Bilbao to the Loyola Sanctuary
 

Hi, I would like to do a day trip from Bilbao to Santuario de Loyola. I am wondering how long the bus trip will take and if I've found the proper information. I found this (somewhere):

"From Bilbao’s central bus station you can take a Pesa bus towards Azpeitia, which will drop you at the Loyola Sanctuary."

However, on the Pesa website/timetable, I cannot find Azpeitia as a destination. Any insight you can provide is appreciated. Thank you!

You'll have to check Autobuses La Guipuzcoana S. L.: http://www.laguipuzcoana.net/antcata...oja=0&sesion=1 (in Spanish and Euskara only)

You can also take the Lurraldebus from Bilbao to Azpeitia.

I don´t think there´s any direct link to Loiola from Bilbao...you have to either take a bus to Eibar and then change to Loiola, thru PESA...or go to San Sebastian and from there take another bus on the same station towards Loiola. Lengthy.

Been there with some guests two weeks ago. Really worth it.

Dang. And thanks. I did not have terrific luck with that site you referenced, Robert. And when I went to the Lurraldebus site and entered Bilbao to Azpeitia, it returned no routes. But I do thank you for the help and also realize that I am sometimes a bonehead and could be doing something wrong.

My plan was to stay in Bilbao (my flight lands there) and take little side trips to San Sebastian, Loyola, and Guernica and then make my way to Burgos for a new hotel. Maybe there is a better way to do it? I ultimately depart from Madrid.

This is a difficult one to locate and the only reference I've found says that there are three buses a day from Bilbao's main bus station to Loyola.

However, there are contradictions on other sites that say there is no direct link and you should take a train to Zumaia and bus from there.

It's around 70kms so maybe a taxi or hire car might be a good idea.

This pdf file shows that the bus from Donostia to Azkoitia leaves several times a day with stops in Zestoa, Azpeitia and Loiola. There is no direct, non-stop bus from Bilbao or San Sebastian. It looks like you'll have to take the bus to San Sebastian and connect to the bus to Loiola.

http://www.laguipuzcoana.net/modulos...n/archi58A.pdf

As Robert says, there´s no direct link and there´re several options to get to Loiola, you´ll just have to check which one suits you best.

It´s easy to get to Gernika, but you´ll miss the coastal road...why not renting a car and doing this beautiful road thru Bakio, Bermeo, Mundaka, Gernika, Lekeitio...then to Eibar for Loiola...then San Sebastian? Full day visit...and beautiful route.

I like mikelg's suggestion!