Gaztelugatxe Day Trips: Bermeo, Mundaka, Gernika and the Basque Coast

San Juan de Gaztelugatxe is the headline, but it is only one part of a remarkable stretch of coast. Within a short drive are fishing towns, a famous estuary protected as a biosphere reserve, and Gernika, a town at the heart of Basque history. Most visitors who come for the islet spend the rest of the day exploring this corner of Bizkaia, and it is well worth planning for.

This guide looks at the places that combine naturally with Gaztelugatxe, how to string them together in a day, and the tours from Bilbao and San Sebastián that do it for you.

The shape of the coast

Gaztelugatxe sits on the coast between Bakio and Bermeo. East of Bermeo lies the estuary of Urdaibai, with Mundaka at its mouth and Gernika further inland. It is a compact area, and the classic day trip strings the four together: the islet, Bermeo, Mundaka and Gernika.

Place	What it is	Why stop
San Juan de Gaztelugatxe	Hermitage on an islet, reached by a bridge and 241 steps	The headline sight
Bermeo	Fishing town on the coast	Lunch, harbour, old town
Mundaka	Village at the mouth of the Urdaibai estuary	Estuary views
Gernika	Inland town	The Casa de Juntas and the Tree of Gernika

Gaztelugatxe first

Start the day with the islet. It is the part that most benefits from an early arrival: parking is easier, the steps are quieter, and on controlled-access days — when you need a free ticket booked online and the daily cap is 1,462 people — an early slot leaves the rest of the day free.

Allow at least a couple of hours for the walk down, the bridge, the 241 steps to the hermitage and the climb back up. At the top, ring the bell three times for good luck, as tradition suggests. Our guide to the access rules and the 241 steps covers the visit in detail.

Bermeo

Bermeo, a short distance along the coast, is the natural next stop. It is a working fishing town, and after the climb at Gaztelugatxe it is the obvious place for lunch.

Several tours include it. The tour from Bilbao with time for the steps continues to Bermeo, a charming fishing village, after two free hours at the islet, and the full-day tour with txakoli includes Bermeo alongside Mundaka and Gernika.

If you are travelling by bus, bus A3527 (Bilbao–Mungia–Bermeo) links Gaztelugatxe with Bermeo, which makes it easy to continue there after your walk.

Mundaka and Urdaibai

A little beyond Bermeo, the coast opens into the estuary of Urdaibai, and the village of Mundaka sits at its mouth.

Urdaibai is special. It was designated a UNESCO biosphere reserve in 1984, protecting a landscape that combines a river basin ending in a large salt marsh with a coast of high, sheer cliffs and capes. The drive along the estuary is a highlight of the day, with the tide shaping the sands and marshes and the cliffs rising at the mouth.

Mundaka is included in several tours from Bilbao, including the guided tour of Gaztelugatxe, Mundaka and Gernika and the full-day tour with txakoli.

Gernika

Inland at the head of the estuary lies Gernika, a town whose name carries great weight in Basque and European history.

The heart of it is the Casa de Juntas, one of the oldest parliaments in Europe, and the Tree of Gernika, an oak in its grounds that is considered the main symbol of Basque identity. The towns of Bizkaia met there from at least the 14th century. When the oak has to be replaced, it is replaced by a sapling of the previous tree, so the line continues.

Practical details:

Entry to the historic area and the Casa de Juntas is free.
It is open every day.
Guided visits in Basque, Spanish and English are available by appointment.

Tours from Bilbao that include Gernika often mention its famous oak tree, and the tour of Gaztelugatxe, Mundaka and Gernika also takes in Picasso’s mural, the town’s reminder of the painting that made its name known around the world.

The tours that combine them

If you would rather not plan the day yourself, several tours from Bilbao combine Gaztelugatxe with the rest of the coast. They differ in length, focus and how long they stop at the islet.

Gaztelugatxe, Bermeo, Mundaka and Gernika with txakoli. A full guided day from Bilbao along the coast, finishing with a txakoli wine tasting, in about 10 hours. The most complete of the coast tours.

Gaztelugatxe, Mundaka and Gernika from Bilbao. A guided tour with a local guide in an air-conditioned vehicle, starting at the hermitage and continuing to Mundaka and Gernika, in about 6 hours.

