Climbing the 241 Steps of Gaztelugatxe in the Rain

How hard is Gaztelugatxe?

Think of it as a steep downhill walk, a short stair climb, and then a long uphill walk back. Hiking apps rate it as moderate: AllTrails lists the out-and-back trail at 1.7 miles with 738 ft (about 225 m) of elevation gain and 1–1.5 hours of walking, while loops recorded on Wikiloc (down Urizarreta, back via Ermu) come in around 4.7–5.2 km with 269–284 m of total ascent.

For an everyday comparison, 250 m of climbing is roughly 80 floors of a building. The 241 steps themselves (about 70 m) are about 23 floors. People who walk regularly usually manage it fine, just slowly. People who rarely exercise will find the return climb tiring.

241 or 231 steps?

You’ll see both numbers. The official figure, on the provincial council’s page, is 241. Older guides, many trip reports and even some hiking apps still say 231. The Basque mountaineering database Mendikat says a renovation added ten steps, which explains the gap. Locals joke that you count 242 on the way down. The effort is the same either way.

How high is the hermitage?

Expect conflicting numbers here too. Several tourism pages say the hermitage sits 150 m above the sea. Topographic sources (Mendikat gives the summit as 79 m) and Wikipedia put it at about 80 m, which matches GPS tracks. The car park by the Eneperi restaurant sits around 200 m, so you descend well below the hermitage before you climb to it.

Route breakdown, step by step

There are two ways down to the bridge, and they join on the old road above the lower platform. The distances and gradients below are the provincial council’s.

1. Urizarreta / Eneperi start. The main access is next to the Eneperi restaurant and car park, with an access control point about 60 m in. A short detour left leads to the Eneperi viewpoint and the classic postcard view.

2. The steep descent. Steps, cobbles and dirt track drop sharply toward the old road. Trip reports single out this section as slippery when wet, and fallen leaves and pine needles add to the problem.

3. The old road and lower platform. The Urizarreta and Ermu routes join and continue down to the lower platform. Several visitor guides mention a drinking fountain near the start of the stairway.

4. The stone bridge. A narrow stone causeway with arches links the mainland to the islet. It’s walled but exposed to wind and, in a big swell, sea spray.

5. The 241 zig-zag steps. Stone steps climb in about five flights past Stations of the Cross. At the top is the footprint of St John; tradition says he climbed in three strides.

6. The top. You’ll find the small hermitage (usually closed outside religious dates), the famous bell, and a stone shelter next to it, the only real cover from wind and rain on the whole route. The bell rope is often removed to protect nesting seabirds, so don’t count on ringing it.

Which way round is easier?

Go down Urizarreta, come back up Ermu. Most guides recommend this loop, and it was the mandatory direction during capacity controls. The Ermu road is longer but much gentler, so the hardest climb of the day is spread over more distance on a predictable surface.

Urizarreta’s steep, mixed surface is at its worst going downhill in rain. If your knees are poor or the path is muddy, go down and back up via Ermu. It’s longer, but there are no steps until the bridge.

How long does it take? Dry vs wet

The provincial council plans on about two and a half hours for the visit. The split below is our estimate from walking times and recorded tracks; your pace will vary.

A rough split for an average walker: 25–35 minutes down to the bridge, 20–30 minutes up the steps, 10–15 minutes at the top, 15–20 minutes back down the steps, and 30–45 minutes climbing back to the car park. In rain everything takes longer because you shorten your stride on every slick surface.

Is the hard part going down or coming back up? Physically, coming back up. Technically, especially in the wet, going down. The steepest, most slippery descent is the first 15 minutes; the most tiring climb is the last 30.

