» San Sebastián

Pilgrimage hike San Sebastián – Bilbao – 7 days

The Camino del Norte takes you all the way to Santiago de Compostela with the Atlantic as a constant companion. You walk through fishing villages, small sandy beaches, and beautiful towns.

We start in San Sebastián, the beautifully situated coastal city famous for its excellent cuisine. This first section takes us to Bilbao, first along the coast and then through the Basque Country via the historic towns of Markina and Gernika. The hike ends in Bilbao, a trendy city and home to the famous Guggenheim Museum.

Difficulty level

Between 6–7 hours and about 25 km daily in hilly terrain, though the ascents and descents are not particularly steep. Difficulty level 3–4 out of 5.

Weather

The climate in the area is very mild as it lies close to the Atlantic. The average temperature is around 15°C throughout the year, and extreme temperature fluctuations are uncommon. Summers are usually dry and warm, while spring and autumn are mild and well-suited for hiking, though there is some risk of rain showers.

Highlights

San Sebastián – a gastronomic experience for all food lovers
The green, rolling landscapes of the Basque Country
The Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao

Quick facts

Travel duration:	7 days/ 6 nights
Travel period:	1/4 - 31/10 with any arrival day
Grade:	4
Accommodations:
Trip type:	Camino walking tours
Price example:	From €1,190
Meals:	Breakfast (dinners as option)

Prices per person in EUR

The trip can be done between April 1 and October 31, with a flexible arrival date.

7 days/ 6 nights From €1,190 Book your trip

Period	Double Room - shared bed	Twin Room - separate beds	TRP - Triple Room	SGL - Single Room
2026-04-01 2026-06-30	€1,190	€1,190	€1,190	€1,440
2026-07-01 2026-09-15	€1,320	€1,320	€1,320	€1,610
2026-09-16 2026-10-31	€1,190	€1,190	€1,190	€1,440

Book your trip

The prices listed are per person and include:

Accommodation for 6 nights in an average of 3-star hotels and hostels
Breakfast (dinners optional)
English guidebook with maps (1 book per 2–3 people)
Pilgrim passport
Information sheet with practical details for the trip
Luggage transfers
24-hour emergency phone

Not included:

Flights
Transfer to/from the airport
Lunches and dinners
Train ride on day 6
Other items not mentioned under included

Optional:

3 dinners excluding drinks: 50 Euro (all evenings except in San Sebastian & Bilbao)
Extra guidebook
Extra hotel nights at the start or end location: Contact us for pricing (recommended if you arrive late in the evening and plan to use local transport to the starting point)
Private airport transfers: Contact us for pricing

Itinerary

Day 1 Arrival San Sebastián

Check in at your hotel in the late afternoon. In the evening, don’t miss a visit to the old town and the famous pintxos (tapas) bars.

Day 2 From San Sebastián to Zarautz – 21 km

You leave San Sebastián and walk along the beautiful La Concha beach. Along the way, you have stunning views of the sea, with the high cliffs towering over the Atlantic.

24 km, 5 h 15 min

Day 3 From Zarautz to Deba – 23 km

Today’s stage first takes you to Getaria and its picturesque fishing port. You continue through the Txakoli vineyards, and the closer you get to Deba, the wilder and more beautiful the coastline becomes.

23 km, 5 h 45 min

Day 4 From Deba to Markina – 28 km

On today’s hike, you enter the Basque inland. As you cross the Olatz valley, you leave the coast behind and continue hiking toward the densely vegetated mountains.

28 km, 7.5 h

Day 5 From Markina to Gernika – 27 km

A beautiful hiking day through untouched nature. On the way to Gernika, famous for Picasso’s painting of the same name, you pass, among other sites, the medieval monastery of Zenarruza.

27 km, 7 h

Day 6 From Gernika to Lezama/Bilbao – 25 km

On this final day, we make our way to the ultimate destination, Bilbao. To shorten the hike and avoid walking through the suburbs, we recommend taking the train to central Bilbao from Lezama (at your own expense).

25 km, 6 h

Day 7 Departure

Breakfast and check-out. After this, your journey with us concludes.

Accommodation in mid-range hotels, approximately 3 stars. In some villages, simpler accommodation may be used, and in some cases even 4-star hotels. Rooms include a private shower/WC. In the event that hotels are fully booked, we may in exceptional cases arrange rooms with shared shower/WC in the corridor.

Accommodations

Accommodation in mid-range hotels, approximately 3 stars. In some villages, simpler accommodation may be used, and in some cases even 4-star hotels. Rooms include a private shower/WC. In the event that hotels are fully booked, we may in exceptional cases arrange rooms with shared shower/WC in the corridor.

7 days/ 6 nights

Night	Place	Accommodation
Night 1	San Sebastián	Hotell - **
Night 2	Zarautz	Hotell - **
Night 3	Deba	Hotell - **
Night 4	Markina	Hotell - **
Night 5	Gernika	Hotell - **
Night 6	Bilbao	Hotell - **

Route map

Getting to the destination

Plane

Flights to Bilbao (BIO).

Transfer

Private airport transfers can be arranged. Contact us for pricing information.

Local transport

Från Bilbao flygplats kan du ta en ALSA buss tillbaka till San Sebastian, vilket tar ca 1,5 h.

Our travelers’ reviews

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Review for san-sebastian-bilbao

4/5

Challenging hike

Posted by Anita Ronnerstedt on 26 November, 2025 13:41

A rather challenging hike in a varied environment with beautiful nature and at times a quiet landscape where only birds could be heard. We hiked in October when it was very humid, and since the slopes could be quite steep both uphill and downhill, trekking poles would probably have been very helpful. We opted for dinners as an extra, which can be recommended after a full day of hiking. A beautiful landscape over the lush mountains with views of the Atlantic and friendly locals made the trip well worth it.