Located in Northern Spain, Bilbao is a vibrant city that proudly displays a beautiful blend of old and new, traditional and modern. Our Bilbao Spain travel guide offers everything you'll need to know to plan a trip to this beautiful city in Basque Country.
If you're traveling to Basque Country, you must include a visit to Bilbao, Spain.
After our time in San Sebastian for the TBEX Europe travel bloggers conference, our Spain adventures continued as we traveled north to Bilbao. Alain and I spent two nights and three days there on separate excursions. I took part in a FAM tour as part of the TBEX conference, as the guest of the Basque Country Tourism board, who paid for my trip.
Bilbao is a bustling city rich in history, world-class cuisine, and vibrant arts scene. We were so excited to explore this city, and highly recommend it to anyone traveling to Basque Country!
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🇪🇸 About Bilbao, Spain
Bilbao is located in northern Spain's Basque Country, just over 100 kilometers west of San Sebastian. By car, it takes approximately one hour and 15 minutes from San Sebastian.
This vibrant, bustling city is known for its stunning blend of traditional Basque culture and modernity. Historically a major industrial center, Bilbao has transformed into a hub of art, cuisine, and urban renewal since the 1990s. The modern architecture movement is highlighted by the iconic Guggenheim Museum.
Located along the Nervión River, just 14 kilometers from the Bay of Biscay, the city's temperate oceanic climate brings mild winters and warm summers, making it an ideal destination year-round.
We found the locals in Bilbao to be friendly and hospitable. They're so proud of their Basque heritage and their love for gastronomy.
We think you'll love exploring the charming neighborhoods that highlight the blend of traditional and modern here. From the medieval streets of Casco Viejo to the sleek avenues of the Abando district.
And like most other cities in Basque Country, if you're a foodie, you will fall in love with the incredible food and drink scene of Bilbao.
✈️ Bilbao travel tips and FAQs
May to October is generally the best time of year to visit. The weather is milder during these months and you'll find a lot of great local events occur during this time. We visited in early June, and while there were periods of rain showers, the weather was mild and we were able to easily walk around the city comfortably.
Bilbao Airport (BIO) is located approximately 12 kilometers (about 7.5 miles) north of Bilbao's city center.
The airport bus is easy and economical. It runs every 15-20 minutes, takes approximately 30 minutes from the airport to city center, and costs around €3.00 per person. The bus stops at several key locations including Gran Vía, Plaza Moyúa, and the Termibus (main bus station). You can buy tickets from the driver or from ticket machines at the airport.
It's an easy city to walk around. And its efficient public transportation system, including trams, buses, and a metro, ensures hassle-free travel.
Bilbao is close to the Bay of Biscay, and has a mild, oceanic climate. That means in the spring and fall, there is quite a bit of rainfall with mild temperatures. During summer months, temperatures can reach up to 30°C (86°F), with average highs around 24°C to 27°C (75°F to 81°F). In the winter, average low temperatures range from 5°C to 7°C (41°F to 45°F), with occasional drops to around 0°C (32°F). It rarely snows in the city.
Pack layers of clothing, a waterproof jacket or light raincoat, and comfortable walking shoes is a good general guide for year-round.
Don't forget your travel adapter! Spain uses Type C and Type F electrical outlets, so bring a suitable adapter for your electronics.
The currency in Bilbao, Spain is the Euro.
In Bilbao, tipping is not mandatory, but it is appreciated for good service.
Restaurants: It is common to leave a small tip, usually rounding up the bill or leaving about 5-10% of the total amount if the service was exceptional. However, leaving larger tips is not customary.
Cafés and Bars: Tipping is less common here. But you can leave some change (around €1 or €2) if you are pleased with the service, especially in more casual settings like pintxos bars.
Taxis: Tipping taxi drivers is not expected. However, rounding up to the nearest euro or leaving an extra euro for good service is appreciated.
Hotels: Tipping hotel staff such as bellhops or housekeeping is not required, but a small tip of €1-€2 for good service is a nice gesture.
As a petite Asian woman, I felt 100% completely safe walking around Bilbao on my own. But like most cities, you should always use common sense travel practices while traveling through Bilbao. Stick to well-lit streets, keep your money and credit cards on your person either in zippered pockets or in anti-theft small crossbody bags.
The two main languages locals speak in Bilbao are Basque and Spanish.
What to do in Bilbao
From the star of modern Bilbao - the Guggenheim Museum - to the charming traditional Basque Country streets of Casca Viejo, you'll find so many lovely layers of old and new in one city.
Most of these places are a short walk from city center. But it's also so easy to travel around Bilbao by the subway, bus, or tram.
