in the Enkarterri region, enjoy breakfast with mountain views, discover Bilbao by wandering through its Old Town, have lunch on the Bizkaian coast and head to one of our beaches to watch the sunset. Our rural accommodations are the perfect choice for experiencing it all! These are the rural accommodations in Bizkaia where you can stay during your holiday in the Basque Country.
And what can we say about Gipuzkoa! Stay in Debagoiena or one of its other inland or coastal regions, enjoy its 100% rural surroundings, visit beautiful Donostia / San Sebastián and its beaches—all less than an hour away. These are the rural accommodations in Gipuzkoa where you can stay during your holiday in the Basque Country.
About the author of the article "Why choose rural accommodation instead of a city hotel for your holiday in the Basque Country"
Idoia Ezkurdia is the Manager of Nekatur, the Association of Rural Accommodation in the Basque Country, an organisation that brings together farmhouse accommodations, rural houses and rural apartments throughout the region. With extensive experience in the tourism sector, Idoia Ezkurdia has an in-depth understanding of why choosing a farmhouse accommodation, rural house or rural apartment is the best option for your holiday in the Basque Country, rather than another type of accommodation. At Nekatur, she works to promote and increase the visibility of rural accommodation, encouraging a sustainable tourism model that is closely connected to the local area.
The professional, friendly and welcoming service provided by our hosts is one of the main advantages of staying in a farmhouse accommodation, rural house or rural apartment in the Basque countryside. Spending your holidays or short breaks in a rural setting gives you the opportunity to experience genuine Basque hospitality first-hand.
The spacious accommodation, both private and shared areas, the possibility of having your own kitchen or access to a shared one, the opportunity to enjoy local, seasonal gastronomy, and knowing that you are staying somewhere that is much more than simply a place to sleep are just some of the other advantages of choosing rural accommodation in the Basque Country.
Our rural accommodations are perfectly suited to families travelling with children. You'll find farmhouse accommodations, rural houses and rural apartments with games rooms, outdoor play areas, activities for children and farm animals.
Our rural accommodations are ideal for groups of friends. Our exclusive-use properties are perfect for you and your group to make the most of your holiday in the Basque Country.
Yes, many rural accommodations in the Basque Country are accessible. Our accommodations cater for guests with different accessibility requirements, including physical, visual, hearing, intellectual and organic disabilities.
Many of our rural accommodations in the Basque Country welcome pets, subject to the individual conditions of each property. Enjoy your holiday in the Basque countryside together with your pet!
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