10 Best Things to Do in Bilbao

Guggenheim Museum Bilbao is a true architectural masterpiece in itself. Designed by Frank Gehry, the acclaimed Canadian-American architect, Guggenheim is a museum of modern and contemporary art. It’s located alongside the Nervión River in the north of Bilbao. Here, you can see permanent and temporary exhibitions of artists such as Richard Serra, Anselm Kiefer and Jeff Koons, to name just a few. Audioguides in English are available at the ticket counter and 2 sophisticated restaurants, Nerua and Bistró Guggenheim Bilbao, are available in the museum.

Plaza Nueva (New Square) is a 3,600 sq m public square framed by bars of 4-storey buildings and accessible through 64 arcades. It’s located just south of Etxebarria Park, in the heart of Casco Viejo. Pick a table on the terrace of Ereka Bar or Taberna Plaza Nueva and take in the warm atmosphere of Bilbao while sampling a glass of Sangria. On Sundays, Plaza Nueva is a bustling place as it holds a lively flea market. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the plaza.

Settled on the north bank of the Nervión River, right in the centre of the city, Casco Viejo is the historical district of Bilbao. Built around Las Siete Calles, Bilbao’s original 7 streets dating back to the 15th century, it’s one of the liveliest districts of the city, especially after 5pm. From the Bilbao Cathedral to the Bilboko Euskal Museoa (Basque history museum), Casco Viejo is filled with splendid historical and religious edifices. Bilbao Old Town also teems with quaint pintxo bars (Basque tapas bars), restaurants and boutiques.

El Ensanche district was built from the late-19th century onwards to expand Bilbao Old Town. Facing Casco Viejo on the south bank of the Nervión River, El Ensanche spreads around the iconic Plaza Moyua (a.k.a. the Elliptic Square). The district has an architecture that reminds us of the Parisian Haussmann style, and it hosts a great choice of shopping opportunities, including department stores and large, brand-named stores such as H&M, Zara, and Bershka. 

Go to Plaza Funikularreko (Funicular Square) just north of the Old Town to get on board the funicular that will transport you to the top of Mount Artxanda in 3 minutes. Opened since 1915, the Artxanda Funicular departs every 15 minutes. The summit of Mount Artxanda offers panoramic views of Bilbao and of the city airport. Here, you’ll also find a kids’ playground, a few restaurants, and a park. It’s a great place to enjoy a breath of fresh air.

While most visitors to Bilbao make their way to the glittering Guggenheim, it’s worth venturing to the Basque Museum for a fascinating peek into the region's rich history and culture. Found in the Old Town, the museum is housed in a 16th-century building formerly used as a Jesuit church and school.

Exhibits set over 3 floors explore Basque maritime traditions, shepherding culture, ironworks and gunsmith industries and traditional arts and crafts. Take some time to linger in the museum’s majestic inner courtyard with medieval and prehistoric sculptures on display.

For a long time considered the lungs of Bilbao, Doña Casilda Iturrizar Park sits to the north of El Ensanche, nearby the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao. Named after the lady who donated the plot of land for the park to be built, it’s a popular place to take a break from the city. Featuring a duck pond, a cybernetic fountain and a pergola, the park features centenary trees dotted in a pretty, English-style garden. Concerts and outdoor events are regularly held in Doña Casilda Park throughout the summer.

Take a boat ride on the Nervión River to discover Bilbao’s landmarks from a different angle. The 2 most popular boat tours are run by Billboats and RiverCheer which offer 1 and 2 hour cruises from the City Hall to Deusto canal entrance, and further down to the sea. Multilingual audioguides are at hand to describe the sights you’re cruising along, including Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, San Mamés Stadium, Vizcaya Bridge and vintage industrial sites. The boats are comfortable and feature an open-air deck and a bar.

Mercado de la Ribera (the River Market) is one of the largest covered markets in Europe. Besides the fresh products and farmers’ stalls, La Ribera Market houses about a dozen stalls at which you can discover and sample pintxos, the Basque version of Spanish tapas. Grab a plate of pintxos, a glass of red Tempranillo or white Txakoli, and head to the nearby bank of the Nervión River to sample these delicious specialities.

El Ensanche is filled with friendly pintxos bars and lively venues. It offers the perfect place to end the day in style. Among the many quaint bars at hand in the city centre, a few venues are especially recommendable. Head to La Casa del Bandido, a sophisticated funky pub on Alameda Urquij to sample world-class cocktails; visit Abadia del Gin&Tonic a tiny bar specialised in, guess what, gin and tonic on C/ Mº Diaz de Haro; or go to the classy Sir Winston Churchill Pub, a genuine and comfortable British pub located on Sabino Arana Etorbidea.