TownCantabria642 km to Santiago de Compostela

Castro-Urdiales

A pleasant Cantabrian fishing town with a dramatic Gothic church perched on a headland above the harbour, a ruined Templar castle, and a lively seafood dining scene.

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About Castro-Urdiales

Castro Urdiales is a fishing town on the Cantabrian coast with one of the most dramatic town settings on the Camino del Norte. The Gothic Church of Santa Maria de la Asuncion sits on a headland above the harbour alongside a ruined Templar castle and a Roman-era lighthouse.

Pilgrims will find albergues, hotels, restaurants, cafes, supermarkets, ATMs, and a pharmacy. The harbour-front restaurants specialise in fresh seafood, and the old town has a lively atmosphere.

Castro Urdiales marks the transition from the Basque Country into Cantabria. The coastal scenery along this stretch is spectacular.

Where to stay

Beds in Castro-Urdiales, night by night

Every kind of bed in one place: online booking, direct-contact albergues, walk-ins and donativos. Live prices for your night.

October 15 to October 28Each night shows how many places you can book online and the lowest price. Select a night to see the detail.From

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Thursday, October 15Albergue dorms and private rooms both count. Walk-in and donativo albergues never sell out online: arrive early in the day instead.

Prices come live from our booking partners and change with demand. Walk-in and donativo albergues are not counted here: they are in the full list at the bottom of the page.

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Explore Castro-Urdiales

The Camino through town, with prices where the beds are. Amber is the route; each pin is a place to stay.

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Things to do

Things to do in Castro-Urdiales

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HistoryVisit the Iglesia de Santa Maria de la AsuncionThe Gothic church sits dramatically on the headland above the harbour, its buttresses and pinnacles outlined against the sky and the sea. Built in the 13th century, it is one of the finest Gothic churches in Cantabria. Inside, the vaulted nave and the carved stone details are beautiful. The church, together with the ruined Templar castle and the lighthouse beside it, creates a skyline that is unmistakably Castro Urdiales. Visit at sunset when the light on the stone is golden.

SightWalk the HarbourThe fishing harbour is the heart of Castro Urdiales. Colourful boats line the quays, the seafood restaurants face the water, and the church and castle tower above. The harbour promenade is pleasant at any time of day but particularly atmospheric in the early evening when the fishing boats return and the restaurants begin to fill. The town has a beach (Playa de Brazomar) adjacent to the harbour that is good for a swim on a warm day.

FoodEat SeafoodCastro Urdiales is a fishing town and the seafood is excellent. The restaurants on the harbour serve fresh fish, grilled sardines, calamari, and the local speciality of rabas (battered squid). The Cantabrian anchovies from nearby Santona are famous across Spain and appear on most menus. Pair with a glass of white wine or a cold beer. You are now in Cantabria, and the food culture is shifting from Basque to Cantabrian. Both are excellent.

HistorySee the Templar Castle RuinsNext to the church, the ruins of a Knights Templar castle sit on the headland. The castle is mostly ruined but the remaining walls and the position on the rocky promontory are atmospheric. The lighthouse beside it is still functioning. Together, the church, castle, and lighthouse form a medieval ensemble that is unique on the Camino del Norte. Walk around the headland for the best views.

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Places to stay in Castro-Urdiales

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