Bilbao

Stepping into the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao is a bit like entering a giant, aluminum-clad spaceship cleverly disguised as modern art. Frank Gehry's architectural marvel, shimmering with seductive curves and ripples, singlehandedly transformed Bilbao from gritty industrial backwater into Europe's coolest kid on the artistic block. Arrive early enough in the morning-ideally just after the caffeine from your pintxos-and-espresso breakfast kicks in-to catch the Basque sunrise flirting shamelessly with those titanium curves. Book tickets online a few days ahead to sail smugly past tourists fumbling with their phones, and budget at least €17 to enter, plus a few extra euros for a postcard you'll inevitably buy (claiming it's for your cousin, but really to prove you've been cultured). Bring comfortable shoes and an open mind, because inside awaits everything from luminous Rothko canvases to spider-like sculptures that seem ready to rise up and chase you down the Nervion River. Even if you secretly prefer your art a little more Rembrandt than Rothko, visiting the Guggenheim Bilbao is a cultural rite of passage worth embracing, if only so at your next dinner party you can casually drop that you've stood baffled beneath Gehry's shimmering, metal behemoth and lived to Instagram it.

Anboto Mountain isn't just a casual stroll-it's a rugged pilgrimage into Basque folklore where you'll be treading paths once rumored to be the haunt of Mari, the fiery Basque goddess known for shape-shifting and causing meteorological mischief. Rising almost arrogantly above Durango, Anboto stares down hikers as if daring them to ascend. Start early-embark at sunrise to witness the valley wrapped in ethereal morning mist and dodge the midday heat, or better yet, Mari's wrath. Plan your ascent wisely-weekends can get crowded, so tuck this into your week-long Basque country escapade on a weekday, with solid boots, layers (the weather can swing faster than a Basque pelota), and enough snacks to fuel a hungry shepherd. Budget? Minimal; sweat and aching calves come free, though the region's pintxos and cold cider afterward are worth every euro you'll happily part with. Even if you're skeptical about divine entities dwelling in peaks, Anboto will test your resolve-and reward you with panoramic vistas and a tale peppered with mythology you'll casually drop at dinner parties for the rest of your life.

Forget pristine beaches and sleepy tapas crawls-taking the Game of Thrones Route through the rugged Basque Country is your chance to swagger like Jon Snow (minus the brooding anxiety) across cliff-tops and beaches made famous as Dragonstone, waving your imaginary Valyrian steel at sheep utterly unimpressed by HBO credentials. Carve out an early morning departure to dodge the tour bus crowds, and book at least a couple weeks ahead in high season unless you enjoy epic battles over parking spaces. Budget around €50-€80 per person-a fair exchange for bragging rights and Instagram posts whispering sweet envy into friends' feeds. Pack sturdy shoes, a waterproof jacket, and a sense of humor, because Basque weather can switch from sunny King's Landing to gloomy Winterfell faster than you can scream "Dracarys!" Sure, it's touristy, but where else can you stroll dramatically along cliff edges shouting Stark slogans at baffled Spanish fishermen? Absolutely worth it, if only to casually slip into conversations that, yes, you have indeed walked the path of dragons, queens, and wildly dysfunctional royal families.