In this Bilbao Spain Travel Guide, we've got some of the best things to do in this lovely Basque Country city.
Best views: Mirador de Atxanda
Our first stop when we got to the city of Bilbao was a drive to the top of Monte Atxanda. This mountain overlooks the valley and offers the best views of Bilbao.
You can drive, like we did, or take a cable car to the top of the hill. Once at the top, you can enjoy a breathtaking bird’s eye view of the city.
There are a few restaurants at the top of Monte Atxanda, but our guide told us that none of them offer city views. So if you're hungry, I suggest spending some time at the very top viewpoint first, then enjoying some pintxos and Txakoli wine at one of the restaurants.
🏛️ Guggenheim Museum
Arguably the most notable tourist attraction in Bilbao, this Guggenheim Museum is one of three in the world. There is a Guggenheim Museum in Venice, Italy and one in New York, New York in the United States. A fourth Guggenheim museum currently is being built in Abu Dhabi. The Abu Dhabi museum is also being designed by Frank Gehry, as the Bilbao Guggenheim was.
Inside and out, the Bilbao Guggenheim Museum is a wonder of modern art and architecture. The exterior titanium walls that curve and bend around an atrium contain some of the most interesting permanent and traveling exhibits in the modern art world.
Be sure to venture outside of the museum, which sits on the Nervión River in the old industrial heart of the city. Out front you'll find Jeff Koons' Puppy, the world's largest floral sculpture. Out back, you'll find a large spider sculpture, Maman, by Louise Bourgeois.
Inside, explore Matter of Time by Richard Serra. Jeff Koons' Tulips sculpture is also inside (although sometimes it is outside). You'll also find works by Mark Rothko, Andy Warhol, and several Bilbao artists as well.
Guggenheim Museo Bilbao
Avenida Abandoibarra, 2 48009 Bilbao
Admission:
- General admission €18.00
- Senior (65+) / pensioners€9.00
- Student (age 18 - 26)€9.00
- Children and youths under 18 Free
Hours:
- Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 am to 7:00 pm
- Summer, open every day from 10:00 am to 8:00 pm
Visit Casca Viejo (Old Town)
My personal favorite part of Bilbao is Casca Viejo -- Old Town Bilbao.
This historic heart of Bilbao is characterized by its narrow, winding streets and vibrant atmosphere. It's a lovely, charming district that's home to some of the city's most iconic landmarks. Here you'll find the Santiago Cathedral and the bustling Plaza Nueva, a beautiful square surrounded by arcaded buildings filled with bars and restaurants.
It's a great place to explore traditional shops, lively markets like Mercado de la Ribera, and an array of pintxos bars.
Casca Viejo is walkable from the city center. It's a straight walk down Gran Via. Or, a short subway ride away.
Shop and eat in the Plaza Nueva
As I mentioned, this historic, bustling central plaza is within Casca Viejo. On Sundays, you can shop a large, vibrant flea market where you can buy and exchange pretty much anything you can imagine.
But all week long it's also home to a large number of pintxos bars, shops, and restaurants. It's a great place to enjoy a cup of coffee or a glass of Txakoli wine with some pintxos and soak up the city scene.
Be sure to check out our article of some of the best pintxos in Bilbao.
Explore the Gran Via
Bilbao’s main street is Gran Vía, and it is one of the most beautiful boulevards in Spain.
Magnificent buildings, shops, trees, and bars full of delicious pintxos are all part of Gran Via's beauty.
Despite being the city’s most important street, a significant part of it is restricted to pedestrian access. There’s no vehicle traffic from Plaza Elíptica to Plaza Circular, so strolling is a total delight.
The boulevard’s full name (Gran Vía de Don Diego López de Haro) is in honour of Bilbao’s founder. So be sure to look out for the statue of Don Diego López holding the ‘Carta Constitucional down the boulevard’s eastern end.
🌉 Walk across the Zubizuri
Near the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, you'll find the Zubizuri bridge. You'll recognize it by the signature white spokes that weave along the pedestrian bridge.
Also called the Campo Volantin Bridge or Puente del Campo Volantin, this is a tied arch footbridge across the Nervion River in Bilbao, Spain. Designed by architect Santiago Calatrava, the bridge links the Campo Volantin right bank and Uribitarte left bank of the river.
It's a nice bridge to stroll over after visiting the Guggenheim Museum.
🏟️ Estadio de san Mamés
Spain has a huge football culture, and here in Bilbao you will find the home of one of the world’s most iconic football teams: Athletic Bilbao.
