What to Do in Getaria

 Getaria is a small fishing village close to San Sebastian, on the way to Bilbao, in the wine region that produces Txakoli white wine.

See also:

• Getaria Guided Tour from Viator

Popular Things to Do in and Around Getaria

• Cristobal Balenciaga Museum Commemorates the work of Spain's most famous fashion designer, a native of Getaria.
   
• San Salvador Church An unusual iglesia, with a sloping floor and a model boat that superstitious fishermen use to predict the weather.
   

• Eat pintxos and drink txakoli Eat Basque tapas, washed down with Txakoli wine. The Politena pintxos bar has some of the best bar-top pintxos I've seen. Outside in the streets of Getaria, Politena and other bars and restaurants cook freshly-caught fish on open grills. 
   
• Visit the local fish-packing factory See how the fresh fish brought in from Basque waters are packed before they are sent off to the supermarkets. Only possible with the San Sebastian Food Getaria tour.
   
• Visit the Elkano Txakoli vineyard Just outside the village is the Elkano vineyard. Learn about their small-scale, high-quality txakoli and have lunch made by the owners. Though a few companies visit Elkano, only the tour run by San Sebastian Food includes the lunch.
   
• Go surfing Getaria has some good waves for surfers and is less crowded than nearby Zarautz. However, if you don't have your own equipment, Zarautz has surfing rental companies and Getaria doesn't.
   
• Visit the Pello Urdapilleta historic farm Sample pork products right where they were produced. 

Next: How to Get to Getaria from San Sebastian

How to Get to Getaria from San Sebastian

The best way to get to Getaria from San Sebastian is by bus. Buses depart from the main bus station and are run by Lurraldebus/Euskotren. You want the service heading to Zumaia. Visit their website here: Euskotren Bus TimeTables. (This bus route is called Kostaldea on the website).

Google Maps claims you can catch buses 21, 26, 28 and 37, but I find no evidence of this anywhere else. Best to go with the Lurraldebus/Euskotren service, which is recommended by the official tourist board.

Another option is to take a Getaria Guided Tour from San Sebastian

How to Get from Bilbao to Getaria

There is no direct bus to Getaria from Bilbao. You should take a bus from Bilbao to Zarautz (it departs from the main Bilbao bus station, Termibus).

There is also a Guided Tour of Getaria, Loyola, Zarautz and San Sebastian that departs from Bilbao.

Getaria Guided Tour from San Sebastian

Take a tour of Getaria with San Sebastian Food. Your guide, who is from Getaria, will show you:

• San Salvador Church
• The family-run Elkano txakoli winery, where you can sample the wines, learn about the wine-making process and eat a meal prepared by the Elkano owners. 
• The fish preserving factory.
• A local pintxos bar
• Visit a shop stocking local Basque food and wine, where you will get a collection of local delicacies to take home with you.

• Read more: San Sebastian Food Getaria Day Trip

Getaria Guide Tour from Bilbao

There is also a whistle-stop budget Guided Tour of Getaria, Loyola, Zarautz and San Sebastian that departs from Bilbao.

Next: See more pictures from my visit to Getaria.

Getaria Coastline

View from Elkano Vineyards

These are the best tomatoes you will ever eat.

 No, that's not beef. It's sliced tomatoes. And no, these pictures haven't been photoshopped. That's what tomatoes are supposed to look like, when they're left until they are ripe before they are picked.

Txakoli Vineyards

How to Pour Basque Cider

 Basque cider, like its Asturian counterpart, should be poured from a height (escanciar in Spanish) to aerate it and make it more palatable.

Fish-packing factory

 Who puts your fish in the packaging for you. You might imagine vast factory of automated machinery, but it might be a far smaller operation, like here in Getaria.

The Basque mountains from a Txakoli vineyard

 Several restaurants in Getaria have grills for cooking fresh fish in the open air. Unfortunately, it is not possible to eat at these with the San Sebastian Food tour.

Pintxos in Getaria