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Where to park
Where to leave the car
Paid car park at the entrance (€3/day). Bus 3517 from Gernika stops at the beach in summer.
Beach · Ibarrangelu · Basque Country
Laida
The estuary beach of the Urdaibai Reserve
Where the Oka river meets the Bay of Biscay. At low tide, Laida turns into an enormous sandbar that walks all the way across to Sukarrieta on the far shore. Family-friendly, protected from the ocean swell.
- Type
- Sandy beach
- Length
- 1 km
- Sand
- Fine golden sand, huge low-tide flats
- Water
- Atlantic · estuary · warmer than open sea
GPS · 43.4014° N, 2.6789° W
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When to arrive
Best time to visit
Two hours either side of low tide, for the sandbars and the calm estuary water.
Tours & excursions · Best-sellers on Viator
The eight best-reviewed excursions in the Basque Country
Hand-picked from Viator's top-rated experiences on Basque Country, sorted by review volume and average rating. Free cancellation up to 24 h before, reserve now and pay later.
- ◆ Free cancellation 24 h
- ◆ Reserve now, pay later
- ◆ Instant confirmation
- ◆ Best-price guarantee
Food & wine3 hSan Sebastián pintxos and wine walking tour
4.9(3,200 reviews)
Small-group walking tour through the Parte Vieja stopping at 4–5 iconic pintxo bars. Every tapa is paired with Rioja, Txakoli or Basque cider and explained by a local food guide.
From
£75per person
- 4–5 pintxos included, from cold classics to hot txikitos
- Txakoli, Rioja and cider pairings
- Small groups (max 8) with a local foodie guide
Culture2 hBilbao Guggenheim skip-the-line guided tour
4.8(1,850 reviews)
Skip the ticket queue and walk through the temporary and permanent collections with an accredited art historian. Includes Richard Serra's 'The Matter of Time' and the outdoor sculptures.
From
£38per person
- Fast-track entry to the museum
- Art historian guide with audio headsets
- Meets 200 m from the museum entrance
Nature4.5 hSan Juan de Gaztelugatxe half-day tour from Bilbao
4.8(1,420 reviews)
Round-trip from Bilbao to the tied-island hermitage of San Juan de Gaztelugatxe. Includes the free timed entry booking, guide and a stop at Bakio for a Txakoli tasting.
From
£58per person
- Reserved timed entry to Gaztelugatxe
- Txakoli winery tasting in Bakio
- Round-trip transport from central Bilbao
Food & wine9 hRioja Alavesa wineries day trip from Bilbao
4.8(980 reviews)
Cross the Cantabrian range into Rioja Alavesa. Visit two contrasting wineries — one modern (Ysios or Marqués de Riscal), one traditional — with a stop for lunch and a walk in the medieval town of Laguardia.
From
£110per person
- Two winery visits with tasting flights
- Lunch in Laguardia included
- Small groups with an English-speaking sommelier guide
Culture2 hSan Sebastián old town walking tour
4.9(2,100 reviews)
Walk the Parte Vieja from Plaza de la Constitución to Santa María del Coro. History of the city's fires, the fishing quarter and the origins of the pintxo, ending with a free glass of Txakoli.
From
£25per person
- Local licensed guide
- Complimentary Txakoli tasting at the end
- Small groups (max 12)
Nature8 hBasque coast day trip: Getaria, Zumaia and San Sebastián
4.7(760 reviews)
Full-day round trip from Bilbao along the Basque coast. Getaria for a Txakoli tasting, Zumaia's UNESCO flysch cliffs and free time in San Sebastián for lunch and a stroll of La Concha.
From
£95per person
- Round-trip transport from Bilbao
- Txakoli winery tasting in Getaria
- Free time in San Sebastián for pintxos
Adventure2 hSurf lesson in Zurriola or Zarautz
4.9(640 reviews)
Small-group beginner lesson with certified instructors on Zurriola (San Sebastián) or Zarautz. All equipment provided — soft-top board, wetsuit and helmet — plus a post-session photo pack.
From
£45per person
- All equipment included (board + wetsuit)
- Small groups (max 6 students per instructor)
- Beginners and improvers welcome
Food & wine3 hBilbao pintxos and Casco Viejo food tour
4.8(890 reviews)
Small-group evening walk through Bilbao's Casco Viejo. Stops at 4 traditional and modern pintxo bars, tastings of Basque cider, Rioja and Txakoli, and a walk over Zubizuri to admire the Guggenheim by night.
From
£68per person
- 4 pintxo bars visited
- Rioja, Txakoli and cider tastings
- Local food guide, groups max 10
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How you get there
Getting there
Ten minutes from Laga by car. From Bilbao, 40 min via Gernika (BI-635).
What you'll find
Services
- Lifeguard Jun–Sept
- Chiringuito with pintxos and drinks
- Kids' playground and adapted access
- SUP and kayak rental at the boathouse
Local tips
What we wish we'd been told
- 01Rent a kayak and paddle up the estuary to Mundaka
- 02Wear water shoes — hidden shellfish on the sandbars
- 03Check the tide before you drive over
Around this beach
Towns within 15 km of Laida
Nearest villages on Basque Country — sorted by distance. Ideal bases for staying close to the beach.
Keep exploring