Step back in time and visit one of the Basque Country’s most charming and picturesque villages.
A perfect pick for a day trip from Bilbao, ‘Portu Zaharra’ (old port in Basque) is a quaint, historic fishing village located slightly to the north of Getxo’s Ereaga Beach.
Although the village is small, its general vibe, cool bars, great restaurants and stunning views will leave you wanting to stay for a lifetime.
What is Puerto Viejo?
A medieval seafaring village that eventually grew into the larger neighbourhood of Algorta (part of the town of Getxo), Puerto Viejo has lost none of its charisma over the centuries.
Besides being home to a vibrant fishing industry, the village’s position at the entry point to the port of Bilbao meant many of its sailors made a living guiding bigger ships in and out of the harbour.
In recent times, Puerto Viejo’s rustic beauty, with its white-washed, green clad cottages, has seen the tourism and hospitality industries take over.
How to get to Puerto Viejo from Bilbao?
The easiest way to get to Puerto Viejo is by metro. Take the metro to the Algorta station and the village is just a five-minute walk away. In total it’s about a 40-minute journey if you get the metro from Moyua.
Read our guide to navigating Bilbao’s metro system here.
Alternatively, you can also take a bus. Hop on the A3411 at Museo Plaza (opposite the Museum of Fine Arts) and stay on until you reach Algortako Etorb. 74 (Kasinoa). From here it’s a 10-minute stroll to the village. Fifty minutes in total.
The other bus option is to get the A3414 from Alameda Recalde 29 (close to Plaza Moyua) and go to Ollaretxe 8 (Getxo I). It’s then a 20-minute walk down to Puerto Viejo. Fifty minutes in total.
Restaurants and Bars in Puerto Viejo
Most of the village’s old cottages have been converted into bars or restaurants, a lot of places coupling up as both, so there’s no shortage of options.
However, do bear in mind that it can get extremely busy, so you may have to book ahead if you want something other than a beer and a few pintxos – especially if you go on the weekend.
Bar Arrantzale & Gastrotaberna Arrantzale (€15-€20 for main dishes) – Two different spaces. The bar is located in the main square with an outdoor terrace and they serve small plates and pintxos.
The gastrotaberna is more of a sit-down restaurant specialising in seafood dishes like anchovies, cod, octopus and mussels
Karola Etxea (€20-€30 for main dishes) – Set in a 300-year old building, this is a small cozy restaurant serving up traditional Basque seafood dishes: octopus, clams, lobster, seafood chowder, cod in pil-pil sauce and much more.
Itxas Bide Taberna – Located at the bottom of the village next to the bay, Itxas Bide means ‘sea path’ in English. A typical Basque bar with traditional wooden interior, it’s a great place to get a beer and pintxo while admiring the views of the harbour.
*Same image as header.
Portu Zaharra Taberna – Grab a cold kaña (a beer), sit out on the steps leading to the heart of the village and marvel at El Abra Bay as the sun sets behind the Monte Serantes on the other side. Absolute bliss.
Places to stay in Puerto Viejo
If you want to escape the hustle and bustle of Bilbao for a night or two, it might be worth booking an apartment or room in Puerto Viejo for a night.
Apartamento Basartena – A renovated one bedroom, one bathroom apartment with an outdoor terrace.
Apartamento Tatoena – One-bedroom apartment with a double bed plus free WIFI, bathroom and fully equipped kitchen.
El Puerto Viejo – Various apartments available in a complex. Each one comes with a double bid, a kitchen and a walk-in shower.
Apartamentos Etxetxu Branka eta Ankora – Studio apartments located in the Puerto Viejo’s main square, with views of the sea. Each unit includes free WIFI plus a private bathroom and kitchen.
GET YOUR GUIDE TOURS OF PUERTO VIEJO
Explore Puerto Viejo and the seaside town of Getxo with a local guide.
