Cave Paintings, Pic Nic and Urban Art

The first stop on this family trip through the Basque Country is to see cave paintings in the Ekain cave. But as it is not possible to get there by car, it is necessary to park it in the car park in the village of Zestoa. Once there, you have to walk to Ekainberri.
If you have bought your tickets online you can walk to Ekainberri. If you don't have the tickets, you must go to the Tourist Office in Zestosa (near the car park) to buy them and then walk to Ekainberri. It is better to buy the tickets online (more information in the next section).

Ekainberri is a replica of the Ekain caves, where cave paintings dating back 14,000 years were found. Many of them are figures of animals, among which the figures of horses stand out. During the visit you will feel what the people there felt in prehistoric times.
The cave was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2008.
All visits are guided and tickets are required in advance. You can buy them on the official website
There are two options: Ekain Adventure This is an experimental archaeology workshop where children will learn the survival techniques used in prehistoric times (how they made fire, hunted and painted). It lasts 40 minutes and the general admission fee is 4 euros (children under 6 are free).
Ekain Fast In this proposal you visit the cave paintings in the cave and you will feel what it was like to live there. It lasts 30 minutes and costs 6 euros.
The two visits can be combined. You have to take into account the times when booking on the website.
Open Hours: Tuesday - Friday: 10:00 - 18:00 Saturday - Sunday: 10:00 - 19:00 Monday closed June, July, August and September: Tuesday - Sunday: 10:00 - 19:00.

After the visit to the cave it is time for lunch. You can look for a restaurant in the town of Zestoa for a quick lunch of pintxos or a menu of the day.
One option is Agustín Restaurant. There you will find home-made food at good prices.
Open Hours: Tuesday - Sunday: 8:00 - 2:00. Monday closed
Before returning to the car you can buy fruit, biscuits, water and some snacks for a picnic at the next stop.

On the way to the city of Victoria-Gasteiz you can stop off at Zabalain Park, on the banks of the Urrúnaga reservoir.
There is a picnic area, children's playground, tables and benches. It is ideal for children to run around and play for a while.

Before you start exploring the city, you can stop by the hotel where you will spend the night to leave your luggage. The hotel offers parking spaces in a garage near the hotel. You should check availability and price.

The next stop is the city of Victoria-Gasteiz. This city is recognised as a green city, so children will have plenty of parks to visit.
Before starting the walk through the old town it is a good idea to stop by the tourist office, which is located in Plaza Nueva. There, they usually have illustrated maps for kids.

A fun way to explore the old town with children is to follow the route of the murals. This way, while looking for the murals and being amazed by the street art, they also get to know the most touristy corners of this part of the city.
There are more than 10 murals in the old town alone. It is good to know that a large part of the old town is pedestrianised.
You can find more information about the murals on the official website of the creators of the project.

After the visit of the old town it is time for dinner. You can choose a restaurant like this one, where they serve hearty and tasty meals. You'll find everything from salads and hamburgers to sandwiches and mixed dishes.
Open Hours: Monday - Sunday: 12:00 - 23:30

Choose a hotel in the city centre with parking facilities.