Gaztelugatxe Climb, Bermeo and Gernika Half-Day Tour from Bilbao

San Juan de Gaztelugatxe, the islet and its hermitage

San Juan de Gaztelugatxe is a small rocky islet joined to the Basque coast by a narrow man-made stone bridge. A path of 241 steps zigzags up its spine to a hermitage dedicated to Saint John the Baptist, documented since the 10th century and rebuilt several times after fires and storms. Below, the sea has carved arches and tunnels into the rock, and the waters around form a protected biotope.

On this Gaztelugatxe tour from Bilbao you have two free hours here, enough to walk down from the viewpoint, cross the bridge, climb to the top and come back without rushing. Tradition says that if you ring the hermitage bell three times you can make a wish. The site gained worldwide fame as a filming location of Game of Thrones, where it appeared as Dragonstone, so it is busy in summer and access is controlled.

Gaztelugatxe tickets, the climb and the best viewpoints

At busy times of the year, visitors need a timed access ticket to walk down to the islet; on this tour the ticket is arranged for you when it is required, which saves you the hardest part of planning the visit. From the upper car park, a paved track descends for around 20 to 30 minutes to the foot of the bridge, and the return climb is steeper, so keep some energy for it.

The best photos are taken from the viewpoint at the top of the access path, where the whole winding staircase is in view, and from the summit, which looks out over the Bay of Biscay and the cliffs of the coast. Is Gaztelugatxe worth visiting? For anyone who enjoys walking and dramatic coastal scenery, it is one of the highlights of any trip to the Basque Country.

Bermeo, the fishing town of the Basque coast

Bermeo sits on the coast at the mouth of the Urdaibai estuary and has lived from the sea for centuries. It was once one of the main ports of Biscay and held the title of its capital before the role passed to other towns. Fishing boats still crowd the old harbour, where tall houses with colourful wooden balconies line the quay.

Your guide leads a walk of about 30 minutes through the old port and the historic streets, pointing out the remains of the medieval town, the church of Santa María and the traditions of a community whose fishermen once sailed as far as Newfoundland. Bermeo is a pleasant contrast to the wild scenery of Gaztelugatxe: here you see daily Basque coastal life, with its fish markets, cafés and small squares.

Gernika and its Assembly House

Gernika is a small market town in the green valley of Urdaibai and the symbolic heart of the Basque Country. For centuries, the representatives of the towns of Biscay met here in general assemblies to govern the territory and to defend their traditional laws. Their seat, the Assembly House (Casa de Juntas), is a 19th-century neoclassical building whose interior is known for its large stained-glass ceiling showing the old assembly under the oak.

In April 1937, during the Spanish Civil War, Gernika was heavily bombed and much of the town was destroyed; the Assembly House and the tree were among the few landmarks to survive, and today the town is a place of peace and remembrance. The guided visit of about 45 minutes explains this history calmly and respectfully, and leaves you time to look around the gardens.

The Tree of Gernika, symbol of Basque freedoms

Next to the Assembly House grows the Tree of Gernika, an oak under which the Lords of Biscay swore to respect the local laws, known as the fueros. When one tree dies, a new one grown from its acorns takes its place, so the line has continued for centuries; the trunk of an older tree is preserved under a small classical pavilion nearby.

For Basques the oak represents freedom and self-government, and many visitors are surprised by how simple and moving the place is. Your guide explains the meaning of the tree, the oath and the assemblies before the coach returns to Bilbao. If you are planning a Gernika tour, combining it with Gaztelugatxe and Bermeo is the easiest way to see the town without a car.