Discover the most beautiful villages near Bilbao with our excursions and guided tours.
The towns near Bilbao offer us a good number of places to see and enjoy. We must remember that Bilbao, capital of Bizkaia, is one of the most visited urban centers of Euskadi. A town, which today represents the gateway to all the towns that we are going to mention. Although in this list of towns near Bilbao we find inland and coastal areas, they all share the same characteristic, they all have a special charm. Today we present to you what we consider to be the most beautiful villages near Bilbao, the same ones we visit during our excursions and guided tours. Would you like to visit the most beautiful villages near Bilbao with us?
Information about towns near Bilbao.
- Quotations and reservations: Here.
- Duration: Several days.
- Attractions: Nature, culture and history.
- Activities: Boat trips, guided tours, hiking trails, excursions and much more.
Balmaseda.
This town located on the border with Castilla y León, in the interior of the province of Bizkaia, is located about 30 minutes from the capital of Bizkaia. Among its most important attractions are its medieval bridge, its historic center and the Museum of berets the Encartada.
Elantxobe.
This is undoubtedly one of the most particular urban centers of the towns that we recommend to visit in the vicinity of Bilbao. A fishing village, which is located literally on the cliffs of Urdaibai. Its narrow streets and its port create an idyllic destination to enjoy the sea. We must remember that Elantxobe is located next to the cape of Ogoño, a great mass of stone that offers stunning views of the Basque coast.
Markina Xemein.
Located in the interior of the province of Bizkaia, 45 minutes from Bilbao and 20 minutes from the coast, Markina Xemein offers us to enjoy its historic center and its passion for the basket tip. In addition in the vicinity we have other attractions such as the monastery of Zenarruza(Ziortza Bolibar) or Antsotegi.
- Guided tours for groups: Here.
- More information: Markina Xemein.
- Distance from Bilbao: 54 km
- Duration from Bilbao: 45 minutes.
Lekeitio.
Located on the Basque coast, 1 hour from Bilbao, we find one of the most beautiful villages of Euskadi. Among its most emblematic attractions are its beaches, the island of San Nicolas, the church of Santa Maria de la Asuncion or the lighthouse of Santa Catalina among others. We must also mention the path of Lea, Lea ibilbidea, one of the most beautiful routes in the area.
Orduña.
Orduña is the only town in the province of Bizkaia. An urban center located 30 minutes from Bilbao, which stands out for its historic buildings and its strategic location. Orduña is very close to natural areas of great beauty such as the Nervión waterfall, the Delika Green Path, the Gujuli waterfall, the Corraladas waterfall, the Maroño reservoir or Sierra Salvada, among others.
Bermeo.
Bermeo is known throughout the world for its fishing tradition and San Juan de Gaztelugatxe. Also because it was the capital of Bizkaia until 1602. An urban center, in which we can enjoy a guided tour, a guided visit to a fish cannery, an excursion to San Juan de Gaztelugatxe from Bilbao, a boat trip in Urdaibai, fishing for bonito or swimming with sharks among others.
Getxo.
Getxo is one of the most complete urban centers of Bizkaia. A municipality that has stunning beaches, dizzying cliffs, the most important marina in Bizkaia, the picturesque old port of Algorta and Bizkaia Bridge among others. Remember that Getxo offers a wide range of activities to do, among others, water bike routes, boat rentals, paragliding, jet ski routes or guided tours.
Mundaka.
This small and coquettish Basque town known internationally for its magnificent left wave, offers visitors much more than a paradise for surf lovers. Clear examples of this are its beaches, the ferry to cross the Urdaibai estuary, its historic center, its port, hiking trails or boat routes.
La Arboleda.
This small urban center represents one of the most important mining settlements in Euskadi. It is also one of the most demanded green spaces to enjoy leisure activities in Bizkaia. And it is here where we find spaces like the golf course of Meaztegi or the labyrinth of La Arboleda. Remember that very close to here we find the castle of Muñatones and the Serantes mountain.
- Guided tours for groups: Here.
- More information: La Arboleda.
- Distance from Bilbao: 22 km.
- Duration from Bilbao: 25 minutes.
Ea.
