You may know about the rich culture, architecture, and gastronomy of Bilbao in the Basque Country, but what about the beaches? Well, Bilbao itself doesn’t have beaches, but don’t worry! In just 15 minutes by car, you can reach the amazing coastal spots of Biscay. I’ll take you there to discover these beautiful “Bilbao beaches”.

Getxo Beaches

Getxo is a charming city in the Basque Country, located only 20 minutes from Bilbao. The Old Port of Algorta is popular for its traditional bars. It also has a marina capable of accommodating cruise ships. There are no beaches in Bilbao but Getxo is the closest place where you can go to enjoy a day at the beach.

1. Ereaga Beach

This sandy beach in Getxo is located in front of palaces and beautiful mansions. It spans more than 800 meters in length and around 60 meters in width.

It’s fully equipped with services and is ideal for a family visit, with children’s games and a volleyball area. Aquatic motors, canoeing, and windsurfing are popular here.

Waves mainly break to the left, perfect for bodyboarding. These waves are short and round. However, it’s important to know that it only has good waves when the sea is really rough. It can handle waves up to 2 meters high, which is great because it’s sheltered from the strong northwest wind.

There’s another special spot on this beach called Jeffrey’s. It’s excellent for right-hand waves and is right in front of the Old Port of Algorta, inside the Bilbao estuary. But it needs big waves, and they only happen a few times each year. When the waves are right, they can be as tall as 3 meters! Getting to this spot can be tricky because you have to go through rocks or paddle for a long time.

Soccer tournaments take place in Ereaga beach every year.

By Car: Take the BI-637 motorway. It’s 13.2 km (about 18 minutes from Bilbao) There is a parking area in front of the beach.

By Metro: Take Line 1 to Neguri Station, which is about 500 meters from the beach.

By Bizkaibus: You can use Lines A2162, A2451, or A3411.

2. Las Arenas Beach

Located about 13 km from Bilbao, in the residential neighborhood of Las Arenas, this is the most popular beach in Getxo.

With fine golden sand and gentle waves, it stretches for 250 meters in length and is 25 meters wide. Las Arenas is fully equipped with every kind of service. There is also a picnic area and a skatepark, making it an ideal space for a family day at the beach.

Sailing, windsurfing, and canoeing are widely practiced on this beach.

By Car: Take the BI-637 motorway, which takes around 17 minutes from Bilbao. There is parking available for more than 100 vehicles.

By Bizkaibus: Take A3338 along the Muskiz-Barakaldo-Areeta route.

3. Arrigunaga Beach

This beach, with golden sand and rocks, extends for more than 600 meters in length and is about 60 meters wide. Situated under the La Galea cliffs, it offers an impressive view of an 18th-century windmill and the Abra port.

Arrigunaga Beach is ideal for activities like surfing and skateboarding. However, it can be potentially dangerous due to its sandy and rocky bottom. Caution is necessary during low tide when rocks emerge.

The beach generates several waves, notably those breaking behind it. A challenging right wave appears near the breakwater on high-sea days, while a high-quality point break with long rights lies a kilometer to the north, though surfable only on special occasions.

There are washing facilities as well as a skatepark and a kids’ area.

By Car: Take the BI-637 (16.3 km), which is an 18-minute drive from Bilbao.

By Metro: Get off at Bidezabal Station; the beach is just a short walk away.

4. Azkorri Beach (Gorrondatxe)

This beach, also known as Gorrondatxe, is the furthest from the town center of Getxo, and nudism is practiced here.

It stretches for 850 meters in length and its width varies depending on the tide, ranging between 60 and 120 meters. The beach is composed of dark sand and rocks and is surrounded by cliffs.

In the west, you’ll find the Akanti wave near the cliff’s tip, offering a technical left with tube sections. It can handle waves up to 3 meters high but requires a moderate swell to work. In the central and eastern areas, there are rock-breaking waves, including a powerful right and a superior-quality left. Clean wind and swell conditions are crucial for these waves.

The beach offers washing services and a game area for kids.

By Car: Take the BI-637 (18.3 km), which is about a 20-minute drive from Bilbao. There is plenty of parking available.

By Metro: Get off at Sopela Station

Accommodation:

If you intend to stay in Getxo, I recommend here the best options close to the beach for your accommodation:

Palacio Arriluce Hotel (5*) is 300m from Ereaga Beach. It offers a seasonal pool, parking, fitness center, garden, restaurant and bar. Some rooms have balconies and sea views.

Petit Palace Tamarises (3*) is a front beach boutique hotel in the exclusive Neguri neighborhood. Most of the rooms offer fantastic seaviews from their own private terraces.

Sopela Beaches

Sopela, also known as Sopelana, is another Basque town famous for its landscapes marked by impressive cliffs and pristine beaches. Mountain biking and water sports are practiced in the area. However, what attracts most visitors are its waters suitable for surfing.

