Plan your visit

Visiting Bilbao

Bilbao is a city with a wide range of activities, attractions and entertainment for visitors. Here are just a few suggestions:

In Bilbao everything is close at hand. By using one of the many forms of public transportation (bus, metro, tram, taxi), getting from one place to another within the city can be quite an enjoyable experience—especially when you stop along the way to visit one of the many cultural attractions or art galleries, or indulge in local shopping and cuisine.
In Bilbao In Bilbao you can enjoy world-class dining in exciting, trendsetting restaurants, or equally delicious traditional home-cooked fare. Or try one of the wide variety of "pintxos" (Basque tapas) washed down with a "txikito" (small glass of wine), just like the Bilbao locals do. with their friends on a regular basis.
Every part of the city has its own special flavor, which is what makes Bilbao such an interesting place. It is a city with its sights set firmly on the future, yet it does not compromise its heritage and identity. Tradition is alive and kicking in Bilbao, evident in the hugely popular fiestas and celebrations held all year round. The biggest of them all, Aste Nagusia, takes place in the month of August. Nine days and nights of fun and festivities fill the city with color, commotion, and revelry. Locals and visitors alike become an integral part of the fiesta.

Old Town

A walk through the streets of Bilbao's Old Town is a great way to see the city's origins and catch a glimpse of local social life, business and art.

Things to see: Some of the most interesting sights in this part of town include bridges (La Merced, San Antón, La Ribera); churches (La Merced, San Antón, Santiago Catedral, La Encarnación, San Nikolas); museums (Museum of Sacred Art (Arte Sacro) and the Basque Museum (Museo Vasco)); fountains, public squares, and gardens (Plaza Nueva, Santos Juanes, el Arenal); and other magnificent buildings (the Ribera marketplace, Arriaga Theatre, Biblioteca de Bidebarrieta (library), and Palacio John (stock exchange)). Here, the traditional flavor of Bilbao is infused with a touch of modern design, making Old Town the perfect place to stroll, shop, or enjoy a few pintxos in one of the many bars and outdoor cafés.
Ensanche, Gran Vía and “Modern” Bilbao

Here, elegant buildings evoke the heyday of the industrial bourgeoisie, who left their mark on the city's urban landscape and later moved to the left bank of the Nervion River to give the city room to grow.

Things to see: Today it is well worth your while to walk along the streets and gardens of this area (Gran Vía de Don Diego López de Haro, Jardines de Albia, Plaza del Ensanche, Parque Doña Casilda) and look up to admire the beautiful architecture and large buildings (Palacio de Justicia, Palacio de la Diputación, Palacio Chavarri, Casa Montero, Edificio Sota, la Alhóndiga), many of which now house major banks (BBVA, Banco de España) and corporations. Also noteworthy are the train stations (La Concordia, Abando), theaters (Arriaga Theatre), churches (San Vicente Mártir de Abando, San José), cafés (Café Iruña, La Granja), hotels (Hotel Carlton), and museums (Museo de Bellas Artes-Fine Arts Museum) in the heart of the city's shopping and services district.
The right bank and Abandoibarra

In recent years, Bilbao has undergone an extraordinary process of urban regeneration that is particularly evident in the Abandoibarra area.

Things to see: Some of the world's most renowned architects and planners have put their signatures on the city's urban-revitalization projects, including Norman Foster, designer of the Metro Bilbao; Frank O. Gehry, the architect responsible for the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao building; Santiago Calatrava, creator of the Loiu Airport and the Zubi-Zuri Bridge; Arata Isozaki, mastermind behind the wide esplanade that borders the river and the so-called Puerta Isozaki buildings; and Ricardo Legorreta, architect of the Sheraton Hotel, among others. Designers of international acclaim have also left their mark on the city's spaces and buildings. Javier Mariscal designed the Gran Hotel Dómine; fashion designer Antonio Miró was responsible for the interior of the Hotel Miró; and interior designer Philippe Starck is currently in charge of the Alhóndiga building renewal project. Today, all of these achievements present a completely new landscape for Bilbao, which has once again turned its focus toward the river and become a modern cosmopolitan city.
Day trips from Bilbao

Mountains, beaches, picturesque villages, and large industrial towns are among the many interesting day trip destinations from the city. There's something for everyone, and it’s all close to Bilbao.

Things to see: Visit the coast or the beautiful parks, including Gorbea, Urkiola, and the Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve.

Plan your visit

Visiting Bilbao

Old Town

Ensanche, Gran Vía and “Modern” Bilbao

The right bank and Abandoibarra

Day trips from Bilbao

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