Bilbao - Drive along the scenic coastal road and reach the Bay of Biscay
This road trip through the Basque Coast will discover amazing beaches, incredible lookouts, cute villages, stunning cliffs, unbelievable islets, and a unique bridge.
You will visit the quaint coastal villages that pepper the Basque Coast: Getaria, Zumaia, Guernica, and the impressive island of San Juan de Gaztelugache. Absorb the tranquil ambiance of these picturesque marinas on this enriching day trip.
Your private driver/guide will pick you up from your hotel in San Sebastian to drive along the scenic coastal road N634, which takes you along the Bay of Biscay—the gulf of the northeast Atlantic Ocean located south of the Celtic Sea.
You will have fantastic photo opportunities of this beautiful location from 2 spectacular viewpoints (from the bridge itself). Still, you will not make the whole walk to the summit of the island and back, as it requires a timeframe of at least 2 hours.
This stunning drive will end in Bilbao, where you will spend the next few days. Your driver/guide will undoubtedly suggest a few places on the way to grab some pintxos or raciones. Still, we recommend something quick and casual as the journey is long, and you wouldn't want to miss anything—overnight in Bilbao.
Getaria: The attractive medieval fishing settlement of Getaria is a great place to get a feel for the authentic coastal Basque culture. The old village tilts gently downhill to a small harbor and a short but charming beach. The town’s most famous son, the sailor Juan Sebastián Elcano, was the first man to sail worldwide after the captain of his ship, Magellan, died halfway through the endeavor.
Zumaia is where the green mountains suddenly meet the Atlantic Ocean! The village is the gateway to the great cliffs of the Basque Coast Geopark, a geological wonder spanning 60 million years.
Guernika: on April 26th, 1937, during the Spanish Civil War, the town was razed to the ground by German aircraft sent by Hitler to support Franco’s troops. When Picasso painted the
Guernika, in 1937, could not have imagined that the vision of the bombing would become a warlike ant symbol. Be introduced to the Basque History, in the heart of the Basque Nationalism. That harrowing April day left a deep mark on the city's identity. Following the war, Gernika was quickly reconstructed, and although it lost its historic buildings, the narrow lanes of the center are today brimming with life. You'll find some excellent museums that deal with the bombing and the indestructibility of Basque culture through the ages.
San Juan de Gaztelugache is an awe-inspiring island located just off the shore along the Bay of Biscay and connected to the mainland by an artificial stone bridge. The views to and around the island are simply beautiful. At the island's highest point, there is a tiny church dedicated to John the Baptist. The island also has an intriguing history. Throughout the years, it has housed a convent, served as a prison for Basque witches during the Spanish Inquisition, been used as a defensive outpost for the lords of Biscay, and was even ransacked by Sir Francis Drake.
What's included?
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Breakfast
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Accommodation
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Tour