Bilbao to Guernica

It´s a very easy and frequent route on public transport. You can either take the bus A3514 departing from right outside Abando/Indalecio Prieto train station (one every half hour on weekdays) or the Euskotren narrow gauge train. Both can be paid either in cash or using the BARIK transport card (40% discount on ticket price), but it´s very economical in any case. Buses (an option so frequently ignored by US visitors...) are clean, comfortable, safe, modern, USB chargers, WIFI...and very cheap. Train departs from Zazpikaleak/Casco Viejo metro and train station, also frequent departures, you can pay with BARIK or at the machine before entering. You cannot make a reservation on either means of transport, it does not make any sense, it´s a regular train or bus service. By the way, you´ll see the official Basque spelling, Gernika.

Thank you so much !

We took the train and enjoyed the ride. The seats are commuter rail style and not long distance train style.
The must see is the reproduction of Picasso’s work.
A decent museum.
A wonderful quiet park.
We just walked into the jai-lai arena and got to watch boys having a lesson. Excellent.

I´d say that the real must-see in Gernika is the Casa de Juntas / Batzar Etxea or Assembly Hall, one of the oldest ways of Parliament in the world, where representatives of towns in Bizkaia were sent (as far as we know, it dates at least back from the 9th century) to discuss the matters of the Señorío de Bizkaia. Still a government with a president and members elected every 4 years, it´s also somehow represented in Bilbao by the Diputación (a beautiful building in Gran Vía-Main street), right outside there´s a statue of John Adams after his visit to the Basque Country in 1780 with his sons John Quincy and Richard.

Entry to the Assembly Hall is free, but after the pandemic you need to book a time to enter, here https://jjggbizkaia.eus/en/gernika/request-appointment

The President of the Basque Country (known here as "Lehendakari") takes his oath of office in front of the Gernika Tree (not on a Constitution or any religious book) and he´s not President until he swears to respect the laws of the Basques. The building shows in its interior a very interesting stained glass, a library, the actual Parliament with pictures of Kings of Castile and Spain (Lords of Bizkaia) who have come to swear under the Oak Tree to respect our laws (the oldest "Fueros" or constitutional old law is from 1452 and the "new" one is from 1526, regulating most aspects of daily life).

Of course, the Museum of Peace showing the cruel bombing and destruction is worth a visit, as well as the Jai Alai ("happy game" in Basque) court, the fastest ball game in the world.

Thanks to both of you. We have a timed entry for tomorrow!