Rain-specific hazards

• Slick stone and cobbles. The centre of many steps is worn smooth by foot traffic and turns slippery when wet. The rougher edges usually grip better.
• Mud and gravel. The unpaved parts of the Urizarreta path get muddy and loose after rain.
• Puddles and runoff. Water collects on the platform and pours down the steps in heavy rain.
• Wind. The top and the bridge are fully exposed. Gusts can unbalance you, especially on the narrow steps.
• Sea spray and swell. In big Atlantic swells, waves hit the rocks below the bridge. The provincial council has closed access ahead of heavy rain and orange wave alerts: on the afternoon of January 16, 2023 it shut the paths to the islet and the hermitage as a precaution.
• Fog and low visibility. Sea fog can roll in fast and hide the edges of paths.
• Early darkness. In Bilbao, sunset is around 18:05 on November 1, 17:48 on November 15 and 17:38 on November 30, and the year’s earliest sunsets (about 17:36) fall in early December. The paths have no lighting, so start by early afternoon at the latest.
• Landslides after heavy rain. The slopes are unstable. The council has closed sections, including the Ermu–Lurgorri path, after prolonged heavy rain, and closed all access during storms.

Official advice: Bizkaia’s provincial council advises visitors not to climb to the hermitage during the hours of an orange alert. Check Is Gaztelugatxe closed today? and the Euskalmet forecast before you set off.

Handrails, walls and the planned repair works

On the access paths: VisitBiscay’s accessibility sheet for the route from the Eneperi car park answers “Are there railings and/or handrails?” with No.

On the 241 steps: A local visitor guide says most flights have a handrail but some don’t. The stairway is flanked by low stone walls and parapets on both sides, which you can steady yourself against. Don’t sit or stand on them.

Repairs coming: Deia reported on September 21, 2026 that the provincial council will repair the masonry walls, parapets and path surface supporting the route up from the lower platform. According to Deia, stonemasons and specialists in vertical work will carry it out over an estimated four months, for close to €500,000. We found no published start date or closure plan as of early November 2026. The last major works closed the islet from October 23, 2023 until March 8, 2024, so check closure status before any winter visit.

Technique tips for wet steps and slopes

Going downhill:

• Take short steps and keep your weight over your feet, not leaning back.
• Plant your whole foot flat instead of landing on your heel.
• Use trekking poles on the steep Urizarreta section; they take strain off your knees.
• Step on rough stone and step edges, not the polished centre.

On the stairs:

• Keep one hand free for the wall or handrail; put your phone and camera away while moving.
• Stop to rest at the corners of the zig-zags, not mid-flight.
• Keep right and let faster walkers pass at the turns. The steps are narrow, so wait instead of squeezing past.

Everywhere:

• Stay off walls and rocks, even for photos. The rocks are wet, sloping and above the sea.
• Turn back if gusts make you grab the wall to stay upright.

Shoes matter more than anything else you carry: closed shoes with lugged rubber soles grip wet stone far better than smooth-soled sneakers, and a pair of folding trekking poles helps on the descent. Our winter clothing guide covers what to look for.

Who is it suitable for?

• Kids: Children around 6 and up who walk regularly usually manage well. Younger children will likely need carrying on the way back. Baby carriers work; strollers do not, because there are steps on Urizarreta and on the islet. Hold small hands near the walls.
• Seniors: Fine for active seniors who walk hills regularly. Use the Ermu route both ways and allow the full 2.5 hours.
• Bad knees: The steep, wet Urizarreta descent is the hardest part on knees. Use Ermu both ways and bring poles.
• Heart or breathing conditions: The return climb is sustained. Check with your doctor if you have a heart or lung condition, and go at your own pace. Several visitor guides describe the site as “cardioprotected” (with a defibrillator) and say a first-aid kit is kept at the control points during staffed hours; don’t rely on either.
• Fear of heights: Exposure is moderate. The paths are walled and the drops aren’t vertical beside you, but the bridge and the top feel airy in wind.
• Pregnancy: Consult your doctor. Slips are the main risk in the wet, so the Ermu route is the sensible choice.
• Dogs: Allowed on a leash. Keep them close on the narrow steps.
• Wheelchair users and reduced mobility: Not accessible. VisitBiscay rates the route unsuitable for people with reduced mobility, with steep slopes, cobbles, gravel and stairs. See the Plan B options below.

