Euskotren E4 train Bilbao–Bermeo

Euskotren line E4 is the most comfortable way to get around Urdaibai without a car. It leaves from Matiko, in Bilbao, passes through Zazpikaleak, in the Old Quarter, and reaches Bermeo skirting the west bank of the estuary, with stops at Gernika, Busturia and Mundaka.

Route and stops

From Bilbao, the train passes Txurdinaga, Otxarkoaga, Kukullaga, Etxebarri, Basauri, Galdakao, Bedia, Lemoa and Amorebieta, and enters Urdaibai via Zugastieta and Muxika. In Gernika it has three stops: Lurgorri, Gernika (the central one) and Instituto. Then come Forua, the three Busturia stops (San Kristobal, Axpe and Itsasbegi), Mundaka and Bermeo, at the end of the line.

According to the Euskotren timetables, the full journey from Matiko to Bermeo takes a little under an hour and a half, and Gernika-Lumo Turismo calculates 51 minutes from Zazpikaleak to Gernika. From Gernika to Mundaka and Bermeo it is about twenty minutes more.

Frequency

For the Matiko–Gernika–Bermeo section Euskotren describes a train every 30 minutes for most of the day, with fewer trains first thing and last thing. On the 2025 summer timetable poster, Monday to Friday a train left Matiko every half hour from 6:10 to 19:10, and on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays from 7:42 to 19:12. At night, some trains terminate in the Gernika area and do not continue to Mundaka and Bermeo: if you are returning to the coast late, check the train's destination. On strike days or special services, such as the fair on the last Monday of October in Gernika, Euskotren publishes its own timetables.

The timetable changes by season: check the current one at euskotren.eus, on its app or on 944 333 333.

Tickets

Euskotren charges by zones. According to its fares from 29 June 2026, in Bizkaia the single ticket costs from €2.00 (one zone) to €4.50 (five zones), and with a contactless stored-value card, such as the Barik, from €1.02 to €2.45. From Bilbao to Gernika or Bermeo you cross several zones, so the card is worth it. Children under 6 travel free, and under-15s also travel free if they validate their personalised card.

How to use it in Urdaibai

• Gernika: get off at Gernika for the Casa de Juntas and the Gernika Tree and the Peace Museum; the tourist office is at Artekalea 8.
• Mundaka: from the village starts the walk to Santa Katalina and the surf lessons.
• Bermeo: end of the line and port for the boats to Gaztelugatxe and Elantxobe. To walk to San Juan de Gaztelugatxe, the Bizkaia provincial council suggests combining the E4 as far as Bermeo with the bus.

The line does not cross to the east bank of the estuary: for Laida beach or the Urdaibai Bird Center you need a bus or a car from Gernika.