Las Arenas

Our Lady of Mercy Church, 1947, in Las Arenas, Spain.

Areeta (Las Arenas in Spanish) is a neighbourhood of Getxo (Biscay, Basque Country, Spain). It is an affluent residential area that was built over the sands of a beach where the Gobela Creek died into a diffuse delta at the mouth of the Estuary of Bilbao in the early 20th Century.

It is connected to Portugalete at the other side of the firth by the Zubi Esekia and offers a marina, a small beach that can unfortunately be polluted, and a monument to Evaristo Churruca, who planned and directed the canalization of the estuary.

The Zubi Esekia is now a tourist attraction with visitors able to go by lift to the top of the bridge (from where it was originally operated).

Neighbourhoods

It can be divided in three neighbourhoods:

Sometimes the neighbouring district of Erromo is also included in Areeta but this is surely a misuse, as Erromo was built for the working classes and was separated by the suburban railroad until it was recycled by the Metro Bilbao in its subway system and by the canalized Gobela creek.

Public transport

Public transport to and from the area is provided by Metro Bilbao, with Areeta (Las Arenas) station in the centre of the area flanked by Lamiako (a mainly industrial district) and Gobela (a wealthy residential area), and BizkaiBus, whose yellow buses provide services throughout Biscay. The creditrans payment card system can be used on the metro, the bus system, and also to cross the Vizcaya Bridge. A small passenger ferry also operates across the river between Areeta and Portugalete.

Places and buildings of interest


Coordinates: 43°19′32″N 3°00′47″W / 43.32556°N 3.01306°W