Following our recent family weekend in La Rioja and Navarra, I’ve put together a quick guide to the top things to do in La Rioja. While the region is well known for its iconic wineries, La Rioja has much more to offer to any visitor.

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Top things to do in La Rioja, Spain (2025)

What is La Rioja known for

La Rioja is Spain’s smallest region, but it’s an absolute must for any Spain travel bucket list. This tiny autonomous community is synonymous with top-quality wine. You simply can’t visit Spain without experiencing some of the best wineries in La Rioja. In this unique region, you’ll find hundreds of bodegas (wineries) where you can immerse yourself in the traditional Spanish winemaking process. From strolling through vineyards and harvesting grapes to purchasing beautifully designed bottles and enjoying wine-tasting tours, La Rioja offers a complete wine experience. While most international travelers come for its world-renowned wineries, La Rioja also boasts unique attractions that shouldn’t be overlooked.

How to get to La Rioja

La Rioja borders the following Spanish regions: the Basque Country, Navarra, Aragon, and Castile-Leon. Therefore, the wine region of La Rioja is a must-stop on any road trip through Northern Spain. The best way to explore La Rioja at your own pace is to rent a car. You can check out the details and itinerary of my last weekend in Rioja and Navarra here. Depending on your destination in La Rioja, a drive may take 1.5–2.5 hours from Bilbao, 3.5–4 hours from Madrid, and 4.5–6.5 hours from Barcelona. Many travelers take a day tour from Bilbao, from San Sebastian, or even from Pamplona to explore La Rioja during a brief visit.

If you plan a road trip in La Rioja and have a few holiday weeks in your pocket – keep in mind that you can easily combine it with my other trips – Soria Road Trip, Basque Country Road Trip, Northern Spain Road Trip, and even The Pyrenees Road Trip.

Where to stay in La Rioja

The main cities of la Rioja region are Loroño and Haro. One of the most unique luxury hotels in La Rioja is Hotel Marqués de Riscal (designed by Frank Gehry, right by the famous Marqués de Riscal vineyards). More budget-friendly options with wine-related activities – Agroturismo Valdelana, Hospederia de los Parajes, and Hotel Spa Tudanca Aranda. If you prefer local and boutique stays check – Apartamentos Señorio de Haro, Casa Rural La Calera, and Santa María Briones.

Books and Movies about La Rioja

If you need more visual inspiration before traveling to Spain, check my list of popular Spanish TV shows. Fans of the old cinema, these movies were filmed in La Rioja: Calle Mayor (1956), El sur (1983), Oro Fino (1989). Also, there is a TV Show Gran Reserva and The Way (2010). If you are looking for vineyard vibes on-screen – check A walk in the clouds (1995), one of the most charming international romance movies, The Summer We Lived (2020), and the TV Show The Vineyard (based on one of the best-selling Spanish novels).

Spanish Coffee Table books are great to keep fueling your wanderlust: The Wine Region of Rioja, The Wines of Northern Spain, The Finest Wines of Rioja and Northwest Spain, and Vinos de España. To prepare yourself for exploring the best wineries in La Rioja and educate yourself on the wine culture check Wine Isn’t Rocket Science (it´s the one you can see in the picture, but in English; also you can get it in Spanish – El vino no tiene misterio) Wine Folly: Magnum Edition, Windows on the World Complete Wine Course, Wine Simple: A Totally Approachable Guide from a World-Class Sommelier, The Concise Guide to Wine and Blind Tasting, Decoding Spanish Wine, and Peñín Guide Spanish Wine,

Top Things to do in La Rioja

Visit world-class wineries

Some of the most iconic wineries in La Rioja include Marqués de Riscal, Ysios, Baigorri, Amaren, Cune, Viña Real, Solar de Samaniego, Torre de Oña, Valdemar, Bodegas Franco-Españolas, and Muga. These bodegas are all well-established on the tourist route. However, it’s important to remember that all wineries in La Rioja are renowned for their high quality, so choosing the best ones is largely a matter of personal preference. With 576 bodegas in the region and over 41,505 hectares of vineyards, you could spend years exploring La Rioja to discover your own favorites.

On a more personal note – I currently like Muga and Habla for the red wine, and Marques de Riscal and Albariño for the white wine. You can read more in my post about Local food souvenirs from Spain.

Visit Secret Museums

If you enjoy visiting lesser-known museums in Spain and gaining deeper insights into local history, be sure not to miss the Vivanco Museum of Wine Culture and the Museum of La Rioja. The Vivanco Museum offers a fascinating journey through the history and culture of wine, with an extensive collection of artifacts, wine-making tools, and exhibitions that highlight the region’s rich wine heritage. Meanwhile, the Museum of La Rioja provides a deeper understanding of the region’s history, from prehistoric times to modern-day, featuring art, archaeology, and cultural exhibitions.

