Bilbao Travel Guide

Tourist Guide
Bilbao featuring a city, a skyscraper and a bridge
This former industrial city is now a major European arts centre, home to cultural attractions including the famous Guggenheim Museum.

Bilbao, in northern Spain, was once an industrial centre, but today is better known for its thriving arts and cultural scene. Come to visit world-class museums, dine at sophisticated restaurants or head out into the surrounding countryside.

Start your visit by climbing the Mallona stairs from Plaza Unamuno to Parque Etxebarria or take the Artxanda funicular railway to enjoy some of the best views in the city.

Many travellers come to Bilbao to see the Guggenheim Bilbao Museum, one of the most renowned art institutions in Europe. The remarkable modern building, with its curved glass and titanium walls, houses art from the mid 20th century to today. Other art attractions include the Fine Arts Museum and the Basque Museum. Bilbao also has a full annual programme of cultural events featuring many important exhibitions and performances. See some of these events at the Palacio Euskalduna, a striking modernist building in the city centre.

The city is revered not just for its modern architecture, but also for its buildings dating back to the 14th century. Visit the Gothic-style Cathedral of St. James and the Alhondiga, a complex containing a library, several bars and restaurants, a cinema and a rooftop pool with a glass floor.

Bilbao is known for its sophisticated dining scene, with a host of Michelin-starred restaurants. Try local cuisine such as baby squid and lamb stew.

As well as art and food, Bilbao is a city keen on sport. In town there are 18.5 miles (30 kilometres) of cycling lanes, as well as many swimming pools, gyms and parks. Around Bilbao there are nature reserves and hiking trails, as well as several nearby golf courses.

Rent a car and drive out of town to enjoy the countryside or coast surrounding the city. There are traditional fishing villages along the nearby bay. Further down the coast you’ll find picturesque and quiet beaches. An inland route will take you to hiking trails through mountainous scenery. Check the weather forecast before planning your beach day, as the mild climate brings more rain than in other parts of the peninsula.

Where to stay in Bilbao

San Mames Stadium featuring modern architecture and a river or creek

Bilbao City Centre

4.5/5(33 area reviews)

Bilbao City Centre is highly notable for its fascinating museums, and you might want to visit top sights like Guggenheim Museum Bilbao and Palacio de la Diputación Foral de Vizcaya. See more of Bilbao by jumping on the metro at Moyua Station or Abando Station.

Bilbao City Centre
Ribera Market featuring food, interior views and a bar

Bilbao Old Town

4.5/5(49 area reviews)

Museums, shopping and theatres highlight some notable features of Bilbao Old Town. Make a stop by Santiago Cathedral or Plaza Nueva while you're visiting, and jump aboard the metro at Arriga Tram Stop or Casco Viejo Station to get around town.

Bilbao Old Town
Guggenheim Museum Bilbao showing outdoor art, street scenes and modern architecture

Abando

4.5/5(118 area reviews)

Ample dining options, fascinating museums, and beautiful river views are just a few top things to explore in Abando. A visit to Guggenheim Museum Bilbao or Plaza Moyua might round out your trip, and you can jump aboard the metro at Moyua Station or Indautxu Station to get around town.

Abando
Bilbao which includes night scenes, modern architecture and a city

Ibaiondo

If you're spending time in Ibaiondo, check out sights like Ribera Market or Santiago Cathedral and hop on the metro to see more of the city at Atxuri Tram Station or Ribera Tram Stop.

Ibaiondo
Plaza Nueva showing outdoor eating as well as a small group of people

Casco Viejo

Museums, theatres and historical sites highlight some notable features of Casco Viejo. Make a stop by Plaza Nueva or Museum of Archaeology Bizkaya while you're visiting, and jump aboard the metro at Casco Viejo Station or Arriga Tram Stop to get around town.

Casco Viejo
Default Image

San Francisco

4/5(1 area review)

You'll enjoy the bars and theatres in San Francisco. You might want to make time for a stop at Ensanche or Bay of Biscay.

San Francisco
Hotel Gran Bilbao
Hotel Gran Bilbao
4 out of 5
Indalecio Prieto Hiribidea, 1, Bilbao, Vizcaya
Fully refundableReserve now, pay when you stay
The price is ₹7,358 per night from 9 Jun to 10 Jun
₹7,358
per night
9 Jun - 10 Jun
Enjoy free Wi-Fi, breakfast (surcharge) and room service. Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful staff in their reviews.
9/10 Wonderful! (997 reviews)
"Nice hotel with a good bar in the lobby and a decent restaurant. The room was spacious and clean but lacked in interior decorating - a couple of pictures on the walls was about all. The biggest downside was that the room was hot at night as, like others we encountered on this trip, they had the heat ..."

