Blog
09/06/2026
The charming towns on the Basque coast are waiting for you. Sea and mountains come together in spectacular landscapes, alongside a natural environment, gastronomy, culture, and traditions that will make your holiday unforgettable.
Are you coming on holiday and want to know which are the most beautiful towns on the coast of Biscay?
The Biscay coastline stretches from Muskiz (on the border with Cantabria) to Ondarroa, the last town before entering Gipuzkoa. Visit the charming towns on the Biscay coast and relax in one of Nekatur’s rural accommodations.
At its mouth, the Nervión estuary leaves charming towns on both banks of the Greater Bilbao area. On the left bank, you can discover Santurtzi and Portugalete, connected by a riverside promenade along the estuary.
Santurtzi’s history cannot be understood without its fishing tradition and the sardines that have made it so famous (you have probably sung the famous song that begins, “Desde Santurce a Bilbao...” at some point!). Head down to the port and join a theatrical fish auction.
Take the estuary promenade and enjoy the views of the river mouth as you make your way towards Portugalete. Halfway there, you will see the fishing vessel Agurtza, now converted into a museum and interpretation centre. At the moment, in May 2026, it is closed for maintenance, so check when it will be open to visitors again.
Once in the Noble Town of Portugalete, head first to its Historic Quarter, which has Monumental Heritage status, and lose yourself in its narrow streets. Stop by the Tourist Office and discover why the town is known as the “jarillera town”.
Return to the banks of the estuary and cross to the other side via the Hanging Bridge, an absolute must-see and a true masterpiece of engineering.
Once on the right bank, you will be in Getxo. Simply by looking at the bourgeois elegance of its houses, you can get an idea of its prosperous economic past.
Do not leave Getxo without visiting the Old Port of Algorta, one of the municipality’s five neighbourhoods. Wander through its narrow streets and enjoy a drink in one of its bars. Find yourself a spot on the steps with a soft drink or a glass of txakoli and do what the locals do!
Begin your visit to the charming towns of the Biscay coast in the Uribe region by heading to the medieval town of Plentzia. Its historic quarter is well worth a visit (don’t miss the old town hall, the Goñi farmhouse, or the Santiago Arch). One of its main attractions is the promenade that follows the harbour and leads to Plentzia Beach.
If you continue walking along the promenade, you will reach Gorliz, a popular holiday destination for many people from Biscay and well known for its beach. Two of its attractions are the hike up to Gorliz Lighthouse and the defensive bunkers located beneath it. At the moment, in May 2026, this path is closed due to construction work, so it is best to check with the Tourist Office regarding its reopening.
Following the coastline, you will arrive in Armintza, a fishing district belonging to Lemoiz. Be sure to take a walk along its breakwater and discover part of its flysch formations, a geological phenomenon that is truly worth seeing. And don’t leave without sampling some local cuisine in one of the harbour’s bars or restaurants.
We finish our route through Uribe in Bakio, home to another of Biscay’s great beaches. Its complete exposure to the sea makes Bakio Beach a perfect place for surfing. In Bakio, you will also have the opportunity to visit Txakolingune, the txakoli museum, and discover several historic “Indianos” houses.
We leave Bakio behind and enter Urdaibai through Bermeo. Halfway between these two charming towns on the Biscay coast, you will find San Juan de Gaztelugatxe. Remember that visits are restricted during the high season and that you will need a ticket to access the hermitage.
In Bermeo, visit its fishing port and explore its Historic Quarter. Learn about its maritime past at the Fisherman’s Museum and be impressed by the story behind the Monument to the Fishermen. What a hard life sailors had!
Continuing along the coast, we arrive in Mundaka, a surfing paradise and a town full of charm. If you are travelling by car, leave it in one of the designated parking areas on the outskirts. Walk to the Hermitage of Santa Catalina, stroll through its narrow streets, and finish at the lookout point, where you can enjoy beautiful views of both sides of the mouth of the Gernika estuary. Urdaibai at its purest!
Crossing to the other bank of the Gernika estuary and leaving behind the beaches of Laida and Laga, you will arrive in Elantxobe. This curious charming town on the Biscay coast is built on a steep slope and features cobbled streets. Ask the locals how the platform for buses works—it will leave you speechless.
Ea, the charming coastal town with the shortest name, is beautiful. If you arrive by car, leave it in the parking areas at the entrance and take the opportunity to explore its main streets until you reach the sea. The Ea River divides the town into two halves, connected by four bridges, one of them Roman and the one that appears most often in photographs.
We then arrive in Lekeitio, an essential stop among the charming towns of the Biscay coast. The narrow cobbled streets of its medieval Historic Quarter lead to the impressive Basilica of Santa María. Head to its fishing port and finish your visit by exploring the beach. If you walk out to San Nicolás Island, be careful with the tide and make sure you do not get stranded!
Ondarroa is the last town on the Biscay coast before entering Gipuzkoa. Closely linked to the sea both in the past and present, one of its most modern landmarks is the Calatrava Bridge. With an interesting medieval historic centre, Ondarroa is an excellent place to witness the unloading of fish. Don’t miss it if you visit during the bonito fishing season!
