Your legs will soon know what they’re in for: today goes up and down in every direction. There’s no huge climb, but you’re constantly heading up and down again, with almost 500 metres of ascent over the whole day. Meanwhile, your mind can simply stroll along. Bilbao gives way to hills, industry and patches of green, and you’ll fall into a rhythm without even trying.
You can also choose a shorter variant along the river, the ría of Bilbao. That keeps you close to the water and gets you there sooner. Whichever route you take, you end up in Portugalete. There you cross the river on the Puente Colgante, the hanging transporter bridge and a World Heritage Site. Take a moment to look up at how that thing hangs there, and then you’re off to the other side.