San Juan de Gaztelugatxe access changes on 21 September
Published on 09/27/2026 at 17:22 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
San Juan de Gaztelugatxe returned to free access on 21 September 2026, giving visitors in Bermeo a change from the summer reservation system at the coastal landmark.
The site, also called San Juan de Gaztelugatxe in its local usage, remains subject to advance booking on selected October dates. The change applies to the route leading to the hilltop hermitage between Bermeo and Bakio.
September access change brings free visits before October controls
The summer access control ended on 20 September 2026, and free access began the following day. The change means that visitors can use the route without a prior reservation on the remaining days of September, according to the 21 September access change reported by Deia.
The reservation system returns on 3, 4, 10, 11, 12, 17, 18, 24, 25 and 31 October 2026. These dates include October weekends and the public holiday on 12 October. On controlled-access dates, the daily capacity is 1,462 people, and the reservation remains free.
The Provincial Council of Bizkaia distinguishes between controlled and unrestricted days. Its visitor information for Gaztelugatxe says that visitors need a reservation on restricted days, while access is free on the remaining days.
San Juan de Gaztelugatxe combines a hermitage with a protected coast
The landmark stands on the Basque coast between the coastal towns of Bakio and Bermeo. The regional tourism authority describes it as a protected biotope, while the site is now designated a Natural Monument by the Provincial Council of Bizkaia.
The present hermitage is not the original building. The first chapel is believed to date from the ninth century, and the site later became a convent in the twelfth century. Fires and battles led to repeated rebuilding, so the building seen today reflects several stages of its history.
The route gives the access change a physical dimension: unrestricted entry still leads to a steep coastal path, a bridge and 241 steps to the chapel. The protected status and the autumn booking dates therefore shape the same visitor experience, linking conservation rules directly to the climb. Further historical and landscape details appear in the Basque cultural heritage profile.
October reservations mark the next change for visitors
The October dates are the practical consequence of the seasonal access pattern. A visit on one of those days requires a reservation before reaching the control point, while a visit on an unrestricted date does not require that step.
The arrangement also separates the main route from the surrounding viewpoints. The access controls concern the path to the hermitage, whereas viewpoints outside the controlled route remain part of the wider coastal landscape. Visitors should therefore check the official calendar before choosing a date.
Visiting San Juan de Gaztelugatxe: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- Access became free on 21 September 2026, but reservations are required on 3, 4, 10, 11, 12, 17, 18, 24, 25 and 31 October 2026.
- The reservation applies to controlled access to the route and hermitage; the remaining September days are free-access days.
- The landmark lies between Bermeo and Bakio. The official route begins at Urizarreta, and Bermeo can be reached by the E4 Euskotren line before continuing by bus.
- The route includes a 1,200-metre path with a 35% gradient, followed by 241 steps to the hermitage. The return route through Ermu is 1,600 metres with a 15% gradient.
- San Juan de Gaztelugatxe is a protected natural site, so camping, fires, littering, diving and unauthorised parking are prohibited.
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Frequently asked questions about San Juan de Gaztelugatxe
When do reservations return at San Juan de Gaztelugatxe?
Reservations are required on 3, 4, 10, 11, 12, 17, 18, 24, 25 and 31 October 2026. Other dates follow the access calendar published by the Provincial Council of Bizkaia.
Where is San Juan de Gaztelugatxe and how do you get there?
The landmark is between Bermeo and Bakio on the Basque coast. Visitors can reach Bermeo by the E4 Euskotren line and continue by bus, or travel by road to the access areas.
What is San Juan de Gaztelugatxe?
It is a coastal landmark with a hermitage reached by a bridge and 241 steps. The surrounding area is a protected natural site and Natural Monument.