Shorter in length than the coast of Biscay, the Gipuzkoa coastline will surprise you with its cliffs and the geological importance of its flysch formations. It begins in Mutriku and ends at the border with France—or the other way around, depending on where you start.
Visit the charming towns on the coast of Gipuzkoa and relax in one of Nekatur’s rural accommodations.
Mutriku is the first charming town on the coast of Gipuzkoa. Its Historic Quarter is one of the best-preserved in Gipuzkoa and has Monumental Heritage status. Walk through its streets as you discover palaces and towers dating from the 15th, 16th, and 17th centuries. End your visit at the port and learn about its past linked to whaling. Do not leave Mutriku without visiting Nautilus, the Geological Interpretation Centre, and discovering all the secrets of the Geopark’s flysch formations.
In the urban centre of Deba, the parish church of Santa María stands out as a jewel of Basque Gothic architecture. Historically, whaling and stone extracted from its quarries were key elements of its economy. Deba Beach is a meeting point for surfers, and its cliffs form part of the Geopark’s black flysch.
Finish your flysch route in Zumaia. Walk to the Algorri Interpretation Centre, visit the Hermitage of San Telmo, and enjoy its cliffs. In the historic centre, discover the history of Zumaia among its palaces and the Parish Church of San Pedro. Itzurun Beach is a strategic location from which to watch the sunset.
Continue discovering the charming towns on the coast of Gipuzkoa with a stop in Getaria. Did you know that this is the birthplace of Juan Sebastián Elkano, the first navigator to complete a circumnavigation of the globe, and fashion designer Cristóbal Balenciaga? The medieval layout of its historic centre, nestled between Mount San Antón and the Cantabrian Sea, is well worth a visit.
You cannot leave without discovering its famous txakoli (you can visit one of its wineries), learning how anchovy preserves are made, and enjoying excellent grilled fish in one of the harbour restaurants. On egin! (Enjoy your meal!).
Zarautz is one of the leading destinations for family tourism in the Basque Country. Its seafront promenade and beach, also renowned for surfing, are clear proof of this during the summer months.
You can visit the monumental heritage of this town through guided tours organised by the Tourist Office. You will learn about its agricultural and maritime past and its present role as one of the birthplaces of Getaria Designation of Origin txakoli.
Oh, and do not leave without trying its famous “Toldotxo” pintxo. Can you guess which famous chef from Zarautz is behind its creation? Here is a clue: está rico-rico y con fundamento.
We conclude our journey through the charming towns of the Basque coast in Pasaia and Hondarribia.
The first is a municipality that cannot be understood without its port. It is the port that divides Pasaia into four districts, with Donibane and San Pedro being the two that open onto the sea.
In Pasai Donibane, colourful houses are grouped around the main street that runs the length of the bay. Some sections of the street even pass underneath the houses! Visit the Albaola Maritime Factory and the Mater Museum Ship, both of which we consider essential.
From Donibane, you can cross by boat to San Pedro. You will notice that its historic quarter is also built along a single main street, stretching from the slopes of Mount Ulía to the bay. Do not hesitate to climb the 200 metres to the summit, where you can enjoy views of the entire Bay of Pasaia on one side and neighbouring Donostia on the other.
We arrive at Hondarribia, the last charming town on the Basque coast before the French border. We call it a “town,” although it officially holds both city and town status, which gives a clue to its historical importance.
Its medieval historic quarter is one of the best preserved in the region, and its old walls are still very much present (you can even see them inside some buildings that were constructed after the walls themselves!).
Hondarribia cannot be understood without its rich maritime and agricultural heritage, and you can experience this firsthand in one of the bars along the much-photographed San Pedro Street.
If you are here on a Sunday, it is almost a sin not to enjoy a glass of txakoli and a pintxo!
Idoia Ezkurdia is the manager of Nekatur, the association of rural accommodations in the Basque Country, an organisation that brings together farm stays, rural houses, and rural apartments throughout this autonomous community. With extensive experience in the tourism sector, Idoia Ezkurdia has an in-depth knowledge of the traditions, culture, and history of the charming towns on the Basque coast. At Nekatur, she works to promote and increase the visibility of rural accommodation, encouraging a tourism model that is sustainable and closely connected to the local environment.
Yes! At Nekatur, in addition to accommodations located in charming towns on the Basque coast, you can also find rural accommodations near the beaches of the Basque Country.
Of course! Distances in the Basque Country are not very large. In just over 200 kilometres, you can visit all the charming towns on the Basque coast that we have mentioned.
You will be able to visit many attractions that will be of interest to you! To make things easier, we have prepared a selection of places to visit in the Basque Country, not only along the coast. In addition, with our Nekadiscounts card, which you will receive directly at your accommodation, you will enjoy discounts at many of these attractions.
Don’t worry, Nekatur’s reservations team will answer any questions you may have. You can contact them by telephone (943 32 70 90), by email (agroturismo@nekatur.net), or through the Nekatur contact form.
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