Map
7 ideas, picked for these days
A weekend in the Rioja Alavesa, 45 minutes from Vitoria
With the harvest in, in early November the Rioja Alavesa vineyard is in its last ochres and reds before it is left as bare vines. The wineries no longer have September and October's pressure, so the tastings under Laguardia are booked with less notice.
Haro: winery, grill house and Briñas
In winter the Station District wineries remain open by booking, and in November they have the new wine freshly in tank. The 1877 grill serves lunches on Sunday. If it rains, the Conchas de Haro gorge stays for another day.
Hondarribia: old town, the Marina and Jaizkibel
In autumn and winter Txingudi bay receives migrating birds, and the Plaiaundi ecological park has observatories ten minutes from the old town. The motor boat to Hendaye still crosses, although in winter it ends at 18:00: come back before dark.
Lapurdi villages and a castle above the sea
The La Rhune train stops running in early November, and this is the Lapurdi plan for the months without it: Ainhoa and Espelette in the morning and Abbadia castle above the cliff. The Euzkadi in Espelette is closed from mid-November to mid-December.
An oyster weekend on the Arcachon bay, 2 h 30 from San Sebastián
All Saints falls in the French autumn school holidays, and on those days the bay has more activity than the rest of autumn; in winter, many oyster huts open only at weekends. The Pilat dune, in autumn wind, is climbed without summer's heat.
Luis Fermín TURIEL PEREDO · CC BY-SA 4.0A weekend in Aguilar de Campoo: Romanesque, Las Loras and bison, an hour and a quarter from Burgos and Santander
The Romanesque of Aguilar de Campoo and the European bison are visited all year, and in early November the oak woods of the Montaña Palentina still hold colour. The Convento de Mave closes at the end of October, so eat in Aguilar. The bison visit is booked beforehand.
Gaztelugatxe, Mundaka and the Casa de Juntas
In November you normally climb Gaztelugatxe without queues; check the provincial council's controlled-access calendar all the same. In November the swell breaks against the islet, and from the path it looks better than when calm. If it rains heavily, the Gernika Peace Museum opens on Sunday morning.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Can you go up La Rhune at All Saints?
It depends on the year: the train closes its season in early November. If it no longer runs, the summit can only be reached on foot, and the Lapurdi interior, with Ainhoa and Abbadia, is a better plan.
Is Rioja Alavesa worth it in November?
Yes: the vineyard is in its last colours, the wineries have the new wine and there are far fewer people than at harvest.
Are there plans under cover within an hour and a half?
Abbadia castle, the Biarritz aquarium and the Gernika Peace Museum are visited under cover, less than an hour and a half away.
Is Lapurdi full at All Saints?
More than on other autumn weekends, because it coincides with the French school holidays and 1 November is a holiday there.