Traditions, family plans and wine tourism: what to do during Easter on the Rioja Alta Wine Route

March always arrives with a desire to get away. The days grow longer, the landscape changes, and that desire appears: ‘What if we take a trip during Easter week?’

On the Rioja Alta Wine Route, Easter week is celebrated with tradition and excitement, but also with quiet plans for families, with good food, wine culture and villages that invite you to walk without watching the clock.

A Holy Week that can be felt: San Vicente and the tradition of ‘Los Picaos’

If there is one place where Holy Week is experienced intensely, it is San Vicente de la Sonsierra.
This is where the procession of the Disciplinantes, known as ‘Los Picaos’, takes place, a rite of penance that has been maintained for centuries and still retains that atmosphere of silence, respect and contemplation that makes it so overwhelming.

It is one of those traditions that impresses even those who do not usually follow religious celebrations. It is an experience that is best enjoyed calmly, arriving early and consulting the practical information so as not to be in a hurry.

Logroño, the perfect complement to an urban Holy Week

During these days, the city centre is filled with atmosphere and the processions offer a spectacle of solemnity and tradition that turns the capital of La Rioja into a cultural destination with a capital C. Not surprisingly, Holy Week in Logroño was declared a Festival of National Tourist Interest in 2015.

From Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday, you can see the eleven brotherhoods of the capital of La Rioja spread out over sixteen processions in twenty processional floats.

Among vineyards and wineries: spring begins here

Spring is one of the best times to go for a walk and enjoy nature. The fields stretch out, the light changes and the vineyards begin to announce that the cycle is starting again.

There are easy walks that fit in with any family plan: a short stretch among the vines, a stop at a viewpoint… And when travelling with children, these kinds of plans are excellent because they don’t require long walks, but still give you the feeling of a complete getaway.

At this link you can find short walks lasting less than two hours, which combine this healthy activity with a visit to our extensive heritage.

And of course, if you come during Easter week, the wineries of the Rioja Alta Wine Route are a natural stop. Here you will find family-run wineries and projects with history, allowing you to choose the perfect plan according to what you feel like: a quiet visit, a more complete experience or a special activity for this time of year.

Gastronomy: the getaway is also remembered for what you eat

And alongside traditions and scenery, there is something that never fails: the table.

Gastronomy on the Rioja Alta Wine Route is part of the journey. From traditional recipes to more creative offerings, it’s easy to find places to eat well and linger over the table, which is ultimately one of the best ways to ‘have a holiday’.

During Easter, book in advance

Easter is one of the busiest times on the Rioja Alta Wine Route, so we recommend booking in advance for visits, restaurants and accommodation. In this Rioja Alta Wine Route Guide, you will find the contact details of all our partner establishments, organised by category: Experiences, Museums, Restaurants, Wineries, Wine Bars, Caravan Parkings, etc.

What’s more, at this time of year, the website’s events calendar is usually full of special offers: tastings, visits, menus and one-off activities. Take a look before you come, as this is where you’ll find the most attractive ideas from our partners.

This Easter, come to the Rioja Alta Wine Route. Tradition, wine tourism, gastronomy and family activities to enjoy at your leisure.