From Bilbao with time for the steps. A direct transfer with two free hours at the islet for the bridge and the 241 steps, then Bermeo and Gernika’s oak tree, in about 6 hours. The best choice if climbing to the hermitage matters most.

Small-group half day with a coastal walk. A small-group half day from Bilbao that pairs Gaztelugatxe with a walk along the Basque coast, in about 3.5 hours. For those who prefer walking to driving between stops.

From San Sebastián, with Bilbao. Private transport from San Sebastián to the hermitage and its coast, then Bilbao’s old town and pintxos, in about 9 hours.

The tours page lists them with live prices.

Choosing a tour

You want everything: the full-day tour with txakoli.
You want the steps at Gaztelugatxe: the tour with two free hours at the islet.
You want a shorter day: the Gaztelugatxe, Mundaka and Gernika tour, or the small-group half day.
You are based in San Sebastián: the private tour that adds Bilbao.

Doing it yourself

With a car, the coast is easy to explore at your own pace. A day might look like this:

Morning: drive to Gaztelugatxe along the BI-3101, park early and walk down to the islet. Climb the 241 steps and ring the bell.
Lunch: drive on to Bermeo, a short distance along the coast.
Afternoon: follow the coast to Mundaka and the Urdaibai estuary, then head inland to Gernika to see the Casa de Juntas and the Tree of Gernika — entry is free and it is open every day.
Evening: return to Bilbao, or stay on the coast.

Without a car, the bus makes part of this possible. Bus A3527 links Bilbao, Gaztelugatxe and Bermeo; for the full loop including Mundaka and Gernika, a tour is simpler.

Txakoli: the coast’s wine

The full-day tour from Bilbao ends with a txakoli tasting. Txakoli is the light white wine of the Basque coast, and tasting it at the end of a day of sea views and fishing towns is a fitting finish. If wine matters to you, it is a good reason to choose the full-day tour — and to let someone else drive.

Getting around between the towns

By car the coast is simplest: the BI-3101 runs above Gaztelugatxe, and the towns are close together. Parking at Gaztelugatxe is the only real pinch point, with about 250 spaces across three car parks.

By bus, the options are more limited but workable:

Bus A3527 (Bilbao–Mungia–Bermeo) stops at Gaztelugatxe and continues to Bermeo.
Bus A3518 (Bilbao–Mungia–Bakio) serves Bakio, on the other side of the islet.
In summer, a Bakio–Bermeo bus links the two towns along the coast; in winter, the connection is the Taxibus, on weekdays only.

For Mundaka and Gernika as well, a car or a tour is the practical choice.

A two-day plan

If you have two days, the coast rewards a slower pace.

Day one: Gaztelugatxe and Bermeo. Arrive early at Gaztelugatxe, walk down, climb the 241 steps and ring the bell. Take a long lunch in Bermeo and explore the harbour and the old streets in the afternoon.

Day two: Urdaibai, Mundaka and Gernika. Spend the morning around Mundaka and the Urdaibai estuary, then head inland to Gernika to visit the Casa de Juntas and the Tree of Gernika — free, and open every day. If you want context, book a guided visit in advance; they are available in Basque, Spanish and English by appointment.

Spreading the coast over two days also gives you a second chance at Gaztelugatxe if the weather is poor on your first day.

With children

The coast makes a good family day, as long as the walking is balanced with rest.

Do Gaztelugatxe while energy is high. The 241 steps and the climb back up are the most demanding part of the day.
The bell is a highlight. Children love ringing it three times at the top.
Keep the afternoon gentle. Bermeo’s harbour and Mundaka’s estuary are easy places to wander.
Gernika can be brief. The Tree of Gernika is quick to see, and entry is free.
Pack snacks and water, and a change of layers for the sea breeze.

Eating on the coast

Food is one of the pleasures of a day on the Basque coast. After the walk at Gaztelugatxe, the fishing town of Bermeo is the natural lunch stop. If you are coming from San Sebastián, the private tour ends in Bilbao’s old town with pintxos, the small bites for which the Basque Country is famous. And the full-day tour from Bilbao finishes with a txakoli tasting, the coast’s own wine.

From Bilbao or from San Sebastián?