This small and quiet seaside town is in fashion lately. Especially among all those media that are looking for clickbait to monetize their business. And the fact is that Ea is the shortest town name in the Basque Country. In any case, we must mention the hallmark of this urban center, its bridges. And it is that from the pier to the urban center we find 4 bridges that unite the 2 banks creating an idyllic landscape.
Durango.
Located between mountains, in the interior, we find one of the most emblematic urban centers of Bizkaia. Among all its attractions, its historical and cultural heritage stands out. Nearby, we can enjoy activities such as Shepherd for a day, bike routes in Euskadi, or hiking trails such as the route to Pol Pol. In summer, we can also enjoy refreshing spaces such as Pozubaltz and the Oromiño waterfall.
Plentzia.
This coastal town located at the end of line 1 of metro Bilbao, has a wide beach and a beautiful old town. As if this were not enough, it has an estuary that encourages us to enjoy nature as we walk along its banks until we reach the Castle of Butrón. If you are interested in this proposal, we recommend reading the article on the route from Plentzia to Butron Castle. Remember that Plentzia also has the only underwater winery in the Basque Country. We can also do canoeing or paddle surfing in the estuary, do not hesitate to contact us.
Ondarroa.
Ondarroa, popularly known as Ondarru, is another of our great fishing ports. A nucleus of great maritime tradition, in which we find a historic center full of life. Among its attractions are the old bridge and the church of Santa María.
Other towns we recommend.
As many of you already know it is very difficult to write a list of the most beautiful villages near Bilbao. And luckily we have very nice urban centers less than 1 hour from the capital of Bizkaia. As we do not want to leave out the towns that we like, we leave you other urban centers that can also be a good option.
Video.
As usual in all our publications, we have created a short video for you to see what awaits you in each of the villages we mention in this article. In case you like this kind of videos, we encourage you to subscribe to our YouTube channel to discover all the places and experiences that we recommend in Euskal Herria. We are waiting for you!
Excursion to the villages near Bilbao.
As many of you already know, we offer excursions to get to know all or some of the towns near Bilbao. A great option for groups that want to know Euskadi with a local guide. Remember that this excursion can be complemented with other tourist services such as boat trips or visits to Txakoli wineries. If you are interested in this option, we recommend that you contact us so that we can send you information and a quote.
Guided tours.
In case you do not have time for a full day excursion, we encourage you to take one of the guided tours that we offer to the groups that visit us. Remember that we offer guided tours for groups in almost any town in the Basque Country. Do not hesitate to contact us.
Frequently asked questions and tips.
If you decide to visit any of the towns near Bilbao that we mentioned, we recommend you to take a look at our tips. Also to the most frequent questions that people who travel to Euskadi ask us.
- If you are not going on one of our excursions or guided tours, we recommend that you plan your visit to these villages in advance, especially in high season.
- Many of the towns mentioned above have cobblestone streets, so we recommend that you wear comfortable shoes.
- Between visits we recommend you to enjoy our gastronomy, either through our traditional pintxos or a good restaurant.
- We recommend you to hire a tour guide in Euskadi, so that they can show you the history, traditions and culture from a close and entertaining point of view. Do not hesitate to ask for a quote.
- What is the best town to visit near Bilbao if I have little time? Getxo is an excellent option. In addition to being less than 15 minutes by car from the center of Bilbao, Getxo has several metro stops.
- Is it necessary to rent a car to visit these towns? Although all the towns we mention have public transportation, in some cases it is not the best option to reach them. So the car is not necessary, but it is recommended.
- What is the best time of the year to visit these towns? Most of them double the number of inhabitants in summer, so we recommend to avoid traveling in high season. For this reason, spring and autumn are the best times to visit these towns.
- Do you offer customized excursions for groups? Yes, we can customize all the excursions we offer in Euskadi. We recommend you to take a look at our article about the best excursions to do from Bilbao.
As you have seen, the towns near Bilbao are a perfect destination to enjoy during any getaway to the capital of Bizkaia. We encourage you to ask us any questions you may have. You can use the comment system that you will find below these lines. We will try to respond as soon as possible. Ondo pasa!
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