The north of Spain has always been known as one of its most beautiful regions. Its rocky coastlines, green landscapes and fishing villages lend it an incomparable charm that cannot be found anywhere else. The Biscayan coast is exactly that: an idyllic place, and one well worth visiting.
The long stretches of white sandy beaches, the rich seafaring traditions and the fairytale coastal scenery are the area’s great attractions, and await you on your visit to this part of the Basque province. Apart from the area’s great beauty, the Coast of Biscay’s typical cuisine is of the highest quality, as they have so much fresh produce (fresh from the sea!) So this is another good reason to visit.
This tour can be undertaken in summer or winter: the region’s charm is different depending on the weather and every visit brings a new experience. The best way to travel around is by car. And, of course, a tour of the towns along the Coast of Biscay offers everything you could need for an unforgettable trip. But what are the (almost) essential places to see?
- Essential attractions and towns along the Biscayan coast
- Complete the tour along the Coast of Biscay
- The best beaches along the Coast of Biscay
Essential attractions and towns along the Biscayan Coast.
In total, 28 towns of different sizes lie along the Coast of Biscay, each with different characteristics, ranging from the most industrial, residential towns near Bilbao to the fishing villages that still retain their traditional way of life. The following are some of the most popular places to visit:
San Juan de Gaztelugatxe
First on our list is Dragonstone — does that ring a bell? In fact, this flight of steps features in a scene from the famous Game of Thrones series. And since then it has become a shrine for all fans of the series.
A tour of the area around San Juan de Gaztelugatxe is a real adventure: you need to go down the hill, then cross the bridge and climb up to the hermitage. Often, the sea is very choppy, and crossing the bridge can be quite a challenge, but it is an added charm that makes the place even more impressive.
The hermitage, dedicated to St. John the Baptist, has had to be rebuilt several times. Throughout its history, it has been sacked, and damaged by fire and battle.
Bermeo
Gaztelugatxe is part of Bermeo. This Biscayan town is one of the most popular with visitors, drawn here partly because of the allure of the fishing quarter — and partly because of the hermitage of St. John and the impressive scenery around it.
One of the best-known activities available in this small town is cetacean spotting. There are boats that sail from the Puerto Viejo [Old Port] at 10.00 a.m.; the trip always includes instruction, after which you set sail for the open sea. This is an area where you will commonly see dolphins, sperm whales, fin whales, and more. It is quite an experience.
Although its nearest town is Bakio, Gaztelugatxe is part of the district of Bermeo. This Biscayan town is one of the most popular with visitors, drawn here partly because of the allure of the fishing quarter, and partly because of the hermitage of St. John and the impressive scenery around it.
One of the best-known activities available in this small town is cetacean spotting. There are boats that sail from the Puerto Viejo [Old Port] at 10.00 a.m.; the trip always includes instruction, after which you set sail for the open sea. This is an area where you will commonly see dolphins, sperm whales, fin whales, and more. It is quite an experience.
Bakio
Very close to San Juan de Gaztelugatxe, Bakio lies on an exceptional area of the coast with superb views. The variety of the scenery here is incredible; the cliffs, for example, on which the waves break contrast with the vivid green of the mountains, which owe their colour to the area’s typically damp atmosphere.
Northern architecture predominates here, and throughout the town you will see several homesteads dating from various periods, which give the place its unique appearance. The history of this town is closely linked to txacolí — the typical Basque white wine.
Mundaka
This is an exceptionally picturesque town, which lies within the Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve. Here, surfing is one of the most popular activities, and they boast that they have one of the biggest left-hand waves in the world. But if surfing is not your thing, you can still enjoy the amazing views of the island of Izaro, Monte Ogoño, or the Estuary.
Getxo
If you like places rich in history, you really need to stop off in this town. Here you can admire historic monuments including the hermitage of Santa Ana, the church of Nuestra Señora de las Mercedes, and the church of Andra Mari, which are the oldest churches in the whole of the Basque province. But if there is one structure that everyone wants to see in Getxo, it is the Puente Bizkaia, the bridge that Getxo shares with Portugalete. It is also worth visiting Paseo de Zugazarte, where you will find the Churruca palace.
Portugalete
Although it lies in the heart of Bilbao’s industrial belt, Portugalete boasts several heritage sites. Among them is its historic quarter, one of the best preserved on the Coast of Biscay. The outstanding attractions of this district are the basilica of Santa María (built in an impressive Gothic-Renaissance style), along with the fourteenth-century tower, the Torre de Salazar. And of course, you cannot possibly leave without having a look at the Puente Bizkaia, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Ondarroa
This town is one of the most visited towns on the Coast of Biscay. Located at the far eastern end of the coastline, this town has a medieval historic quarter and the Isasarrue bridge, designed by the architect Santiago Calatrava.
