Hi Leah, if you’re budget conscious and savvy with credit card points and miles, you could probably make it happen for $2500. It would go up from there if you choose more luxury accommodation and cuisine options.

Hi Jessy,

Happy to hear you guys are considering visiting Spain for your honeymoon! Madrid and Rioja are both great stops, loaded with culture, views and especially great wine. Logrono and Haro are very different towns, but each offer something special.

I opted to stay in Logrono and use it as a home base. The night life here is more upbeat and it’s more modern. Calle del Laurel in Logrono is tapas bar paradise, the food is amazing, people are friendly and the wine is both cheap and fantastic. I would recommend you stay in Logrono and simply drive to Haro to explore the Bodegas there during the day.

Haro is the town where most of the grapes are brought to after harvest, the wine is crafted and then stored. Haro moves at a much slower pace, so if you’re looking to relax and wander around more quiet streets, visit the Bodegas for tours and tastings, stay there. If you want to experience a more lively night experience after a day of wine tasting, stay in Logrono.

In terms of getting to Rioja from Madrid, I would definitely drive. It’s an easy drive, and parts of it are very pretty (just don’t go over the speed limit or you’ll get hit with speed traps). You can take the train to Logrono, but it will take almost an hour longer and you’ll want a car to explore the vineyards and tasting rooms.

Hope this helps and let me know if you have any more questions!

Greig

Thank you for this well written and very informative article. It’s the best I’ve read so far while trying to plan our trip to Spain. We are going for our honeymoon from the 2nd of August to the 9th of August and we’ve are keen on visiting the wine region of La Rioja. We are a bit confused on the details though. We will land in Madrid and we’re thinking on heading straight to La Rioja for 4 nights and then back to Madrid for 2 nights.

I love the idea of Toledo as a day trip from Madrid!

Now, concerning La Rioja, that’s where it gets a bit blurry. I’ve read that Lagurdia is beautiful and Haro is more authentic than Logrono. Where do you recommend that we stay? Do you think it’s better if we pick two different hotels in two different areas?

Last but not least, what’s the best way to travel to La Rioja from Madrid?

I appreciate your help and any suggestions you can give us.

Thanks and regards,

Jessy & Chris