We are considering a Rick Steves Basque Tour next year. And gathering opinions on best time to go? We are big foodies and LOVE wine so may add on a side trip exploring more of Portugal as well. Spring? Fall? Which is best?
We spent a week in the Basque region in June and it was perfect.
I'm always looking for places in Europe where there's very little risk of a severe heat wave in the summer. The Basque Country is one such place. I'd be OK going there in the middle of the summer, but not necessarily to other places you might decide to see on the same trip. Just keep in mind that the Basque Country tends to be wet and is very, very often overcast. It isn't a reliable beach destination even in July.
We spent six days in Bilbao just before Easter (so spring). We had two days rain, one day cloudy and three days clear skies and sunny, but several locals told us how unusual the sustained sunshine was.
I took the RS tour in the second half of May 2017 and the weather was spectacular.