Get to know Ondarroa through its harbor, medieval old town and routes along the coast and the Artibai. In terms of deep-sea fishing and fresh fish landings, the harbor is one of the most important on the Cantabrian coast. The town also has architectural landmarks, local traditions and public art. This gives you several practical starting points for planning your trip: you can choose how much to focus on maritime life, cultural heritage and guided experiences.
Old Town: Gothic church, legend and connection to the harbor
The Old Town has a distinctly medieval and maritime character. Its streets are narrow and steep, so bear this in mind when planning your routes through the neighborhood. The Itsasaurre Bridge provides direct access to Ondarroa harbor. The Andra Mari church was built in 1462 and is a Gothic structure. The church features the Kortxeleko mamuak, sculptures in the Burgundian style depicting a medieval court. Another local tale is associated with the figure of Leokadi: according to legend, she was turned to stone as punishment.
The Likona Tower dates from the 15th century. In addition, in 1994 the Basque Government’s Provincial Council recognized Ondarroa’s Old Town as cultural heritage in the Monument Complex category. In the Kamiñazpi neighborhood, murals pay tribute to people who work at sea; they are explained during a guided tour of the municipality. On another guided experience, you can watch net menders at the quay sewing and repairing fishing nets using traditional techniques. It ends with a hake pintxo accompanied by Txakoli. The experiences offer different highlights: one explains public art, while the other features traditional net-mending followed by a culinary finish. Before your trip, check whether the guided experience is available for your dates.
Routes and coastal landscape
Two routes offer different geographical points of reference. Route LEA01 Ondarroa: Saturraran-5 morruk runs along the breakwaters that protect Ondarroa harbor and the promenade to Saturraran. Route LEA02 Ondarroa-Errenteria follows the Artibai River to Errenteria, on the border with Berriatua. The routes therefore differ both in their course and destination: LEA01 links the breakwaters and promenade with Saturraran; LEA02 follows the Artibai to Errenteria. Check local trail conditions before planning your route.
The eastern coastal stretch of Bizkaia near Ondarroa is characterized by steep cliffs, including Peña del Fraile. The Santa Clara chapel is accessible only on foot. Bear this access requirement in mind when planning a visit.
Festivals and guided experiences
The Andramaxak patron saint festivities take place from August 14 to 17. If you would like to plan your trip around the festivities, check the dates for your travel year.
Discover more destinations: Gatika, Portugalete, Plaza, Barakaldo, Urriola, Mungia, Muskiz, Altamira-San Kristobal.
For the broader travel overview: Bizkaia.