From Bilbao, the coast is close, and there is a choice of half-day and full-day tours as well as the bus. It is the natural base for a Gaztelugatxe day.

From San Sebastián, the coast is a longer trip. The private tour that combines the hermitage with Bilbao’s old town makes the distance worthwhile by adding a second destination. Driving yourself, start early.

If the weather turns

The Cantabrian coast is famous for changeable weather, and a wet or windy day changes the plan.

Gaztelugatxe in the rain is possible but slippery; the steps and the bridge are exposed, so take great care or save the islet for a better day.
Gernika works in any weather. The Casa de Juntas is a building as well as a garden, and entry is free.
Bermeo’s old streets and harbour are pleasant even under grey skies.
Bilbao is a good fallback if the coast is wild: the old town and its pintxos bars are close by.

If you have two days, keep Gaztelugatxe flexible and move it to the clearer day.

Photographs along the way

Gaztelugatxe from the paths above, before you descend: the whole islet, the bridge and the zigzagging steps in one frame.
The steps and the hermitage, looking back along the cliffs.
Bermeo’s harbour, with its fishing boats.
The Urdaibai estuary, especially when the tide is out and the sands and marshes are exposed.
The Tree of Gernika and the Casa de Juntas.

Early light at Gaztelugatxe and late-afternoon light over the estuary are the best of the day.

Protected landscapes

Much of this coast is protected. San Juan de Gaztelugatxe lies in a protected natural area, which is one reason access is controlled on busy days, and Urdaibai has been a UNESCO biosphere reserve since 1984. Stay on marked paths, take your litter home and respect the rules at each site; they are what keep these places as beautiful as they are.

When to go

In summer, controlled access at Gaztelugatxe is most likely, so book the free ticket and start early. The long days give you time for the whole loop.
In spring and autumn, the coast is often quieter, but check the Gaztelugatxe calendar: in 2026 access became free again from 21 September, with some controlled days set for later months.
In winter, the weather on this exposed coast can be wild, and the Bakio–Bermeo connecting bus is a summer service. A car or a tour is the more reliable choice.

What to bring

Walking shoes with a good grip for the steps at Gaztelugatxe.
Layers and a waterproof: the weather on the Cantabrian coast changes quickly.
Water and snacks for the walk.
Your free Gaztelugatxe ticket on your phone if it is a controlled-access day.

Frequently asked questions

What is there to see near Gaztelugatxe?

Bermeo, a fishing town a short distance along the coast; Mundaka, at the mouth of the Urdaibai estuary; and Gernika, with the Casa de Juntas and the Tree of Gernika.

Is it free to visit the Tree of Gernika?

Yes. Entry to the historic area and the Casa de Juntas is free, and it is open every day. Guided visits in Basque, Spanish and English can be booked by appointment.

What is Urdaibai?

The estuary landscape around Mundaka and Gernika, designated a UNESCO biosphere reserve in 1984. It combines a river basin ending in a large salt marsh with a coast of high, sheer cliffs and capes.

Can I see Gaztelugatxe, Bermeo, Mundaka and Gernika in one day?

Yes. The full-day tour from Bilbao covers all four and finishes with a txakoli tasting, in about 10 hours. By car, it is a comfortable day.

Which tour gives the most time at Gaztelugatxe?

The tour from Bilbao with two free hours at the islet, designed for crossing the bridge and climbing the 241 steps.

How do I get from Gaztelugatxe to Bermeo without a car?

Bus A3527 (Bilbao–Mungia–Bermeo) stops at Gaztelugatxe and continues to Bermeo. In summer there is also a Bakio–Bermeo bus along the coast.

Do I need a ticket for Gaztelugatxe on a coast tour?

On controlled-access days every visitor needs a free ticket booked online. Check with your tour whether it arranges the ticket, and book it yourself if it does not.

Is Gernika worth the detour?

Yes, especially if you are interested in Basque history. The Casa de Juntas is one of the oldest parliaments in Europe, the Tree of Gernika is the main symbol of Basque identity, and entry is free.

Can I do the coast from San Sebastián in a day?

Yes, but it is a long day. The private tour from San Sebastián combines the hermitage and its coast with Bilbao’s old town and pintxos, in about 9 hours, and saves you the driving.