Free walking tours in Durango and what to see

Must-sees

Durango is the capital of the Duranguesado area in Biscay, about thirty kilometres from Bilbao. Its old town is compact and easy to explore. The basilica of Santa María de Uribarri stands out for its enormous wooden portico, considered the largest in the Basque Country. Very close is the Arco de Santa Ana, the only surviving gate of the old wall, next to the church of the same name. On Calle Kurutziaga, the Kurutzesantu museum holds the Kurutziaga Cross, a highly valued Gothic carving.

The Museum of Art and History, in the Etxezarreta palace, helps you understand the town with a model of 15th-century Durango. The church of San Pedro de Tabira is one of the oldest in Biscay. A few kilometres away rises the Urkiola Natural Park, with the peaks of Anboto and Alluitz and the Urkiola sanctuary. In early December the Durangoko Azoka is held, the big fair of books and records in Basque.

Free tours and guided visits

There are no regular free walking tours in Durango. The tourist office, located in the Kurutzesantu museum, organises themed guided visits at certain times of year, for example inside Santa María or around the old town, with limited places and in Spanish or Basque. If you want something more structured, you can combine the visit with excursions from Bilbao or mountain routes in Urkiola.

How long to spend

Three or four hours are enough for the old town and the museums. If you add a route in Urkiola, allow a full day, and with two days you can climb Anboto at a relaxed pace or visit other Duranguesado towns, such as Elorrio.

Where to stay

Sleeping in or around the old town puts everything on foot, with a good bar scene in the evening. If you are coming to walk, there are rural cottages and farm stays in the surrounding districts and valleys, closer to Urkiola. The town’s choice is moderate and fills up during the Azoka, but Bilbao is less than half an hour away and is a good alternative.