How to Get to San Juan de Gaztelugatxe: Bus, Car or Tour from Bilbao

San Juan de Gaztelugatxe is a small hermitage on a rocky islet off the Basque coast, joined to the mainland by a stone bridge and a long stairway. It is one of the best-known sights in the Basque Country, and one of the easiest to underestimate. It is not in a town, the road does not go to the islet, and on busy days access is controlled. Getting there, and getting down to the bridge, needs a little planning.

This guide covers every way to reach Gaztelugatxe — the bus from Bilbao, driving and parking, and the tours from Bilbao and San Sebastián — and the walk from the road down to the islet.

Where Gaztelugatxe is

The islet sits on the coast of Bizkaia between the towns of Bakio and Bermeo, in a protected natural area. The hermitage stands on top of the islet, reached by a stone bridge and a stairway of 241 steps. There is no village at the site: you arrive at the road above, walk down to the coast, cross the bridge and climb the steps.

Before you set off: check whether you need a ticket

Access to the path is free, but on busy days it is controlled. On days with controlled access, you need a free ticket booked online; on other days, access is free, with no booking or ticket. During controlled days you show your ticket to staff at the access point, and the system allows a maximum of 1,462 people a day.

In 2026, access became free again from 21 September, but the calendar sets some controlled-access days in the following months, so check the published schedule for your date before you travel. Our guide to the walk and the access rules explains the details.

By bus from Bilbao

Public transport is possible, and it is the cheapest way to go.

From Bilbao’s Termibus bus station, bus A3527 (Bilbao–Mungia–Bermeo) stops at San Juan de Gaztelugatxe.
An alternative is bus A3518 (Bilbao–Mungia–Bakio), which you can combine with the summer Bakio–Bermeo bus, or in winter, on weekdays only, with the Taxibus.

A3527 is the direct option. The Bakio route is useful if you are staying on the coast or want to combine Gaztelugatxe with the beach at Bakio.

Tips for the bus

Check the return times before you walk down. The walk down to the islet and back up takes a good part of your visit, and missing the last bus back is the main risk of a bus day.
Get off at the Gaztelugatxe stop, on the road above the coast, and follow the path from there.
In winter, plan more carefully. The Bakio–Bermeo connection is a summer bus; in winter the Taxibus runs on weekdays only.

By car

Driving gives you the most flexibility, and for many visitors it is the easiest option. The final approach is on the BI-3101, the road along the coast above the islet.

Parking

There are three car parks, holding about 250 cars in total:

A small car park of about 25 spaces beside the access road (the BI-3101), about 200 metres from the Urizarreta access control.
The largest and closest car park, by the Eneperi restaurant, which is private and paid.
A car park by the Lurgorri area, near the Ermu access control, about 15 minutes’ walk away.

On busy days, 250 spaces fill quickly. Arrive early, and have a plan for which car park to try first.

The walk down to the islet

However you arrive, the final part is on foot. There are two walking routes:

The Urizarreta route, which starts near the Eneperi restaurant, is the most direct and popular.
The Ermu route is longer, but it has no steps until the bridge.

The route is about 1.3 km, short but including a long section of steps. Whichever way you go, the 241 steps up the islet are unavoidable. The walk down to the coast is easy; the climb back up, followed by the steps to the hermitage and back, is what tires people.

Tours from Bilbao and San Sebastián

If you would rather not deal with buses, car parks and ticket slots, a tour takes care of it. The options vary a lot in how much time they give you at the islet:

From Bilbao with time for the steps. A direct transfer from Bilbao with two free hours to cross the stone bridge and climb the 241 steps to the hermitage, then Bermeo and Gernika, in about 6 hours. The best choice if actually walking up to the hermitage is the point.

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

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.

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.

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 key question for any tour is how long it stops at the islet. The walk down, across the bridge and up the steps takes time, and a short stop may only allow a view from above. The tours page lists what each includes.

What you are walking to

It helps to know what is waiting at the end of the path, because it explains why people make the effort.

The islet rises steeply from the sea, and the hermitage stands on its highest point. The first hermitage is believed to date from the ninth century, and the present church has been rebuilt many times after fires and battles over the centuries. The stone bridge and the stairway that zigzags up the islet are the only way to reach it, and the view from the top — the bridge below, the cliffs of the coast on either side and the open Cantabrian Sea — is the reward for the climb.

At the top, tradition says you should ring the hermitage bell three times for good luck and to ward off evil spirits. It is a small ritual, but almost everyone who reaches the top takes part.

When to go

The timing of your visit affects everything from parking to crowds.

Check the access calendar first. On controlled-access days you need a free ticket; on other days you can simply turn up. The calendar changes through the year.
Arrive early on busy days. With about 250 parking spaces and a daily cap of 1,462 visitors on controlled days, the early part of the day is the easiest.
Watch the weather. The islet is exposed to the Cantabrian Sea. The steps can be slippery in rain, and wind makes the bridge and the top feel far more exposed.
Avoid rushing the return. The climb back up from the coast to the road is the hardest part of the walk, so leave time for it before your bus or your next plan.

Combining Gaztelugatxe with the coast

Gaztelugatxe is rarely a whole day on its own, and the coast around it is well worth exploring.

Bermeo, a fishing town a short distance along the coast, is a natural stop for lunch. The tour from Bilbao with time for the steps continues to Bermeo after the islet.
Bakio, on the other side, is linked to Bermeo by a summer bus.
Mundaka and Gernika, a little further on, are included in several tours from Bilbao, and Gernika is known for its famous oak tree.

