Bilbao, capital of the Basque Country, is a city rich in art, culture and even good food. It is the gateway to this northern area of Spain, completely different from the Spanish imagery we all have in mind. Here you rarely encounter sun and suffocating heat, you are much more likely to encounter cool and cloudy days, even in summer.
Ready to go? Here's how to organise a Bilbao itinerary in 3 days.
First time in Bilbao? Let us guide you: discover Bilbao with a tour accompanied by a local guide or see the city from a different perspective and enjoy a panoramic boat tour.
Day 1
Distance travelled: 4.6 km
Places visited: Casco Viejo, Bilbao Cathedral (free of charge), Mercado de Riberia, Guggenheim Museum Bilbao (€16.00 / guided tour with fast-track entry €89.00), Monte Artxanda funicular (a/r €4.30), Casco Viejo
Where to eat: Lunch at Mercado de Riberia(Get directions), Dinner at Pentxo jatetxea(Get directions)
1 - Casco Viejo: Bilbao Cathedral and Mercado de Riberia
Start this trip to Bilbao by discovering the Casco Viejo, the oldest part of the city! Enjoy a walk through the narrow alleys, typical shops and boutiques and discover the Siete Calles, the seven most famous streets of the old town!
Walk through Plaza Barria, or Plaza Nueva, one of Bilbao's most important squares, and stop to admire the façade of the Arriaga Theatre, which unfortunately cannot be visited inside. Also take advantage of the opportunity to go inside the Church of San Anton Eliza, a little gem of the old town (Mon-Fri 10am-2pm and 4pm-7pm, Sat 10am-2pm and 4pm-6pm; full price €3.00, reduced €2.00). Next stop is the city's most important church, the Cathedral of Santiago in Bilbao, in Basque Bilboko Donejakue katedrala, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site (Mon-Sat 10:00-13:00 and 17:00-18:30, July and August until 21:00; free admission, audio guide €6.00).
Finally, for lunch, head to the Mercado de Riberia, in Basque Erribera merkatua, Europe's largest covered market (Mon-Sat 8am-2.30pm, closed Sun). It covers an impressive 10,000 square metres and here you can get to know the Basque culinary tradition while strolling among the many stalls.
Pop into one of the best pastry shops in Bilbao: Charamel Gozotegia | Casco Viejo, located in the historical centre. Here you can find everything from international pastries to traditional Basque pastries, such as the Pastel vasco, a must-try.
2 - Guggenheim Museum Bilbao
Dedicate the afternoon to visiting one of the city's most important attractions, the famous Guggenheim Museum Bilbao (Tue-Sun 10am-8pm, closed Mon; full price €16.00, reduced €8.00)! From the market, you can reach it by tram line TR (Ribera-Guggenheim, 13 min) or enjoy a walk of about 25 min through the streets of the centre.
There are only four Guggenheim museums in the world: besides the one in Bilbao, there are those in Venice, New York and the one in Abu Dhabi, which opened recently in 2017. This museum is worth a visit if only for its marvellous architecture and location: on the outside, you will find some very special sculptures such as the Maman, a 10 m high bronze structure in the shape of a spider, or the Puppy, a dog made out of 70,000 flowers! Once inside, you can admire the works of major 20th century artists, including Picasso, Klein and Andy Warhol.
SEE ALSO: What to see at the Guggenheim Museum: opening hours, prices and tips
Consider a guided tour: the guided tour with fast-track admission is ideal if you love art and want to learn more about the history and interesting facts about the Guggenheim and the works housed inside.
3 - Monte Artxanda Funicular
Finally, end the afternoon admiring the city from above. On the opposite bank from the Guggenheim you will find Plaza del Funicolar, the point from which the funicular to the top of Monte Artxanda departs (from 7 a.m., in summer until 11 p.m., in winter until 9 p.m., departures every 15 minutes; ticket €2.50 one way, €4.30 return). You can get there by crossing the famous Zubizuri Bridge, a true symbol of Bilbao, designed by architect Calatrava.
Then take the funicular and climb to the top of the mountain, at a height of about 250 m. Once at the top station, you can admire the most beautiful view of Bilbao. Definitely sunset is one of the best times to climb up here.
