Getxo, what to see and do.

Getxo, what to see and do in one of the most beautiful towns in Euskadi.

Getxo, what to see and do on the shores of the Abra Bay. Located just 20 minutes from the urban center of Greater Bilbao, on the Basque coast, we find one of the most complete municipalities of the entire Cantabrian coast. An urban nucleus, in which the Basque culture and history is very present. An obligatory visit during any trip to Euskadi. All these statements can be easily argued just by mentioning some of its most important attractions, and is that, the Bizkaia Bridge, the Old Port of Algorta, the Mill of Aixerrota, the cliffs of Punta Galea or the walk of the Grandes Villas are just some of the treasures hidden in this Basque town. Sceneries that make clear the great potential that Getxo has. Every corner, every “txoko” of this municipality hides a story worth knowing. The beaches, the cliffs and the forests that we find between the limits of Getxo, turn this municipality into a privileged enclave. Natural spaces, which, together with the 5 neighborhoods that officially make up the municipality (Las Arenas, Algorta, Romo, Neguri and Andra Mari), form an attractive tourist destination. In this article you will find places both inland and on the coast of Getxo, places that will help you plan your getaway to get to know this town. But Getxo is not only a town to see, it is also a town to enjoy. In this aspect, we must make special emphasis in the great number of plans that the tourist office has catalogued during these last years. A wide range of possibilities, among which we find activities to do on the coast, monumental routes, active tourism experiences, gastronomic experiences, family plans or routes to know the local commerce. It is impossible to be more complete. This is not the first time we talk about Getxo. And is that, due to the large number of attractions that we find in getxotarra soil, there are many articles that we have published over the years. Some reports, which we wanted to group to create our own tourist guide of Getxo. A perfect publication for all those people who are looking for what to see in Getxo and its surroundings. Throughout this report we hope to answer all the questions you may have about this town, if not, we advise you to send us your questions through the comment system that you will find at the end of these lines. Do you want to know what to see during your trip to Getxo? Read on!

Getxo was created in the 12th century around the Church of Andra Mari, an urban center in which they lived from agriculture, shepherding, fishing or milling. One of these activities, fishing, led some of these inhabitants to build their homes in the upper part of the port of Algorta, a unique and picturesque space that today enamors thousands of travelers: the Old Port of Algorta. Industry did the rest. The golden age of the industrialization of Bizkaia meant that Getxo was home to the homes of many of the businessmen of that time. A fact that makes that nowadays we can walk along the so-called “Paseo de las grandes villas”.

What to see in Getxo.

Here is a summary of all the places we recommend you to visit in Getxo. In addition, we have taken the liberty of adding some of the most striking tourist attractions in the area. We hope you like them. In case you are looking for a specific place, we recommend you to use the comment system that you will find below these lines, we will try to answer as soon as possible.

Bizkaia Bridge: This suspension bridge was listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2006. A work of engineering and architecture. A unique transport in the world. You should know that, besides being able to use this transport to cross the estuary and reach the neighboring town of Portugalete, you can also make a visit to its upper walkway. On sunny days, the views are simply breathtaking. Highly recommended. More information: Bizkaia Bridge, the suspension bridge of Greater Bilbao.

Muelle Churruca: This pier located in the neighborhood of Las Arenas, was designed and built by the engineer Evaristo de Churruca y Brunet. Hence its name. This structure was created at the end of the 19th century in the last stretch of the Nervion estuary, before reaching the Bay of Biscay. We must remember that this area was a space of marshes and dunes. A place that changed a lot depending on the tides. It was the latter, the tides, which created huge sandbanks that prevented the navigation of merchant ships. Many ships succumbed to this natural element, so many that it became known as the “sand bar”. Thus, the Churruca docks, located on both sides of the estuary (Portugalete and Las Arenas), altered the currents of the Abra until these fearsome sand walls disappeared.

Areeta Beach: The beach of Areeta or Las Arenas, is one of the 5 sandy beaches that the municipality of Getxo has. A beach of fine sand 250 meters long, which, located in one of the most important residential areas of Getxo, offers a bath to all those who do not want to waste time in displacements.

Real Club Marítimo del Abra: The Marina of the Real Club Marítimo del Abra – Real Sporting Club is one of the most emblematic marinas in Bizkaia. Although today, these two clubs form a single body, in the past it was not so. The current club is the result of the merger of the Real Sporting Club and the Real Club Marítimo del Abra, founded in 1898 and 1902 respectively. These two clubs decided to merge in 1972 to form a space with more than 200 moorings for boats between 6 and 25 meters in length.

Paseo de las grandes villas: A few meters from the sea, stand some of the most important buildings in the town. Authentic architectural jewels that enjoy spectacular views over the Bay of Abra. Through this tour we will know some of the most representative buildings of the golden age of Getxo. Undoubtedly, one of the most beautiful urban walks of the Basque coast. Among all the buildings that we will find on our walk, the Lezama Palace – Legizamon, a palace of the eighteenth century, which will surprise you.

