Hike Gaztelugatxe, Fishing Port Bermeo & Pintxo Lunch from Bilbao
Overview
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-This experience offers a fantastic overview of the Basque coast, countryside and culture! Furthermore, this tour mixes an invigorating trek with the renowned Basque cuisine and wine!
-Please wear comfortable walking shoes and loose clothing as we will be hiking to the top of Gaztelugatxe with some of the most amazing views in the Basque Country! We also advise bringing a rain jacket, hat and sunblock as the weather can change a lot in this region.
-Following the hike, you will experience some delicious tapas/pintxos at a local restaurant in the quaint fishing village of Bermeo that exemplifies our love of food and drink!
-If you are visiting the Basque Country, it is an absolute must to come see our rugged and dramatically beautiful coastline.
-This tour is great mix of exercise, nature, food and wine that will surely be one of the highlights of your vacation!
Additional Info
Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Not recommended for travelers without a decent moderate of physical fitness
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
San Juan de Gaztelugatxe
-We will make the hike to the top of San Juan de Gaztelugatxe! Expect to spend approximately 2 hours hiking to the top and back. Please wear comfortable walking shoes. -Located just off the shore along the Bay of Biscay and 35 km (22 miles) east from Bilbao, San Juan de Gaztelugatxe is a definite “must” if you are visiting the Basque Country. Many will recognize San Juan de Gaztelugatxe as the island fortress of “Dragonstone” from season 7 of Game of Thrones, however, its real name can be translated as “castle rock” from Basque (“gaztelu” = castle + “aitz” = rock). -The island is connected to the mainland by a man-made stone bridge. The bridge transitions into a narrow path that contains 241 steps and zigzags its way back and forth to the top. These steps have even been recognized as one of the world’s grandest staircases.
Bermeo
Bermeo is a colorful coastal village located in the Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve and is less than 10 km away from the impressive San Juan de Gaztelugatxe island. Famous for its fishing tradition, it is a great place to stop for a while and explore. We will enjoy some pintxos/tapas at the marina, and for a leisurely stroll through the scenic old fishing port.
What‘s Included
Private transportation
Bottled water
Air-conditioned vehicle
Pintxo/tapas lunch with 1 drink (white wine, red wine, cider, beer, water or soda)
Gratuities
Pickup points
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Hike San Juan de Gaztelugatxe, Fishing Town of Bermeo & Pintxo Lunch from Bilbao
Pickup included
Reviews
46 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Like amigos on a hike
Jackie S,,Oct 8, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Zack was awesome! Super patient, relaxed and extremely knowledgeable. He made us feel very comfortable conversing with him and it felt very much like friends sharing their appreciation for the way of life in the Basque Country. During the hike, we never felt pressured to go faster at any point, and he made sure to remind us to go at the pace we preferred. The temptation to stop along the way up is the perfect way to not only catch your breath, but to admire the beauty of the surroundings. We consider ourselves average trail “hikers” (1-3 times/year, average 200-800m elevation), and going up the steps was completely doable (going back to the parking lot is when the real hike begins!). 100% agree to go early in the morning, because you will grow a stronger connection to this place and avoid the crowds (they arrive quicker than you expect). Thank you Zach. All the best!
Breathtaking Beauty!
DonnaS123,,Sep 23, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00My husband and I had a port day in Bilbao and decided to hike Gaztelugatxe. From start to finish, Zach helped make this an amazing day! He picked us up at the port and took us for the hike. When we got to Gaztelugatxe the parking lot was empty and we enjoyed the hike seeing very few people. By the time we got done, the parking lot was full! Gaztelugatxe is absolutely beautiful and Zach made sure we walked at our own pace enjoying every minute of it. He was very patient as I stopped millions of times just to enjoy the breathtaking views! After leaving, we went to Barmeo, a fishing town untouched by tourism. We had delicious Pintxo and wine at a local Tavern before heading back to the ship. Zach taught us so much about the Basque pride and history! We loved our day with Zach and hope to return one day. We highly recommend Zach and Best of Basque!
Terrific exercise, views, Basque history and food!
LindaandGary G,,Aug 24, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00A steep walk up a LOT of stairs in the rain to an ancient church, led by a delightful guide, with much patience and a lot of info about local history and culture, followed by lunch at a local cafe. Somewhat tiring for us two seniors but memorable and well worth it.
A Great Morning Adventure While in Bilbao
John D,,Jul 3, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Zak was a very informed tour guide who enjoys traveling the world. He knew everything about the entire area we visited today. These were fantastic views and a quant little port city of Bermeo. Great Pintxo snacks and wine. This is a great half day tour from Bilbao.
A Great Basque Experience
jm480811,,Jun 16, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00My wife and I did 6 tours in Basque country with Zach and Irene in June, 2025. It was fabulous, from the local food, cider and wine, to the hikes, the caves and the local villages. Irene, being Basque, speaking Basque and spending her life in the area was incredibly knowledgeable and a great guide. Zach was also very knowledgeable and eager to explain the history and provide insight on the customs and people, as well as what makes the Basque country so unique. The tours were always on time, and the transportation very comfortable. We highly recommend the Best of Basque!
Great day with Zach. He...
PatSinton,,Jun 3, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Great day with Zach. He was very knowledgeable and patient especially with the slower member of our group. I highly recommend this experience.
So beautiful, definitely a hike
Nicole G,,May 26, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Absolutely stunning views! Recommend trying to go earlier in the day - we basically had the whole place to ourselves and luckily were on our way out when huge tours and school field trips arrived. Definitely a tough hike. All the previous reviews we read were spot on about the difficulty. The pathway is steep so going back up is tough and we had to take a couple breaks. Dress appropriately. Tour guide was wonderful though! Born and raised in Bilbao and had so much history to offer.
Great tour, Ire is a...
Renat F,,Apr 24, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Great tour, Ire is a super nice guide, she told us a lot about Basque Country, Gaztelugatxe and Bermeo. The timing was perfect with almost no tourists. They will pick you up at the hotel.
Perfect day, perfect guide in Gaztelugatze and Bermeo
Linda P,,Apr 10, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Our trip to Gaztelugatze with Olaia was perfect! The weather, the scenery and the history and information she shared with us about both the places we visited and the Basque culture made for a very enjoyable and educational day. The pintxos for lunch in the charming fishing town of Bermeo were some of the tastiest we’ve had. All in all, we highly recommend this tour.
Irene was an absolute...
grzc45hnyr,,Apr 6, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Irene was an absolute gem. We were a group of 4 (2 couples) from America and enjoyed every moment on this trip. Irene was an excellent and safe driver, had so much beautiful insight into Basque culture and history, and paced the tour so skillfully. We very much enjoyed her personally and professionally!!
Related Experiences
Operated by The Best of Basque - Basque Country & La Rioja Tours