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  4. Stage 6

Stage 6 · Camino del Norte

Gernika → Bilbao

706km km to Santiago
30,6 km Distance +1.000 m Ascent −1.010 m Descent 40,6 km Effort 12 h 42 Time needed · On foot

Before you set off

13.7 km

Nowhere to eat

Between Gernika and Gernika.

The long way into Bilbao

This is the hardest stage of the Basque section: 30.6 kilometres with 1,000 metres of ascent and as much descent, difficult. You leave Gernika through Lumo, uphill from the start, and the route heads into the Morga hills on forest tracks and paths, with few houses and no services for many kilometres. It is the loneliest and the finest part of the day.

At the midpoint you drop to Goikolexea and its church, then to Larrabetzu, the first village with bars and a shop, and soon after to Lezama. Many pilgrims split the day here, because what is left is uphill again. From Zamudio, between the technology park and the farmsteads, you climb Monte Avril, the last ridge before Bilbao, with the city opening out below.

The descent comes in through Begoña and its basilica and drops to the Casco Viejo by steps and steep streets, as far as the cathedral of Santiago. Bilbao is a big city with everything at any hour, and it has a municipal hostel high on the hillside that is worth locating before you go all the way down.

Tips

Set off at first light and with food: nothing is open before Larrabetzu, past the halfway point.

Carry plenty of water for the Morga hills; the fountains in the woods are not reliable in summer.

Larrabetzu and Lezama have bars and shops: that is where you eat and where you decide whether to go on or stay.

The descent through Begoña is hard on the knees after so many kilometres; there are public escalators and lifts if you prefer.

In Bilbao get your stamp at the cathedral of Santiago, the only cathedral of that name outside Compostela.

Over 30 kilometres and 1,000 metres of climbing: if you are not feeling strong, the stage splits well at Larrabetzu or Lezama.

Walk with me

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Profile and services

Elevation profile of the stage from Gernika to Bilbao, 30.6 kilometres, with services placed at their kilometre point.

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Gernika 30.6 km Bilbao
Stretch with nowhere to resupply Hotel Drinking fountain Cash machine Pharmacy Outdoor gear shop Tourist office

What's there today

Nobody has reported anything on this stage.

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Tips from people who walked it

The things that do not expire: where the fountain actually is, which bar opens at six, where not to go in the rain.

None here yet. If you have just walked this stage, you know something tomorrow’s pilgrim does not.

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Emergencies

Call 112

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Say where you are I am walking the Camino del Norte, on the stage from Gernika to Bilbao.

The map

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What to see on this stage 24

  1. Iglesia de Santa María Church km 0,1
  2. Santa Klara komentua / Convento de Santa Clara Church km 0,3
  3. San Frantzisko Church km 0,9
  4. Santa Luzia parkea Church km 1,6
  5. Gerekizko Esteban Deuna Church km 7,2
  6. San Emeterio eta San Zeledonio eliza Church km 15,1
  7. Andra Mariaren Zeruratzea Church km 16,6
  8. Ermita del Santo Ángel de la Guarda Church km 16,9
  9. Santa Maria Church km 20,0
  10. Ermita Santa Cruz Church km 21,0
  11. Iglesia de San Martín Obispo Church km 23,0
  12. Goiuriko Andra Mari parrokia Church km 29,1
  13. Atxetako Andra Maria parrokia Church km 29,3
  14. Basílica de Begoña / Begoñako basilika Church km 30,0
  15. Assalam meskita Church km 30,1
  16. Gurutze Santuaren eliza Church km 30,5
  17. San Nikolas eliza / Iglesia de San Nicolás Church km 31,1
  18. Joan Santuen eliza / Iglesia de los Santos Juanes Church km 31,2
  19. Parroquia Nuestra Señora de Covadonga Church km 31,6
  20. San Anton eliza Church km 31,6
  21. Enkarnazio eliza / Iglesia de la Encarnación Church km 31,7
  22. Mariaren Bihotza Parrokia Church km 32,1
  23. Iglesia de San Francisco de Asís Church km 32,6
  24. Iglesia de San Antonio de Padua Church km 32,7

What you will find 1135

Bar Bilbao km 32,2