Best of Basque Country: Epic Day Trip to San Juan de Gaztelugatxe (Dragonstone!)

While Basque Country is known for cities such as Bilbao and San Sebastian, some of Pais Vasco’s greatest treasures lie along the region’s rugged and incredibly picturesque coastline. For those looking to wander outside of the city and experience the natural beauty of the seaside, then a day trip to the stunning San Juan de Gaztelugatxe is a must! The church, dramatically perched atop an island, looks like something straight out of Hollywood…which is probably why the site is better recognized as Dragonstone by Game of Thrones fans.

If you’ve been reading this blog for a while, then you probably know I’m a huge Game of Thrones fan, and one of my favorite things to do is visit GOT filming locations around the world. So far I’ve visited locations in 6 countries-Croatia, Morocco, Iceland, Spain, Malta, and I even did my own Game of Thrones tour of Northern Ireland! San Juan de Gaztelugatxe has been on my Spainish bucket list since I first moved to Spain 2 years ago to teach English, so I knew I had to squeeze in a visit during my trip to Basque Country!

Game of Thrones fan or not, if you are planning a visit to Basque Country, then I highly recommend adding a day trip to San Juan de Gaztelugatxe to your itinerary, as it is sure to be a highlight of any visit to Pais Vasco. 

How to Get There

By car: After visiting Basque Country, I have to admit that renting a car is probably the best way to get around. While there is excellent public transportation between cities such as Bilbao, San Sebastian, and Vitoria, there are so many beautiful sights along the coast (San Juan de Gaztelugatxe being one of them) that a road trip is probably the best way to experience the beauty of the mountains and coast for which the region is famous. You’ll have more flexibility and be able to stop at any beach or coastal town your heart desires.

• From Bilbao: ~50 minutes driving
• From San Sebastian: ~1:45 minutes driving

Public Transport from Bilbao: If you’re visiting the region and don’t plan on renting a car, you’re in luck! There is public transportation available from Bilbao to San Juan de Gaztelugatxe. I will warn you though that before visiting myself, there was lots of conflicting information online about how to get there and when buses were running. You’ll have to take 2 busses to get directly to San Juan de Gaztelugatxe, however, on weekends, the second bus doesn’t run so you will have to walk from Bakio or Bermeo.

There are two bus lines that stop in the nearby towns of Bakio and Bermeo:

• Bizkaibus line A3518 Bilbao-Mungia-Bakio: ~37 minutes (Bakio is ~5km to San Juan de Gaztelugatxe,~1.5 hours walking)
• Bizkaibus line A3527 Bilbao-Mungia-Bermeo: ~43 minutes (Bermeo is ~10km to San Juan de Gaztelugatxe, ~2.5 hours walking)

Weekdays: There is a second bus you can catch (Bizkaibus line A3524) that runs every 2 hours from Bermeo to Bakio and it stops at San Juan de Gaztelugatxe. However, I did not visit on a weekday, so I was not able to take the bus!

Weekends: If you visit on a weekend or fail to catch the second bus, then you will have to walk or take a taxi to San Juan de Gaztelugatxe. If you plan on walking, then you may want to take the bus from Bilbao to Bakio, as it is closer to San Juan de Gaztelugatxe than Bermeo.

I visited early on a Saturday morning and when I arrived in Bakio, there were no taxis (or even people) in sight! The walk is along a road, so it’s not exactly a beautiful trail, but it was pleasant enough and only took me about 1.5 hours, even with a sprained ankle!

Tickets

The sight is increasing in popularity, so be sure to grab a ticket online here before visiting. I visited during spring, so it wasn’t the prime tourist season, and no one checked my ticket. However, it’s better to be safe than sorry, especially when visiting during the busier summer months! You’ll also want to get a ticket so you are visiting during opening hours!

About San Juan de Gaztelugatxe

The spectacular San Juan de Gaztelugatxe dates back to the 9th century, however, throughout the ages various structures have been built such as a hermitage, church, and convent, and the island was even used defensively.

