Gaztelugatxe Tickets in Winter: When You Need to Book

How the system works: controlled-access vs free-access days

Gaztelugatxe is a protected Natural Monument. To manage crowds, the Diputación Foral de Bizkaia (the provincial government) splits the year into two kinds of days:

• Controlled-access days. You must book a free ticket online for a specific date and time slot, and staff check it at the access point. Capacity is capped at 1,462 visitors per day, a limit Deia reports has applied since the site reopened in April 2022.
• Free-access days. No ticket and no booking. You just walk in. On these days the tiketa.eus homepage shows a banner saying there’s no need for a ticket reservation that day.

The Diputación sets controlled days where it expects demand: every day in summer, plus weekends, long weekends and holidays in spring and fall. In winter, the calendar shrinks to just the public-holiday long weekends.

Low season month by month: do you need a ticket?

About 2027: as of mid-October 2026 the booking site still says “Tiketa 2026”, and its rules state that reservations “can only be made for the current year”. The 2026 calendar PDF was uploaded in December 2025, so a 2027 calendar most likely appears around December 2026. Until then, the 2027 rows above are an educated guess based on the 2026 pattern, not official dates.

How to book your free ticket on tiketa.eus (step by step)

You only need to do this for a controlled-access date.

1. Go to the official booking site: public.tiketa.eus/gaztelugatxe. Use the language switcher at the top to pick English (Basque, Spanish and French are also available).
2. Check the date. If the site shows “FREE ACCESS” for your day, stop here. You don’t need a ticket.
3. Choose the booking type. Choose “private reservation” if you’re an individual or family (up to 10 people). Groups of 11 or more use the group option (up to 34 tickets per request). Tour operators, schools and companies must use the separate tour-operator platform.
4. Pick your date and time slot. The system shows the slots that still have space.
5. Enter your details. You’ll need personal details and a contact phone number. Staff use the number if there’s last-minute news, such as a weather closure.
6. Confirm and check your inbox. You’ll get an email with your reservation receipt. Show it at the access point on your phone or printed, and keep it until the end of the walk, because staff may check it again.
7. Cancel if your plans change. The cancellation link is in that same email.

No email? Check spam first. If it still hasn’t arrived, contact the site team at gaztelugatxe@bizkaia.eus or +34 688 73 81 47 (listed hours 10 a.m.–5 p.m.).

The rules that catch people out

Where’s the checkpoint? There are two signposted access points: Urizarreta (the main entrance near the Eneperi car park and restaurant on the Bakio–Bermeo road) and Ermu (the eastern entrance, where organized tour groups enter). Staff check and register your receipt. The official rules talk about verifying the reservation, not ID, but carry ID anyway since your booking is in your name.

Controlled hours: the unofficial fan site sanjuandegaztelugatxe.info gives the controlled window as 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. It says that from October 28 to the end of the year the last controlled entry is at 5 p.m. The official site doesn’t state these times clearly, so check the slots shown when you book.

Tips for getting a slot on busy dates

• Book as soon as you know your date, especially for the December 5–8 long weekend and Easter.
• Go for early or late slots. The middle of the day fills first.
• Keep checking. Cancellations return places to the system, so a “full” day can open up. Travelers on forums report finding spots a few days before.
• Shift by a day. In winter the day after a holiday is often free access, with no ticket and fewer people.

Do guided tours include tickets?

Usually yes, on controlled days. Organized tours book through the separate tour-operator channel and enter via Ermu. Many Bilbao day tours list the Gaztelugatxe access ticket in what’s included: Bilbao: Gaztelugatxe, Bermeo, Mundaka, Gernika, & Wine Tour (4.7/5 from 3,297 reviews, from $66), the six-hour Gaztelugatxe, Mundaka and Guernica tour (4.7/5 from 2,469 reviews, from $49) and the nine-hour Gaztelugatxe, Bermeo and Gernika day trip (4.8/5 from 860 reviews, from $78) all do. Check each listing to confirm. On free-access days no ticket is needed, so this matters less in winter.

A tour also solves the bigger winter problem, which is getting there. Buses to the site are thin in low season.

If you want more than one stop in the day, the ten-hour tour adds Bermeo, Mundaka, Gernika and a txakoli tasting, while the six-hour Mundaka and Guernica trip is the cheaper and shorter choice at $49 per person.

