Las Arenas, Ereaga, Arrigunaga and Gorrondatxe-Aizkorri in Getxo, Barinatxe (La Salvaje) and Arrietara-Atxabiribil in Sopela, Plentzia and Gorliz are all stretches of sand a short distance from Bilbao. You can do everything on the beach, from sunbathing to doing sports or walking along the shore of the Cantabrian Sea.
In Getxo, only 13km from Bilbao, is closest beach. Las Arenas (Areeta Station) lies next to the wharf of Txurruka and the Bizkaia Bridge. Close by is a sailing club and plenty of places to eat. An ideal beach to do windsurfing, sailing or canoeing.
Located between the Old Port of Algorta and the Arriluze Quay is Ereaga (Neguri Station), flanked by stately homes and mansions. The fine-sand beach is 882m long, which makes it great for playing football or volleyball. When the sea is calm and the sun is warm you can go diving, but when it is rough, the surging waves are perfect for surfers.
Close to Bidezabal Station, also in Getxo, is Arrigunaga beach, perfect for surfers and lovers of water sports in general. At the foot of the cliffs of La Galea, the views of the Aixerrota Windmill are amazing. Far from the town centre and closer to Berango is Gorrondatxe-Aizkorri, a volcanic black-sand beach with mighty waves and clean waters. Actually, it is a nudist beach framed by cliffs and dunes. You can get there by bus.
Halfway from Sopela to Getxo is Barinatxe beach (Larrabasterra Station), also known as La Salvaje (salvaje means ‘wild’ in Spanish). Its name derives from its powerful waves. Framed by cliffs, La Salvaje is, like Aizkorri, a nude beach. Windy as it is, Barinatxe is ideal for surfing and paragliding. In the summer, there is a bus running from Sopela and to the beach.
Routes
Past Getxo, the beaches in Sopela, Plentzia and Gorliz can be reached by public transport from Bilbao too. Bizkaia’s farthest beach is Plentzia, easily accessible by metro as well as by Bizkaibus buses.
Beyond Getxo, in Sopela, Plentzia or Gorliz, there are beaches that can be reached by the Metro Bilbao underground
La Salvaje is one of the two beaches in Sopela, the other one being Arrietara-Atxabiribil. Get off at Larrabasterra Station to head to this 826m-long beach, one of the most extensive stretches of sand in Bizkaia. In the summer, a bus route connects the town with the beach.
Plentzia, the most popular beach in Bizkaia, is on a beautiful bay close to the town centre. You can also walk along the bay down to Gorliz beach. Both beaches are great for swimming and doing water sports like surfing, bodyboarding or canoeing. To get there by underground, get off in Plentzia Station. In addition, there are Bizkaibus buses that run from Bilbao to Plentzia.