Axpe (Asador Etxebarri) ★ 4.9
Axpe in the Atxondo valley 50 minutes from Bilbao is home to Asador Etxebarri, the one-Michelin-star wood-fire grill run by Bittor Arginzoniz since 1990.
More food day trips in Bilbao
Larrabetzu (Azurmendi and Eneko) ★ 4.9
Larrabetzu in the Txorierri valley 20 minutes from Bilbao is home to Eneko Atxa's three-star Azurmendi and one-star Eneko, plus txakoli vineyards.
San Sebastian ★ 4.8
San Sebastian, 100 km east of Bilbao on the bay, is the Basque country's other food capital with the Parte Vieja pintxo crawl and three Michelin stars.
Getaria (txakoli and turbot) ★ 4.7
Getaria, a Gipuzkoa fishing village 1 hour east of Bilbao, is home to the whole-grilled turbot tradition at Asador Elkano and the txakoli wine zone.
Rioja Alavesa (Laguardia) ★ 4.7
Rioja Alavesa, 1.5 hours south of Bilbao on the Ebro, holds the Basque-administered Rioja DO, with Bodegas Ysios and Marques de Riscal as anchors.