Our guide to which Gaztelugatxe tour from Bilbao is right for you compares the departures. Traveling independently? See our guide to the bus from Bilbao to Gaztelugatxe.

Can I visit without a reservation?

Yes, on any free-access day. That covers almost all of November, December, January and February. On a controlled day without a ticket, you have these options:

1. Visit on a free-access day instead. In winter 2026 that means November 2 onwards, or any December day except December 5–8 and December 30.
2. Enjoy it from above. The viewpoints around Eneperi and along the track give you the classic postcard view of the bridge and islet without going down the path. Travelers report being redirected to a viewpoint when they arrived without a slot.
3. Walk the coast. AllTrails lists the Mirador de Ermualde to Cabo Matxitxako lighthouse trail as about 3.4 km round trip, with 158 m of climb and 1–1.5 hours of walking, and sweeping views back to the islet. Fitter walkers can link Bakio to Gaztelugatxe on foot, which AllTrails rates as moderate (about 8.4 km, roughly 3–3.5 hours), or continue on toward Bermeo.
4. Base yourself nearby. Staying in Bakio lets you go at first light on a free-access day. Bilbao has more choice of hotels and restaurants, about 40–45 minutes away by car.

Bermeo’s town hall also runs guided visits with tickets included at peak times such as Easter. Check the Bermeo tourism site (bizibermeo.eus) for 2027 dates.

When a ticket won’t get you in: closures

A valid ticket doesn’t override safety closures.

• Storms. The Diputación closes the access paths during orange alerts for heavy seas and severe rain. They stay shut until conditions improve, and winter is when this happens most. Check the official Gaztelugatxe page and Euskalmet warnings on the morning of your visit.
• Planned path works. The Diputación has tendered “Phase IV” repairs to the walls supporting the path to the hermitage. The tender (file 2026/0017/073/02) is worth €489,891.21, and Deia reported on September 21, 2026 that the work should take about four months. As of mid-October 2026 no start date or closure has been announced. For context, earlier works closed access from Monday, October 23, 2023, with a break from October 28 to November 1 for All Saints’. The site reopened on March 8, 2024 after €915,536.96 of works. Re-check before any winter trip.
• If your booked day is closed, the site has your phone number for last-minute notices. Booking is free, so there’s no money to refund. Rebook or switch to a free-access day.

Plan for wet steps either way: the 241 stone steps are smooth and slippery in rain, so wear shoes with a lugged sole and bring a waterproof layer.

Watch out for “paid tickets”

Gaztelugatxe access tickets are free and only issued through tiketa.eus. If any website or social account asks you to pay for an “entrance ticket” on its own, don’t buy it. Paying for a guided tour is fine, and some tours include the free access ticket. Paying a reseller for the ticket itself is not something the official system offers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Gaztelugatxe free in winter?

Yes. Entry is free all year. On a few controlled days you also need a free online booking.

Do I need a ticket for Gaztelugatxe in November 2026?

Only on November 1. Every other November day, weekends included, is free access.

Do I need a ticket in December?

Only on December 5, 6, 7, 8 and 30, 2026. Avoid December 30 anyway, because it’s reserved for local celebrations.

Can I book for January–March 2027 yet?

Not yet. Bookings are only open for the current year, and the 2027 calendar hasn’t been published. Expect Easter (around March 25–29, 2027) to be controlled.

What happens if I’m late?

Your booking is cancelled 60 minutes after your slot time. If you’re delayed, phone or email the access team.

What if I don’t show up?

If you didn’t cancel, you’re blocked from booking for one year. Always cancel through your confirmation email.

Can one person book for a group of 12?

No. Private bookings max out at 10 tickets. For 11 or more, use the group booking option.

Did Gaztelugatxe appear in Game of Thrones?

Yes, as Dragonstone in Season 7. Our Bilbao Game of Thrones tour guide covers the filming locations and the tours that visit them.

Related Guides

• Gaztelugatxe in November: is it worth visiting?
• Gaztelugatxe tickets and reservations all year
• Best time to visit Gaztelugatxe
• How to get to Gaztelugatxe from Bilbao

Last checked: October 2026. Ticket dates, slot times and closures change, so check the official site before you go.