Walks in Bizkaia

Walks down the beach

The territory of Bizkaia has a coast of 150 kilometers with 28 beaches, so if you decide to go for a walk on soft sand, you won’t lack options.

The urban beaches of Gorliz and Plentzia, the beach of Isuntza in Lekeitio or of Karraspio in Mendexa, are all options if you’re looking for a family beach.

If you prefer long distance, the beaches known for their size are Ereaga and Arrigunaga in Getxo, La Arena [The Sand] in Muskiz, or Ea and Arrigorri in Ondarroa. The beach of Laida, with low tides, in Ibarrangelu, deserves a special mention, surrounded by the beautiful environment of the Biosphere’s Reserve of Urdaibai.

Enjoying the graceful movements of the surfers while you walk is a plus. For that, you have the surfing beaches of Bakio, Laidatuxu in Mundaka, with the most extraordinary left-hand waves of the European continent, or La Salvaje [The Wild], which is located between Getxo and Sopela.

Walks down the coast

Without a doubt, the 231-stair climb up to the San Juan chapel of Gaztelugatxe is a must do.

It is a big islet that joins the earth through a neck of land over two big arches. This chapel is very special for the Basque fishermen. In its interior, votive offerings of sailors saved from the sea are kept, along with miniature ships as offerings and paintings representing ships about to set sail.

The legend goes that San Juan, when he arrived in Bermeo, gave three big steps before reaching the chapel, taking the last step on the last stone. This is why, if you want to banish bad spirits, you must ring the bell of the chapel three times.

Walks with art

Urban art and wild art, like the 43 logs that the artist Agustín Ibarrola painted in the Oma Forest, in Kortezubi, shaping a single image with different trees.

The botanical park of Arenatza is another good option to combine art and nature. You will find a great number of vanguard sculptures here, works of the Roscubas brothers, Angel Garraza or Koldobika Jauregui.

Another natural scenario which includes art in its domains is the Park of the Towns of Europe, which is located next to the Casa de Juntas [House of Meetings], in Gernika-Lumo. Over there, you can walk through great gardens where trees alternate with sculptures by Eduardo Chillida and Henry Moore.