Basque Coast Tour: Vizcaya Bridge, Gaztelugatxe, Bermeo and Gernika
Bilbao, Spain
Basque Coast Tour: Vizcaya Bridge, Gaztelugatxe, Bermeo and Gernika
Bilbao, Spain
- 7 hours (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
Overview
Go beyond the beaten path and discover a side of the Basque Country that many first-time visitors miss on a tour of coastal highlights from Bilbao. See the intriguing industrial areas that propelled Bilbao into prosperity and visit the Transporter Bridge of Bizkaia and the San Juan de Gaztelugatxe hermitage. Visit the quaint coastal villages that pepper the Basque Coast and learn more about local culture than you would if exploring alone.
- Save yourself hours of planning travel logistics
- Transportation by vehicle helps you see more in less time
- Don't waste time waiting for trains or walking between sights
- Insight from your guide adds context to what you see on the Basque Coast
What's Included
Meeting and Pickup
Itinerary
Additional Info
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
4.2
based on 73 reviews
Sort by: Most insightful
Caitlin_A, Aug 2025
This tour gives you a good opportunity to experience the highlights of the Basque Coast near Bilbao, and is a good length to do so. However, be aware that each stop is quite quick and there is no lunch stop, so come prepared with food if 3pm would be a late lunch for you!
Johniene_D, Jun 2025
All the stops were great. Reviewing the pictures helped us understand how nice it was. We enjoyed being with a local guide.
rosav_l, Oct 2024
we couldn't understand the tour guide. Other couples were saying the same thing, He was very polite and organized but difficult to follow the info of the sites
HAOYU_L, Jul 2024
It was an amazing tour, however, could have stayed in each stop for a bit longer, since every stop was amazing
Manish_U, May 2024
Great way to get a glimpse of a lot of interesting and beautiful places. Our guide, Stefan, made it awesome with his knowledge of where we stopped off as well as of places we passed along the way between stop offs.
Pedro_J, Jul 2023
I enjoyed this trip very much. Pascu, is a very pleasant guide and showed us the best views. It was a small group so we learned a lot.
James_O, Feb 2023
Very informative tour the your guide spoke great English. They say time flies when you’re having fun.
This happened. So much history.
Jennifer_P, Sep 2022
This was a well organized trip. It was exactly as described. Most stops were short and more of a photo opportunity. It didn’t bother me. The only place I wish we had had more time was when we stopped in Bermeo. We barely had time to walk around and get back to the bus. We had grabbed food from a vendor as we were running back to bus and had to hold it until the next stop because there is no eating on the bus( which I totally understand). I think the last stop in Gernika could have been eliminated to add more time to Bermeo. The bus was comfortable and clean. The guide was informed and helpful.
Richard_F, Sep 2022
Excellent tour and guide. Saw a good sampling of Basque Country Good first day in Spain Recommend it to anyone 👍
Anne_G, Jul 2022
The tour delivered what it promised. But a lot of time (45 minutes) was spent driving around Bilbao picking up people from hotels. The tour had about 30 passengers. Only in Bermeo did I feel we had enough time to explore. Other stops were brief photo-ops. Our guide, Stefan, did an excellent job but the itinerary was not under his control. Some people were upset that we did not see the mural and market square in Guernica, instead we walked to a hollow tree trunk sacred to the Basque culture - which was interesting in a different way. Later my husband and I visited some of the sites and spent more time so we were glad that we went on the tour to discover these.
Keith_M, May 2022
Stefan managed a complicated set of hotel picks and dual languages well, interesting overview of the area and its history.
Jhoeland_M, Oct 2021
I had a great overview of the Basque history from Gernika and the daily lives of the locals. A glimpse into the historical houses of the aristocrats was a great add on and the Butron castle.
The ride and the several stops along the Basque coast is not to be missed. The people their livelihood and the terrain that shape the locals was a great eye opener.
The picturesque and small quaint villages were just so mesmerizing.
Stephane was a great tour guide. Multitasking and managing the wheels at the same time. He did give a great understanding and melding things together for his tour.
