What to see in Gernika in a day

Table of contents

There are lots of ways to enjoy Gernika, but here are a couple of suggestions. ONDO PASA!

SUGGESTION 1: GERNIKA, the story of a bombing that inspired Picasso
SUGGESTION 2: MONDAY IN GERNIKA: a traditional market and much more

SUGGESTION 1: GERNIKA, the story of a bombing that inspired Picasso

In the morning

The morning begins with a visit to the Gernika Peace Museum which offers insight into both the Civil War and the bombing of the town.

To delve even deeper into what is explained in the museum, you can't miss visiting the Air-Raid Shelters, which perfectly complement the experience.

Next, get ready to follow the Bombing Route, a journey back in time to 1937. Just scan the QR codes on the panels and you’ll be whisked back to the Gernika of days gone by.

Don't forget to book in advance

A reservation is required to visit the interior of the Astra Air Raid Shelter

ASTRA Air Raid Shelter reservations

Please note that...

_{visiting the Gernika Peace Museum takes approximately one hour}

Gernika’s cuisine: treat yourself to a generous "menú del día" ( daily menu) or just enjoy a delicious pintxo or two on one of the street-side terraces in the pedestrian zones.

Don’t miss the outdoor mural depicting Picasso’s Guernica, a life-size ceramic artwork on open display.

In the afternoon

Visit the Guernica Assembly House with its iconic Tree. Don’t forget that you need to make a reservation to enter the grounds.

Visit the Euskal Herria Museum: A small ethnographic treasure trove housed within the walls of the Alegría Palace. It contains a fascinating exhibition on the history, culture and traditions of the Basque Country.

Don't forget to book in advance

A reservation is required to visit the interior of the plenary hall of the Guernica Assembly House.

Make a reservation

In the afternoon

_{Allow around 45 minutes for the Assembly House and about one hour for the Euskal Herria Museum}

SUGGESTION 2: MONDAY IN GERNIKA: a traditional market and much more.

In the morning

Visit one of the Basque Country’s unique traditional markets. Open from 9 am to 1:30 pm, it’s a great place to buy typical top-quality local products such as Idiazabal cheese, farmhouse bread, honey, Basque cake and Gernika’s delicious peppers, not to mention lots of other seasonal vegetables.

Come in mid-morning: it’s the best time to enjoy the market, when all the stalls are set up and the atmosphere is at its liveliest.
Take a gourmet break: treat yourself to a cheese pintxo, a simple and delicious way to discover local products.
If you’re arriving by car: we recommend parking at the Santana car park or the Urbieta–Los Tilos car park.

Once you’ve got the shopping in, a pit stop at a terrace to recharge your batteries is just the ticket! Treat yourself to a delicious pintxo, always washed down with a glass of txakoli from Gernika or the surrounding region.

Visit the Casa de Juntas (the Assembly House) and the Tree of Gernika to learn all about our history and our roots, taking time to admire the magnificent stained glass window and the plenary hall. And then the Park of the Peoples of Europe, following the path that wends its way towards sculptures by Eduardo Chillida and Henry Moore.

To round the morning off, we suggest you take a stroll through the Park of the Peoples of Europe where Henry Moore and Eduardo Chillida will be waiting to introduce you to modern art.

Well now, after this morning stroll, the time has come to find a restaurant serving traditional local food.

Don't forget to book in advance

A reservation is required to visit the interior of the plenary hall of the Guernica Assembly House.

Make a reservation

In the afternoon

As tradition dictates, no self-respecting Monday in Gernika would be complete without a visit to the famous Jai Alai Fronton, also known as the “Cathedral of Pelota”. It is one of the largest fronton courts in the world still in use. Standing on the court, you can appreciate the majesty of the building and how difficult the sport really is.

At any time of the day you can enjoy a guided tour at your own pace, using the audio guide that you can find on the Gernika website or on our YouTube channel. You can organise your visit as you please.

LISTEN HERE

To bring the afternoon to a fitting end, it’s time for something sweet and - if we may – we have a recommendation for you! If you have a sweet tooth - and who doesn’t? – you just have to try “Ori-Baltzak”, the Gernika pastry par excellence.

You can buy them at the Bidaguren patisserie, a family business that has been making confectionery since 1942.

Tourist Map

download here

DOWNLOAD

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is the meaning of the Tree of Gernika ?

The Assembly House and the Tree of Gernika are living symbols of the Basque People's history.

The Assembly House of Gernika is the seat of the historic parliament of Bizkaia. This building, along with the foral oak, stand as a meeting point for all the territories of Euskal Herria united in the same cultural and ethnographic tradition. The Tree of Gernika is significant because it symbolizes the democratic tradition and identity of the Basque people.

What to see around Gernika

Gernika is located in the heart of the Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve, a place of spectacular beauty where picturesque villages such as Bermeo, Mundaka, or Elantxobe can be found. Additionally, this region is home to impressive sites such as San Juan de Gaztelugatxe, the Oma Forest, or the Santimamiñe Caves.

Gernika with children

In Gernika, we offer an interactive game called "Marco Topo" to explore the town with family. The "Marco Topo Club" is a free experience that allows families with children to enjoy cultural visits. Both children and adults engage in the game as we tour Gernika and discover, through its clues, the most important and relevant corners of its history.