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San Juan de Gaztelugatxe

San Juan de Gaztelugatxe: Our most recommended tours and activities

Bilbao: San Sebastián & S. Juan de Gaztelugatxe Guided Tour

1. Bilbao: San Sebastián & S. Juan de Gaztelugatxe Guided Tour

Explore the Basque Country with a guided tour starting in San Sebastian around the old town to see San Vicente's Church and the Basilica of Santa María del Coro. Step back in time as you learn about the local history and visit important sites such as the Plaza Mayor, Plaza Gipuzkoa, and Town Hall.  Enjoy the atmosphere of San Sebastián as you stroll around Plaza Mayor and Plaza de la Constitución. Arrive at the port, one of the most important places in the area. Learn about the fires that devastated a large part of the town. Get your camera ready for photos of La Concha Bay.  Walk around the Town Hall, one of the finest buildings in the city, until arriving in the Ensanche de San Sebastián. Visit the city's lungs, Plaza Gipuzkoa and Plaza Okendo, greenspaces that are surrounded by the Urumea River. After the guided tour is finished, you will have some free time to explore or purchase some of the typical pintxos, or small plates. The tour will end in San Juan de Gaztelugatxe, an islet that can only be accessed by a pedestrian path. Go on a panoramic tour of the area and discover the area’s dreamlike cliffs which were featured in the HBO series, Game of Thrones.

From Bilbao: Gaztelugatxe, Gernika, and Mundaka Group Tour

2. From Bilbao: Gaztelugatxe, Gernika, and Mundaka Group Tour

The estuary of the Urdaibai River has many attractions that can be enjoyed in a short trip from Bilbao. The hermitage of Gaztelugatxe, which was the set for Dragonstone in the Game of Thrones series, is a good starting point. Whilst there, enjoy the sea views in contrast to the towering nearby mountain. Take your time and climb up the 241 stairs which take you to the top of Gaztelugatxe, where you can ring the bell three times according to tradition. Following that, the coastal town of Mundaka allows you to see firsthand how old fishing traditions are still maintained in the present day. You then travel from Mundaka to reach Gernika, where rural and agricultural traditions are mixed with their varied histories. Gernika is an important reference town in Basque history, being home to the ancient tree where the medieval kings of Spain swore to respect local laws. It is also where the German bombing took place during the Spanish Civil War, destroying much of the city. At the conclusion of your experience, your driver returns you back to Bilbao.

From Bilbao: Gaztelugatxe, Bermeo and Gernika Tour

3. From Bilbao: Gaztelugatxe, Bermeo and Gernika Tour

Departure from Bilbao and direct transfer to San Juan de Gaztelugatxe, where we will have two free hours to make the journey across the stone bridge with 241 steps to the top. Gaztelugatxe was one of the places where Game of Thrones was filmed, so as we cross the bridge, it will seem as if we are ascending to Dragonstone. Next, we will leave Gaztelugatxe behind to visit the Biscayan town of Bermeo, a beautiful fishing village with a deep-rooted seafaring tradition, where we will take a walking tour. Our last stop will be Gernika, the Basque town that gives its name to the famous painting by Pablo Picasso, where we will visit its Assembly Hall, one of the few buildings that survived the bombing that took place during the civil war, and its famous Tree of Gernika, a symbol of Basque society.

From Bilbao: Basque Coast Tour

4. From Bilbao: Basque Coast Tour

Follow the river road of Bilbao towards the coast and admire the old industrial areas that once powered Bilbao. You will visit the Transporter Bridge of Bizkaia, the oldest bridge of this type in the world, still active and considered a beloved icon by locals. Afterwards, you will see the neighborhood of Neguri and its old mansions owned by rich industrial managers before you head towards the interior of the province. Admire the traditional local houses and farmhouse structures, and discover the imposing old Castle of Butron. Arrive at the coastal village of Bakio, a popular summer holiday destination among Basque natives, before you follow the beautiful and wild coastal road to arrive to San Juan de Gaztelugatxe.  This place is said to be one of the most beautiful locations along the Basque coastline. It is an impressive islet with a hermitage on top and it is connected to the mainland by means of a long stone stairway. Next, you will continue to the fishing town of Bermeo. Here, you will stop to visit its port. Later, you will head to Gernika, seeing the magnificent views of the Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO on the way. In Gernika you will visit the Basque Sacred Tree and the Assembly Hall before returning to Bilbao.

