What to do in Bilbao

Bilbao runs along the Nervión estuary, a river corridor connecting the city to the Cantabrian coast in just 15 km. Sea kayaking and estuary activities are the most accessible starting point, with routes from the Abra towards Getxo or upstream into the inlet. Sopelana beach, about 15 km to the northwest, hosts most of Bizkaia's surf scene, with schools for all levels and consistent Atlantic swell throughout much of the year. Inland, Urkiola Natural Park, roughly 35 km to the southeast, opens up hiking and mountain biking through beech forest and limestone with views over the Amboto massif. The GR-123 trail through Las Encartaciones provides long-distance hiking across southwest Bizkaia, through heathland and traditional Basque villages. Horse-riding routes across Bizkaia's hills and farmsteads give access to remote areas where the green Cantabrian landscape remains largely unchanged.