Living and Teaching English in Basque Country

Green coastlines, pintxos bars, design-forward cities, and mountain day trips.

Basque Country at a Glance

Basque Country Overview

If you are thinking about teaching English in Basque Country, picture Atlantic-green hills, surfable city beaches, and compact, highly walkable centers with strong local pride. The three provinces, Bizkaia, Gipuzkoa, and Álava, make up a region of around 2.21 to 2.24 million people, with over a third living in the Bilbao metro and San Sebastián/Donostia and Vitoria-Gasteiz anchoring the other two provinces. You will get a mix of lifestyles, from Bilbao’s art-forward riverfront to San Sebastián’s iconic bay and Old Town, plus Vitoria’s bike-friendly, green-city pace.

Daily life is built around café mornings, pintxos with friends, and easy commutes by metro, tram, Euskotren, or on foot. Expect mild, often rainy coastal weather that shifts to drier conditions inland. Weekends are made for coastal walks, surf, greenway rides, and quick escapes to vineyards and mountain trails.

Why People Love Basque Country

“Visiting Bilbao with friends was a blast—the city’s lively street scene and unbeatable pintxos culture make it a great place to relax and have fun. There’s something special about wandering the old town, hopping from bar to bar, and soaking up the local energy.”

Lourdes, RVF Team

“You get beach life and city life in one place! The cliffs are one of the coolest landscapes and are a must see. With the abundance of Pintoxs bars, it’s an easy excuse to get to know your fellow teachers more and build relationships.”

Petter, RVF Team

“There is so much creativity in Bilbao. The Guggenheim Museum is one of the most unique buildings I have ever seen. It’s a must if you are in the area!”

Harrison, RVF Founder

Local Culture & Attractions

Guggenheim Bilbao

Pintxos routes in Parte Vieja

Flysch cliffs of Zumaia

Green belt parks and bikeways around Vitoria-Gasteiz

Bilbao’s Casco Viejo

Where to Live in Basque Country

Bilbao – Casco Viejo/Abando: riverfront walks, markets, easy Metro.
Bilbao – Deusto/Santutxu: neighborhood feel, value, fast connections.
San Sebastián – Gros/Parte Vieja: surf + pintxos, walkable to La Concha/Zurriola.
Vitoria-Gasteiz – Ensanche/Casco Medieval: bike-friendly, compact center.
Vitoria-Gasteiz – Lakua/Ariznabarra: calmer residential, tram/bus access

Tip: Pick housing near a Metro Bilbao, Euskotren, or tram stop to shrink commute times.

Quick Facts

Population: ~2.21–2.24M region-wide (2024–2025). Comparable to New Mexico (state) or the Cleveland metro.
Famous For: Guggenheim Bilbao, La Concha Bay, world-class pintxos, green cities.
Travel: Bilbao (BIO) handled ~6.8M passengers in 2024; San Sebastián (EAS) ~486K; Vitoria-Gasteiz (VIT) ~264K passengers and a major cargo hub. AVE/Avant connects via Zaragoza/Madrid corridor; dense Euskotren, Metro Bilbao, and bus networks for local travel.

Cost Snapshot

Rent (room in shared flat): €350–€500 ($408-$583) in Bilbao/Donostia; €250–€450 ($292-$525) in Vitoria or suburbs.
Groceries: ~€220–€300 ($257-$350)
Public transport (monthly):
- Metro Bilbao “Bidai 50” pass: €20.40–€27.00 ($23.79-$31.49) across 1–3 zones (Barik card).
- Euskotren trips paid with MUGI/BARIK/BAT cards carry an additional 40% discount Jul–Dec 2025 (on top of youth discounts).

Top 3 Can’t-Miss Experiences

Guggenheim Bilbao & riverfront

Architecture + contemporary art; stroll the Nervión promenade at sunset.

Tip: Go late afternoon into golden hour so you can do the museum and immediately roll into a riverfront walk for the best light on the building. If you’re tight on time, prioritize the exterior, riverfront sculptures, and a short highlights loop inside.

La Concha & Parte Vieja (San Sebastián)

Beach-to-pintxos circuit in one walkable loop.

Tip: Do it in this order: La Concha stroll first, then Parte Vieja pintxos. Keep it classic by doing one specialty + one drink per bar so you can hop a few spots without burning out early.

San Juan de Gaztelugatxe

Famous for it’s 241 steps, dramatic scenery, and appearances in Game of Thrones.

Tip Reserve your time slot in advance in high season and wear grippy shoes. Aim for an early visit to avoid crowds and heat on the climb.

🌧️ green-coast days 🍢 pintxos-hopping 🏙️ design-meets-industrial-cool  🚲 bike-city living 🌊 surf-before-class 🏞️ valley-to-vineyard weekends

RVF Staff Picks

(top places staff suggests)

Old Town of Bilbao: Full streets of bars with pintxos (also known as tapas).
Añana Salt Valley (Araba/Álava): A surreal patchwork of tiered salt pans worked for millennia; you can tour the active saline springs and walk the wooden evaporation terraces. It’s a living cultural landscape with a UNESCO tentative listing.
Pozalagua Cave (Karrantza, Bizkaia): A compact show cave famed for rare “eccentric” stalactites that seem to grow sideways, toured via walkways in an underground hall. Visits are guided and take about an hour.
Isla de San Nicolás / Garraitz (Lekeitio, Bizkaia): At low tide a stone causeway appears so you can walk out to this little island for coastal views—just time your return before the water rises.