Bakio is a small beach village on the Bizkaia coast, 21 km north of Bilbao in a straight line, with an open surf beach, a txakoli wine museum and San Juan de Gaztelugatxe 2.4 km along the cliffs. You get there by car via Mungia, or on the Bizkaibus A3518 from Bilbao. It suits surfers of all levels, families who want a beach with summer lifeguards, and anyone visiting Gaztelugatxe; skip it if you want calm water or a lively town, as the beach takes the open swell and the village is quiet outside summer.
Quick facts
- Name: Bakio is the official name, used in Basque and Spanish alike; OpenStreetMap names the beach Bakioko Aritza.
- Where: 48130 Bakio, Bizkaia, in the Uribe area between Mungia and Bermeo, ringed by the Burgoa, Garbola and Jata hills (Basque tourism board).
- Coordinates: 43.4308, -2.8048 (the beach, OpenStreetMap).
- Size: 16.80 km² and 2,781 inhabitants (Basque tourism board).
- Beach: an open sand beach in the village centre, with a promenade along its length and surf practically all year (Basque tourism board).
- Wine: Bakio’s txakoli belongs to the Bizkaiko Txakolina designation of origin (Basque tourism board).
Access and parking
By bus: Bizkaibus line A3518 runs between Bilbao and Bakio (OpenStreetMap); it stops at Bentalde, by the beach, and Olaskoetxe, at the western end. For Gaztelugatxe, the Basque tourism board says line A3518 can be combined with a summer bus from Bakio to Bermeo or, on winter weekdays, a taxibus; check timetables before you travel.
By car: roads arrive from Mungia to the south and from Bermeo to the east, past Gaztelugatxe (OpenStreetMap). OpenStreetMap maps several car parks behind the beach: Parking La Benta near the centre (tagged free), Parking Portuondo to the west, and Parking Areaga and Parking Bistaeder at the eastern end near the San Pelaio viewpoint. The tourism board lists parking among the beach services. We found no official information on capacity or charges.
From the airport: Bilbao Airport is 17 km away in a straight line (OpenStreetMap).
What to expect
The beach. The Basque tourism board describes a beach with left and right-hand peaks in three areas: a powerful right in the west that only breaks on big days, a central peak called El Callejón, and Peñas Rojas, where a sand and rock seabed gives high-quality waves. It calls the beach suitable for surfers of all levels, with a local club, two surf schools and important surfing events. A promenade runs along the back of the sand, and because the beach is in the village centre, services and leisure areas are close at hand.
Txakoli. Bakio has grown txakoli, the smooth, young, fruity wine typical of the Basque Country, since the late 14th century, and the tourism board credits its microclimate, the sea and the soil. The Txakolingunea museum, on the road into the village, explains the wine with large audiovisual displays and includes a tasting in every visit. On 19 March, the feast of San José, the village launches the new vintage.
Gaztelugatxe and the viewpoints. East of the beach the coast road climbs to the San Pelaio viewpoint and on towards San Juan de Gaztelugatxe, the hermitage on a rock islet joined to the shore by a stone bridge and a 241-step staircase, which the Basque tourism board lists as a protected biotope. A free access ticket is needed to visit it. The Askada and Jata viewpoints give views over Bakio from the hills (Basque tourism board).
The village. Heritage is modest: the parish church of Santa María de la Asunción, the Gothic church of Andra Mari at the foot of Mount Jata, small hermitages, and the Baroque Elexpuru and Ormatza palaces (Basque tourism board).
Practical details
- Beach services: lifeguards from 11:00 to 20:00 in summer; toilets, showers, fountains, surf courses, bicycle parking, sports and children’s facilities, and parking (Basque tourism board, checked November 2026). Camping on the beach is banned.