The stadium is located in the center of the city, a short walk from Gran Via and from the Nevrion River. Even if there's no match on during your visit, you can visit the stadium museum and learn about the football club’s history.
Azkuna Zentroa
Also in the city center, you might come across a building that looks like it's part castle, part stadium, part museum. Designed by Architect Philippe Stark, this is the Azkuna Zentroa, a cultural and leisure space.
I was impressed by how many different spaces were housed within one building. You'll find shops, work spaces, art, cultural meeting spaces, a gym and pool, and so much more. And walking around, you will find 43 pillars that are art pieces on their own.
It's a really interesting space that is worth at least a walk-through if you are in the area.
For more information, visit the website.
More things to do in Bilbao
🍽️ Where to eat in Bilbao
If you're traveling to Bilbao, you will fall in love with the rich Basque Country cuisine.
The pintxos bar scene is hopping here in Bilbao. You can read all about out favorite stops in the best pintxos in Bilbao article.
In addition to the best pintxos bars in Bilbao, we had the pleasure of an incredible dinner experience at a traditional Basque restaurant, lunch at the Guggenheim Museum restaurant, and some refreshing local gelato.
🦐 Los Fueros
On our first night in Bilbao, we were treated to a multi-course seated dinner at Los Fueros. This is a favorite dining spot for both locals and visitors.
Like many of the bars we visited along our Pintxo food tour, Los Fueros is located in the old part of Bilbao, in Casco Viejo. The multi-level fine dining restaurant is known for its traditional Basque cuisine with a modern twist.
We enjoyed a wide variety of high-quality dishes that highlight the region's rich culinary heritage.
My favorite dish was the traditional Gambas al Ajillo (Spanish prawns). We also enjoyed a refreshing gazpacho, a delightful pintxos twist on the traditional tapas of Patatas Bravas, cod fritters, and a fun play on anchovy pintxos.
I loved the intimate, charming setting, and appreciated the attentive service.
Address: Calle de los Fueros, 6, 48005 Bilbao, Spain
Hours
Monday to Thursday: 1:00 PM to 3:30 PM and 8:30 PM to 11:00 PM
Friday and Saturday: 1:00 PM to 3:30 PM and 8:30 PM to 11:30 PM
Sunday: Closed
For more information or to make reservations, visit the restaurant website: losfueros.com.
Guggenheim Museum Restaurant
The Guggenheim Museo Bilbao has two restaurants. Nerue is a Michelin star restaurant featuring Basque Country ingredients. This restaurant is accessed through an external door around back of the museum.
We dined at the more casual internal museum restaurant, Bistro Guggenheim Museum. While the atmosphere is more comfortable and casual, you can still enjoy gourmet dishes that are as artful and creative as the museum pieces themselves.
For more information, visit the Guggenheim Restaurant website.
🍨 Gelati Gelati
On a whim after our Bilbao pintxos tour, our group stopped for gelato at Gelati Gelati.
This cute little shop offers more than 50 flavors of gelato, including a few absolutely delicious dairy-free options! Our guide recommended the Mojito flavor, which was dairy-free, and it was delicious.
A refreshing way to end a night of pintxos bar hopping!
Check out the different locations and learn more about Gelati Gelati on the Gelati Gelati website.
Where to stay in Bilbao
As a guest of the Basque Country Tourism Board, I stayed at the Catalonia Gran Via Bilbao. It was centrally located right on Gran Via, which is a great location if you plan to walk to many of the city's main attractions.
Breakfast is included in your stay, and there's a large array of Basque Country specialties as well as general breakfast options. My favorite is the fresh orange juice machine.
--->> Click here for more information about Catalonia Gran Via Bilbao <<--
Alain stayed at the Hotel Ilunion San Mamés, near the coliseum, and I joined him for our last night in Bilbao. The entrance is nondescript so you might almost miss it the first time you arrive, but it's right around the stadium. Once you enter, there is a large modern lobby with a large, captivating screen.
The rooms are nice and quite. The on-site restaurant is quite spacious and offers a good meal for dinner.
I enjoyed my stay at both of these hotels, and think you will, too if you want to stay somewhere centrally located in Bilbao.
--->>Click here for more information about Hotel Ilunion San Mamés <<--
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Aima says
Staying at the Catalonia Gran Via Bilbao sounds like a perfect choice for exploring the city! The central location on Gran Via is ideal for walking to the main attractions, which makes sightseeing so convenient. I love that breakfast is included, and it’s great to hear they offer Basque specialties along with the usual options—definitely makes the experience more authentic. The fresh orange juice machine sounds like a nice touch! Thanks for sharing your experience; this hotel is now on my list for when I visit Bilbao!