I'm impressed at the subway and commuter rail system in Bilbao. It seems like a great way of exploring. Any suggestions for particularly unique, interesting, or "hidden gem" stops? For example, I thought Santurtzi looked cool with its colorful boats and reputation for fresh grilled sardines. Is it? What about other stops along the various lines? And so long as I'm asking, what about stops along the Bilbao-Donostia Euskotren line? We don't mind walks and our interests are varied and eclectic (food, drink, museums, hikes, shopping, art, architecture, etc.), so any and all ideas welcome!
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Bilbao
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Public transport is, in general, outstanding in Spain. You can practically get anywhere on modern, comfortable and very efficient and very cheap means of transport. The subway of Bilbao (which won the award for the cleanest metro in the world) has a few interesting stops: Line 1, stop at Areeta for the amazing Puente Bizkaia, a unique UNESCO World Heritage Monument (I live a mile off it), in Getxo (not Bilbao, a town in the outskirts). Next stop, Algorta, for the quaint old fishing port and its narrow cobblestone streets. You may want to continue to Plentzia, a "hidden" coastal town very frequently ignored by tourism (but we locals love it!!), beautiful port, beaches and old quarter. Also, in Bidezabal stop, you may want to continue to the cliffs of Punta Galea, great views of the estuary of the river of Bilbao. Santurtzi lost a lot of appeal in the 60s, with the industrialization, I would visit no doubt Portugalete instead (in fact, I would use the Puente Bizkaia to cross from one side to the other).
On the Euskotren ("eusko" meaning "basque" in Basque) line to Donostia-San Sebastian: Gernika, Mundaka, Bermeo,..., are musts. Zumaia and its flysch.