Discover Unique Landmarks of La Rioja

If you don’t want to center your trip around wine, there are many cultural activities to explore in the La Rioja region. While the Spanish province of Teruel is known for its dinosaur discoveries, the Centro de Interpretación Paleontológica de La Rioja in Igea is a fantastic destination for history enthusiasts (perfect if you’re visiting Spain with kids). Additionally, La Rioja is home to the ancient Celtiberian settlement of Contrebia Leukade, similar to the famous Numantia in Soria. Roman history lovers won’t want to miss the ruins in Calahorra, as well as the Romanesque Church of San Cristóbal in Canales de la Sierra. The Catedral de la Redonda in Logroño is one of the most beautiful cathedrals in Spain, and the Monasteries of Yuso and Suso are among the country’s top beautiful religious sites.

Visit Castles of La Rioja

If you like dreamy Spanish castles, once in La Rioja, you must have a look at Castilo de Cornago, Castillo de Cuzcurrita, Castillo de Sajazarra, Castillo de Davalillo, Castillo de Clavijo, Castillo de Aguas Mansas, Castillo de Arnedo.

Walk a part of Camino de Santiago

The region of La Rioja lies along one of the oldest and most famous pilgrimage routes in Europe: El Camino de Santiago (The Way of Saint James in English). The Camino Francés begins in the Pyrenees and passes through Logroño, Navarra, and Aragón.

Enjoy Festivities of La Rioja

Every region in Spain boasts its own unique and vibrant festivals, and La Rioja is no exception. This region is known for its rich cultural traditions and lively celebrations. Among the most famous festivities in La Rioja are the Danza de Anguiano, a traditional dance held in the town of Anguiano, the Batalla del Vino (Wine Battle) in Haro, the Mercaforum in Calahorra, and the Fiestas de la Vendimia (Grape Harvest Festival) in Logroño.

Explore small towns of La Rioja

Those of you who plan to visit La Rioja in search of top Spanish small towns and secret villages can not miss Calahorra, Haro, Santo Domingo de la Calzada, Najera, Arnedo, Cervera, and Torrecilla en Cameros.

Hiking in La Rioja

Nature lovers in La Rioja should dedicate a few days to exploring new Spanish hikes in the Natural Parks of Sierra Cebollera and Sierra de la Demanda. If you are traveling in winter and don’t mind spending a few days skiing in Spain – visit Valdezcaray (2,260 m) ski slopes. Also, La Grajera is known for its golf field, and in El Rasillo you will find lots of water sports.

Discover natural wonders in La Rioja

From all the otherworldly beautiful Spanish landscapes, these of La Rioja particularly stand out: The Peñas del Valle del Cidacos and Peñas del Iregua (which actually remind me of the Mallos de Riglos in Aragón) are striking, as are El Picuezo and La Picueza (similar to the Gredas de Bolnuevo in Murcia). For the most beautiful fall foliage in Spain head to Hayedo de Sierra de Toloño.

Unique Experiences in La Rioja

To add some unique La Rioja experiences to your memory box, check out these tours:

• Exclusive Vineyard Golf (check availability)
• Urban Outdoor Escape Room Game In Logroño (check availability)
• Rioja Winery & Traditional Lunch (check availability)
• Tour Olive Groves and Mill with Tasting (check availability)
• Cycling experience with wineries (check availability)
• Private Activity Honey Shop Experience (check availability)

If you are visiting La Rioja on a romantic trip to Spain, there are a few memorable couple ideas you can share with your partner: a hot air balloon ride over the vineyards, vinoterapia SPA, or simply follow the steps of Ernest Hemingway and visit Bodegas Franco-Españolas for dinner and wine tasting.

La Rioja with kids

If you’re visiting La Rioja with kids, don’t miss Tierra Rapaz, a theme park and educational center dedicated to birds of prey (raptors). To spark the imagination of the little ones, check out the Sculpture Park Tierras Altas Lomas de Oro. Additionally, the Centro de Interpretación Paleontológica de La Rioja in Igea is perfect for dinosaur enthusiasts.

Foodie Experiences

One of the must-stops for foodies in La Rioja is the street Calle del Laurel in Logroño known for its delicious tapas. Also, you can book unique foodie tours in La Rioja – Jamon Iberico Farm Tour and Customized Rioja Food&Wine Tour.

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