Culture
San Sebastián to Bilbao: What to Expect on the Camino del Norte
The first week of the Norte takes you through Basque fishing villages, surfer towns, and dramatic cliffs. Here's what each day actually feels like.
December 6, 2025 · 9 min read
The first week of the Camino del Norte is one of the most beautiful walking weeks in Europe — and one of the toughest. You're constantly climbing in and out of coastal valleys.
Day 1: Irún to San Sebastián (24 km). The climb up Jaizkibel is hard and the views are extraordinary. Arrive in San Sebastián by mid-afternoon and eat pintxos.
Day 2: San Sebastián to Zarautz (22 km). Over Mount Igueldo, then a long descent to the surfing beach of Zarautz. Stop in Getaria for the wood-grilled fish.
Day 3: Zarautz to Deba (22 km). Through the vineyards of txakoli wine, ending at a surf town with a dramatic clifftop alternative.
Day 4: Deba to Markina (24 km). Inland, through forests. Tougher than it looks.
Day 5: Markina to Gernika (24 km). The town bombed by the Luftwaffe in 1937, immortalised by Picasso. The Peace Museum is essential.
Day 6: Gernika to Lezama (21 km). Quiet farming country. Bilbao is close.
Day 7: Lezama to Bilbao (12 km). A short day into a great city. The Guggenheim alone deserves an afternoon.
Total for the week: around 150 km, 4,500 m of climbing. Save energy — the Norte stays demanding all the way to Santander.
Keep exploring
Next stops & related posts
Towns, stages, and stories connected to this article — your jumping-off points to plan the next stretch of the Camino.
Towns to visit
Gipuzkoa, Basque Country
San Sebastián / Donostia
Belle Époque elegance, three crescent beaches, and the world's densest concentration of Michelin stars.
Gipuzkoa, Basque Country
Zarautz
A 2.5-km surf beach backed by a quiet medieval town.
Bizkaia, Basque Country
Bilbao
Industrial port reborn as a museum-led design city — and a glorious detour off the trail.
Cantabria
Santander
A Belle Époque seafront capital rebuilt with elegance after the 1941 fire.
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