Safety and emergency basics

• Emergency number: 112 (Basque and Spanish emergency services; English is often available).
• Mobile coverage is generally available but can be patchy below the cliffs, so tell someone your plans.
• There are no facilities on the islet: no café, no toilets. Use the toilets at Urizarreta or Ermu.
• Carry water, a snack, a small first-aid kit, and a fully charged phone with a torch.
• Wear layers and a waterproof. Our What to wear to Gaztelugatxe in winter guide has the full kit list: grippy soles, a waterproof jacket, a warm layer, and gloves for the wind.

The turning-back rule

Turn back if you’d reach the top after about 16:00 in November; if rain is heavy enough to send water running down the steps; if you’re using the walls to stay upright in the wind; or if the swell is hitting the rocks under the bridge. The view will still be there next time.

Plan B: see it without the climb

• Eneperi viewpoint. A few minutes from the car park, with the classic view of the bridge and steps. VisitBiscay lists a 500 m, 15-minute lookout section, though even this is not wheelchair-adapted.
• Matxitxako lighthouse and viewpoint. Just east along the coast road, with sweeping views back to the islet.
• Bermeo. A working fishing port with good restaurants for a rainy-day lunch.
• A viewpoint-only tour. Biscay Bridge, Gaztelugatxe and Txakoli winery from Bilbao (4.7/5 from only 6 reviews, from $84) stops at the Gaztelugatxe viewpoint instead of the 241 steps and adds the Vizcaya Bridge and a txakoli tasting; with so few reviews, read them before you book.
• The full climb with a guide. If you want transport sorted and someone who knows the path, Bilbao: Gaztelugatxe, Bermeo, Mundaka, Gernika, & Wine Tour (4.7/5 from 3,349 reviews, from $66) includes the access slot and spends about 110 minutes at the islet. The six-hour Mundaka and Guernica tour (4.7/5 from 2,504 reviews, from $49) costs less and gives you two guided hours there. Compare them in our best Gaztelugatxe tours from Bilbao in winter.

Going without a car? Read How to get to Gaztelugatxe by bus in winter. Staying overnight lets you wait out a storm and go on the next dry morning: see Where to stay near Gaztelugatxe. Making a full day of it? Our Gaztelugatxe, Mundaka and Gernika tours page compares the day trips, and Game of Thrones fans should read the Bilbao Game of Thrones tour guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many steps are there at Gaztelugatxe?

241 is the official figure. Some older sources say 231; according to Mendikat, a renovation added ten steps. Counting from the access control point all the way to the hermitage, there are close to 300 steps in total.

How long does it take to climb Gaztelugatxe?

The 241 steps take 20–30 minutes. Bizkaia’s provincial council plans on about 2.5 hours for the full visit from the car park; fit walkers in dry weather can manage it in about 1.5 hours, and rain adds 20–30 minutes.

Is Gaztelugatxe dangerous in the rain?

Not inherently, but it’s slippery. Wear grippy shoes, go slowly, and avoid it during orange alerts, storms or high swell, when access may be closed.

Are there handrails on the 241 steps?

Partly. The steps have stone walls and some handrails, but the access paths have no railings, according to VisitBiscay.

Can I take a stroller or wheelchair?

No. Both routes have steep slopes, and the islet is only reachable by steps. Use the Eneperi viewpoint instead.

Which route is easiest?

Ermu: longer (about 1.6 km) but paved, about 15% gradient and step-free to the bridge. Urizarreta is shorter (about 1.2 km) but up to 35% and has steps.

Do I need a ticket in November?

No. The only controlled day in November 2026 was Sunday, November 1. In December you need a free ticket on December 5, 6, 7, 8 and 30. See Gaztelugatxe tickets in winter for the current dates.

Can I just see it from the viewpoint?

Yes. The Eneperi viewpoint near the car park gives the famous view with almost no climbing.

Related Guides

• Is Gaztelugatxe closed today?
• What to wear to Gaztelugatxe in winter
• Where to stay near Gaztelugatxe
• Gaztelugatxe tickets in winter

Path distances, gradients and visit time checked against the provincial council’s Gaztelugatxe page on November 2, 2026. Check the forecast and the official page on the morning you go, because conditions on the headland change fast.