Near Bilbao...around Vizcaya / Bizkaia, Bilbao

It´s located in Gatika, a rural village between Mungia and Urduliz. You can go to Urduliz by metro and then take a bus to Mungia. Ask the bus driver for more information.
It´s a castle in the middle of a forest near a river. You can go inside for about 5-6€.
Once or twice a year they orgaize medieval markets.

The Funicular of Artxanda which is a small train that takes residents and those wanting to see the view from Bilbao to Artxanda. It gives its passengers a great view as it ascends (or decends) its 226 meters. Total length is 770m and takes 3minutes.

Side Note: The town of Artxanda is known for its restaurants. Take the Funicular up for lunch .

open until 10pm

This transporter bridge links the banks of the Nervion river near the sea.
It is the oldest of its kind in Europe, and still used every day by thousands of cars, cyclers and pedestrians crossing between Las Arenas-Getxo and Portugalete.
Restored some years ago, a walkway was then opened on its top, from where you have good views of the area.

Worth visiting are also the remaining villas in Las Arenas (built for rich people of Bilbao), and some old buildings in Portugalete (some turned into top class hotels).

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Elantxobe is a little fishing village hanged in the cliffs. There is not much to do in Elantxobe during the year, but is a perfect example of a fishing basque village, a nice place if you want to lose yourself and relax. Is one of these places to think about nothing and everything at the same time.

Santa Maria del Carmen, in July, is the festivity of many fishing villages in the Basque Country. This festivities used to be very popular in Elantxobe, and people from all around Bizkaia used to come here on party by organized buses. It's a pitty that in the last years there is no party any more. Such a little village was not prepared for so much people and it became a chaos. Nowadays only the locals celebrate the party, but I'm sure that a foreing person like you will be wellcome. ;-P

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Ea is a tinNy village in the coast of Viscay, close to the border with Gipuzkoa. The river that crosses the village and the old balconies over it make Ea our little Venice.
Cool and calm, is one of those places where the basque culture could be smell.

Gabriel Aresti, one of the biggest basque writers wrote:

Euskaldun artean Ean
hemen bizi naiz bakean,
euskarak ahoraen erdian
musukatzen nauenean.

Between basque people in Ea
here I live in pace,
when the basque language kisses me
in the middle of the mouth.

Aresti´s words describe perfectly what I feel when I visit this little gem.

Taking the underground (one of the most modern of Europe) to Getxo was definately a great idea. Getxo is elegant, with its beaches and villas... Some of the houses are still built in the Basque local style.

If you like surfing you shouldn´t miss Mundaka, specially during auttum and winter time, the town is very small, but very popular there are always a few vans with some foreigners looking for a good day. Mundaka is around 45mins from Bilbao.

It´s one of the few hanging bridges of Europe. It joins Portugalete and Las Arenas (Getxo) over the Nervion river. It cost 0,25€. I think that you can also crooss it walkin for more money if you want.
You can go to Las Arenas by metro and then go on foot to the bridge.

Emblemathic town in the Basque Country culture and history.
There is a oak called "Gernikako Arbola" that means "The tree of Gernika" .
Every new king of Spain has to admit and sing the basque "foruak" (laws and privileges) under the tree in the past.
It´s a simbol of the basque nationalism.
It´s a required visit if you want to know the basque culture.
Most of the city was destroyed by the nazi´s planes in the WW2. Picaso´s famous picture "Gernika" is based in that fact.

It´s another touristic village in Bizkaia. There is no train so you´ll have to reach there by car or bus.
Here is San Juan de Gaztelugatxe, it´s one of the most famous places of Bizkaia. It´s a church located in the top of a rock in the sea. One image says more than thousands of words!!
It´s also a popular place for surfers, quite good waves!! The is an old skatepark also.