Discover Ondarroa: Harbour, Old Town and Coastal Paths

Ondarroa reveals itself through its maritime history, medieval Old Town and paths by the water. In terms of deep-sea fishing and fresh-fish landings, the harbour is one of the most important on the Cantabrian coast. Together with its historic buildings and activities related to work on the quay, this gives the town several distinct visitor highlights.

Harbour and Old Town

The Itsasaurre Bridge provides direct access to the harbour. In the Old Town, a distinctly medieval character meets a maritime one. Its streets are narrow and steep; the neighbourhood’s distinctive layout is as much a part of the townscape as its history. In 1994, the Old Town was recognised as a cultural heritage site in the Monument Complex category by the Basque Government’s Provincial Delegation.

The Andra Mari Church also brings together architectural history and local tradition: it was built in 1462 and is a Gothic structure. The Kortxeleko mamuak at the church are Burgundian-style sculptures depicting a medieval court. Another story is associated with the figure of Leokadi: according to local legend, she was turned to stone as punishment. The Likona Tower dates from the 15th century and adds to the historic themes you can discover in Ondarroa.

Maritime work and guided experiences

The murals in the Kamiñazpi neighbourhood pay tribute to people who work at sea. The murals are explained during a guided tour of the town. This offers a way to connect public art with the maritime working life that also shapes the harbour.

Another guided experience takes you to the quay, where you can watch female net menders sew and repair fishing nets using traditional techniques. The experience ends with a hake pintxo accompanied by Txakoli. Availability is seasonal; check before travelling. The itinerary combines an insight into net-mending with a specific culinary finale.

Routes, coast and special dates

The two routes described have different focuses. LEA01 Ondarroa: Saturraran-5 morruk passes along the breakwaters that protect the harbour and along the promenade to Saturraran. LEA02 Ondarroa-Errenteria follows the Artibai River to Errenteria, on the border with Berriatua. The first route therefore features the harbour breakwaters and promenade, while the second focuses on the river and its destination, Errenteria. Check the current conditions for both routes locally.

The eastern stretch of the Bizkaia coast near Ondarroa is marked by steep cliffs, including Peña del Fraile. The Santa Clara Chapel is accessible only on foot. These features also show how varied a stay can be: historic buildings and legends, maritime work, a riverside route or coastal scenery. The patron-saint festivities, Andramaxak, take place from 14 to 17 August; if you plan your trip around them, check the dates in advance.

If you are looking for a hotel for your stay in Ondarroa, these highlights can help you structure your travel plans: the buildings and legends offer a historical perspective, the quay experience focuses on maritime work, and the routes offer different ways to explore the town and its landscape. Planning can begin with the question of which side of Ondarroa you would like to discover.

Discover more destinations: Altamira-San Kristobal, Ziortza-Bolibar, Sanfuentes, Zierbena, Getxo, Bakio, Orozko, Sopuerta

For the wider travel overview: Bizkaia.