Reviewed on 28 Apr 2024

Hotel Gran Bilbao
Holiday Inn Express Bilbao, an IHG Hotel
Holiday Inn Express Bilbao, an IHG Hotel
3 out of 5
Zarandoa Kalea, 5, Derio, Vizcaya
The price is ₹8,682 per night from 2 Jun to 3 Jun
₹8,682
per night
2 Jun - 3 Jun
Enjoy free breakfast, free Wi-Fi and free parking. Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful staff in their reviews.
8.4/10 Very Good! (1,007 reviews)
"Early airport shuttle (5am) with a few items got breakfast& coffee before catching it"

Reviewed on 12 May 2024

Holiday Inn Express Bilbao, an IHG Hotel
Hotel ILUNION San Mamés
Hotel ILUNION San Mamés
4 out of 5
Calle Perez Galdos, 56, Bilbao, Vizcaya
The price is ₹9,401 per night from 19 May to 20 May
₹9,401
per night
19 May - 20 May
Enjoy free Wi-Fi, breakfast (surcharge) and parking (surcharge). Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms in their reviews.
9/10 Wonderful! (469 reviews)
"Great stay. It would be great if the hotel served basque food on the menu to try some of the nations food."

Reviewed on 28 Apr 2024

Hotel ILUNION San Mamés
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
B48 Abando
B48 Abando
4 out of 5
Buenos Aires Kalea 15, Bilbao
Enjoy free Wi-Fi, cable TV channels and air conditioning.
8.8/10 Excellent! (12 reviews)
"This was a terrific find! Very comfortable, in the heart of everything, and good communication. Electronic checkin worked fine and the only time we needed something it was promptly and efficiently attended to."

Reviewed on 8 May 2024

B48 Abando
Bilbao City Center by abba Suites
Bilbao City Center by abba Suites
3.5 out of 5
Calle Huertas de la Villa 15, Bilbao, Bilbao
Enjoy free Wi-Fi, parking (surcharge) and premium TV channels. Our guests praise the helpful staff in their reviews.
9.8/10 Exceptional! (174 reviews)
"After three weeks traveling around Spain we wanted to end our trip in a quiet, more “roomier” place than a hotel room. ABBA Suites was perfect! A well-equipped kitchen for the 3 days that we were there, a block away from a grocery store and a 15-minute walk to the Guggenheim Museum. The Old Town ..."

Reviewed on 3 May 2024

Bilbao City Center by abba Suites
Apartamentos Líbere Bilbao Museo
Apartamentos Líbere Bilbao Museo
3.5 out of 5
Alameda Rekalde 1, Bilbao, Bizkaia
Stay at this aparthotel in Bilbao. Enjoy free WiFi, an airport shuttle and dry cleaning or laundry services. Popular attractions Guggenheim Museum Bilbao and ...
9/10 Wonderful! (31 reviews)
"Getting into building compicated"

Reviewed on 22 Apr 2024

Apartamentos Líbere Bilbao Museo
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Popular places to visit

Reviews of Bilbao

4.6
Top destination
5 - Excellent
106
" "5 - Excellent 65.83850931677019%
4 - Good
48
" "4 - Good 29.81366459627329%
3 - Okay
7
" "3 - Okay 4.3478260869565215%
2 - Disappointing
0
" "2 - Disappointing 0%
1 - Terrible
0
" "1 - Terrible 0%

4/5 - Good

Verified traveller
19 Jan 2020

Pleasant city, surrounded by mountains and with great culture and gastronomy

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller
9 Dec 2019

Great weekend city plenty to see , bus tour good to find locations and hop off when you want . Old town great with lovely Christmas lights , stalls and local wines and pintox.. Guggenheim well worth a visit

4/5 - Good

Verified traveller
2 Dec 2019

Gugenheim museum excellent. Food very good. Funicular is a must as is the Old town.

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller
22 Nov 2019

Guggenheim/ worth a trip

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller
15 Nov 2019

Wet - take an umbrella- everybody carries one.

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller
15 Oct 2019

The food and wine were excellent the walk by the river was fantastic

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