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Voykit pocket guide · Spain
Guernica
Gernika-Lumo
Spend a half‑day in Guernica: market (if Monday), Peace Museum and historic sites (≈2 h), then return to Bilbao; no overnight needed.
Guernica is a small Basque town 35 km north‑east of Bilbao, famous for its 1937 bombing and the iconic Peace Museum. Its compact centre is walkable, making a half‑day visit enough to see the market, museum and historic sites.
- Country
- Spain
- Local name
- Gernika-Lumo
- Best months
- check
- Avoid
- check
- Stay
- 0–1 (optional night in nearby Bermeo) nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- EUR
- Money
- Currency is the euro (EUR, €). Cards and contactless work almost everywhere, including tapas bars and taxis in the cities.
- Daily spend
- Budget €30–50 excl. accommodation · Mid €50–80 excl. accommodation (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- EU and EEA plans roam at home prices; UK and other plans may charge — check before you land.
- Emergency
- Police 091 · Fire and ambulance 112
- Plugs
- Types C, F · 230 V · 50 Hz · Round two-pin plugs; UK and US plugs need an adapter.
- Tipping
- Bar or café: Leave small change or nothing.; Restaurant: Round up or 5–10% for good service; service is not usually added.; Taxi: Round up to the next euro.; Hotel porter: €1–2 a bag.; Guide on a free walking tour: €10–15 a person is the expected payment.
- Water
- Tap water is safe across the mainland; it tastes of chlorine in some coastal areas. Ask for 'agua del grifo' in restaurants — by law since 2025 they must offer it free (check local application).
- Toilets
- Few public toilets; use bars and cafés (buy a coffee). Stations and shopping centres have free or cheap toilets.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Pintxo | €2–4 |
| Coffee | €1.5–2.5 |
| Euskotren ticket (one way) | €6 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- BIO · Bilbao Airport
- —
Typical fares
- Bilbao → Guernica, Euskotren
- about €6 one‑way, ~1 h (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
The town centre is easily explored on foot; free parking near the police station for those arriving by car.
See and do
Known for
- Peace Museum (Museo de la Paz)
- Traditional Basque market (Monday)
- Tree of Guernica (Gernikako arbola)
- Jai Alai fronton
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Bilbao | Euskotren line E4 from Zazpikaleak/Casco Viejo station, about 1 h; or bus | About 1 h 15 min |
| San Sebastián | Euskotren to Bilbao, then bus or train; or direct bus (about 1 h 30 min) | About 2 h |
| Mundaka | Bus from Guernica, about 20 min | About 30 min |
| Bermeo | Bus from Guernica, about 15 min | About 25 min |
| Vitoria-Gasteiz | Bus via Bilbao, about 1 h 30 min | About 2 h |
Sleep
- Lurdeia Guesthouse
- Near Bermeo; €100/night (2026 estimate, check)
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | Barkatubarkatu |
| Thank you | Eskerrik askoeskerrik asko |
| How much is it? | Zenbat da?zenbat da? |
| Where is the market? | Non dago merkatu?non dago merkatu? |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Two kisses on the cheek (right then left) between friends and when introduced socially; handshake in business; avoid: Being stiff — Spaniards stand close and touch arms
- Meal times: Late lunch and dinner; long sobremesa (chat after eating); avoid: Rushing to leave or asking for the bill with the last bite
- Noise: Join in the lively conversation; avoid: Reading loud voices as anger
- Siesta hours: Keep noise down in residential buildings 15:00–17:00 and after 23:00; avoid: Phone calls to people at lunch time
- Dress: Smart casual in cities; locals rarely wear shorts in Madrid in town; avoid: Swimwear or bare torsos away from the beach
- Regional pride: Ask about local dishes and festivals; avoid: Assuming Catalan or Basque are dialects of Spanish
Scams and watch-outs
- Peace Museum opening hours vary seasonally; check website before visiting.
- Market day can be very busy on Mondays; allow extra time.
Guernica is generally safe; stay aware of pickpockets in crowded market areas.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Guernica yet. Suggested stay: 0–1 (optional night in nearby Bermeo) nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Peace Museum (Museo de la Paz)
- Traditional Basque market (Monday)
- Tree of Guernica (Gernikako arbola)
- Jai Alai fronton
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Guernica official website: www.gernika-lumo.eus/
- Wikivoyage: Guernica, revision 5300833 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5300833
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/guernica). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.