Sights and Activities

BizkaiaBasque CountryRioja Alavesa - LaguardiaSan SebastiánLekeitioUrkiola Natural ParkGetxoMore info (links)

Basque Country

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Rioja Alavesa - Laguardia (1h 30min. from Bilbao by car)

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A walled town and an important vantage point in the past, today Laguardia welcomes visitors with open arms and fine food and drink. The winding mediaeval street plan of Laguardia, the old gates into the town and the surviving remains of its walls will carry you back in time, just like the neolithic and bronze age remains found nearby, the oldest agricultural communities discovered in the Basque Country.

The town is dotted with wineries and you can easily see this for yourself by visiting the basements of some of its hotels and restaurants. Wine has marked the life and the history of Laguardia, so you really must try some. There is no shortage of wineries to visit in the surrounding area, with guided tours that will show you how the wine is made (and, of course, giving you the opportunity to taste it). Some of the wineries are now hotels boasting leadingedge architecture, such as Frank Gehry's Marques de Riscal Winery-Hotel in the nearby village of Elciego.

San Sebastián (1h 15m from Bilbao by car)

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The moment you arrive in San Sebastian, La Concha beach invites you for a dip or a pleasant stroll along the shore, even in winter. The elegance of the bay, framed by the massif of Igueldo and the island of Santa Clara, is known the world over. The city has two other fine urban beaches: if you like walking you can start your stroll on Zurriola beach, frequented by surfing enthusiasts, then skirt round Monte Urgull along the Paseo Nuevo and then go right across the bay to finish on Ondarreta beach. There you are awaited by the Peine del Viento (Wind Comb), an impressive large-scale sculpture by Eduardo Chillida and Peña Gantxegi which speaks of the ferocity of the Bay of Biscay.

If the natural settings of San Sebastian are wonderful, the good taste of its inhabitants meant that its bridges, squares and buildings had to be even more so. You'll feel as if you're revisiting the Belle Epoque when you pass in front of the Victoria Eugenia theatre, the Hotel María Cristina or the spa hotel of La Perla, frequented by the cream of the aristocracy in the early 20th century.

The city is also a world capital for food, particularly its pintxos, for which every bar in its Old Town (Lo Viejo) is a treasure trove. Go into any of these tempting establishments and try a "gilda" or one of the other elaborate pintxos which are authentic displays of haute cuisine in miniature. And if a more relaxed gastronomic experience is what you are after, let yourself be tempted by the wide range of restaurants, with the highest density of Michelin stars inSpain.

Lekeitio (1h from Bilbao by car)

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Lekeitio is, without doubt, one of the most picturesque fishing ports and with the greatest fishing tradition on the Basque coast. In the old times, it was a major whaling port. The village is located on the slopes of Otoio (399 m) and Lumentza mounts, the river Lea flowing into the sea between Isuntza and Karraspio beaches, leaving San Nicolás Island on the left.

Maritime culture survives to this day in Lekeitio. You can watch the boats come in and see the neskatilas unloading the fish. You can also visit the tunaboat, Playa de Ondarzabal, and learn what it was like to live aboard a fishingboat. You will have the chance to taste delicious fresh seafood made according to traditional recipes, or try a glass of txakoli and a pintxo on one of the terraces in the port after visiting the oldest Txakoli winery in the Basque Country.

The basilica of the Asunción de Santa María is worth a visit, with its magnificent gold-plated Gothic altarpiece, considered the third biggest in theSpanish state. Be sure to take a guided tour or an audio tour of the Historic Quarter of the fishing village, provided by the tourist office. Other places worth visiting are Isuntza Bridge, the San Nicolás Island, to which visitors cangain access on foot, and Santa Catalina lighthouse (the only lighthouse opento visitors in the Basque Country). All of them offer a privileged landscape and enhance the charm of the village. A walk along the Isuntza beach will amaze visitors with the incomparable panoramic view.

Urkiola Natural Park (45 min from Bilbao by car)

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The Urkiola Natural Park covers a great part of the Aramotz Mountain Range, creating a great limestone barrier between the Arratia and Durangaldea regions of Bizkaia and the Aramaio Valley in Alava, separating at the sametime the basins of the Cantabrian and Mediterranean rivers. The geographical position and the physiography of these mountains form an abrupt landscape dominated by rocky soils and highland pastures, that have promoted a great love for climbing and hiking. Anboto (1,330 m) is the park's highest summitand it is frequently visited, though only the most daring hikers approach thecave of Mari (a Basque mythological figure) on its northern slope.

The Natural Park takes its name from the pass running through it from northto south, and from the sanctuary built in honour of San Antonio Abad and SanAntonio de Padua (Santos Antonios). It is a place of pilgrimage located in theheart of the natural area. Etymologically speaking, Urkiola comes from "urkia", the Basque word for birch tree, which can be easily found in the park.

The parkland offers numerous routes that are recommended throughout thearea, as well as many picnic areas. Furthermore, there are two shelters in thesanctuary where visitors can stay overnight, since camping in the park is notallowed. In the vicinity of the Urkiola Pass stands the Interpretation Centre of Toki Alai, which houses a permanent exhibition of the natural and culturalcharacteristics of the park. We strongly recommend visiting this centre inorder to get a better understanding of the landscape. It is also accessible to disabled people.

Getxo (45min from Bilbao by underground)

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Next to Bilbao and easily reachable by the underground, Getxo is located on the right bank of the mouth of the estuary, and consists of five neighbourhoods: Andra Mari, Algorta, Las Arenas, Neguri and Romo.

Surrounded by the Bay of Abra, the town offers a 10 km-landscape with cliffs, coast and beaches, which can be admired from the wonderful Punta Galea promenade. Through this promenade we can walk from Getxo to the nearby village of Sopelana (a hot surf spot with long and beautiful beaches), observing interesting elements such as the mill of Aixerrota or the Galea fortress (18th century). This environment makes Getxo an ideal place for nautical sports: surfing, diving, canoeing, sailing, etc.

An appealing spot in Getxo is the Bizkaia Bridge, declared World Heritage by the UNESCO in 2006, which connects the Las Arenas with Portugalete, offering a magnificent panoramic view. Built at around the same time as the Eiffel Tower and in a similar style, it is the world's oldest transporter bridge.

The pleasant Puerto Viejo (Old Port), with its narrow and typical fishermen houses, show us the importance of the fishing activity in the old times. Nowadays, the neighbourhood is a charming area where people gather for a drink and a pintxo, specially on weekends. Walking to Las Arenas, just by the Ereaga beach, we find the new Getxo's leisure port, which offers a wide range of services: restaurants, cinemas, pubs, etc. Following the way to Las Arenas, a stroll past the great mansions along the waterfront, built in the beginning of the 20th century in a variety of architectural styles, will you take back to the golden age of Getxo.