San Juan de Gaztelugatxe

The chapel de San Juan de Gaztelugatxe is located between Bermeo and Bakio. It is constructed on top of the islet of Gaztelugatxe in the Bay of Biscay, and is an essential excursion if you want to get to know one of the most picturesque spots in the province.

To get to the chapel of San Juan de Gaztelugatxe you have to walk up a narrow path from the coast that has 241 steps.

Despite the effort required, it is really worth the climb up to the chapel to enjoy the spectacular views from the top, overlooking the rocks that make up the islet of Gaztelugatxe.

The chapel is not the original one; over the years it has suffered battles and fires that have led to its reconstruction on many occasions.
At the top of the steps you find a chapel full of floral offerings by sailors who have survived one shipwreck or another. This small church, which dates from the 10^th century, is dedicated to San Juan (St John) and is usually closed to the public.
This singular spot is part of the municipality of Bermeo, and is a must-see during your visit to Biscay.

As the tradition says

Once you have reached the top of the stops, the tradition says you should make the chapel’s bell sound three times. In the past this was done to pray for fertility and chase away evil spirits or cure headaches.

Some practical tips for a visit to Gaztelugatxe

As access to the chapel of San Juan requires an effort and it is not accessible for persons with mobility difficulties, prams and pushchairs. If you cannot (or do not want to) go up you can enjoy the views of the islet from Eneperi.

If you go by car, there is a car park near San Juan de Gaztelugatxe but it is located quite a distance away from the chapel in order to respect the site. It is also quite small, especially if tourist buses arrive. We recommend leaving your vehicle in the car park at Eneperi, from where you can walk down to the bridge where the steps up to the chape start. You can also reach Eneperi – Gaztelubegi by public transport (Bizkaibus from Bilbao) or -in summer and other peak times- a shuttle bus from Bakio o Bermeo.

From the car park there are two ways of reaching the steps up to the chapel of San Juan:

• Via Urizarreta: the shortest and most direct, but also the steepest (1,200m and 35% elevation gain)
• Via Ermu: the old road, which takes a little longer but is not so steep (1,600m and 15% elevation gain)

Both routes are over irregular ground and involve slopes. We recommend the use of comfortable clothing and footwear and (always a good idea) a snack for when you reach the top of the steps to the chapel (In any case, please take all your litter away with you to respect the environment).

Visit to the chapel of San Juan de Gaztelugatxe – reserve a guided visit free of charge

This Summer (2021), access to Gaztelugatxe and visits are subject to special preventive measures as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Access to the area around the chapel of San Juan de Gaztelugatxe continues to be free of charge, but capacity is controlled and limited. The Territorial Administration of  Biscay had previously established a control system for visits to Gaztelugatxe to protect the Biotype but, with the reopening of Gaztelugatxe to the public after the health alert the area’s capacity has been reduced even more to keep visitors safe.

Among other measures, it is necessary to reserve a ticket (free of charge) to visit Gaztelugatxe. The maximum capacity per group will be 48 people (and never more than 96 people at the same time), and the itinerary will be circular in only one direction (entry via Urizarreta and exit via Ermu). The wearing of a face covering is also mandatory.

You can reserve a ticket to Gaztelugatxe free of charge: Reserva el ticket gratuito para la visit a San Juan de Gaztelugatxe.

Enjoy the visit to one of our most charming spots in Biscay, A magical place with unforgettable views! But remember… take care of the environment!