Orduña: Walls, Hiking Trails and Txakoli

When planning a stay in Orduña, you can start by deciding whether you would like to focus on historic buildings, hiking trails, birdwatching or local cuisine. The rail connection is another practical consideration: Renfe commuter line C3 connects Orduña with Bilbao-Abando station. If you are planning to travel by train, check the timetable for your travel date.

Historic buildings in Orduña

The Muralla de Orduña is the most significant public defensive structure in Bizkaia. Two-thirds of the wall still stand today; the most visible section is in the area around the parish church of Santa María. Orduña’s historic centre has been designated a historic-monumental complex since 1997. The city wall and the historic status of the centre are therefore among the main points of interest on a walk through the town’s history.

The Iglesia de la Sagrada Familia, now known as the Iglesia de San Juan, is an ornately decorated Baroque church dating from the 17th century. It has eight Baroque altars. The Late Gothic altarpiece of San Pedro is also a highlight of the historic complex. Another distinctive architectural feature is the battlement walk of Orduña’s fortified church. The Santuario de la Antigua, meanwhile, is the patron saint’s church of Orduña and Arrastaria.

Hiking and experiencing the landscape

Orduña’s local network of trails offers hiking routes of varying difficulty. The GR 284, Camino Real de la Sopeña, starts in Orduña and passes through forests, meadows and rural settlements. The Senda Verde del Cañón de Délica follows the lower course of the Nervión. The route descriptions thus highlight different landscapes: forests, meadows and settlements on the GR 284, and the river’s lower course on the Senda Verde. This offers a practical guide when choosing routes based on their landscape.

Near Orduña, the Sierra Sálvada is designated as a Special Protection Area for birds. Various cliff-nesting birds breed in the Sierra, and the area is also part of the Birding Euskadi birdwatching network. A viewpoint in the Sierra Sálvada area can be reached by car, followed by a walk of up to 15 minutes. This allows you to consider hiking and birdwatching as distinct focuses for your plans.

Thermal baths, Txakoli and local cuisine

Orduña’s thermal baths are located in the former Aduana, a historic customs building. The facility covers an area of 800 square metres and uses mineral-medicinal waters from the Muera-Arbieto spring. As facilities and access may change, check the latest details before your visit.

The Gure Ahaleginak winery in Orduña offers a tour of the vineyards and Txakoli production, followed by a tasting that ends with a pintxo. Booking arrangements and tour formats may change, so confirm these details in advance. Perretxiko, the mushroom Calocybe gambosa, is particularly characteristic of the local cuisine: it is the basis of Orduña’s most typical local dish, revuelto de perretxiko. Together, the winery visit and the named mushroom dish offer two distinct ways to include culinary themes in your travel plans.

Discover more destinations: Markina-Xemein, Altamira-San Kristobal, Mendieta, Güeñes, Laukiz, Arrigorriaga, Ortuella, Ondarroa

Return to the broader travel overview: Bizkaia.