Bilbao, key stop on the Way of St. James

One of the Way of St. James’s most distinctive stages is in Bilbao, where tradition, heritage and urban regeneration accompany the pilgrim all along the route. After passing through historic towns in Bizkaia such as Gernika and Larrabetzu, the route reaches its capital, winding its way down ancient paths to the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Begoña, one of the city’s most revered places of worship.

The Way then passes through Bilbao’s Old Town, with its historic Seven Streets and Santiago Cathedral, before continuing through Bilbao La Vieja and climbing up Mount Kobeta, from where you can enjoy some of the best views of the city. There is also a route running alongside the estuary, which passes in front of the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao and leads to the Bizkaia Bridge, a World Heritage Site.