4 Towns Near Bilbao That You Should Know
Bilbao is one of the most popular places for tourism in northern Spain. Not only its people, its monuments and its atmosphere will delight us from the first moment. Also its food, its museums and its history will captivate us. However, it is worth getting out of the city to discover some really charming towns near Bilbao.
Towns near Bilbao that you should not miss
There are towns near Bilbao with incredible natural landscapes, beaches and history. If you were planning a trip to the north of Spain, take advantage of the trip to the Basque city to get closer to these wonderful towns.
1. Castro Urdiales
A seafaring city with an incredible historical heritage. It already belongs to Cantabria, but it is only 30 kilometers from Bilbao.
First of all, there you should visit the “Old Puebla”, that is, the old town, declared a Historic-Artistic Site. In it you must visit the castle-lighthouse, the medieval bridge and the ruins of the Romanesque church of San Pedro.
The medieval atmosphere that is breathed in the old case of Castro Urdiales encourages you to enter its streets to get lost knowing its history. Its historic center will become a labyrinth full of corners full of magic that you will not want to leave.
However, another of the most important attractions of the city are its beaches. The beautiful coastline that surrounds these landscapes is full of cliffs. Some of the best known beaches are Ostende, Brazomar, El Pedregal and Oriñón, the surfers beach.
One of the most visited beaches is, without a doubt, Brazomar, due to its small bay. Ostend is an artificial and very quiet beach, unlike El Pedregal, since it is a natural environment full of stones.
2. Portugalete
Another of the towns near Bilbao is Portugalete, where we are offered an incredible offer of museums and monuments. This place is one of the main urban centers in the province of Vizcaya.
Portugalete is located at the mouth of the Bilbao estuary. Here you can see the famous Vizcaya bridge, which has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. It was the first metal-frame ferry bridge to be built in the world.
Its historic center is medieval in character and is full of steep and narrow streets. Located in the old town, we find the Basilica of Santa María and the Salazar tower, from the 14th century. The basilica is a Gothic-Renaissance temple and the tower, which is located in the upper part, is one of the most emblematic buildings of the city.
3. Bermeo
This town is located in the Busturialdea region. It is one of the most important fishing villages in the Basque Country. In fact, for centuries its economy was based on fishing, especially whales.
To get to know Bermeo there is nothing like starting with the old port, its most picturesque place. There, you will enjoy the color of their houses. Afterwards, take a leisurely stroll through the old town, which hides beautiful buildings, such as the town hall, the Ercilla tower, the church of Santa Eufemia or that of Santa María de la Asunción.
4. Mundaka
Another of the towns near Bilbao that you have to visit. It is 40 kilometers from the Basque city and, like so many others, it grew up around a fishing port. This, together with the hermitage of Santa Catalina and the church of Santa María, are its great attractions.
But if there is something that stands out about this town, it is its wonderful surroundings. From Mundaka you can contemplate the island of Izaro, Mount Ogoño and the estuary, an essential place in the Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve that, of course, you must visit.
And a very important aspect that we cannot overlook: Mundaka is one of the most sought after places by surfers. The reason: its left wave which, they say, is the best in Europe and one of the best in the world. A wave that can reach 5 meters in height and 400 meters long.
