La Rioja

La Rioja is lovely, especially in the autumn and especially when riding a bicycle. But don’t try to bring your bike on the train, they will only allow it on the local trains, not on the long distance trains. I recommend staying in camping cabins or in cheap hotels, the standard is surprisingly good. If you are going in the high season or during festivals, book the room ahead. Not all of the wineries do guided tours, and most of them only do guided tours in Spanish, so call ahead.

Tapas, bodegas, tintos, cepas y más tapas.

The gorgeous region of La Rioja is wonderful for a peaceful vacation. The mountains are beautiful, the wineries are impressive, and the people are kind. It’s also not very touristy, so they’re not sick of visitors yet. I highly recommend it!