Castaway house: After the walk of the great villas we arrive to the castaway house of Getxo. A structure built between land and sea, which formerly housed the Castaway Rescue Society. Its aesthetics reminds us of the typical farmhouses of the interior of the Basque Country. What about you?

Getxo Aquarium: This aquarium located in the Getxo Marina offers the possibility of observing the different ecosystems of the Cantabrian Sea and Indo-Pacific Ocean through 26 aquariums. This is how we find a beautiful variety of fish, corals, algae and crustaceans. More information: Getxo Aquarium, a space full of life. Getxo Aquarium is currently closed permanently.

Getxo Marina: This marina, inaugurated in 1997, is located at the entrance of the port of Bilbao, in the inner bay of the Abra, next to the beach of Ereaga. We are undoubtedly one of the most important marinas in Bizkaia. Here we find all the necessary services for sailing and water activities (sailing, rowing, jet skis…). In addition, there is a leisure area where we can enjoy restaurants, bars, cinemas or stores among others. Annexed to this marina are the cruise terminals of Bilbao. One of the most important links between the Basque Country and the rest of the world.

Cruise port of Bilbao: The cruise terminal of the Abra is one of the most attractive areas for cruise lines. This is how Getxo has welcomed some of the most famous and luxurious cruise ships in the world in recent years. More information: Bilbao Port Cruise Terminal, how to get there, where to park, what to see and much more.

Galleries of Punta Begoña: What was once the house of Horacio Echevarrieta, has become one of the greatest historical heritage of the town. And it is that the galleries of Punta Begoña, were an important part of the mansion that this Basque businessman had in front of the beach of Ereaga. One of the most special 20th century buildings in Bizkaia and Euskadi. From this peculiar balcony, Horacio could see the iron mines of La Arboleda and the left bank. Spaces of great industrial importance of which he was the owner.

Ereaga beach: Ereaga beach is perhaps one of the most important urban beaches in Getxo. Located between Algorta and Las Arenas, this beach surprises us with more than 800 meters of fine sand. A unique spot, which takes on greater prominence thanks to the Old Port of Algorta, the Marina and the impressive cliffs that surround it. Undoubtedly one of the most popular beaches near Bilbao.

Old Port of Algorta: The old port of Algorta is the old fishing port of the town. A space, which today preserves in all its splendor the atmosphere of the past. We recommend walking its steep and narrow streets while enjoying the local gastronomy. Do not forget to have a drink in the emblematic stairs of the lower part of the “Old Port” while you enjoy the sea and its charms. Undoubtedly one of the most demanded spaces by the own getxotarras.

Usategi: A luxury viewpoint. A place that, located next to the Old Port of Algorta, offers one of the most striking views of the area.

Arrigunaga Beach: This sandy area located next to the cliffs of La Galea, is another of the urban beaches available in this town of Bizkaia. Unlike the previous one, the seabed is made of sand and rock, so it can be somewhat dangerous when practicing water sports. Caution.

Aixerrota Mill: Located on the cliffs of La Galea, the Aixerrota Mill is one of the few windmills found in the Basque Country. Its location, on a high point, facing the Bay of Biscay, facilitated the entry of strong winds that moved its enormous blades in order to be able to grind the corn of the area. This mill is a faithful representative of all the windmills that were built at the end of the 18th century due to a severe drought that caused the production of the water mills to drop alarmingly. The Aixerrota windmill was built between 1726 and 1727 and ceased to be in operation in 1787. After the drought, most of the mills were converted into houses. This one, however, has become home to one of the most famous restaurants in the area: Cubita Restaurant.

Punta Galea Cliffs: The cliffs that separate Getxo and Sopela, give us one of the most striking and beautiful spaces of the Biscayan coast. In addition to being able to enjoy one of the coastal walks with the best views of all Euskadi, we can also enjoy the rich ecosystem found in these parts.

Fort of La GaleaThe great industrial activity of the port of Bilbao and the mines on the left bank had a direct impact on the expansion of Getxo. Thus, in 1742 the so-called Castillo del Príncipe (Prince’s Castle) was built, today known as the Fort of La Galea. A defensive space that was created to monitor the entry and exit of merchant ships that made the trade routes between Euskadi and Europe.

Aizkorri beach: Gorrondatxe beach, also known as Aizkorri beach, is one of the quietest beaches in Getxo. Away from the city center, this beach is located in an environment of great natural value. Witness to this is the “golden nail”, which, embedded between the rocks of the cliffs that guard this beach, indicates that it is a special place geologically speaking. The fact that during most of the year it has more grass than sand, always arouses the interest of visitors. A beach worth visiting.

