Laguardia sits at a convenient crossroads, making it easy to combine with the major Basque cities. Vitoria-Gasteiz, the quiet Basque capital, is only 30km north — a city of medieval streets and excellent pintxos that most visitors overlook in favour of Bilbao and San Sebastián. Bilbao is an hour away by motorway and needs no introduction: the Guggenheim alone justifies the detour, but the Casco Viejo and the food scene around La Ribera market are equally compelling. Both cities work well as overnight bases from which to visit Laguardia during the day, or vice versa.
The immediate area around Laguardia also rewards exploration by car. Elciego, 5km south, is home to the Frank Gehry-designed Marqués de Riscal winery — a titanium-clad spectacle amid the vineyards and one of the most photographed pieces of contemporary architecture in Spain. Tours and tastings run daily. The Chabola de la Hechicera, a Neolithic dolmen in Elvillar, is another worthwhile short detour, about 8km east of Laguardia along a road through the vines.