- Txakolingunea: Basigoko Bide Nagusia 3, tel. +34 946 028 513. November to April 10:00–14:00; May, June, September and October Monday to Saturday 10:00–14:00 and 16:00–18:00, Sunday 10:00–15:00; July, August and Easter daily 10:00–15:00 and 16:00–19:00. All visits are guided and include a tasting; the museum says booking is essential because capacity is limited (Basque tourism board, checked November 2026). We could not confirm the ticket price.
- Tourist office: in the Txakolingunea building, tel. +34 946 193 395. November to April Tuesday to Sunday 10:00–14:00; May, June, September and October Monday to Saturday 10:00–14:00 and 16:00–18:00, Sunday 10:00–15:00; July, August and Easter daily 10:00–15:00 and 16:00–19:00 (Basque tourism board, checked November 2026).
- Walking: the long-distance paths GR 123 (Bizkaiko Bira) and GR 280 (Uribe) pass through Bakio (OpenStreetMap).
- Fiestas: San José and the new txakoli on 19 March, Andra Mari on 15 August, and the patron saint’s fiestas of San Juan Dolozak at the end of August (Basque tourism board).
Accessibility and safety
Bakio is a very open beach with waves almost all year, so currents can be strong: swim between the flags during lifeguard hours. Beginners should surf with one of the schools and keep away from the rocky parts of the seabed. The promenade is flat, but we could not confirm adapted beach access or amphibious chairs. The walk at Gaztelugatxe involves a steep descent from the road and 241 steps.
Best time to visit
For a beach day, July and August, when lifeguards are on duty and the summer bus to Bermeo runs. For surf, the tourism board says the beach has waves practically all year. Come on 19 March for the new txakoli, or in late August for the village fiestas. Get the free Gaztelugatxe ticket and, if you want the museum, book Txakolingunea before you go.
Nearby alternatives
- San Juan de Gaztelugatxe, 2.4 km away: the hermitage on a rock islet, reached by a bridge and steps.
- Bermeo, 6.8 km away: one of the main fishing ports of Bizkaia, with its Fishermen’s Museum.
- Mundaka, 9.0 km away: the village at the mouth of the Urdaibai estuary, known for its left-hand wave.
- Isla de Izaro, 9.8 km away: the island off Bermeo and Mundaka.
- Getxo, 19.1 km away: town beaches and the Old Port of Algorta at the mouth of the Bilbao estuary.
- Bilbao, 20.9 km away: the city at the other end of the A3518 bus line.
Distances are in a straight line from Bakio beach.
FAQ
How do I get to Bakio from Bilbao?
By Bizkaibus line A3518 from Bilbao, or by car via Mungia. There is no train or metro to Bakio.
Is Bakio good for surfing?
Yes. The Basque tourism board calls it ideal for surfers of all levels, with waves practically all year, a local club and two surf schools.
How far is Bakio from San Juan de Gaztelugatxe?
About 2.4 km in a straight line along the coast to the east. You need a free access ticket to visit it.
Is there parking at Bakio beach?
Yes. OpenStreetMap shows several car parks behind the beach, including Parking La Benta near the centre, tagged free.
Can you visit the txakoli museum in Bakio?
Yes. Txakolingunea is open all year with seasonal hours; all visits are guided, include a tasting, and need booking.
Sources and freshness
Checked 9 November 2026 · 6 sources Show
Checked 9 November 2026. Official: Basque tourism board on Bakio (location, heritage, viewpoints, size, fiestas), Bakio beach (waves, services, lifeguards), Txakolingunea (address, hours, visits) and the Bakio tourist office (address, hours); San Juan de Gaztelugatxe (protected biotope, 241 steps, bus connections, free ticket). The town and museum websites were not reachable. Location, bus lines and stops, car parks, hiking routes and distances: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Photos: Wikimedia Commons, licences as credited.
How this page is made. CostaMap is written with an AI editorial system run by Ebizapple. This page is based on the sources listed above. Last updated 9 November 2026. Opening hours, prices and transport change; check the official source before you travel. How we work · Partner links and ads