Nestled inland from the Bay of Biscay is the marvellous city of Bilbao, the capital of Spain’s autonomous Basque Country and thriving cultural hub. With its own language, history, and culture, visiting the Basque Country is a great way to discover a different side of Spain, and Bilbao’s unique architecture, interesting museums, and charming old town make it a great place to start.
As a relatively small city, Bilbao is the perfect destination for a weekend getaway, and this guide to all the best things to do in Bilbao will make sure you make the most of your time there. Eat pintxos, wander the streets, visit the Guggenheim, take a boat tour, go on a day trip… the list is endless and you’ll definitely be able to build the perfect Bilbao weekend itinerary after reading.
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The Best Things to Do in Bilbao
The Guggenheim Museum
The famous Guggenheim Museum is easily Bilbao’s best and most exciting attraction. The contemporary art museum has been around in Bilbao since 1997 and follows in the steps of its counterparts in New York, USA and Venice, Italy.
Inside the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, most exhibitions are temporary, allowing the museum to showcase various art and sculptures. Notable exhibitions through the years have included works from Van Gogh, Picasso, Mark Rothko, and Joana Vasconcelos.
What’s more, the building and outdoor area surrounding Bilbao’s Guggenheim Museum are an exhibition in themselves! The huge steel building makes such an interesting addition to Bilbao’s skyline, with so many random shapes coming together to make up the museum. There are even a few permanent sculptures outside the Guggenheim museum, which are great if you’re looking for things to do in Bilbao on a budget, as they’re completely free to visit and really interesting too!
Address | Opening Hours and Prices | Book Tickets | Book Guided Tour
San Mames Stadium & Museum
The home of Athletic Bilbao, one of Spain’s most successful La Liga football teams, lies in the west of Bilbao. The San Mames stadium is very impressive and easy to reach, which isn’t always common for big football stadiums. The stadium has a museum, where you can learn all about the history of the club, see the trophies, and more. With a museum ticket, you’ll also get a stadium tour.
If you’re a big football fan, check out Athletic Bilbao’s fixtures and see if you can snap up a ticket to see them in action! Alternatively, head to La Campa de Los Ingleses, a casual restaurant inside the San Mames stadium where you can get a cool view inside the stadium.
Address | Opening Hours and Prices | Museum Info | Book Museum and Stadium Tour Tickets
Top Tip: You can get a great view of Bilbao’s Deusto neighbourhood and the surrounding hills from outside the San Mames Stadium, to the northwest.
Take a Walking Tour or Boat Trip
One of the best ways to get to know any city is to take a walking tour. Enthusiastic locals are always willing to share the history and culture of their city, and it gives you a great opportunity to gain some background knowledge and get your bearings. Given Bilbao’s location on the water, you can also take a boat tour to see the main attractions from a different perspective, as well as Bilbao’s outlying towns.
There are options for all budgets above, but if you’re looking for free things to do in Bilbao, a quick Google search will find plenty of free walking tours around Bilbao. Do make sure you give at least a small tip to your tour guides though!
Top Tip: If you take this hop-on-hop-off boat tour, get off in Portugalete to visit the iconic UNESCO-recognised Vizcaya Bridge. It’s the world’s oldest transporter bridge, which uses a gondola to transport passengers across the river. You can take a ride on the gondola, and also take a lift up to the top of the bridge to walk along the top, and see some wonderful views.
The Maritime Museum
Head down to the water to explore one of the most important parts of Bilbao’s history – the docks. Bilbao has a huge maritime history. The inauguration of the port of Bilbao, just north of the city, made Bilbao a city and during some time in the 1900s, it was Spain’s biggest port. This had a huge effect on the rapid development and prosperity of the city, and the area of Biscay was also known as a hub for shipbuilding throughout the 20th century.
Bilbao’s Maritime Museum lies in the place of the old Euskalduna docks and visiting it is one of the best things to do in Bilbao. You’ll go in-depth into this enthralling maritime history, from shipbuilding to sea rescue, and everything in between. There is also an impressive crane on display outside, that was used in the dockyard in the past.
Address | Open Tues-Sun 11 am-7 pm | Website | Book Tickets
Top Tip: If you’re visiting Bilbao on a budget and looking for free things to do in Bilbao, entry to the Maritime Museum is free on Tuesdays (July and August excl.).
Bilbao Old Town
Most of Bilbao is very open, airy and modern, but transport yourself back to the past in the Bilbao old town. One of the best things to do in Bilbao is simply wander these charming streets and see what you discover. With narrow, cobbled streets and stone architecture, it’s worlds away from the centre of the city, yet geographically is right next to it. Bilbao’s old town is also known as the 7 Streets (Zazpikaleak in Basque) from the seven streets that first formed the old town.