From Bilbao: Vizcaya Bridge, Gaztelugatxe, Bermeo & Gernika

5. From Bilbao: Vizcaya Bridge, Gaztelugatxe, Bermeo & Gernika

Discover some exciting and historic locations on the Basque Coast on this half day tour. We will travel along the river of Bilbao, discovering the interesting industrial past of the city and once we arrive to the coastal area, we will stop at the Transporter Bridge of Biscay, a UNESCO World Heritage designated site. We will see the Bridge from below (no access). Eventually we will arrive to the Biosphere of Urdaibai and we will see the views of San Juan de Gaztelugatxe from its lookout point located at the distance, a filming location of the famous TV series “Game of Thrones” (note: there is no trekking route included to Gaztelugatxe hermit). Later we will stop in Bermeo, an important basque fishermen village and have a nice brake with a tasting of a quality pintxo. Finally, we will stop in Gernika, and enjoy a visit to the interesting area of the Assembly house and Tree of Gernika.

From Bilbao: Half or Full-Day Game of Thrones Guided Tour

6. From Bilbao: Half or Full-Day Game of Thrones Guided Tour

Dive into the real Game of Thrones experience during a tour of the incredible filming locations for Season 7. Walk in the footsteps of Tyrion, Daenerys, and Jon Snow as you explore incredible landscapes. First, walk along King's Landing beach, filmed at Muriola Beach in Barrika. Explore the location where Davos Tyrion and Gendry had to flee from the Gold Cloaks. After that, head to a medieval-like castle at Butron Castle. Take some photos with cloaks and swords and feel like a Lord or a Lady of Winterfell. Next, continue the tour with a visit to the Dragonstone Fortress at San Juan de Gaztelugatxe in Bermeo. Climb up 241 steps just like Daenerys and feel like a true Khaleesi. Take a lunch break in Bermeo where you can enjoy pintxos, tapas, and a local white wine called txakoli. Finally, make the last stop at Dragonstone beach where Daenerys first walked when she finally came back home. Filmed at Itzurun Beach in Zumaia, this 60million-year-old beach was the perfect choice to set Dragonstone.

From San Sebastian: Gaztelugatxe and Guggenheim Museum Tour

7. From San Sebastian: Gaztelugatxe and Guggenheim Museum Tour

Discover Biscay, the Basque region that surrounds Bilbao, on a full-day trip from San Sebastian. Fall in love with the charming 10th-century fortress of San Juan de Gaztelugatxe and climb its 241 stairs to get to the top. Explore the world-famous Guggenheim Museum with included tickets. Depart from San Sebastian after being picked up from your hotel. Arrive at San Juan de Gaztelugatxe and find yourself at Dragonstone, as the seventh season of Game of Thrones was shot here. Embark on a steep climb and be rewarded with fascinating views of nature. After recovering from the steep path, head to Bilbao, the financial capital of the Basque Country. Get a glimpse of the architectural and traditional beauties of this wonderful city, including the Guggenheim Museum. Step into the iconic museum and discover its exhibit before returning to San Sebastian.

