What to Do on a Rainy Day in La Rioja
La Rioja is a beautiful green region of Spain, characterised by vineyards, wineries, picturesque villages and magnificent churches and monasteries. Although it’s ideal to see in the sunshine, if you find yourself here in the drizzle and the rain, there’s plenty to keep you entertained, from fascinating museums to quaint tapas bars.
Go tapas bar hopping in Logroño
The buzzing capital of the Rioja region, Logroño, has one of the best tapas scenes you can find anywhere in Spain. Many of the tapas bars here specialise in a particular local ingredient. There are those that only serve mushrooms, those that focus on scrambled eggs and those that serve up some the best spider crab cakes around. Head to Calle Laurel in the Old Town to find the best spots to go and read our guide to the ‘Best Tapas Bars in Logroño’.
Visit the Vivanco Museum of Wine Culture
Museum, Winery
Visit the Vivanco Museum of Wine Culture
La Rioja is one of Spain’s best wine regions, so it’s not surprising that it’s home to a Museum of Wine Culture. One of the best and most comprehensive wine museums in the world, this is a must-visit whether it’s raining or not. Covering a whopping 4,000 square metres of space throughout six big rooms, it details the history of winemaking through the ages and our relationship with this sweet fermented grape drink. It houses everything from centuries-old farming tools to works of art and old wine vessels, and it also has exhibits on the future of wine. If it’s not raining too hard, head outside to the Garden of Bacchus, where over 220 varieties of grapes from around the world grow.
Vivanco Museum of Wine Culture, Carretera Nacional 232, Briones, La Rioja, Spain, +34 941 32 23 23
Look around the Museo de La Rioja in Logroño
Look around the Museo de La Rioja in Logroño
Housed in an 18th-century palace, the Museo de la Rioja looks at the history of the region. The first floor features items from the prehistoric age, the pre-Roman era and the Roman Empire, while the second floor displays archaeological pieces and artefacts from the Middle Ages, the Renaissance and the Baroque periods. Visitors will also be able to see 19th-century works from Madrid’s Prado Museum and ethnographic displays.
Museo de la Rioja, Plaza San Agustín, Logroño, La Rioja, Spain, +34 941 29 12 59
Browse the artworks on display at the Torreon Museum in Haro
Art Gallery, Museum
Browse the artworks on display at the Torreon Museum in Haro
An offshoot of the Museo de la Rioja, the Torreon Museum sits in the small town of Haro. A contemporary art gallery, it lies in part of the old fortified walls of Haro, which dates back to the 12th century and is known as the Prisoners’ Tower.
Torreon Museum, Calle San Felices, 2, 26200 Haro, La Rioja, Spain, +34 941 30 34 09
Visit the monasteries of San Millán Yuso and Suso
Church, Monastery
Visit the monasteries of San Millán Yuso and Suso
Two of the must-see jewels of La Rioja are the Monasteries of Yuso and Suso, which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Located in San Millán de la Cogolla, the Suso Romanesque church and monastery was the place where the first piece of Castilian literature was produced. The equally impressive Monastery of Yuso is from the early 16th century. Both monasteries are sure to keep you dry when there’s a drizzle in the air.
Suso Monastery, San Millán de la Cogolla, La Rioja, Spain, +34 941 37 30 82
Learn about the past at the Paleontological Interpretation Center of La Rioja
Learn about the past at the Paleontological Interpretation Center of La Rioja
In addition to wine, the region of La Rioja is also known for dinosaurs. Learn all about the region’s prehistoric era at the Paleontological Interpretation Center of La Rioja. Among dinosaur models and fossils, visitors will be able to see Baryonyx and Hypsilophodon bones, which are the only ones of their kind on the planet.
Paleontological Interpretation Center of La Rioja, Calle Mayor, 10, Igea, La Rioja, Spain, +34 941 19 42 18
Look around the Museo Würth La Rioja
Museum, Park
Look around the Museo Würth La Rioja
The Museo Würth sits in the industrial park of El Sequero and is a modern art museum, located in a contemporary glass structure, surrounded by beautiful gardens. Inaugurated in 2007, it houses the art collection of Reinhold Würth, which includes pieces from the end of the 19th century to the modern day. Artists whose work is on display here include Max Ernst, Edvard Munch, Anselm Keifer, Jackson Pollock and Roy Lichtenstein. It also houses temporary exhibitions, which change throughout the year.
Museo Würth, Pol. Ind. El Sequero Avda. Cameros pcls. 86-88, Agoncillo, La Rioja, Spain, +34 941 01 04 10
Volcanic Iceland Epic Trip
meet our Local Insider
Hanna
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A GUIDE?
2 years.
WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT YOUR JOB?
It's the personal contact, the personal experiences. I love meeting people from all over the world... I really like getting to know everyone and feeling like I'm traveling with a group of friends.
WHAT DESTINATION IS ON YOUR TRAVEL BUCKET-LIST?
I have so many places on my list, but I would really lobe to go to Africa. I consider myself an “adventure girl” and Africa feels like the ULTIMATE adventure!
Every CULTURE TRIP Small-group adventure is led by a Local Insider just like Hanna.
KEEN TO EXPLORE THE WORLD?
Connect with like-minded people on our premium trips curated by local insiders and with care for the world
Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.
Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.
Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.
Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.
We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.