Getxo (Bilbao) Oct 21 Trip Report, including a Hike

[Cruisehiker]

Having been to Bilbao before we spent a day in the cruise docking town of Getzo, which is also an up market beach resort/suburb for the city. You can do a half mile or so walk along a pier from the terminal to the promenade, which stretches for miles in either direction. Walk south and you pass large villas of impressive architecture, small marinas, a secondary shopping area (just inland) and after about 1.5 miles the very impressive and world famous C19th transporter bridge. This is a high level structure which supports a gondola carrying cars and passengers that shuttles across the river (google it). There are some pleasant cafes next to it with a view of the operation.  Alternatively walk north and you pass a very pleasant and expansive beach, can then climb up steps to the old fisherman’s quarter and higher still to the modern town centre. If you’re energetic there is a paved path running for 4-5 miles around the headland with lovely coastal views. You can either do a shortish out and back to a scenic headland, or carry on. Your exit will then either be a) to walk into Sopelano for the metro station or bus back to the ship, or b) the slightly shorter option which we did of diverting from the coastal path a short distance to the Azkorri parking lot (on Google Maps). The regular A3411 bus starts there and takes you to the entrance to the port (half mile or so walk to the ship) or, if you stay on as we did, to the transporter bridge for 1.6 euros. With some stops for coffee, picnic lunch and rest it took us about four hours to walk from the boat around the coast to Azkorri, 20 minutes bus ride to the transporter bridge, and then about 40-50 minutes walking back from the bridge along the promenade to the boat, where we well ahead of the all aboard time. About 20,000 steps in total. All in all a very enjoyable and relaxed day that also burnt up some of the cruise ship calories!