12.5 km | 3-4 hours | +536m / -561m
A short stage descending into Bilbao, the Basque Country's largest city and one of Spain's great urban success stories. The approach from Lezama passes through suburban areas before reaching the city centre and the iconic Guggenheim Museum.
Bilbao's transformation from industrial decline to cultural powerhouse is centred on Frank Gehry's titanium-clad Guggenheim Museum, which single-handedly put the city on the global tourism map. Beyond the Guggenheim, the Casco Viejo (old town), the Mercado de la Ribera (Europe's largest covered market), and the riverside promenade offer excellent exploration.
Bilbao has world-class services, accommodation at every level, and an outstanding food scene. The pintxos culture is exceptional, with the Casco Viejo's narrow streets packed with bars. Many pilgrims take a rest day here.
Terrain: Suburban roads, forest paths, urban streets, riverside promenade
The largest city in the Basque Country, transformed by the iconic Guggenheim Museum. A vibrant industrial city reinvented as a cultural capital, with world-class architecture, pintxos, and full services.
0 places to stay between Lezama and Bilbao
Accommodation at the start of this stage (useful for booking the night before)
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Accommodation at the end of this stage
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