Our guide to Gaztelugatxe day trips along the Basque coast looks at the combinations in detail.

Accessibility

Gaztelugatxe is not an easy visit for everyone. The route is only about 1.3 km, but it includes a long section of steps, and the 241 steps up the islet cannot be avoided. The Ermu route avoids steps until the bridge but is longer.

For visitors who cannot manage the steps, the view of the islet and the bridge from the paths above is still spectacular.

Mistakes to avoid

Turning up on a controlled day without a ticket. On those days a free ticket booked online is required, and the daily cap is 1,462 people. Check the calendar before you go.
Underestimating the climb back. The walk down feels easy; the return, after the 241 steps up and down the islet, is what tires people. Leave time and energy for it.
Relying on the last bus without checking it. With limited services, especially in winter, missing a bus can leave you stranded on the coast road.
Choosing a tour for the name alone. Many tours mention Gaztelugatxe, but not all stop long enough to walk down and climb the steps. Check the time at the islet.
Wearing the wrong shoes. The steps and the path can be slippery, especially after rain.
Parking in the wrong place. On busy days, the small car park fills first; know where the paid and the Lurgorri car parks are before you arrive.

Getting there from San Sebastián

Gaztelugatxe is further from San Sebastián than from Bilbao, and most visitors staying in San Sebastián choose between two approaches.

Drive, heading west along the coast towards Bilbao and then north to the BI-3101 and the coast between Bakio and Bermeo. It is a long day, so start early.
Take a tour. The private tour from San Sebastián combines the hermitage and its coast with Bilbao’s old town and pintxos, in about 9 hours, so you see two of the region’s highlights in one day without driving.

If you are in the Basque Country for several days, staying a night in Bilbao or on the coast near Bermeo makes the visit far more relaxed.

Which option to choose

You want the cheapest trip: bus A3527 from Termibus.
You want flexibility: drive, and arrive early for parking.
You want to climb to the hermitage without any planning: the tour from Bilbao with two free hours at the islet.
You want a full day on the coast: the txakoli tour or the Mundaka and Gernika tour.
You are staying in San Sebastián: the private tour that adds Bilbao’s old town.

A sample day by car

Early morning: drive to Gaztelugatxe and park in the small car park by the BI-3101 or, if it is full, in the paid car park by the Eneperi restaurant.
Morning: walk down the Urizarreta route, cross the bridge and climb the 241 steps to the hermitage.
Late morning: ring the bell three times — tradition says it brings good luck and wards off evil spirits — and enjoy the views before walking back up.
Afternoon: drive on to Bermeo or Bakio for lunch, or continue to Mundaka and Gernika.

A sample day by bus

Morning: bus A3527 from Termibus in Bilbao to the Gaztelugatxe stop.
Late morning: walk down to the islet and climb the steps.
Early afternoon: walk back up and catch a bus onwards to Bermeo for lunch, or back to Bilbao.

Check the bus times in both directions before you set out.

What to bring

Comfortable shoes with a good grip. The path and the 241 steps can be slippery when wet.
Water, especially in summer; the climb back up is tiring.
A layer and a waterproof. The islet is exposed to the Cantabrian Sea, and the weather can change quickly.
Your free ticket on your phone, if you are visiting on a controlled-access day.

Frequently asked questions

Can you get to Gaztelugatxe by public transport?

Yes. From Bilbao’s Termibus station, bus A3527 (Bilbao–Mungia–Bermeo) stops at San Juan de Gaztelugatxe. You can also take A3518 to Bakio and connect with the summer Bakio–Bermeo bus, or the weekday Taxibus in winter.

Is there parking at Gaztelugatxe?

Yes, three car parks with about 250 spaces in total: a small one of about 25 spaces by the BI-3101, the largest one by the Eneperi restaurant, which is private and paid, and one near the Ermu access control, about 15 minutes’ walk away.

Do I need a ticket for Gaztelugatxe?

Only on controlled-access days, when you need a free ticket booked online. On other days access is free with no booking. In 2026 access became free again from 21 September, with some controlled days later in the year.

How long is the walk to the hermitage?

The route is about 1.3 km, including the 241 steps up the islet. The Urizarreta route is the most direct; the Ermu route is longer but has no steps until the bridge.

Do tours from Bilbao include time on the steps?

Some do and some do not. The tour from Bilbao with two free hours at the islet is designed for climbing to the hermitage; others may stop for less time.

Is Gaztelugatxe suitable for children?

Yes for children who can manage a walk with a long flight of steps. The 241 steps and the climb back up to the road are the hardest parts; take your time and hold small hands on the bridge and the steps.

What should I wear?

Comfortable shoes with a good grip, and a layer and waterproof, because the islet is exposed to the sea and the steps can be slippery when wet.

Which walking route is best?

The Urizarreta route, starting near the Eneperi restaurant, is the most direct and popular. The Ermu route is longer but has no steps until the bridge. Both end with the 241 steps up the islet.

How much time should I allow at Gaztelugatxe?

Allow at least a couple of hours to walk down, cross the bridge, climb the 241 steps, enjoy the top and walk back up. The tour from Bilbao with time for the steps gives two free hours at the islet for exactly this reason.

Is there an audio guide?

Yes. The provincial council of Bizkaia offers an audio guide for the visit, which is a useful companion if you are going without a guided tour.