Best Day trips from Logroño
Looking for the best day trips from Logroño? You are in the right place. Logroño makes a brilliant base for exploring northern Spain. You can enjoy pintxos on Calle Laurel in the morning. Then you can be sipping wine in a medieval village by lunchtime.
Best of all, some of Spain’s most memorable sights sit within an hour’s journey. Wine cellars, UNESCO monasteries and royal palaces are all close by. Below, we share six easy day trips, plus tips to help you plan. Want to see the city first? Start with our guide to Logroño.
Haro: the wine capital of La Rioja
Haro is our top pick for wine lovers. The town packs many historic wineries into one small neighbourhood, the Barrio de la Estación. Start at López de Heredia, which has made wine here since 1877. The tour lasts about two hours and takes you through century-old cellars before a tasting. Visits run from Monday to Saturday. Spaces are limited, so book ahead through the winery’s website.
Afterwards, wander the old town and stop for lunch with a glass of Rioja. Haro also hosts a famous wine battle each year. Read more in our guide to Haro.
The train is the easiest way to get there, taking around 40 minutes. Check connections. Only a few trains run each day, so plan your return carefully. Driving takes about 40 minutes too. If you are already in Spain, you can click here to get directions from your current location.
Briones and the Vivanco wine museum
Briones is one of Rioja’s prettiest hilltop villages. It sits about 35 minutes from Logroño by car. Its medieval old quarter is full of stone houses and quiet lanes. Just outside the village, the Vivanco Museum of the Culture of Wine rises among the vines.
The museum explores 8,000 years of wine history. Highlights include wine jugs designed by Picasso and the Garden of Bacchus, home to more than 220 grape varieties. You can also add a winery tour and tasting. Tours can fill up in busy periods, so reserve on the Vivanco website before you go. Learn more in our guide to Briones.
You will need a car for this one. If you are already in Spain, you can click here to get directions from your current location.
San Millán de la Cogolla: the birthplace of Spanish
Next, head to San Millán de la Cogolla, about 45 minutes away by car. This tiny village holds two UNESCO-listed monasteries, Suso and Yuso. Many people call it the birthplace of the Spanish language, because some of the earliest written Castilian appeared here.
Suso is the older monastery. It holds the carved tombs of the Seven Infantes of Lara. Yuso is grander, with a 16th-century church and a library of more than 300 documents from the 11th to 15th centuries. Visits to Yuso are guided and last around 50 minutes. Summer gets busy, so check times and book your visit on the official monastery website. Read more in our guide to San Millán de la Cogolla.
Driving is the simplest option here. If you are already in Spain, you can click here to get directions from your current location.
Laguardia and Bodegas Ysios
Just across the border in the Basque Country, Laguardia sits on a ridge above the vineyards. It takes only about 25 minutes to reach from Logroño. Walled streets, old gateways and hidden wine cellars make it a joy to explore on foot. Our guide to Laguardia has more ideas.
Just outside town, Bodegas Ysios really stands out. Santiago Calatrava designed the winery, and its wavy aluminium roof echoes the mountains behind it. Tours explain how the wine is made and finish with a tasting. Spots are limited, so book your visit on the winery’s website.
A car makes this trip easy. If you are already in Spain, you can click here to get directions from your current location.
Santo Domingo de la Calzada: the town of the hen and rooster
Santo Domingo de la Calzada makes an easy 40-minute drive west. The town grew up around the Camino de Santiago, and pilgrims still pass through every day. Its star attraction is the cathedral.
Inside, a Gothic henhouse holds a live rooster and hen. They recall a medieval legend about a young pilgrim saved from the gallows. You can even see part of the original gallows in the transept. Outside, look for the bell tower standing across the street, which is unusual in Spain. Our guide to Santo Domingo de la Calzada shares more.
Most visitors drive. If you are already in Spain, you can click here to get directions from your current location.
Olite: a fairytale palace in Navarre
For a fairytale finish, head to Olite in Navarre. Expect a drive of around an hour. The Palacio Real de Olite dominates the town. King Charles III “the Noble” turned it into a lavish royal home in the 15th century.
Climb the Torre de los Cuatro Vientos for sweeping views over the rooftops. Then explore the courtyards, including the Patio de la Morera. Queues build in high season, so buy your tickets online before you arrive. Afterwards, stroll Olite’s medieval streets and enjoy a long lunch. Find more tips in our guide to Olite.
Driving works best for this trip. If you are already in Spain, you can click here to get directions from your current location.
Tips for planning your day trips
Most of these trips work best with a car. Trains reach Haro, but the other villages are harder to visit by public transport. If you want total freedom, consider hiring a car. Hire a car. Our guide to renting a car in Spain explains what to expect.
Timing matters too. Many Spanish towns go quiet at midday, so plan around lunch. Our article on whether Spanish towns close midday can help. Also, book winery tours early if you are visiting in autumn, when the harvest draws crowds.
Want more inspiration? Try our three days in La Rioja itinerary or our Rioja winery towns guide. Need a bed for the night? See where to stay in La Rioja.
Which day trip should you pick?
Wine lovers should choose Haro, Briones or Laguardia. History fans will enjoy San Millán and Santo Domingo de la Calzada. Meanwhile, Olite suits anyone who wants a proper fairytale castle. Whichever you pick, you will return to Logroño with great memories and, quite likely, a few bottles of Rioja. So, which one will you try first?