Spend the evening in Casco Viejo: one of Bilbao's movida spots and one of the best neighbourhoods to go to for pintxos. Here you will find some of the most famous places to sample these Basque specialities, such as Sorginzulo, Bar Charly, Gure Toki, Con B de Bilbao and Motrikes. Then spend the evening among the clubs: for dancing the night away you can head to El Balcón de la Lola, for a cocktail with friends the Badulake or the Lamiak.
Day 2
Distance travelled: 24.8 km
Places visited: Museu de Belas Artes (€7.00) or Museo Marítimo Rìa de Bilbao (€6.00), El Ensanche and Gran Via, Puente de Vizcaya and Portugalete cruise, Getxo and Santurtzi (€6.00), Abando district
Where to eat: Lunch at Café Iruna(Get directions), Dinner at Gure Kabi jatetxea(Get directions)
1 - Morning at the museum: Museu de Belas Artes or Museo Marítimo Rìa de Bilbao
Photo by MuseoBBAABilbao. Devote this second morning to visiting one of Bilbao's museums. Besides the Guggenheim, the Spanish city is in fact full of wonderful and important museums.
Option A Museu de Belas Artes (Mon-Sat 10am-6pm, Sun 10am-3pm; full admission €7.00, concessions €3.50). The city's fine arts museum, ideal for all art lovers. Among the many works you can admire, for example, those by the likes of Velázquez, Goya and Picasso, as well as numerous Basque artists.
Option B Museo Marítimo Rìa de Bilbao (Tue-Sun 10am-7pm, closed Mon; general €6.00, concessions €3.00). This museum is dedicated to the history of Bilbao and its connection with the sea. It is also a family-friendly museum, thanks to the many activities organised for children.
Take awalk in the Casilda Iturrizar parkea: the two museums are close to each other, located on opposite sides of this beautiful park in the heart of the city. Enjoy a stroll through its tree-lined avenues and stop at one of the many cafés on either side for breakfast.
2 - El Ensanche and Gran Via
After visiting your chosen museum, enjoy a stroll along Gran Via Don Diego Lopez Haro, simply called Gran Via, a long avenue with many shops. Framed by elegant buildings, we are in the heart of the El Ensanche district, the commercial heart of Bilbao.
Enjoy a stroll through its streets and head for lunch at Café Iruna, the city's most famous historical café. Covering 300 square metres and opened in 1903, it stands out for its original design and beautiful murals.
3 - Puente de Vizcaya and Cruise of Portugalete, Getxo, & Santurtzi
In the afternoon, head to Portugalete, a small town in the Basque Country that is easily reached from Bilbao thanks to the Línea De Metro Bilbao (Abando-Portugalete, 25 min).
This town is most famous for its Puente de Vizcaya, a UNESCO World Heritage monument (November to March 10am-7pm, April to October 10am-8pm; ticket per person €0.45, walkway €9.00). In operation since 1893 and designed by Alberto Palacio, a pupil of Gustave Eiffel, the bridge consists of two iron towers and a footbridge with a suspended swinging shuttle that transports people from one side to the other, a truly special experience.
Once you have crossed the bridge, enjoy a wonderful cruise of Portugalete, Getxo and Santurtzi, which will allow you to sail into the Bay of Abra and admire these three locations from the boat. Depending on the time you have available, you can also disembark and visit Gexto or Santurtzi on foot. The starting point of the tour is Portugalete.
Spend the evening in the Abando district: a district that houses the museums visited in the morning and the Guggenheim, the hub of nightlife together with the Casco Viejo. Then return to Bilbao and enjoy the evening here in clubs such as Sala Moma Bilbao, Flash diskoteka or Sala Rockstar Live.
Day 3
Distance travelled: 97.4 km
Places visited: Gaztelugatxe and Guernica (tour from Bilbao€65.00) / Alternatively, San Sebastián and Biarritz(tour from Bilbao €70.00)
Where to eat: Packed lunch recommended, Dinner at Kasko jatetxea(Get directions)
Excursion A: Gaztelugatxe and Guernica
This third day is dedicated to an excursion around Bilbao, to discover the beautiful landscapes of the Basque Country with a tour from Bilbao, transport included.
