Overlooking the Bay of Biscay, Mutriku is a laid-back coastal town in the Basque Country province of Gipuzkoa. It’s home to a stunning Neoclassical church, black-sand beaches and a notable stretch of flysch, as well as one of the world’s first multi-turbine breakwater wave power stations.
Things to do in Mutriku
One of Mutriku’s most important architectural landmarks is the Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Asuncion, a Neoclassical church fronted by six Doric columns. It was designed by the locally-based architects Manuel Vicente Laca and Mariano José Lascurain and houses a magnificent painting of Christ by Francisco de Zurbarán. Also not to miss is the Palacio Arrietakua, a late-17th-century residence that is accessible on guided tours.
If you’re interested in the natural and geological history of the region, head to the Centro de Interpretacion Geologica Nautilus. In addition to displaying fossils found on the surrounding coastline, its exhibits detail Mutriku's black flysch, which is among the oldest of its kind within the Basque Coast UNESCO Global Geopark.
Want to stretch your legs? Follow the Mutriku Coastal Path, which extends for four kilometres between the town centre and Ondarbeltz Beach near Deba. It takes in several picturesque coves and viewpoints that allow you to appreciate the flysch, including the Mirador de Motrico. Just across the Deba River from Ondarbeltz Beach are the wide sands of Santiago Beach, which is a popular spot for swimming and surfing.
Getting around Mutriku
Mutriku is around 45 minutes’ drive from San Sebastian and just under an hour from Bilbao. Bilbao Airport is about an hour away and has flights to destinations across Europe and North Africa. Buses connect to Mutriku from towns and cities across the Basque Country while the centre of Mutriku is small enough to explore on foot.