DISCOVER GETXO
Tour of the Villages on the Basque Coast of Bizkaia
Tour of the Villages on the Basque Coast of Bizkaia
A day trip to the charming villages of the Basque Coast in Bizkaia, a tourist route to enjoy touring the villages dotting the Basque coastline.
What to see
- Santurtzi: In this town we can visit the Fish Auction house. This building, fitted out to honour the memory of fishermen, houses the fish market, auction house, a restaurant, the Tourist Information Office and the Santurtzi Itsasoa Museoa. Just a 10-minute walk along the promenade we will visit the Agurtza, one of the last traditional wooden fishing vessels remaining on our coast. Together with Portugalete and Getxo they form the Bay of Abra, Bilbao-Bizkaia Bay.
- Portugalete: The Old Town, declared a Monument Complex, is one of the main attractions for visitors. The Santa María Basilica with its magnificent Renaissance altarpiece houses a small Sacred Art Museum. The Hanging Bridge, UNESCO. Together with Santurtzi and Getxo they form the Bay of Abra, Bilbao-Bizkaia Bay.
- Sopela: Surprising Cliffs and wild beaches. Surfing and surfing schools – surfing courses all year round. Geological formations from thousands of years ago. Sopela offers us the possibility of doing such varied activities as surfing, paragliding or climbing.
- Plentzia: Renowned for its calm-water beach. Old Town: Plasentia Municipal Museum of Butrón or the Torre Barri House where the Muxica-Butrón family coat of arms bears one of the oldest writings engraved in stone in Euskera (Basque language) dating back to 1603. Route to Butrón Castle. The signposted footpath (GR-280) will take us to the Butrón family’s imposing castle.
- Gorliz: The bay; the promenade, the 6,000-year old petrified dunes, unique on the Basque coastline; ecological itineraries along 4 km of coastline with cliffs and viewing spots; the ruins of the small, 18th-century fort in Azkorriaga; Gorliz lighthouse on Cape Billano.
- Bakio: If Bakio boasts of anything, it is its beach, the longest in the Basque Country, sports like surfing, wave-skiing, surf canoeing… Txakoli, visit the vineyards of a wine with unique character, excellent for accompanying fish dishes and other seafood products. Rental and sale of material and surfing courses all year round.
- Bermeo: In this village, a symbol of the fishing tradition in Euskadi, we can visit San Juan de Gaztelugatxe, the Fishermen’s Museum inside the Ercilla Tower. The quintessential fishing village on this coast. Its harbour buzzes with activity when the catches come in. The fishermen’s brotherhood, the quays, the boats and the cottages in the Old Harbour are visits not to be missed. Visits to canning factories.
- Mundaka: International surfing. Renowned worldwide for its left-hand wave, the best in Europe, it is a peaceful, fishing municipality, where the harbour and the old fishermen’s cottages around it make up the village centre. Here we can visit the Church of Santa María, an example of Renaissance style architecture, the Hermitage of Santa Catalina, in the transition from Gothic to Renaissance and the Church of La Cruz, in the street of the same name, in a late Renaissance-Romanist style.
- Gernika: The UNESCO awarded this town the "CITY FOR PEACE" prize. Here we can visit the Assembly House and the Tree of Gernika. The Euskal Herria Museum and the ceramic mural of Picasso’s "Guernica". We mustn’t miss seeing the large scale sculptures by Henry Moore, Chillida or Néstor Basterretxea. And also the Jai Alai Fronton, pelota vasca pitch. Every Monday a market is held in Gernika with farmhouse products bearing the quality label where we can buy peppers and Gernika beans.
- Lekeitio: Part of the slow-cities network (CITTÁ SLOW): Stroll along the harbour and the beach, watch the sunset or the waves breaking in winter. Isuntza Beach and Garraitz island at low tide. Santa Catalina Lighthouse: Fitted out as interpretation centre based on navigation technologies, it is the first lighthouse in Euskadi open for visits by the public. Andra Mari Basilica.
Visits: The "Playa de Ondarzabal" coastal fishing vessel, Tidal Mill, Marierrota, Sosoaga Press
