Unveiling Basque Country: Bilbao to Gaztelugatxe Travel Review

Thinking about exploring Basque Country? A visit could be just what you need. The area, snuggled in Northern Spain, provides a mixture of cultural experiences, landscape scenery, and historic spots. I had the opportunity to experience it firsthand. Traveling from the lively Bilbao to the captivating San Juan de Gaztelugatxe, and on to the old towns of Bermeo and Gernika, offered so much. If you might be planning a similar trip, let me share my thoughts and advice to perhaps make it just a bit smoother for you.

Starting Point: Bilbao and Its Contemporary Charm

Bilbao, very much a gem of Basque Country, provides a mix of old and also fresh experiences. The Guggenheim Museum might be where you want to start, with its wavy forms that are a contrast to the old architecture surrounding it. Actually, I am no museum person, I found myself mesmerized by the architectural boldness. Walk a bit along the Nervión River to feel the rhythm of Bilbao. The riverside is just lovely. Very full of life with locals and visitors alike enjoying the scene. The food scene should very much grab your attention. Try out the pintxos (Basque tapas) in the Old Town. The best stuff you might eat!

For a special visit, try to go to La Ribera Market, one of the largest indoor markets in Europe. The smell, views, and lively ambiance provide a sensory overload. When getting to and from, Bilbao offers travel options. The Metro, planned by Norman Foster, is clean and efficient, connecting you to different corners of the area. Busses and trams provide more possibilities. When getting around Bilbao, consider buying a Bilbao Card, which gives unlimited use of transportation. A discount can also get you into museums and tourist destinations. It’s worthwhile if you are planning to get to different locations.

Vizcaya Bridge: An Engineering Wonder

From Bilbao, a visit to the Vizcaya Bridge could happen next. Only some kilometers away, in Portugalete, this structure is so much of a spectacle. Not many suspension bridges have a hanging gondola that takes people and automobiles across the river! For a small charge, you could step into the gondola for a memorable ride. Yet, for something that feels a little more amazing, think about going up the bridge itself. From the top, the views of the coastline and surrounding locations could just blow your mind.

Getting to the Vizcaya Bridge from Bilbao can be done different ways. The train from Bilbao to Portugalete can get you there quickly and affordably. Busses also run, which are cheaper yet can take just a little longer. If you drive, which gives you just a bit more independence, car parking near the bridge is available. Very easy!

Gaztelugatxe: An Island Hermitage

San Juan de Gaztelugatxe is an island with a hermitage, a bit of a popular place after a little TV program, Game of Thrones, made it even more famous. You have to go across a rocky bridge, move up hundreds of steps, and what? You’ll be rewarded with scenery, very worthy of the climb. Now, planning might be in order because only so many visitors can visit per day, so you can maybe just reserve an entry ticket. If you’re not so in shape, just relax, go slow, and try taking breaks on the way up. Very much deserving!

Reaching Gaztelugatxe typically includes a bus ride from Bilbao to Bakio or Bermeo, then getting on another bus that will just drop you off close to the site. Because parking might be sparse, mainly during the best times of year, buses might be your best choice. Dress easily, maybe? The stairs might be a little hard on your feet, so just choose footwear suited to walking, very critical.

Bermeo: A Charming Fishing Village

Bermeo is close to Gaztelugatxe and presents a view into Basque fishing heritage. When you walk on the harbor, where vessels bob in the water, be sure and smell that salt air, it might relax you. The local eateries will invite you to taste the freshest seafood, from grilled fish to calamares, with all the tastes of the ocean, they just might pull you in!

You can get to Bermeo either from Bilbao, Bakio, or other towns through the bus network. Just getting a local bus is good because they’re frequent, just giving you simple connections. When in Bermeo, visit the Euskal Arkeologia Museoa to get just a bit more insight into Basque heritage, or simply get relaxed along the port with the community.

Gernika: A Town of History and Peace

Your tour goes to Gernika, a spot saturated in background. Maybe very unfortunately, this area is a symbol for background occurrences since its bombing during the Spanish Civil War got so well-known through Picasso’s painting. But this painting is so powerful. Visiting the Gernika Peace Museum could offer an idea about the pursuit of peace and reconciliation in areas with strife. You will get information about the location’s background by looking at the Biscayan Assembly House. Maybe take a closer look at the oak tree, the Gernikako Arbola. This tree means old Basque freedoms. Now that’s very deep!

Bus services connect Gernika to Bilbao and nearby locations, making it reachable for people going without a vehicle. Look at neighborhood travel schedules to get trips. Consider joining a directed tour, like a bus trip. When in Gernika, walking around and going to the Peace Museum might just enrich you by reflecting. It also gives respect to the location’s amazing, and sometimes heartbreaking, background.

Traveling through Basque Country from Bilbao to spots such as the Vizcaya Bridge, Gaztelugatxe, Bermeo, and Gernika provides an experience, blending contemporary with lifestyle, character with landscapes, along with beauty and also historic profundity.