Top 10 Things To Do In Logroño, La Rioja, Spain

1. Visit Museo de La Rioja

As any good tourist would do, the first stop upon your arrival in Logrono is the Museo de La Rioja, a mid-18th-century mansion that was converted into a museum. Logrono’s lack of big historical sites and large tour groups gives the city a unique feeling of discovering things on your own. Since the museum is located in the city center, it is quite easy to find just by strolling around. This museum features La Rioja’s history, along with an impressive collection of artifacts dating before the Romans up until the 19th century. It is quite the perfect place to get yourself quickly acquainted with the town.

Museo de La Rioja

Address: Calle San Agustín 23, Logroño, La Rioja 26001

Website: Museo de La Rioja

Opening hours: Tue - Sun: 10am - 2pm (closed on Mon)

Price: Free (bring your passport)

2. Take a walk in Parque del Espolon

If you feel like skipping the history class and going straight to the city, then head on to the Parque del Espolon. The park is located in the city center which makes it an ideal place to easily rendezvous with your friends, or just simply relax before you get started with your tour around the city. Many of the hotels and restaurants are conveniently located around this area as well. It isn’t hard to miss; a statue of a prominent Spanish General, Baldero Espartero, can be seen in the parks’ center. General Espartero, who during the 1800s, was stationed to garrison the town, later made it his settlement and ultimately his final resting place.

Parque del Espolon

Address: Calle Miguel Villanueva, 26001 Logroño, La Rioja, Spain

Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)

Price: Free

3. Fly with Parapente Riojavuela

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

For those of you who have dreams of taking flight and seeing the bird’s eye view of La Rioja then Parapente might be your next stop. Parapente is the Spanish word for Paragliding - the recreational adventure sport of flying a paraglider, which is a lightweight, foot-launched, glider aircraft. They have been flying here for 25 years already. For tourists, they offer a beginner course which “baptizes” you into the world of paragliding. The instructors are well equipped and very connected with the surrounding communities. They also offer Paratrike courses. Prices start from around 70 EUR for a 20-minute flight.

Parapente Riojavuela

Address: Calle Portillejo 39, tfno, 607600504, 26007 Logroño, La Rioja, Spain

Website: Parapente Riojavuela

Opening hours: 8am - 11pm (daily)

Price: 80 - 85 USD

4. Relax by the river at Ebro Park

Ebro Park or ‘Parque del Ebro’ is a nature park that seamlessly mixes urban landscapes with woodland gardens. The park sits beside the Ebro river which is quite famous as it is 930 kilometers (578 miles) long and flows into the Mediterranean Sea. Whether you are just about to start the day or perhaps about ending it, this park provides the perfect ambiance to just sit back, relax and watch the world pass. Also seen from the park is the Puente de Piedra or the stone bridge of Logroño.

Parque del Ebro

Address: Calle del Norte, 26001 Logroño, La Rioja, Spain

Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)

Price: Free

5. Discover your inner scientist at Casa de las Ciencias

As you cross the Puente de Piedra stone bridge, you will come across the Casas de las Ciencias or ‘house of sciences’. The Casas de las Ciencias belongs to the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) and features permanent exhibitions of universal topics such as the large species that live in oceans and as well as the extensive history of geological transformations of the Earth. The exhibit is perfect for a day of fun and educational sciences that are sure to keep you entertained. It is also great for those who are traveling with kids.

Casas de las Ciencias

Address: Calle del Ebro, 1, 26009 Logroño, La Rioja, Spain

Website: Casas de las Ciencias

Opening hours: Tue - Fri: 9:30am - 1:30pm, 5pm - 7:30pm; Sat - Sun: 11am - 2pm, 5pm - 8:30pm (closed on Mon)

Price: 5 USD

6. Go on a wine tour at Bodegas Franco Españolas

This wouldn’t be an article about La Rioja if it didn’t include visiting a winery - and yes, you can visit one just 7 minutes away from the center of town! A bodega is a room where wine can be stored (just like a cellar) and the Bodegas Franco Espanola has been making wine there since the 1890s. Their establishment offers tours in English wherein one can take a look at the history and process of making wine, then taste some of their best wines later on.

Bodegas Franco Españolas

Address: Calle Cabo Noval 2, 26009, Logrono, Spain

Website: Bodegas Franco Españolas

Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 10am - 2pm; 3pm - 5pm (closed on Sat & Sun)

Price: Starts at 18 USD

7. Stop by the Church of San Bartolomé

The Church of San Bartolome is the oldest church in Logrono, Spain because its construction dates back to the 12th century. It has undergone several changes since. Its design is partially Romanesque, but later through the centuries, it was upgraded with more Gothic styles. The facade is noted for its iconographs that illustrate the life of San Bartolomé. Some more notable structures are the Mudejar tower, the Tympanum of the porch, and the Romanesque apse. There are also numerous cafes nearby where one can just sit down and hear the church bells ring every 15 minutes. It is also good to know the schedule of masses ahead of time in order to plan your visit accordingly.

Church of San Bartolomé

Address: Calle San Bartolomé, 2, 26001 Logroño, La Rioja, Spain

8. Food crawl at Laurel Street

Imagine a place with bars that are elbow to elbow beside each other, serving tapas and local Rioja red wine - but no, you aren’t in heaven yet; you have just arrived at a little slice of Spanish heaven called Calle la Laurel. There is no doubt that there couldn’t be a better place to immerse yourself in Spanish culture than here in this amazing ‘calle’. Fill your heart out with the taste of local delicacies and surround yourself with the wonderful cultural ambiance and beautiful people, all in one street.

Calle la Laurel

Address: Calle del Laurel, 26001 Logroño, La Rioja, Spain

Website: Calle Laurel

Opening hours: 1pm - 4pm, 7pm - 12am (daily)

9. Commemorate the Estatua del Labrador

This monument honors the Spanish labrador, which are the laborers or farmworkers. The Estatua del Labrador is the work of the artist Rubio Dalmati who in 1962 created and donated the sculpture to the city of Logrono. From then on the city has made it a monument dedicated to the figure of the labrador, or agricultural laborer. The labrador figure is made out of bronze and is 2.8 meters (9.1 feet) high. At the base of the two monolithic structures that stand behind the figure are reliefs that each represent the seasons of the year.

Estatua del Labrador

Address: Av. Solidaridad, 4, 26003 Logroño, La Rioja, Spain

Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)

Price: Free

10. Dine at the Tondeluna restaurant

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

Tondeluna is the creative project of chef Francis Paniego who has won numerous international gastronomy awards. He is one of the best chefs in La Rioja and some even consider him the best in the whole of Spain. His restaurant is a good mix of modern and old Spanish cooking traditions with the kitchen left exposed, so you can always keep an eye out for your food. They have several menus that range from around 30 to 50 EUR. Note that you can only enter the restaurant once you have made a reservation online.

Tondeluna Restaurant

Address: Calle Muro de Francisco de La Mata 9, 26001 Logrono Spain

Website: Tondeluna

Opening hours: Sun: 1:30pm - 4pm; Mon - Sat: 1:45pm - 4pm, 8pm - 11pm

Plan your trip to Logroño

If you want to learn more about Spain’s hidden gems, consider going to Logroño.Gain an insight to more of this beautiful country’s culture by trying out many of the wonderful and interesting activities that you can do here.