If you think La Rioja is just wine and wineries, prepare to be surprised. This community is a true treasure to discover, with landscapes that will leave you breathless, charming villages, monasteries full of history and a gastronomy that conquers even the most demanding palate. Do you still have doubts? We are going to give you 15 reasons to start planning your trip to this land, so take note of the best things to see and do in La Rioja .
15 places to visit in La Rioja
To explore La Rioja is to immerse yourself in a journey of traditions, nature and culture, where every corner has a story to tell. From endless vineyards to medieval vestiges, including spectacular hiking routes and hospitality that will make you not want to leave. Take note, because you will fall in love with this destination.
1. Logrono
We begin our virtual route through La Rioja in Logroño , the capital of the region and one of the must-see stops. Why? For several reasons, although being hopeless gluttons, we would say that Laurel Street is its strong point. Here a lot of little bars await you where you can have tapas and have a good time.
But hey, there are more things to do in Logroño, such as visiting the Co-Cathedral of Santa María de la Redonda , the Parliament of La Rioja, the Palacio de los Chapiteles or the Museum of La Rioja. Our recommendation: sign up for this free tour of the essentials of Logroño !
2. Vivanco Museum
Okay, La Rioja is much more than just wine, but it is undeniable that Bacchus' nectar is so fundamental here that you cannot leave without soaking up the wine culture. And what better place to do so than the Vivanco Museum , entirely dedicated to this drink?
You will find exhibitions with sculptures and paintings where wine is the protagonist, rooms where you can learn everything there is to know about this drink, and of course, you can do tastings.
3. Winery Route
Are you going to miss a winery tour ? Of course not: wine tourism is the biggest attraction in La Rioja and it will be because of the wineries! Some of the best wineries in La Rioja are: Bodegas Muga and Bodegas López de Heredia , both in the town of Haro, Bodegas y Viñedos Tritium in Cenicero, Bodegas Lecea in San Asensio, or Bodegas Campo Viejo in Logroño itself. The truth is that the list could be almost endless and in any winery you will taste excellent wine.
→ More information about booking visits and tours to La Rioja wineries
4. Briones
Briones is one of the most beautiful towns to see in La Rioja, so make sure you put it on your itinerary. Take your time to wander around the centre, discovering places such as the Church of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción, the Tower of the Saenz de Cenzano, the Plaza de España, the ruins of the Castle or the Ethnographic Museum.
This is also where the aforementioned Vivanco Museum is , so you can kill two birds with one stone.
5. Yuso Monasteries and Suso Monastery, among the best things to see in La Rioja
Among the most important things to do in La Rioja is to visit the beautiful Monastery of Yuso and Monastery of Suso . They are located in San Millán de la Cogolla , very close to the Sierra de la Demanda and stand out as one of the most important monastic complexes in Spain.
The peculiarity is that they are not together: the one in Suso (further north) is located where the tomb of San Millán was supposedly located. When its fame grew, it was decided to build a new monastery, that of Yuso (to the south).
In 1997 they were declared a World Heritage Site and for many, they should be considered the cradle of Castilian, since what appears to be the oldest written manifestation of Castilian was found here: the Emilianense Codex 60 (10th century).
6. Sajazarra
Another of the most beautiful villages in La Rioja is Sajazarra , with a medieval appearance , surrounded by vineyards and a tranquillity that is sometimes appreciated. Its main attraction is the Castle , which dates back to the 15th century and is preserved in perfect condition (after some remodelling, of course). The most notable feature is the Tower of Homage, which dominates the castle with its central position. It is the headquarters of a private winery (with the same name) and cannot be visited inside, but just seeing it from the outside is impressive!
7. Ezcaray
And how can we forget Ezcaray ? Not only is it one of the essential stops on a trip to La Rioja, but it also goes straight to our list of the most beautiful towns in Spain . Its main charm is in the stone houses, with balconies full of flowers, wooden beamed porches and a very pleasant atmosphere.
It is also located near the Valdezcaray ski resort , so if you are travelling in season and want to slide on the snow... don't think twice!