This is a nice piece of heaven I must say, truly a world heritage site that everyone must see at least once in their lifetime.
Emily, Aug 2021
Beautiful things to see but very little time for interaction. You see the bridge, but cannot ride it. You see a castle but cannot walk around our inside it. You see the wall from game of thrones but cannot descend it. Best part was the time spent around Gernika and the explanation of the tree. The trip was good but could be great if extended to a full day. Spanish stronger than English but Stephan held his own- very polite.
Response from Host, Sep 2021
Thank you for you comment. As it is a half day tour, it gives a general view of all our jewells. Hope you will come in a near future in order to discover them with more time :)
Flora_2012, Aug 2021
Compact survey of the Basque landscape and culture.
Interesting parcour with short photo stops, friendly quides.
LiMei_N, Jul 2021
Our tour guide is very professional and it’s nice to pick us up from hotel. Overall spent 5 hrs to see those amazing scenery around Bilbao is great!
Robert_C, Jul 2021
Vizcaya bridge, was interesting as I am an engineer but the time Bermeo was very nice as well. Both guides were very informative and attentive.
Carolyn_G, Sep 2019
Stephan did a great job informing our tour in Spanish and in English. Really enjoyed my time on this tour.
Response from Host, Nov 2019
Dear client,
Thank you for your comment. We will transfer your feedback to our guide.
Bill386, Mar 2019
The day was very busy, visiting 4 very interesting places.Each place was very distinct, and with the presentation by the guide Stefan, led to a good understanding of the basque culture and government
Response from Host, Nov 2019
Dear client,
Thank you for your feedback.
Eduardo C, Sep 2018
I took this tour thinking we were visiting that island on the picture where the Game of Thrones was shot but disappointingly just visited a look out to see the island from afar. All in all the tour was good. The guide was knowledgeable and gave insights to the fight of the Basque people. It was amazing visiting these little known Basque town on our way to Guernica.
Response from Host, Nov 2019
Dear client, I am glad to inform you that we have a new tour in order to visit San Juan De Gaztelugatxe: Gaztelugatxe Reach the Top full day tour. I hope you will visit us and you could enjoy it!
Zena_R, Jul 2018
The tour that we wanted and signed up for was not the tour we were on. We were very dissapointed that the tour discription on Viator did not match the tour we were on. The tour dates and descritions did not match. The tour we were on was for people who do not want to walk and sit confortable in a bus and see sights. Since, I have kids we wanted a tour that was more interactive . We left the tour midway through as the kids were bored with it. The tour is good for people who do not want to walk and who are very very interested in Basque History.
Response from Host, Nov 2019
Dear client, Thank you for your feedback. We have changed the itinerary and description in order to avoid misunderstoods with future clients! Sorry for the inconveniences generated!
Viviana M, May 2018
WARNING: DO NOT TAKE THIS TOUR IF YOU WANT TO SEE SAN JUAN de Gaztelugatxe . Because you simply won't. You will be taken to a far away viewpoint the farthest of the two and you can see half of it from faraway.
I booked this tour to see San Juan de Gaztelugatxe from Bilbao. I made a search using viator search tool and I chose the only tour that said had san juan de gaztelugatxe as one of the stops for Saturday. The tour page had even a nice picture of San Juan another picture of San. Juan would feature predominantly in the confirmation voucher both COMPLETELY MISLEADING!!! to illustrate the point that the tour would stop there. The description on viator page said:... Eventually arriving at your second stop, San Juan de Gaztelugatxe.. and continued to praise its beauty. WHICH YOU WON'T SEE!!
Then I took the tour the morning I booked it for and when it came to San Juan de Gaztelugatxe, they took us to a viewpoint the further away one, as I discovered on my own there was another one reachable by cars and a lot closer. They lied to my face saying it was the only one reachable by car, but a taxi came later to pick me up from a closer location and a better Mirador -viewpoint. I hate when people lied to you because they think you won't find out. I went on my own and found out their claims were false where you could hardly see the site too far and covered by trees, I have attached a picture of what we saw from there. Tell me you can call that viewing a site: what a joke! and that, according to them, was that. Our second stop at the site was not at the site, we spent 4 minute, were given a very short explanation of 2 minutes the other 2 minutes were used by me complaining that was not acceptable and they wanted to move on.
