Walk on the port of Lekeitio

In Biscay, come and stop at Lekeitio. Intimate coastal village, you will enjoy a stroll on its port and a quick swim on its beaches. It's a perfect place for a peaceful end to the evening or a walk on the coastal path at the start of the day. Listen to the sound of the waves, stroll around the port, admire the beautiful view of the island of San Nicolás... Shall we go there?

Photo from the report: Guide to the Basque Country

Lekeitio, a friendly coastal town

Take half a day to walk around Lekeitio, it's not a very large town. You will probably arrive from the coastal road, which serves Ondarroa on one side and Elantxobe on the other. Park in a car park at the entrance (the further you go from the center, the easier and free it is...) and walk along its steep streets until you reach the port and its adjacent squares, the epicenters of Lekeitio. How good it is to stroll, eat an ice cream, have a drink while admiring the orange hues of the sunset to the sound of the waves crashing on the rocks. Lekeitio is alive, we come across families, couples and young people who come together and settle down in the many places suitable for an aperitif with friends on the ground.

It is a fishing town and even a former stronghold of whaling in the ^14th century, very widespread in this part of the Basque Country. Its pretty bay is popular for walks with a possible swimming stop on one of its 2 beaches (Karraspio and Isuntza). Opposite the bay is the Isla de Garraitz (or San Nicolas Island, its second name). You can access it at low tide (so be careful to calculate when you will leave) and it is a perfect viewpoint from which to admire Lekeitio and its colorful houses.

Visit Lekeitio

The tour of the city will be quick, there is the Basilica of Lekeitio (Basilica de la Asunción de Nuestra Señora) which sits in a central square near the port. It is an imposing monument, which houses a beautiful altarpiece, but it is often closed, making it difficult to enter! In summer, there are parties organized on the central square, concerts, a certain holiday air that intoxicates the ambient air! The city center is home to some pretty examples of palaces, witnesses to the city's past wealth.

The Port of Lekeitio is important, today it is a marina, with jetties which help break the waves and keep calm for navigation. It was thanks to whaling that such a small coastal town was blessed with such a large port. Until the ^19th century, economic activity and maritime transport flourished. Then the economic recession and the change in lifestyles forced Lekeitio to refocus its activities and this is where the beauty of its surroundings and landscape allowed it to turn to tourism. Take a walk on the Txatxo quays to feel all the beauty of Lekeitio too!

In Lekeitio you can enjoy the joys of the sea: by swimming of course, but also by practicing water activities. It's not a stronghold of surfing, but you can rent a paddle to walk around the pretty bay, check out the company Leaktibai!

We wish you a pleasant discovery of Lekeitio! Continue your walk towards the other pretty coastal villages of the Basque Country.

Did you like our article? Find others on the Basque Country Guide blog . We are also on social networks, come and consult the Facebook page of the Guide du Pays Basque , as well as our Instagram account @guidedupaysbasque