Basotxerri · CC BY-SA 4.0Provincial capital
Vitoria-Gasteiz (Spanish:; Basque:; also historically spelled Vittoria in English) is the seat of government and the capital city of the Basque Country and of the province of Álava in northern Spain. It holds the autonomous community's House of Parliament, the headquarters of the Government, and the Lehendakari's official residency.
The municipality—which comprises not only the city but also the mainly agricultural lands of 63 villages around—is the largest in the Basque Country, with a total area of 276.96 square kilometres (106.93 sq mi). With a population of 260,402 as of 2025, it is also the 2nd most populous city in the Basque Country, as well as the 17th-largest in Spain. The inhabitants of Vitoria-Gasteiz are called vitorianos or gasteiztarrak, while traditionally they are dubbed babazorros (Basque for 'bean sacks').
Vitoria-Gasteiz is a city that specialises in health-care, aeronautics, the automotive industry, and viticulture. It is the first Spanish municipality to be awarded the title of European Green Capital (in 2012) and it has been also recognized by the UN with the Global Green City Award (in 2019). The old town has preserved medieval streets and plazas in the region and it is one of very few cities with two cathedrals. The city also holds well known festivals such as the Azkena rock festival, FesTVal, Vitoria-Gasteiz jazz festival, and the Virgen Blanca Festivities. The city is often ranked as one with the highest standard of living among all cities in Spain, and first as to green areas and cultural places per capita.
Vitoria-Gasteiz's vicinity is home to acclaimed wineries such as Ysios, designed by architect Santiago Calatrava, and Marqués de Riscal, by Frank Gehry.
Text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA)
The essentials for getting around Vitoria-Gasteiz without surprises: how to get there, municipal facts and when it's most worth coming.
Coordinates: 42.8464° N, 2.6679° O
By bus: check the regional bus timetables, they change by season. If you come without a car, confirm the last service back before you leave.
We only list verified numbers. The town hall itself will give you the number of the clinic or the pharmacy.
There are no events in Vitoria-Gasteiz's calendar yet, so any month works. Ask us about the local festivals: almost every village has one.
Spring
Fields in bloom and good walking temperatures.
Summer
Mild summers, with some rainy or misty days; festivals tend to cluster in these months.
Autumn
Golden light, mushroom season and fewer visitors.
Winter
Cold and short days. Life gathers in the bar and the square.
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