Car parks outside the wall

Laguardia is not visited by car: Álava Turismo reminds visitors that vehicles cannot enter the town and that there are three public car parks. The walled old town occupies the top of a long hill, with three narrow streets joined by alleys, so the practical thing is to leave the car below, beside the wall or on Avenida de la Diputación, and go up on foot or by lift.

Where to park

According to the tourist office, the public parking areas are around the hill, a few steps from the historic old town. The most convenient for avoiding slopes is the one on Avenida de la Diputación, by the public lift. Neither the town council nor the tourist office publishes on its website the number of spaces, the charges or the lift's hours: the office, at Calle Mayor 52 (945 600 845, [email protected]), is the best source on which areas are open in each season.

On harvest weekends, long weekends and in summer many visitors arrive and the car parks fill early: arrive before 11:00, especially if you have a timed visit at a winery or the church.

The lift and the walkway

In January 2015 a lift and a pedestrian walkway were opened linking the town from the main road to the historic old town. The Basque Government financed the work with 600,000 euros to improve Laguardia's accessibility. It is the best option if you are going with a pushchair, with older people or with suitcases to accommodation in the old town.

At the top, Álava Turismo's accessible tourism guide describes streets with smooth, uniform paving, comfortable for wheelchairs, and an adapted tourist office with ramps and lifts. The town's information signs are in high relief, with braille and colour contrast.

Motorhomes

The tourist office does not publish rules or dedicated spaces for motorhomes on its website. Before spending the night, ask at the office where it is allowed.

Without a car

If you arrive by bus you will not have to park. Alavabus line 9, between Vitoria-Gasteiz and Logroño, has two stops in Laguardia, one of them next to the hotel, on Paseo de San Raimundo; line 8 comes from Logroño via Oyón. By car, Álava Turismo calculates 48 km from Vitoria-Gasteiz via the A-2124 and the N-232a, and less than 20 km from Logroño via the N-232a.

Before going up

Take from the car everything you will need: the old town's streets are pedestrianised, and going back to the car park means going down and up again. If you have booked the Torre Abacial, with a session at 10:45 Monday to Saturday and at 11:45 on Sundays and public holidays, allow time to park and climb. At the top begins the walk round the walled old town, which leads to Santa María de los Reyes; at midday there is a session at the tourist office cellar. And if you prefer to stay down below, the walk round the lagoons leaves from the foot of the town along the Logroño road.