There is much more to do in Bilbao’s Old Town than simply admiring the surroundings. Make sure you visit Bilbao Cathedral (Donejakue Katedrala), which dates back to the 14th century, and Plaza Nueva, a classic Spanish square to enjoy drinks and atmosphere.
Eat Pintxos
Foodies, if you’re looking for things to do in Bilbao, try some traditional pintxos while you’re in the old town of Bilbao. Similar to tapas, pintxos are typical of northern Spain and the Basque Country and consist of a small snack on a piece of bread. They usually feature a skewer through the bread which is used to count how many you’ve had at the end of your meal.
Again, like tapas in other parts of Spain, pintxo culture plays a big part in life in the Basque Country and Bilbao. You can enjoy pintxos at countless places across the city, but Plaza Nueva in the old town is notably filled with pintxos bars.
To get the best recommendations and local knowledge on pintxos, you might want to book a food tour around Bilbao. Check out some options below.
Artxanda Funicular Railway
Bilbao is actually home to a small mountain, Mount Artxanda, and you can easily reach the top by a funicular railway to see amazing views over the city. A short ride on the funicular railway takes you to a spacious park, with a few sculptures and some panoramic views over Bilbao’s centre – including the famous Bilbao Guggenheim Museum, the river running through the city, and more.
There are a couple of spots where you can stop and get lunch at the top of the funicular, but otherwise, this is a fairly quick activity to come and see a different perspective of Bilbao.
Funicular Entrance | Buy Tickets on Arrival
Azkuna Zentroa
Bilbao’s dedicated leisure and culture centre is one of the most exciting pieces of architecture to see in the city. The space was originally a corn exchange, and the modernist building still stands so prominently in the cityscape today. However, inside the building is where it’s truly magical. The Azkuna Zentroa has three interior buildings, and the columns to support them have been transformed into a magical, cross-cultural art experience.
There are often free exhibitions to see at the Azkuna Zentroa, and there are a few restaurants within the space to enjoy a good meal (I recommend tapas at The Boar for lunch or drinks).
Address | Open Daily 9 am-9 pm | Website
Discover more things to do in Bilbao!
Casilda Iturrizar Park
The 21 acres of space at Casilda Iturrizar Park are perfect for relaxing and enjoying nature. Central Bilbao’s largest park, this space has a small pond, a fountain, a pergola, and several other statues or memorials to see as you wander around.
The park is also home to Bilbao’s fine arts museum, which houses art from Basque artists, as well as Spanish and European, and spans from the 12th century to the modern day.
Park Address | Museum Address | Museum Open Daily 10 am-8 pm (3 pm closure on Sundays) | Museum Website
Cross the Nervión River
Perhaps a strange inclusion in a list of things to do in Bilbao, crossing the Nervión river is an attraction due to there being no less than 10 bridges spanning the riverbanks in Bilbao’s city centre. Chances are you’ll cross a few of them just exploring the city.
Some of the most famous are the Zubizuri and La Salve, the latter of which towers over Bilbao’s Guggenheim Museum. Several others, further along, are the gateway to the old town.
Take a Day Trip from Bilbao
If you’re spending a few days or a weekend in Bilbao, it’s definitely worth exploring more of the Basque country or the neighbouring region of Cantabria. There are multiple towns and attractions within just a couple of hours of Bilbao.
Some of the top picks for a day trip from Bilbao are:
- San Sebastian
- Santander
- San Juan de Gaztelugatxe (great for Game of Thrones fans!)
- Santillana del Mar
- Getxo and Portugalete
- Biarritz
You may wish to book an organised day trip, which I recommend especially if you’re using public transport to get around as it makes the experience much more straightforward and easy. Check out some options below.
Where to Stay in Bilbao
7 Kale Bed and Breakfast
This charming hotel in the heart of Bilbao’s old town is modern and airy, at a great price. When I stayed at 7 Kale, I adored our room, especially the small balcony that looked out to the streets of the old town. It’s a small hotel, so the customer service was top-notch and very friendly, and the continental breakfast was great to fill up for the day.
What’s more, you’re right in the heart of the old town, perfect for exploring so many of the best things to do in Bilbao.
Vincci Consulado de Bilbao
If you’re a lover of views and Bilbao’s architecture, then book a special stay at the Vincci Consulado de Bilbao. This hotel sits just next to the Guggenheim museum, and some rooms have an uninterrupted view of the marvellous building. Failing that, you can also see the Guggenheim from the rooftop terrace.
Reaching the end of this list of things to do in Bilbao, you’ll surely be bubbling with excitement to get out and discover this wonderful Basque city. Now all you have to do is book your flights, and get exploring!
If you’re visiting the north of Spain, you might like these travel guides:
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