LOGROÑO FAQ'S
People wishing to visit Logroño will be flying into Bilbao Airport (IATA code BIO), about an hour and 40 minutes away by car. If you are renting an automobile for a self-drive vacation, you will pick up your car at Bilbao Airport unless you decide to arrange an independent rental apart from your booking.
Driving directions from Bilbao Airport: From the airport, continue on the road named Barrio Gaztañaga, which is also designated as the N-633 motorway. You will drive for about 3 minutes or 0.6 miles. Then, continue on to the road named Carretera a Mungia, which is designated as the BI-631 motorway. You will drive for about 3 minutes or 2.7 miles. Continue on BI-631 towards Bilbo, which is the Basque name for Bilbao. You will drive for about 9 minutes or 4.9 miles. Next, follow the AP-68 motorway towards N-111 in La Rioja. You will drive for about 1 hour and 15 minutes or 81.4 miles. Take exit 12A from the AP-68. Continue on N-111, then take the road named Calle Duques de Nájera. Finally, turn onto the road named Calle General Vara de Rey. You will drive for about 8 minutes or 2.6 miles, and then you should find yourself in central Logroño.
A taxi from the airport will cost you €150-€200, so it might be better to take a taxi to the Termibus depot in downtown Bilbao at Gurtubay Kalea 1, where you can purchase a Bilman Bus ticket (the Santander to Cartagena line, website at web.bilmanbus.es), which also stops in Logroño, with a stop along the journey in Vitoria-Gasteiz. Expect to pay around €20-€25 for a one-way ticket on the Bilman Bus, which will take around 2 hours and 30 minutes in total to get to Logroño. In total the taxi to the Termibus station plus the Bilman Bus to Logroño will set you back in the neighborhood of €60 per person, which is a lot better than €150 or €200.
In Logroño, the capital of La Rioja, local buses connect various tourist attractions and areas of interest for travelers. The urban bus network is operated by Transporte Urbano de Logroño (www.transporteurbano.logro-o.org), providing reliable and frequent service throughout the city. There are multiple bus lines serving the main points of interest, including museums, shopping areas, and parks. For example, Line 9 connects the city center with the Bodegas Franco Españolas and Bodegas Viña Ijalba, popular destinations for wine enthusiasts.
Single-trip ticket prices are approximately €1.30, while a reloadable plastic card, known as the Bonobús, can be purchased for around €2. These cards offer a more cost-effective option for frequent bus users and can be obtained from vending machines located at bus stops, as well as TUL customer service centers. They can be loaded in multiples of 10 trips for approximately €5-€5.50 per 10 trips, depending on whether you load 10 on (€5.50) or the maximum of 60 (closer to €5 per 10 trips). There are also special cards for families larger than 4, which will allow the entire family to save as much as 50% on their rides. You will have to inquire about these cards at the main bus station, located on Avenida España.
In addition to the urban bus network, there are intercity buses operated by various companies that connect Logroño with other towns and attractions within La Rioja. These buses all leave from the main bus station on Avenida España. These buses offer an affordable and convenient way to explore the region, including visits to famous wineries, picturesque villages, and historical sites.
Logroño has a number of taxis operating in the city, which can be identified by their distinctive white color with a red stripe on the sides, and a green light on top when available. The city has several prominent taxi ranks, including at Plaza del Mercado, Plaza de San Bartolomé, and the train and bus stations. However, taxis can also be hailed on the street or booked in advance. Logroño's city government works with the taxi rank at the bus station to provide quick taxis for anyone who calls in advance to the number +34 941 50 50 50.
The cost of a taxi ride in Logroño is based on a starting flagfall rate of around €2.75 and then an additional cost per mile traveled, which is around €1.50. However, please note that these fares may vary depending on the time of day and the day of the week. For example, traveling from the Old Town to Bodega Marqués de Murrieta, a popular winery that is just out of reach of the local bus system, would cost around €10-€12, depending on the specific details of the trip. For longer trips outside of Logroño, such as to Fuenmayor or Agoncillo, taxi fares can range from around €20-€30, depending on the distance traveled and the timing of the trip (evening fares are higher, as are weekends and holidays).
Logroño is a relatively small city and is very easy to explore on foot. Most of the city's main tourist sites are located within the Old Town, which is easily walkable and pedestrian-friendly. In addition to the Old Town, Logroño has several parks and green spaces that are also easily accessible on foot, including the Parque de la Ribera, a beautiful riverside park that offers stunning views of the city.
How safe is Logroño?Logroño is generally a safe city but it is important to practice common sense when engaging in new surroundings. Like in Pamplona, some areas of the city, particularly those with a high concentration of bars and nightclubs, may be more prone to petty crime such as pickpocketing and theft. Otherwise Logroño should be safe for you to visit and you will most likely have no issue with crime at all.
What is shopping like in Logroño? What kinds of souvenirs are unique to the area? Where should I shop?La Rioja is world-renowned for its exceptional wines, and visiting Logroño presents a unique opportunity for tourists to purchase a variety of high-quality local wines. Wine shops and wineries, such as Bodegas Franco Españolas and Bodegas Marqués de Murrieta, offer wine tastings and guided tours, allowing visitors to sample and buy some of the finest wines from La Rioja. In addition to wines, there are other unique souvenirs that reflect the culture and traditions of La Rioja. Handcrafted items like pottery, textiles, and artisanal food products, such as chorizo, cheeses, and sweets, are popular choices. The streets of Calle Portales and Calle San Juan in Logroño's Old Town feature local shops and boutiques where you can find these authentic La Rioja souvenirs.
The overall shopping scene in Logroño combines tradition with modernity, offering visitors a range of shopping experiences. The historic center is home to narrow, cobblestoned streets lined with local stores, specialty shops, and gourmet food markets, where you can find more unique items, this time from greater Spain and Europe. Meanwhile, contemporary shopping centers, such as Parque Rioja and Berceo, provide a selection of Spanish and international brands.
The currency of Spain is the Euro (€) and U.S. dollars are not accepted for payment. Please be sure to have the correct currency on hand or be prepared to exchange your dollars for euros upon arrival. Currency exchange desks and ATMs can be found at your arrival airport and at many locations throughout the region.
I do not speak Spanish. Do many people speak English?Spanish is the official and most widely-spoken language in Logroño. While English is not widely spoken in Logroño, you should be able to find some people who do speak English, particularly at hotels, restaurants, and shops that cater to tourists. The Con-catedral de Santa María de la Redonda will most likely have available pamphlets about the cathedral's history available for tourists to read in English, and if arranged in advance, they will most likely be able to accommodate a guided tour request in English. Many restaurants and bars may also have menus in English or be able to provide an English translation upon request. To make the most of your visit, it may be helpful to learn a few key phrases in Spanish. We suggest you get a good English-Spanish dictionary and familiarize yourself with common phrases such as hello, goodbye, excuse me and numbers 1-10. To ask someone if they speak English, say `¿Habla inglés?`.
What are the drinking laws in Spain? What other facts should I know about drinking here?The minimum purchasing and drinking age for alcohol in Spain is 18. Your passport can serve as verification of your age in bars and nightclubs. Logroño has more of a nightlife scene than similarly-sized cities in northern Spain like Pamplona. Concentrated around Calle del Laurel, the tapas bars, live music venues, and nightclubs typically close around 1 or 2 a.m. during the week and are open as late as 4 and 5 a.m. on weekends depending on the season.