Paseo de las Grandes Villas


The Paseo is the unofficial name given to Getxo's seafront – made up of Muelle de Las Arenas Areeta and Calle Marques de Arriluce e Ibarra. The 'Villas' part of the name is a reference to the extravagant mansions that pepper the route, many of which date to the town's heyday in the early 20th century. Two to look out for are the 1911-built Casa Cisco and turreted, early 20th-century Lezama-Legizamón.

The southern end of the seafront is marked by a monument to Evaristo Churruca, a 19th-century engineer who worked on the town harbour.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby attractions

1. Casa Cisco

0.15 MILES

This small 1911-built mansion is one of several designed and built by Bilbao architect Manuel María Smith in the early 20th century. It's not open to the…

2. Palacio Lezama-Legizamón

0.41 MILES

A local landmark, this castle-like mansion was originally built in 1902 but was subsequently revamped by Manuel María Smith in 1921. Its central tower is…

3. Galerías de Punta Begoña

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This massive stone structure was built in 1919 as a continuation of Getxo's defensive wall. It's an impressive sight, complete with columns and a…

4. Puente Colgante

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Designed by Alberto Palacio, a disciple of Gustave Eiffel, the Unesco World Heritage–listed Puente Colgante (also known as the Vizcaya or Bizkaia Bridge)…

5. Playa de Ereaga

0.68 MILES

Ideal for families, this long, sheltered sandy beach runs between the Galerías de Punta Begoña and Puerto Viejo. You can hire sunbeds and parasols (per…

6. Aquarium

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In the El Abra port complex, Getxo's tiny aquarium showcases marine flora and fauna from the Atlantic Ocean and warmer tropical waters. There are 25…

7. Plaza del Solar

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8. Torre de Salazar

0.87 MILES

This stubby four-storey tower was originally part of a defensive complex built by the local Salazar family during a period of baronial fighting in the…