1. Barinatxe or “La Salvaje”

This beach is situated between Gotxe and the town of Sopela. It’s known as “La Salvaje,” meaning “The Wild One” in Spanish, due to its untamed natural beauty. Nudism is practiced on the left side of the area.

Barinatxe is a golden, thin sandy beach, spanning 750 meters in length and 80 meters in width. It’s flanked by cliffs that are perfect for paragliding. Its strong waves offer excellent surfing opportunities.

The only services you can find on this natural beach are toilets and washing facilities.

Since 1999, this beach has hosted the Sopela Nudist Race. The competitions of 1 and 5 km take place on wet sand, coinciding with the low tide of the sandy area.

By Car: Take the BI-637 road. (18.3 km) It takes 21 minutes from Bilbao. There is parking near the beach.

By Metro: Take Line 1 to the Salabasterra Station.

2. Arrietara and Atxabiribil

Arrietara and Atxabiribil are semi-urban beaches belonging to the municipality of Sopela. They are connected by shared sands and high cliffs. Their total extension is 820 meters. This area, known as Arrietara Atxabiribil, is well-known among surf lovers.

Arrietara is a surfing hub with significant events and multiple clubs and schools. It features various beach break peaks, including El Pasillo, Sope back, and Larrabasterra.

Atxabiribil, known as El Peñón, offers beach waves over rocks, with left and right waves depending on swell direction and sandy bottoms. Nearby, El Sitio is a left-handed point break. Both beaches host sporting events.

By Car: Take the BI-637 (17.9 km). It takes about 20 minutes from Bilbao.

By Metro: Take Line 1 to Salabasterra Station. Next to the metro stop, you will find a bus station. You can either take a bus or walk for about 20 minutes to the beach.

Plentzia Beaches

The town of Plentzia is about 25 km north of Bilbao. With a population of less than 5,000 people, it receives a huge influx of visitors in the summer, causing its population to multiply by four. The reason for this is the beauty of its beaches, the historical center of the village and its lively port.

1. Plentzia Beach

This beach is located in a bay close to the center of the charming town of Plentzia.

Plentzia is a golden sandy beach that spans more than 350 meters. There is a significant variation in its width, ranging from 210 meters during low tide to 95 meters during high tide.

The beach has washing services and a children’s play area.

By Car: Take the BI-631 (28.6 km), which takes about 28 minutes from Bilbao. There is parking available near the beach.

By Metro: Take Line 1 and get off at Plentia Station, the last stop. From there, walk along a promenade for about 15 minutes to reach the beach.

2. Gorliz Beach

This spectacular golden sandy beach is located right next to Plentzia Beach. Stretching for 842 meters, it’s one of the longest beaches in the entire Basque region. It’s also one of the safest, as it is protected by the bay it forms together with Plentzia.

The tranquility of its waters makes it an ideal place for families to spend a summer day. There are nearby leisure areas and green spaces with tables, benches, barbecues, and children’s playgrounds.

It also provides essential services like showers, toilets, and water fountains.

In front of the beach, a public hospital occupies an old, elegant building that is more than 100 years old. There is a pine forest and a road that allows for a pleasant walk, leading to a lighthouse.

Furthermore, it serves as a hub for water sports like sailing, canoeing, and surfing. The annual Gorliz horse race is held on this sandy shore every December.

By Car: Take the BI-631 motorway (29 km). It takes about 32 minutes from Bilbao. There is plenty of parking available on the beachfront.

By Metro: Get off at Plentzia Station.

Accommodation:

Apartamento Bahía de Plentzia (4*) is a private apartment within walking distance from the beach. It offers a terrace, 2 bathrooms, towels and bed linen. It includes a kitchen with a dishwasher and oven.

Barrika Beaches

Barrika is a town situated between Sopela and Plentzia. There are three beaches belonging to this municipality: Meñakoz, Barrika and Muriola.

There is a distance of 24 km between Bilbao and Barrika, which you can cover in approximately 28 minutes via the BI-637 motorway.

1. Meñakoz Beach

This isolated and nudist cove is far from the urban center and near the road on the way to Sopelana.

It’s composed of more stones than sand and is surrounded by cliffs covered with greenery. The beach is about 400 meters long and has a width variation between 30 and 60 meters. Being a virgin environment, it does not offer any services.

Meñakoz is popular among surfers and hosts a world-famous wave, with heights of up to 6 meters, suitable only for experts.

2. Barrika Beach

This is a hidden beach that disappears with the tide. Composed of sand and stones, and surrounded by cliffs, it measures 600 meters in length.

Barrika is also a paradise for surfers. The sand and rock bottom create waves of moderate quality, with a notable, long, and maneuverable left.

Nudism is practiced on this charming beach.

3. Muriola Beach

This golden sand beach, also known as La Cantera, is very close to the town of Barrika. Surrounded by cliffs, it is only 80 meters long, with a width that can vary between 60 and 80 meters.

The environment is very peaceful, and nudism is also practiced here.

It gained popularity after some scenes from the seventh season of Game of Thrones were filmed here.

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