Pilgrims on the road and friends along the way send me changes every day, and they go out the same day. The Camino del Norte app carries all of it offline, and it's still being built — new features arrive routinely.
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The ground behind you: what the walk into Portugalete crosses, and where it could have been broken.
Tomorrow from Portugalete
Nothing says you have to stop here, or there. These are simply the towns within a comfortable day's walk, so you can decide tonight.
| Town | km from here | Shared | Private | The walk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pobeña | 12.1 | ✓ Yes | — No | The walk from Portugalete to Pobeña |
| Castro Urdiales | 25.2 | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | The walk from Portugalete to Castro Urdiales |
| Santullán | 28.0 | ✓ Yes | — No | The walk from Portugalete to Santullán |
| Cerdigo | 32.0 | — No | ✓ Yes | The walk from Portugalete to Cerdigo |
Portugalete was Bilbao's main rival for port supremacy in the medieval period — a competition it lost early on. What remains is a compact, atmospheric old town with medieval arches and narrow streets that feel like a miniaturized version of the capital.
The Puente de Vizcaya (Puente Colgante) is the main attraction — the world's first transporter bridge, built in 1893 and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The gondola carries pedestrians and vehicles across the river every eight minutes. Walking across the upper walkway (if you have a head for heights) provides better views.
The 15th-century Basílica de Santa María, the Torre de Salazar, and the town hall are all worth a glance as you pass through. The old town's medieval layout, stacked on a hillside above the river, is more charming than the industrial surroundings suggest.
La Virgen de la Guía is celebrated on the 1st of July, San Roque and La Virgen from August 15th to 17th.
The Puente de Vizcaya was designed by Alberto de Palacio, a student of Gustave Eiffel, and opened in 1893. It was the first transporter bridge ever built — a solution to the problem of connecting the two banks of a shipping river without blocking tall-masted vessels. The UNESCO designation came in 2006, recognizing it as an outstanding example of 19th-century engineering.
The route from Portugalete to La Arena is almost entirely on paved surfaces, and getting out of the expanses of the city require twisting and turning your way around and under the complex network of highways that crowd out green space. Much of the trail is along a dedicated bike path, separated from the highway by a tall glass divider and decorated with the silhouettes of birds. This bike path is part of a larger network of paths that connect many of the suburbs, so pay close attention at every junction. See notice below for possible confusion near La Arena.
29. June 2026 - 14:50
For 45€ I'm happy. I just checked in via Booking after no luck at Pensions Bida Ona or Buenavista (both completo) and Municipal not open yet but dodgy looking characters hanging around. My room here at Pension Norté is small but clean and cozy.
22. May 2026 - 17:57
Room very small and dark. Extremely thin walls so any noise a neighbour makes is disruptive. Wouldn’t stay here again
22. August 2025 - 12:07
The directions say that you have to navigate twists and turns under the freeway, but that's not true. If you follow the yellow line on the map out of Porugalete and go straight, you will ceoss the valley high above all the freeways on a very nicely paved bike/pedestrian bridge. Stay up - don't go down!
23. April 2025 - 19:01
The toilets and shower are so noisy next to the beds, though the beds themselves are very comfy
7. May 2024 - 11:18
The locals may stop you in the industrial park to say the I’d no access but the pedestrian tunnel wise shows does work!
1. May 2024 - 20:17
Close to hanging bridge. Clean with a great shower and very comfortable bed.
15. April 2024 - 21:49
Stayed here for 45€ a night. It’s ok, the beds are comfortable. But it’s so noisy! You can hear everything everybody does in this hotel in your room. Not sure if I would stay here again. Not if I can not choose my neighbours:P
14. July 2023 - 11:34
I arrived early and was hungry. I wanted to find a place to eat which was difficult. I founds some bars close the Del solar Plaza. All restaurants opens at 21.00 the bar owner told me.
27. September 2022 - 12:26
Pension Norte, Fair price €54. Simple and clean.close to the Camino..
Not many places to eat for dinner in Portugalete.
Ponte Colgamte worth the €7
Esta entidad ha sido beneficiaria de una ayuda del Programa de incentivos a la movilidad eficiente y sostenible (MOVES III), gestionado por la Xunta de Galicia a través del Instituto Enerxético de Galicia (INEGA) en el marco del Real Decreto 266/2021, y cofinanciada por la Unión Europea — NextGenerationEU, dentro del Plan de Recuperación, Transformación y Resiliencia.