8. Arnedillo Hot Springs
We've reached the halfway point of our virtual tour and there's nothing better than resting for a while in the hot springs of Arnedillo , a small town famous for its thermal waters rich in sodium, calcium and magnesium ions. And be careful because they're open 24 hours a day, yes, you can bathe while you contemplate the stars! A real luxury, and it's free!
9. Monastery of Our Lady of Valvanera
But let's not relax too much, there are still many places to visit in La Rioja. The Monastery of Our Lady of Valvanera is one of them. Surrounded by forests, in a valley known for its water sources and waterfalls (Valvanera comes from the Latin: Vallis Venaria = Valley of the water veins), construction began in the 9th century, although most of the current structure was completed in the 15th century. The great treasure of the monastery is the carving of the Virgin of Valvanera , from the 11th century and a destination for pilgrimages.
10. Sierra de Cebollera Natural Park
With so much forest, do you feel like going for a walk in the middle of nature? The Sierra de Cebollera Natural Park can be a good alternative. There are a handful of hiking routes that you can follow, the Sendero de las Cascadas being one of the best known and easiest: the trek is about 7km, with a circular route and a gradient of 200 meters. Come on, as we always say in these cases, Lety-proof! More info here .
11. Haro
Haro is not only one of the most outstanding municipalities to see in La Rioja, but it could also be considered the capital of wine (if you are here on June 29, you can enjoy the fun Wine Battle ). Of wine and water, because the Ebro River passes through here and you can even try a kayak tour , how does that sound to you?
The best thing of all is that, beyond its wineries, Haro has a very pretty historic centre waiting for you , where the highlights are the Church of Santo Tomás, the mural of the drunks (of course) and the Herradura, an area full of bars where you can take a break and recharge your batteries. We suggest you discover it with this complete and very interesting guided tour of Haro .
Whether you are a fan of Paquita Salas and torreznos, or you don't know what we are talking about... you have to stop in Navarrete . Did you know that the Camino de Santiago passes through here? The centre of the village is well worth the visit: some of its houses are decorated with the coats of arms of important families from the 12th century, also stop by the Church of the Assumption, and finish your route in one of the bars in the village ordering torreznos and gin and tonic in honour of Paquita (although this is totally optional).
13. Calahorra
You may know Calahorra for its vegetables, but what you may not know is that this Riojan city was one of the most important enclaves of Roman Hispania . The vestiges of this time are still clearly visible, and today you can visit the remains of the ancient walls, a Roman dam, an aqueduct, an arch and even a Roman circus (among others).
If you want to learn more about Calahorra's Roman past you have to visit the Museum of Romanization .
14. Dinosaur Trail, a great plan with children in Aragon
Are you travelling with children or are you simply passionate about palaeontology? In La Rioja you will be in your element, especially if you travel to Enciso where you can walk along the “ Dinosaur Trail ” and be amazed by its more than 1000 dinosaur footprints and a few models to take prehistoric photos!
There are several sites, but the most important are those of Virgen del Campo , Valdecillo and Senoba . The guys from Tierras Insolitas have this post full of details .
15. Saint Vincent of the Sonsierra
And finally, we take you on a virtual trip to one of the must-see places in La Rioja: the beautiful town of San Vicente de la Sonsierra , with its imposing walled fortress that dominates the town and the surrounding area. Also visit the Archaeological Complex of Santa María de la Piscina and the Church of Santa María la Mayor. Here is a self-guided route so you don't miss anything.
Map with the best places to visit in La Rioja
Here is a map with the location of these places that cannot be missed on a trip to La Rioja:
Here are our recommendations for the best places to visit in La Rioja . As you can see, it's not all vineyards and wineries, and this small but interesting region knows how to win over travelers who give it a chance. Places like Arnedo, Santo Domingo de la Calzada, the town of Casalarreina or Chiuri are left out, but La Rioja deserves to be discovered slowly and in several trips.
Do you know more things to see and do in La Rioja ?
