Cadogan Guides Bilbao & the Basque Lands Paperback – February 1, 2012

I have just received my guide in the mail, and I can tell it will be really useful getting some background info as well as figuring out logistics for our itinerary. It's like a blend of Eyewitness facts/stories and Lonely Planet/Frommer's lists of things to do/see per region. It doesn't have too many photos, so I find myself looking up what sites they are describing -- which is okay if you do some supplemental research with the book, plus it keeps the book lightweight. The only thing I found disappointing is the lack of Euskera vocabulary. It gives half a page on random Euskera vocab and six pages on Spanish & French words that have more context. Navarra and France will speak more Spanish and French, I understand, but as a guide for a region whose original language is Euskera, you'd think this would be the guide to help converse as the locals do. Or at least share what "thank you" or "goodbye" in Euskera is rather than "delay" and "squid".

I like the Cadogan Guides by Dana Facaros and Michael Pauls in general. Their books are heavily invested in histories and also written for motorists. The only complain I have is that the authors are much more interested in visiting churches than I do but less interested in outdoor activities

It's biggest strength, at least during my visit, was the suggested tours of the countryside. You still need the Michelin section map and the Bilbao city map if planning to get places by car. The guide is especially useful when walking around the small cities of the Basque lands, certainly better than anything that tries to cover a broader geographic scope.

Contains a lot of really useful and interesting information about this area.

Having read many good books on the Basque region and visited many times I can say this is the best in-depth guide to exploring the region. It gives your history and context as well as a few colorful opinions about what makes the people unique.

Very helpful. Wish they had a Kindle version.