Getaria Holidays: Balenciaga Museum, Beach and Lighthouse
Gipuzkoa · Basque Country · Spain · 2,530 residents · on the coast
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Faro de Guetaria
Museo Cristóbal Balenciaga
Gaztetape
Casa San Roque 27
Antigua casa consistorial de GuetariaGetaria is a small coastal village of around 2,530 people on the Gipuzkoa shore of the Basque Country, sitting just 32 metres above sea level. Almost everything worth seeing lies within a few minutes' walk. The Museo Cristóbal Balenciaga, a fashion museum dedicated to the Spanish designer, is about 200 metres from the centre. Gaztetape beach is closer still, and the Faro de Guetaria lighthouse is roughly half a mile away. Between them sit the old town hall, the Torre Aldamar and a cluster of historic palaces. With Bilbao airport about 50 minutes' drive away and San Sebastián 12 miles along the coast, Getaria works as a quiet base or an easy day out.
Why go
- The Museo Cristóbal Balenciaga brings a serious fashion collection to a village of barely 2,500 people.
- Gaztetape beach and the Faro de Guetaria lighthouse are both within walking distance of the centre.
- Bilbao airport, with direct flights from the UK, is roughly 35 miles and 50 minutes away.
Top sights in Getaria
Museums, Lighthouse and Old Stone Houses
The headline sight is the Museo Cristóbal Balenciaga, a fashion museum devoted to the Spanish designer, about 200 metres from the centre. A short walk of roughly half a mile brings you to the Faro de Guetaria, the village lighthouse, a good spot for a stroll with sea views on either side.
For time on the sand, Gaztetape beach is barely 100 metres from the centre. The historic core rewards an unhurried wander: the Antigua casa consistorial, the former town hall, stands right at the heart of the village, with the Torre Aldamar tower, Casa San Roque 27, the Palacio Indianokua and the Palacio de los Romero-Etxabe-Asu all within about 100 metres.
Tours and tickets for the area can be booked directly on this page, where you will find the current options listed.
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Museo Cristóbal Balenciaga
In the centre · Photo
Fashion museum dedicated to the Spanish designer Cristóbal Balenciaga
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Casa San Roque 27
In the centre · Photo
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Antigua casa consistorial de Guetaria
In the centre · Photo
6castleTorre Aldamar
In the centre · Photo
7palacePalacio Indianokua
In the centre · Photo
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Museo Cristobal Balenciaga
In the centre · Photo
9palacePalacio de los Romero-Etxabe-Asu
In the centre · Photo
Tours & tickets in Getaria
Guided tours, day trips and tickets in and around Getaria can be booked in advance, priced in GBP.
See tours & tickets (opens GetYourGuide in a new tab)Where to stay in Getaria
Choosing Your Base in Getaria
Getaria is compact, so staying in the village puts you a few steps from both the historic centre and Gaztetape beach, which sit within about 100 metres of each other. With a population of around 2,530, expect a quiet stay rather than nightlife.
If you prefer a livelier base, Zarautz, a town of about 22,600 people, is only 2 miles away, and San Sebastián lies around 12 miles along the coast. This page shows live hotel prices so you can compare Getaria itself with its neighbours.
Hire a car
The easiest way to reach Getaria and the villages around it is a hire car from Bilbao (BIO), about 50 min away.
Best time to visit Getaria
When to Visit Getaria
- 13°CJan175 mm
- 14°CFeb132 mm
- 17°CMar108 mm
- 17°CApr112 mm
- 19°CMay153 mm
- 22°CJun91 mm
- 24°CJul55 mm
- 24°CAug165 mm
- 23°CSept148 mm
- 22°COct170 mm
- 17°CNov181 mm
- 14°CDec184 mm
Highlighted months are the sweet spot for warm, dry weather.
This is the green Basque coast, and rain falls in every month. July is the standout: it is the driest month, with around 55 mm across roughly 10 rainy days, and highs of about 24°C. August matches that warmth at 24°C but is much wetter, with around 165 mm of rain. September still reaches about 23°C and June about 22°C.
The wettest stretch runs from October to January, with November and December each bringing over 180 mm. March and May have the most rainy days, around 19 each. Winters are mild, with highs of 13 to 14°C in January and February. No sea temperature figures are available for this stretch of coast.