In 1886, the dilapidated remains of these structures were destroyed and finally rebuilt into the church that adorns this rocky outpost today.

The church is dedicated to San Juan (Saint John the Baptist), while the island is named Gaztelugatxe, which means “castle rock” in Basque (castle gaztelu and rock aitz).

Speaking of castles and rocks…

San Juan de Gaztelugatxe and Game of Thrones

The island may sound more like Casterly Rock (for your fellow GOT fans) but this location actually served as Dragonstone in the dramatic HBO series. Before visiting, consider brushing up on Season 7, so you can compare and contrast the location from the show and real life.

In the show, much of the castle is created with the help of CGI, however, the distinctive winding pathways leading up to the church are definitely recognizable. Lovers of House Targaryen and Daenerys are bound to be impressed!

Also, did I mention Jon Snow was here? *Squeals in excitement*

Don’t mind me…just channeling my inner Khaleesi! How did I do?

Visiting San Juan de Gaztelugatxe

Whether you drove, took the bus, or walked to San Juan de Gaztelugatxe, one thing is certain, this unique landmark unmissable! As you begin your descent down the trail leading to the island, you’re sure to discover several viewpoints where you can enjoy the sight of the island in all its majesty.

You’ll want to make sure you’ve packed plenty of water and maybe even a snack, as you’ll have a lot of walking to do, both uphill and down! I managed to do all of the trekking with a sprained ankle, and still found myself to be a little winded by some of the steep stretches of trail.

Once you reach the foot of the path, you’ll discover the oh-so-picturesque bridge and zig-zag stairs which make San Juan de Gaztelugatxe so impressive. You’re not done yet though-you’ll have to climb up 241 steps to get to the top of the island! After you’ve climbed up all the steps and make it to the top, you’ll be rewarded with incredible views of the lush landscape, rocky coastline, and the beautiful blue ocean beyond.

Be sure to ring the bell outside of the church 3 times and to make a wish once you’ve reached the top! Legend says your wish will be granted!

I took so many pictures here because it was that gorgeous! I really was amazed by how incredible the views and the landscape were, and I definitely felt like all of the trekking it took to get to San Juan de Gaztelugatxe was more than worth it. It truly was one of the most breathtaking places I’ve visited in Spain-and I’ve lived here for 2 years!

Continuing your day…

Once you’ve caught your breath and taken in all of the views, it’s time to turn back. In total, you’ll only need a couple of hours to completely explore San Juan de Gaztelugatxe. I took the bus and managed to be back in Bilbao before 3 PM, and the entire excursion could probably be completed in 4-6 hours by car.

If you get an early start, you’ll have plenty of time to explore the nearby seaside towns of Bakio and Bermeo, or you can head to Bilbao and end your day in the city. If you are continuing along to San Sebastian, make it a road trip and stop at other beautiful coastal towns along the way!

Zumaia is another Game of Thrones location you’ll reach en route to San Sebastian, and Getaria and Zarautz are other towns worth making stops at as well. I had a local friend drive me around these spots a few days before and I definitely recommend dropping by them if you are looking for some picturesque places to stop along a road trip to San Sebastian!

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Visiting San Juan de Gaztelugatxe was absolutely one of my favorite highlights of my trip to Basque Country, and is one of my all-time favorite places I’ve visited in Spain after 2 years living here! Is this spectacular location on your Spain bucket list? Let me know in the comments!

For more of my favorite places in Spain, click here!

You might also enjoy these Spain posts:

• Best of Basque Country: How to Spend 1 Epic Day In Bilbao
• Best of Basque Country: The Ultimate 1 Day San Sebastian Itinerary
• The Ultimate San Sebastian Pintxos & Wine Tour with Devour Tours
• 15 Things You Absolutely Must Do In Seville, Spain
• 3 Perfect Days in Barcelona: The Ultimate Itinerary
• Must Do Madrid: The Top 10 Things To Do In Spain’s Capital

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