Getxo Cliffs RouteWalking among the cliffs of the town is a must. This route starts at the Aixerrota Mill, near Punta Galea and ends in Armintza, passing by the beaches of Sopela. Amazing landscapes worth visiting. A route that we highly recommend.

Neguri Golf Course: This golf course is part of the Real Sociedad de Golf de Neguri, a club formed in 1911, which formerly had an 11-hole golf course in Leioa and which, since 1961, has one of the best golf courses in the Basque Country. The 18-hole course, par 72, has a total of 6,200 meters located a few meters from the sea. An impressive space. More information in our article about golf in Bilbao.

La Salvaje Beach: Barinatxe beach, popularly known as “La Salvaje”, is located between the municipalities of Sopela and Getxo. A sandy area, which as its nickname indicates, has different characteristics from the rest of the sandy areas of the municipality. The fine sand, the cliffs, the wind, and its rough waters, make it one of the most natural beaches in the region. One of the most popular beaches for surfing. Also, this beach has a naturist area on one of its sides. One of the most popular beaches near Bilbao.

Bolue Wetland: This wetland is another of the natural enclaves to take into account in the municipality of Getxo. And the fact is that this space of 12 hectares of extension, keeps in its interior a great representation of our fauna and flora. An area in which the Gobela river and the Bolue stream join to form a space of great charm. This space is included in the Territorial Plan of Wetlands of the Basque Country.

Hermitage of Santa Ana: Located in a residential area, between parks and trees, the hermitage of Santa Ana is one of those special spaces in Getxo. Founded in 1864 by Francisca Labrocha, widow of Máximo Aguirre, this small hermitage has become one of the greatest representatives of neo-Gothic architecture in Bizkaia.

What to see near Getxo.

In the vicinity of Getxo, we find very interesting places to visit. And is that the province of Bizkaia keeps in its interior spaces with a lot of charm. Places that we recommend you to visit with your eyes closed.

Boat tours in the estuary of Bilbao: The boat tours along the estuary of Bilbao, have become a great option for people who want to tour the riverbed of the estuary without wasting a lot of time in displacements. In addition, the fact that they tell us the history of the places we visit through an audio guide and its low cost, make it one of the most demanded experiences in the capital of Bizkaia. If you are interested in these activities, you can book them here.

San Juan de Gaztelugatxe: This enclave has become in recent years one of the most visited areas of the Basque coast. A very special place that we recommend you to visit. In addition, in case you do not want to go up to the hermitage, in case you do not want to make any effort, you can take the boat route to San Juan de Gaztelugatxe. A boat trip of the most attractive. You can book this experience in Basque waters by clicking here.

199 things to see in Bilbao: Bilbao is a city full of charms. An urban center, which we recommend you to visit through our star article about the capital of Bizkaia: “199 things to see in Bilbao“. A tourist guide in which we have provided different and unique spaces that we hope you like. Perfect spaces to complement your getaway to Getxo.

Casco Viejo of Bilbao: The Casco Viejo of Bilbao, the 7 streets, is the place where we find the origin of the town. A magical space, where we find stores, bars, restaurants, museums and many other places of interest. One of the most striking corners of Bilbao. History, culture and a lot of tradition. The soul of the city.

Viewpoints of Bilbao: Due to the nature of the city, due to the geographical situation of the capital of Bizkaia, there are dozens of viewpoints. This urban nucleus is located in a botxo, in a hole. In this sense, we must say that some of the most emblematic mountains surrounding the city and some of the tallest buildings, make that we can see the city from a bird’s eye view, from the heights. More information: The 9 viewpoints of Bilbao.

What to see in Sopela: Sopela, an urban center known for its beaches and its great surfing tradition, perfectly complements the other areas mentioned in this article. If you want to know more about this urban center, we recommend you to read our article “Sopela, what to see and what to do“.

What to see in GorlizThe always impressive bay of Plentzia, welcomes us by sea to what is one of the most demanded towns in the summer season. Gorliz, a quiet and charming town, has always been one of the most coveted places for the locals to spend the summer. In this aspect, we must emphasize some of the attractions of the municipality as the lighthouse, the beach, the dunes or the bunkers. We are sure you will like it.

What to see in La Arboleda: The mining past of La Arboleda turns this municipality into a different space. The wooden houses, the old mining reserves and the mining museum of the Basque Country are just some of the attractions of this small town on the left bank. If you want to know in depth this area of Bizkaia, we recommend reading our article: La Arboleda, what to see and what to do.

What to see in Bermeo: This town has been, is and will be, one of the municipalities with more fishing tradition of all the Gulf of Biscay. A town full of charms, in which the port is the main protagonist. We recommend reading our article “Bermeo, what to see and do“. A perfect report to discover the secrets of this Basque town.