Santurtzi
Famous Santurtzi (or Santurce) is steeped in the seafaring spirit of the well-known song (‘from Santurce to Bilbao’) and, in fact, many visitors come here just to try the grilled ‘sardinitas’ [little sardines] in one of the town’s restaurants. But it is also worth noting that there is more to Santurce than just tradition — this, for example, is where you will find Bilbao’s important commercial port.
In addition, as we have already seen, the Coast of Biscay is a good place for cetacean spotting, and in fact, Santurce is one of the best places to enjoy this activity. The ideal time of year to see them is between July and October, and you can spend the whole day on the high seas, admiring these animals in their natural habitat.
Lekeitio
Another town with a fishing tradition and a typical port, Lekeitio (or Lequeitio) lies opposite the iconic island of San Nicolás. In addition, it has a well-preserved historic quarter, whose outstanding attraction is the basilica of the Asunción de Santa María. The basilica has a superb gilded Baroque altarpiece. The palaces of Uriarte, Oxangoiti, Abaria and Urigarri are also most attractive.
Elantxobe
Perched on the Cape of Ogoño within the Urdaibai Reserve, Elantxobe is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful and delightful places on the Coast of Biscay. A precipitous fishing town of steeply climbing streets that spread out from the port as if it were an amphitheatre.
To complete your tour along the Coast of Biscay
If you have more time to get to know the Coast of Biscay, you could extend your tour to include the following towns, all equally worth visiting and each with its own attractions:
Plentzia
Plentzia’s claim to fame is the Castle of Butrón and Gorliz beach, which we will say more about later. But there is also the historic quarter which, as you will have come to expect of towns along the Coast of Biscay, has its own special charm.
Armintza
Compared with the buzzing atmosphere of the neighbouring towns Bakio and Gorliz, especially in good weather, Armintza is an oasis of tranquility and authenticity. Both the beach and the fishing quarter are well worth a visit.
Sopelana
This town (Sopela, in the Basque language) has close links with the world of surfing. And its three main beaches are among the favourite getaway haunts of people from Bilbao. Here, too, you can see part of the defensive system known as the Cinturón de Hierro [Iron Belt], which protected Greater Bilbao during the Civil War (1936-39).
The best beaches along the Coast of Biscay
The Biscayan Coast is scattered with a large number of beaches and coves, nestled among rocks and cliffs. So many that it is impossible to mention them all here. So, we have selected some of the most popular and highly rated, both by visitors and by the Biscayans themselves. They are:
Ereaga beach
Close to Algorta’s Puerto Viejo [Old Port] and also very near the historic centres of Getxo and Bilbao, this lovely beach was once popular with the European aristocracy. This explains why it is surrounded by striking palatial residences.
Azkorri beach
Also within the Getxo area, this is a relatively easy beach to access, set among impressive natural scenery and welcoming to nudists. Due to the strong swell, it is not suitable for children.
Gorlitz beach
This easily accessible, long stretch of beach is one of the best known on the Biscayan Coast. For this reason, it is also one of the most crowded in summer. It is connected to Plentzia beach, and together they make up one of the biggest beaches along this coast.
Aritzatxu beach
In the town of Bermeo, this small but very charming beach lies close to the old, brightly coloured fishermen’s cottages, and is flanked by an imposing cliff.
Playa de Laga
This beach is still wild, and located in an area of special environmental significance — the Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve.
Barinatxe beach
Popularly known as La Salvaje, this is a wide stretch of sand scattered with rocks, which is very popular among the surfing community. Here, you can go paragliding and, in spite of the beach’s name, some services are provided, including life guards (during the high season), showers, toilets, and places to eat.
The Barrika Flysch
This is one of the most spectacular geological features on the Coast of Biscay. It lies in the cove of Goikomendiazpi where, 50 million years ago, a highly unusual phenomenon occurred: a V-shaped outcrop of folds in the Earth’s crust (angled folds).
These folds are visible both on the surface that is covered and uncovered with the ebb and flow of the tides, and in the cliffs that edge the cove. But, although flysch (the name of this type of geological formation) is the outstanding feature of this beach, it is by no means the only place you will find them. In fact, they stretch over a good part of this area of the coast, between Sopelana and Bakio.