Full monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Sun |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 13°C | 6°C | 175 mm | 5 h |
| Feb | 14°C | 6°C | 132 mm | 6 h |
| Mar | 17°C | 8°C | 108 mm | 8 h |
| Apr | 17°C | 9°C | 112 mm | 9 h |
| May | 19°C | 11°C | 153 mm | 10 h |
| Jun | 22°C | 16°C | 91 mm | 10 h |
| Jul | 24°C | 17°C | 55 mm | 10 h |
| Aug | 24°C | 17°C | 165 mm | 10 h |
| Sept | 23°C | 15°C | 148 mm | 10 h |
| Oct | 22°C | 14°C | 170 mm | 7 h |
| Nov | 17°C | 10°C | 181 mm | 6 h |
| Dec | 14°C | 7°C | 184 mm | 5 h |
Averages 2015–2024. Highlighted months are the sweet spot for warm, dry weather.
Getting there from the UK
Flights, Ferries and the Drive
Bilbao is the obvious gateway: it has direct flights from the UK and sits about 35 miles from Getaria, roughly a 50-minute drive. Santander also has direct UK flights and is about 81 miles away, close to two hours by car. Zaragoza, around 127 miles off, has direct UK flights too, though the drive takes about three hours.
If you want to bring your own car, Brittany Ferries sails from Portsmouth to Bilbao in roughly 28 to 32 hours, and the port is about 42 miles from Getaria. Santander, around 81 miles away, takes Brittany Ferries sailings from Portsmouth (about 24 to 32 hours) and Plymouth (about 20 hours). Driving all the way from Calais takes around 13 hours.
By air
- Bilbao (BIO)35 miles, about 50 min by roaddirect flights from the UK
- Santander (SDR)81 miles, about 1 h 56 min by roaddirect flights from the UK
- Zaragoza (ZAZ)127 miles, about 3 h 1 min by roaddirect flights from the UK
By car and ferry
Driving from Calais takes roughly 13 h 3 min without stops. Nearest ferry ports: Bilbao (42 miles), Santander (81 miles).
Getaria is good for
Around Getaria
Easy Day Trips Along the Coast
Getaria's neighbours are close. Zarautz is just 2 miles away and Zumaia about 2.5 miles, while the smaller town of Orio is roughly 4 miles along the coast. Inland, Azpeitia lies about 9 miles away.
For a city day, San Sebastián (Donostia) is around 12 miles off, with Hernani at a similar distance. Elgoibar is about 12 miles away and Astigarraga roughly 13 miles, making the whole stretch of Gipuzkoa easy to explore from one base.
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Tips from Robin
Practical Tips for Your Stay
Pack a waterproof whatever the month. Even July sees around 10 rainy days, and most of the year brings well over 100 mm of rain a month, so plan museum time for the wetter days.
Getaria is a village of about 2,530 people, so it is quiet by design. For a wider choice of evening options, Zarautz is only 2 miles away and San Sebastián around 12 miles.
Car hire from Bilbao makes sense: the airport is under an hour's drive, and having a car opens up the inland towns such as Azpeitia and Elgoibar.
Questions people ask
What is the nearest airport to Getaria?
Bilbao is the nearest, about 35 miles away and roughly a 50-minute drive. It has direct flights from the UK. Santander, around 81 miles and just under two hours by car, is another direct option.
Can I get to Getaria by ferry from the UK?
Yes. Brittany Ferries sails from Portsmouth to Bilbao, about 42 miles from Getaria, in roughly 28 to 32 hours. Santander, about 81 miles away, has sailings from Portsmouth and from Plymouth, the latter taking around 20 hours.
Is there a beach in Getaria?
Yes. Gaztetape beach is about 100 metres from the village centre, so it is easy to combine with the historic streets and the Museo Cristóbal Balenciaga, which is around 200 metres away.
What is the best month to visit Getaria?
July is the most settled month, with around 55 mm of rain over roughly 10 days and highs near 24°C. August is equally warm but considerably wetter, and rain is common throughout the year on this coast.
How far is Getaria from San Sebastián?
San Sebastián is about 12 miles from Getaria, an easy day trip. Closer still are Zarautz at around 2 miles and Zumaia at about 2.5 miles, both handy for a change of scene.
What is there to see in Getaria?
The main sights are the Museo Cristóbal Balenciaga fashion museum, the Faro de Guetaria lighthouse about half a mile away, Gaztetape beach, and historic buildings including the old town hall, the Torre Aldamar and several palaces in the centre.