What to see in Urdaibai: This area, declared a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 1984, is one of the most visited natural enclaves of our territory. In it we find magical places like the beach of Laga, charming villages like Elantxobe or the always striking Oma Forest. More information: Urdaibai, 22 places to see and enjoy.

Family routes in Euskadi: The coast and interior of Euskadi give us thousands of trails to walk. Some routes, of which we have selected those that for us are the most beautiful and enjoyable. If you come to Euskadi with children, we recommend you not to miss our article “routes to do with children in Euskadi“. We hope you like them.

Paragliding: Paragliding represents one of the most demanded experiences on the Basque coast. Especially in the towns of Sopela and Getxo. That is why we recommend you to read our article about paragliding in Sopela. We are sure you will love it. Remember that you can book this experience at the best price and quickly and safely from our booking center, from here.

What to do in Getxo.

The tourist office has catalogued a large number of things to do in Getxo, a great sample of the possibilities that this coastal town offers. Here is a selection of all the possible things to do in Getxo. In case you have any questions, do not hesitate to use the comment system of this article to send them to us.

Pintxos: Pintxos are one of the great representatives of the gastronomic culture of Euskadi. A great sample of our gastronomy in miniature. In this regard, we recommend a gastronomic tour through the center of Las Arenas and Algorta to taste these delicacies of our land. In case you do not have enough time to make this gastronomic tour, we recommend you to take advantage of the visit to the Old Port of Algorta to check in first person the quality of these miniature culinary creations. By the way, if you opt for the latter option, don’t miss the Idiazabal crunchy croquettes at Itxas Bide Taberna. They are worth it.

Getxo Taxi tourIf you are looking for a sightseeing tour to know the most striking places of the town, we recommend you to use Taxi Tour. This initiative was designed to show visitors the most beautiful corners of Getxo without wasting a lot of time in displacements. This is how Getxo Taxi Tour allows us to make a circuit where you can discover the most emblematic resources of Getxo in just 20 minutes. This service, called Costa Monumental, has a cost of 15€ per cab (4 people maximum per cab). If you want to go deeper, there is a route called “Getxo in depth” which lasts 60 minutes and costs 28 € per cab. This service, like the interior, includes brief stops to take photos or simply enjoy the views.

Jet skis: Jet skis are a fun and safe means of transport with which to travel along the coast of Biscay. In this sense, the company Getxo Water Sports offers a unique opportunity to enjoy Bilbao and surroundings from a jet ski. We recommend you to read our article “Jet ski rental in Bilbao“. We are sure you will love it.

Sailing routeGetxo is a coastal town and this can be seen in all the activities that the people of Getxo do. Many of them are developed in the sea, among all of them, we must emphasize the boat trips. This activity that we recommend, offers us the possibility of knowing the environment from a different perspective than usual. We encourage you to read our article on boat rentals in Getxo so that you can know all the details of this activity.

Kayak routes: The protection of the outer Abra dikes make the Abra Bay and the estuary of Bilbao a very pleasant space for the practice of canoeing. In this sense, we recommend that you take a look at our article on kayaking routes in Getxo, a different and original activity to discover some of the most emblematic areas of the town from the sea.

Fishing trips: Fishing in the Basque Country is a different activity, an experience that attracts the attention of people looking for unusual experiences. And the fact is that fishing in the middle of the Bay of Biscay, in the open sea, has many charms. More information: Fishing in Euskadi, trips to the high seas.

Route through the flysch of Bizkaia: The route through the Flysch of Bizkaia shows us the history of the land. A very educational and fun route that takes us to explore some of the most striking cliffs of the Basque coast. More information: Flysch of Bizkaia.

Cooking workshop: The restaurant Tamarises Izarra offers us the opportunity to learn the secrets of some of its star dishes. This cooking workshop that Javier Izarra teaches in its facilities, allows us to learn some of the most used techniques in the best restaurants in Euskadi. A perfect experience for cooking lovers. More information: Cooking workshop with Javier Izarra.

Getxo Events: Getxo is one of the most dynamic municipalities of Bizkaia. An example of this is the extensive program of events available throughout the year. Here is a representation of the most important events in the town. In case you want to find out more about these and other events, we recommend you to read our article 10 events in Getxo that you can not miss.

Videos about Getxo.

Over the last few years we have published several videos about Getxo on our YouTube channel. Of all of them, we have selected 2 for you to check the stunning beauty of this Basque municipality. Also, if you like to discover new plans and destinations, we recommend you to subscribe to our channel, we are sure you will find dozens of videos that will catch your attention.

As you have seen, we have provided you with a long list of places and experiences to see and do in Getxo. We hope we have quenched your thirst for information about Getxo. In any case, you should know that the tourist office is located next to Ereaga Beach, a few meters from the Hotel Igeretxe, do not hesitate to come and ask for more information. We invite you to leave your opinions about Getxo and its tourist attractions, do not forget that it is not necessary to register to leave a comment. Ondo pasa!