Bilbao & Gaztelugatxe, spain
Attractions Guide

Bilbao, Spain

Bilbao is the cultural capital of Spain's Basque region, which is located along the country's northern coast near the French border.

The city's most famous attraction is the ultra-contemporary Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, an architectural masterpiece designed by Frank Gehry. The structure's iconic titanium and glass exterior sits alongside the river and is quite a sight to behold. Inside the museum are changing art exhibitions from around the world, as well as a permanent collection of Basque and contemporary art.

Just east along the river from the Guggenheim is the Puente Zubizuri pedestrian bridge, another striking contemporary structure.

Also nearby the Guggenheim Museum is the city's second most popular museum, the Museum of Fine Arts of Bilbao. This museum hosts one of the most impressive fine European art collections in Spain, with concentrations in Spanish and Basque art, including works by Goya and El Greco.

On the eastern side of the is Bilbao's Old Quarter, with its many lovely historic buildings and the neo-classical Plaza Nueva (or Plaza Berria), which is lined with columns and arches.

Gorliz, Spain (Car Only)

Further north of Bilbao is the town of Gorliz, where you'll find one of the most beautiful beaches in the region, the Playa de Gorliz. This large sandy beach sits within a small bay surrounded by scenic cliffs.

Nearby the beach is the Faro de Gorliz lighthouse, which sits high above picturesque coastal cliffs. Near the lighthouse you can explore old war bunkers while enjoying amazing views over the coast.

Castillo de Butron Castle

Along the drive up to Gorliz you might consider a detour to a stunning medieval castle, the Castillo de Butron. Unfortunately the castle is private so you can't go inside of it, however you can admire the castle's fairytale-like exterior and walk right up to its walls and take photos. The castle is surrounded by woodland and is quite a majestic sight.

San Juan de Gaztelugatxe Trail

Northeast of Bilbao and Gorliz along the coast is one of the Basque region's most incredible sights, the San Juan de Gaztelugatxe islet. This picturesque islet consists of steep jagged cliffs, and is connected to the mainland via a trail, the Escalinatas de San Juan de Gaztelugatxe.

Along this gorgeous trail you can enjoy breathtaking coastal views, before reaching a quaint stone church at the end of the trail, the Ermita de San Juan. This trail is extremely popular and is quite steep but also very smooth. The longer Route de San Juan to reach the islet is approximately 3.3 miles (5.3 km) round-trip, which includes gorgeous viewpoints overlooking the islet from high above, including the Mirador San Juan Gaztelugatxe.

Alternatively the direct route to reach the islet is about 1.9 miles (3.1 km) round-trip. If you have a vehicle you can also drive along the road above the trail for easily-accessible views above the islet. The access point for the trails near Gaztelu Begi can be reached from Central Bilbao in about 1 hour by bus, or about 40 minutes by car.

Reaching San Juan de Gaztelugatxe by Bus

The nearest bus station to the trailheads at Gaztelu Begi is called the San Pelaio Bus Station, located adjacent to the Bakioko Begiralekua observation deck. To reach the trailheads you'll need to hike approximately 1.3 miles (2.1 km) each way along the stunning coastline.

Bakio Beach

Just west of Gaztelugatxe is the small town of Bakio, which features a picturesque sandy beach surrounded by beautiful scenery, the Playa de Bakio. This beach is also known for its striking light blue waters. You can enjoy fantastic views over this beach from the Bakioko Begiralekua observation deck, which is adjacent to the same bus station you'd get off at to access San Juan Gaztelugatxe (without a car).