I felt so cheated. So cheated. We did not see the site, we had a glimpse of it!!!! And this was simply taking the piss out of consumers!!! Really, look at the picture I have enclosed which does not resemble the ones on viator at all and honestly tell me that counts as seeing the site. Obviously not.
My only reason to take the tour was to see our second stop. But I WANTED to SEE it!!!
Anyway, the information provided to me were clearly incorrect and false! I didn't receive what I was promised.
I would have never paid for this tour had I known I would be so cheated and not taken when stated in the description!!! I certainly want a refund!!!! This was a joke!
Also tip: you can reach the other destinations by bus and it will cost you about 4 euro. And you will also spare yourselves the Basque propaganda.
Obviously this way of doing things simply translates into trying to get money out of people providing the wrong information!!!
Anyway, just don't choose this if you want to see San Juan de Gaztelugatxe. You would be wasting your money and time.
Response from Host, May 2018
TOUR OPERATOR COMMENT: Thank you for your feedback. We're sorry to hear you did not enjoy your tour experience and regret any misunderstandings while you were on tour. Please be advised, we have another tour, "Gaztelugatxe, Reach the top," which is the best option to visit San Juan de Gaztelugatxe. You would have had to select this option when placing your booking to receive 2-hours of free time in the area to explore at your leisure. The Basque Coast tour only stops at the viewpoint for a short explanation and photos. This is a 5-hour tour and visits many different places, which is why time is more limited at this stop. We are disappointed to learn you did not continue with the tour and instead chose to leave half-way through but hope you were still able to enjoy your overall time in Spain.
Chase, Jul 2017
Ok tour to get lay of the land but not very detailed. some of the major sites you just drive by and see like Butron castle - seen from distance and thought we would get up close. Main site of the hermitage also just see from distance. Bus seats were way too small and not comfortable. ..
FEDERICO_N, Aug 2016
Good tour, experienced guide with overall good service. We focused the day on the Basque culture, which we appreciated a lot. But one thing let us disappointed: due to lack of time we skipped the Butron Castle, which was shown us through the guide's i-phone. We didn't understand this actually, because in fact we thought the time for a quick visit was enough. We think that to give a high service the tour leader should make as much as possible to guarantee all the tour steps. Anyway, recommended if you don't want to drive by yourself
Arlene C, Jul 2016
We had a wonderful time on our tour. Our guide Stefan was knowledgeable, informative and entertaining, he was great! The scenic drive was pleasant. We really enjoyed Casa de Juntas in Gernikara Guernica and having pintxos with our guide. I only wish there was time to explore San Juan de Gaztelegutxe, perhaps it should have it's own tour. Overall, we had a great time. Definitely recommend this tour.
Richard H, Nov 2015
My wife and I went on this tour with our 21 year old son - the three of us had a very nice day in this small group tour. Pedro was an excellent driver and guide - very friendly and knowledgeable about everything that we saw and experienced. Much appreciated.
William C, Oct 2015
This tour showed us the overall Basque coast and the history of the people. The tour guide Pedro was very informative and made the tour interesting. The driver of the van was very good also, however the company should maintain the vehicle better. Something was wrong with the van and we had to pull over.
Lydia S, Jan 2015
An interesting and informative guide who took us through a most magnificent area of Northern Spain. Gary was truly a delight. Money very well spent. The photography of the areas is well worthwhile.
izzie, Oct 2014
Great fun and extremely informative. We were lucky enough to get Garai as our guide on both the tours we took and he was great!
c_s, Oct 2014
Interesting trip with Garai, a very enthousiastic guide.
Lucy A, Oct 2014
The trip was varied and interesting. Garay, the guide, was friendly and very knowledgeable.
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