From San Sebastian: Guggenheim and Basque Coast Day Trip

8. From San Sebastian: Guggenheim and Basque Coast Day Trip

A day trip in a van through back roads of the Basque coast, visiting historic town and unique natural landscapes, ending up in the most cosmopolitan city in the Basque Country. The road has curves (a few) but there will be plenty of stops to breathe the sea air and contemplate the horizon. The French philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau wrote: “Gernika is the happiest town in the world. Their affairs are governed by a board of peasants that meets under an oak tree and always makes the fairest decisions ”. And here we go, to the city bombed by Nazi planes in 1937 that inspired one of the most well-known paintings in the world, Picasso’s mural-sized “Guernica”. We will visit the city and, of course, the tree under which the (we hope) “fairer decisions” are made. Memorize this name: ‘Urdaibai’ and try to pronounce it well (it’s not easy, we know) because you won’t forget it. Declared a Biosphere Reserve by Unesco, Urdaibai is a large estuary at which mountains, rivers, the sea and large stretches of sand come together. Depending on the tide and time of day, the landscape (and the dozens of birds that inhabit it) may be radically different. We’ll also stop at Mundaka, a hot spot on the world's ‘surfaris’ routes: its beach has one of the most (possibly the most) perfect waves on the planet, with a left-hand break. Some call it “Dragonstone,” but its name is San Juan de Gaztelugatxe, an islet connected to the ground by a line of 241 stairs and crowned by a hermitage. Gaztelugatxe became ultra-famous after appearing in the Games Of Thrones series disguised as Dragonstone: Though the 'castle' is a cgi effect, everything else (dizzying cliffs, sharp rocks, flocks of birds, the noise of the sea ...) is rabidly real . The people of Bilbao have always claimed that their city was the capital of the world. When the Guggenheim museum opened in 1997, that prophecy came true and the building became an architectural phenomenon whose influence has spilled over into the rest of the city. The people of Bilbao say that the museum is actually the “doghouse” of Puppy, the iconic statue that welcomes you at the entrance (Basque ironic mode on). We’ll get to know the building and its main works of contemporary art.

Bilbao: Txakoli, Gaztelugatxe, & Urdaibai with wine tasting

9. Bilbao: Txakoli, Gaztelugatxe, & Urdaibai with wine tasting

Depart Bilbao to visit the incredible Biscay Coast. Our first stop will be San Juan de Gaztelugatxe, an incredible islet with a hermitage on top famous for being one of the filming locations of Games of Thrones, where we will discover the magnifient views from a viewpoint. We will then continue the route thought Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve to arrive in Mundaka, a beautiful fishing town, where we will enjoy a walking guided tour. Later, we will access Ekoetxea, an enviromental center and finally we will enjoy a guided visit in a local winery, where we will learn everything about Txakoli, the famous basque white wine, and will taste the best wine and local products before returning to Bilbao in the afternoon.

Basque Country: Game of Thrones Private Sightseeing Tour

10. Basque Country: Game of Thrones Private Sightseeing Tour

Take a private tour of Basque Country with an English-speaking guide and see the award-winning Game of Thrones come to life. Explore the set locations, remarkable beaches, and extraordinary landscapes where Jon Snow, Tyrion Lannister, and Daenerys Targaryen were filmed during the making of season 7. Departing from San Sebastian, your guide will drive along the impressive coastal road from Zarautz to Zumaia. You’ll likely know this as Dragonstone Beach, where, in the famous scene, Daenerys Targaryen returns to Westeros with her army.  After another drive through spectacular Basque Country, the next stop is Gaztelugatxe: Dragonstone Castle. It's a lengthy 45-minute hike to get to the Island – but if you prefer you can take photos from the scenic overlook. The final stop on the tour is in Barrika, where you will visit 2 spectacular beaches where scenes from King’s Landing were filmed. You’ll end the tour feeling like you’ve seen the glory and spectacle of Westeros for yourself.

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What people are saying about San Juan de Gaztelugatxe

Overall rating

4.3 / 5

based on 448 reviews

This was a really enjoyable day trip and a good way to spend a day if staying in Bilbao. There was lots of opportunities to ask the guide questions but also time to spend exploring on your own.

Highly recommend this tour. San Sebastián is beautiful and if you’re planning a visit to northern Spain, should definitely include it with your visit.

Great views, in wide variety. Both some physically intense and some relaxing moments. Great guide.

On time pick up was great and our Guide Stefan was excellent with a great understanding of English

It's a very good opportunity to travel in beautiful and unique places.