Zierbena on the Coast: Beach, Port and Trails

Zierbena combines a coastal landscape with a traditional port, marked trails and a layered local history. Playa de La Arena stretches along the coast of Zierbena and the neighboring municipality of Muskiz and is almost a kilometer long. Punta Lucero, the Bidegorris and the Kantauri Fest also offer different perspectives on the area. When planning your trip, you can decide whether to focus mainly on the beach and coast, maritime tradition, or trails and historical traces.

Playa de La Arena and the View from Punta Lucero

At almost a kilometer long, Playa de La Arena is a notable stretch of coastline. The beach runs along the coast of Zierbena and neighboring Muskiz. Punta Lucero also offers a perspective on this landscape: from the summit, you can enjoy a view of the beach. The coastline and the view from above thus offer different vantage points—one right on the beach, the other from the summit.

Trails on Foot and by Bicycle

A signposted trail to Punta Lucero begins in the La Cuesta district. Green arrows mounted at ground level mark its route. Two Bidegorris, which connect Zierbena with Santurtzi and Portugalete, offer another type of link. Both can be used on foot or by bicycle. One of the routes coincides with the Camino del Norte to Santiago de Compostela and ends opposite Playa de La Arena.

The trails therefore differ in the features described: the trail to Punta Lucero is characterized by its starting point in La Cuesta and the green arrows. The Bidegorris are distinguished by their connections to Santurtzi and Portugalete and by the option of traveling on foot or by bicycle. One of them is also part of the Camino del Norte. This distinction can help you identify the routes that suit your travel plans without treating them as the same route.

Port, Boats and the Kantauri Fest

With its fishing boats and recreational vessels, the port of Zierbena retains a traditional maritime character. Traditional boats are presented at the port during the Kantauri Fest, and visitors can take part in related activities. Stand-up paddleboarding is also part of the festival program.

The festival begins with the crews’ descent from the Nuestra Señora Virgen del Puerto hermitage. The opening is accompanied by Basque dances, bagpipers and live music. The program thus brings together boats and activities at the port with an opening that also features music and dance. If you are planning your trip specifically around the Kantauri Fest, check the event dates in advance.

Historical Traces Along the Coast and at Punta Lucero

The trail to Punta Lucero reveals Zierbena’s military architectural and landscape heritage; the site is considered a strategic point on the Basque coast. The Punta Lucero coastal battery was built in the early 1940s and decommissioned in the late 1970s. These dates provide the historical context for the structure.

A different story lies beneath the dunes of Playa de La Arena: the foundations of a no-longer-existing aerial cableway are located there. It transported iron ore from La Arboleda to the Campomar washing facilities. The former ore transport and the coastal battery represent different chapters in local history—one relating to the industrial use of the coast, the other to its military significance.

Planning Your Trip to Zierbena

When searching for hotels in Zierbena, you can first decide what you want to focus on during your trip: the beach and coastal views, the maritime setting with its port and festival, or trails and historical traces. This helps you choose a destination based on what interests you there. Zierbena’s different attractions offer specific starting points for planning, without conflating the beach, local history and routes.

Discover more destinations: Plaza, Arakaldo, Sopuerta, Portugalete, Erandio, Lezama, Sopelana, Lanestosa

For the broader travel overview: Bizkaia.