The first excursion we propose is to Gaztelugatxe and Guernica. Gaztelugatxe is a rocky island on the Basque coast, a landscape that really takes your breath away. On a cloudy day you can admire the power of the ocean, on a sunny day its wonderful colours. But above all, if you are a fan of the HBO series Game of Thrones, you definitely cannot miss this place: it appears in the seventh season under the name Dragonstone.
Second stop on the excursion is Guernica, a place unfortunately known for being the scene of one of the worst bombings in Spanish history. And it is precisely to this event that one of Picasso's most famous paintings, called Guernica, is dedicated. Enjoy a walk through the streets of the town, discovering its most famous sights.
SEE ALSO: Excursions from Bilbao
If youare a lover of Game of Thrones: then we recommend that you dedicate the whole day to a Game of Thrones tour, discovering all the places where the seventh season was filmed.
Excursion B: San Sebastián and Biarritz
Alternatively, especially if you are travelling during the warm season, you can travel to San Sebastián, a wonderful resort in the Bay of Biscay. Again, we recommend a tour from Bilbao, including transport.
San Sebastián is best known for its beautiful beaches of Playa de la Concha and Playa de Ondarreta and is considered the pearl of the Basque Country and the Cantabrian Sea. But that's not all: with this excursion you will also be able to push across the border to the wonderful town of Biarritz, known as the Beach of Kings. Indeed, it has always been a seaside resort frequented by royalty and prominent figures, starting with Napoleon and ending with Gary Cooper and Frank Sinatra.
SEE ALSO: San Sebastian: what to do, beaches to see and nightlife
How much does a weekend in Bilbao cost
Bilbao is not an expensive destination, nor is the whole of Spain. Located in the Basque Country, it is still a place that is not affected by mass tourism like the big Spanish cities, including Madrid, Barcelona and Valencia, so it has still retained its charm. It is also connected by several flights to Italy that land at Bilboko Aireportua airport(compare flights).
The best neighbourhoods to stay in are two: Casco Viejo and Abando. The former is the oldest part of the city, the latter the most modern, but both represent the heart of Bilbao. In any case, staying in this area you will be able to get around on foot most of the time, except to reach Portugalete and the Vizcaya Bridge. In this case you can rely on the urban network and then discover the area by taking a cruise of Portugalete, Getxo, & Santurtzi (1 h). As for lunch and dinner, we recommend stopping at the markets and tasting pintxos, the Basque version of the well-known Spanish tapas.
Let's look in detail at the costs of a weekend in Bilbao:
Costsfor eating: about €40.00 per day per person (including breakfast, lunch, dinner)
Costs formuseums and attractions: average price €30.00 per day per person following our suggested itinerary including tours of Gaztelugatxe and Guernica
Transport: average price €5.00 per person per day (includes costs for public transport, taxis and transfers to and from the airport)
Hotels, accommodation and b&b: from €50.00 per room - see offers
Entertainment: from €20.00 per day per person (including snacks, coffee, aperitifs, drinks, ...)
Total cost of a weekend in Bilbao: from €335.00 per person (excluding flights and/or transfers)
Before leaving: useful tips
Choose summer: unlike most of Spain, the Basque Country and the northern coast are characterised by cool and rainy weather, even in summer, when it is easier to find sunny days - find out more here;
Always carry an umbrella: with an Atlantic-type climate, there is no shortage of rainfall even in summer. Always carry an umbrella or a kway;
Where to sleep: in Casco Viejo, the historical centre, or in Abando, the more modern part. If you're looking for an artistic and alternative atmosphere, choose Bilbao la Vieja, to save money the Deusto district;
Getaround on foot or by transport: the centre is perfect to explore on foot. To reach Portugalete and the Vizcaya Bridge you'll have to use public transport and, once you arrive, enjoy a cruise of Portugalete, Getxo and Santurtzi - find out more here;
Taste pintxos: one of the specialities of Basque cuisine, small bruschettas topped with many different products, all from the region. The best places are in Casco Viejo, such as Sorginzulo, Bar Charly, Gure Toki, Con B de Bilbao and Motrikes - find out more here.
