1. Greater Bilbao and its river estuary.
Boat trip from Bilbao to the Vizcaya Transporter Bridge, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, before visiting Santurtzi.
This activity is an opportunity to discover Bilbao and its outskirts from a unique and memorable perspective during a cultural-river trip along its river estuary. The boat trip will leave from Bilbao and last for 120 minutes.
Along the route from Bilbao to the mouth of the River Nervión, you will have the opportunity to learn about the important role of the river estuary in the history of Bilbao, as a decisive factor in the transformation of the industrial city to a service and cultural capital. The trip will take you past the vestiges of its industrial past with the buildings of the former shipyards, the Olabeaga workshops, the Molinos Vascos Building, and the Altos Hornos de Vizcaya ironworks.
The boat will dock in Santurtzi, a small town with a greater seafaring culture and known for its two ports: the fishing harbour and the Port of Bilbao, which is the largest commercial port of the territory. Portugalete is just a pleasant 15 minutes’ walk along the promenade from Santurtzi, and is a chance to enjoy the views of the boats and out to sea.
Lunch will be at the Hotel URH Palacio de Oriol, a mansion built in the 19th century and declared a historical heritage site of the municipality. Over the years, leading members of the upper class would stay in this imposing building when they visited Portugalete.
After lunch, you will then visit Portugalete and its medieval old town; and then take in the sights along both banks of the river estuary by crossing the Vizcaya Bridge, the oldest transporter bridge in the world and which has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Passengers cross the bridge on its gondola and you will have the chance to go up to the pedestrian walkway on the highest part of the bridge and enjoy the breathtaking views over the Abra bay.
Once on the other side, you will be Getxo, where you will have time to take in some of the beaches closest to the city of Bilbao and a promenade lined with the former mansions and townhouses of the upper classes and bourgeoisie.
At the end of the tour, you will make your way back to Bilbao, which is easily reached from the Metro subway stations.
