Bilbao

🏛️ Why Visit Bilbao, Spain?

Bilbao isn't just a city – it's a proper vibe. This Basque beauty is where old-world charm meets cutting-edge cool, and honestly? It's flippin' brilliant. Think world-famous architecture, mind-blowing art, and some of the best food you'll ever taste – all packed into one gorgeous, walkable city that feels like Europe's best-kept secret.

Whether you're here for a romantic city break, a culture-packed jolly with mates, or a family adventure, Bilbao delivers big time. Plus, it's way more budget-friendly than other European hotspots, so you can splash out on those legendary pintxos without breaking the bank.

Top reasons to visit Bilbao:

• 🎨 Home to the jaw-dropping Guggenheim Museum – Frank Gehry's shimmering titanium masterpiece that's as stunning outside as it is inside.

• 🍽️ Foodie paradise with pintxos bars on every corner and some seriously impressive Michelin-starred restaurants.

• 🏰 Casco Viejo (Old Town) is a maze of charming cobbled streets, perfect for getting deliciously lost.

• 🚇 Compact and walkable, with a sleek metro system designed by Norman Foster for when you fancy saving your steps.

• 🌊 Close to dramatic coastlines and Game of Thrones filming locations – because who doesn't want to visit Dragonstone?

🎭 Top Things to Do in Bilbao

Bilbao's got this brilliant mix of culture, cuisine, and coastal beauty that means you'll never be bored. Whether you're an art lover, a foodie, or just someone who appreciates stunning architecture, this city's got your back.

Soak Up the Culture

• 🎨 Guggenheim Museum – This isn't just a museum, it's a proper work of art itself. The shimmering titanium exterior houses mind-blowing contemporary pieces, and even if you're not usually into art, this place will blow your mind.

• 🏰 Casco Viejo – The Old Town is where Bilbao's heart beats strongest. Wander the narrow streets, pop into traditional pintxos bars, and soak up the atmosphere in the lively squares.

• 🖼️ Museo Bellas Artes – A brilliant collection spanning from medieval to contemporary art, and way less crowded than the Guggenheim if you prefer a quieter cultural fix.

Feast Like a Local

• 🍤 Pintxos Crawl – This is the Basque version of tapas, and it's absolutely legendary. Head to Plaza Nueva or Calle Ledesma and hop from bar to bar trying everything from Gilda (anchovy, olive, and pepper skewers) to txangurro (spider crab).

• 🐟 Ribera Market – One of Europe's biggest indoor markets and a total food lover's paradise. Fresh seafood, local cheeses, and Basque delicacies as far as the eye can see.

• ⭐ Michelin-Starred Dining – If you fancy pushing the boat out, restaurants like Nerua and Mina serve up world-class cuisine that'll have you booking your next trip before you've finished dessert.

Explore Beyond the City

• 🏰 San Juan de Gaztelugatxe – This dramatic coastal islet with its historic chapel was used as Dragonstone in Game of Thrones. The views are absolutely epic, and the walk up the 241 steps is totally worth it.

• 🍷 Rioja Wine Region – Just a short trip away for wine tasting tours surrounded by vineyard views. World-class reds and stunning scenery? Yes, please.

• 🚡 Artxanda Funicular – Take the vintage funicular up to the best sunset spot in town for panoramic views over the whole city.

Family Fun

• ⚓ Bilbao Maritime Museum – Interactive exhibits and model ships bring the city's seafaring past to life, perfect for keeping the little ones entertained.

• 🦆 Doña Casilda Park – A lush green space with playgrounds, fountains, and a duck pond for a chilled-out family afternoon.

🏨 Where to Stay on your Bilbao Holidays

Bilbao's got a cracking selection of hotels, from budget-friendly gems to absolute luxury showstoppers. We can do you a very cheap break to Bilbao, or you can stay in the swankiest room you’ve ever seen, everything is possible!

💰 Best Value Options

Sometimes you get what you pay for, but with these two beauties, you get a lot more than you pay for, both of them are genuinely decent accommodation at very good prices.

• 🏨 Petit Palace Tamarises - This boutique beauty sits right on Ereaga Beach in nearby Getxo, giving you the best of both worlds – seaside vibes and easy access to Bilbao (just 20 minutes from the Guggenheim). The rooms have cracking sea views from private terraces, plus there's free bikes, MiFi, and an absolutely brilliant breakfast buffet. Oh, and it's pet-friendly too – win-win!

• 🏨 Zenit Bilbao - A brilliant mid-range pick with snazzy rooms and everything you need for a comfy stay. There's a gym, restaurant, bar, and parking sorted. You're an 18-minute stroll from the Guggenheim, and if footie's your thing, San Mamés stadium is just 9 minutes away. Proper good!

✨ Luxury Options

Sometimes though, you just wanna stay somewhere really special.

• 🏨 Melia Bilbao - Talk about location, location, location! Right along the Nervion River with cracking views, this place brings proper luxury vibes. The outdoor heated pool, spa, and hydro-massage marble bathrooms in the suites are absolutely lush. Plus, you're just a 6-minute stroll from both the Museo Bellas Artes and Museo Marítimo.

• 🏨 The Artist Grand Hotel of Art - This is the big kahuna – a five-star stunner designed by Javier Mariscal that sits bang opposite the Guggenheim Museum. The rooftop terrace has mind-blowing views, there's a full-service spa, wellness centre with sauna and Turkish bath, plus two restaurants including fine dining. If you want to splash out, this is your spot.

🎭 Something Novel

And sometimes you want to stay somewhere that's not the most extravagant but it will be still be memorable because it's got something about it.

• 🏨 Palacio Urgoiti - Fancy staying in a proper 17th-century palace? This gorgeous country hotel is surrounded by lush gardens and has its own 9-hole pitch-and-putt golf course! Just 12km from Bilbao centre but feeling like a world away, with spacious rooms, a heated pool, and the brilliant Harria restaurant serving top-notch Basque cuisine.

• 🏨 Miro Hotel - Designed by fashion guru Antonio Miró (not the painter!), this sleek 50-room boutique hotel is all about minimalist luxury. Think dramatic black and white interiors, floor-to-ceiling windows, and a chic honesty bar. Located perfectly between the Guggenheim and Museo de Bellas Artes, it's a favourite with the art and fashion crowd.

🗓️ When to Visit Bilbao

☀️ Summer (June–August) | 20–25°C

The driest and warmest time to visit, with up to 9 hours of sunshine daily and pleasant temperatures that rarely get too hot. Perfect for exploring the city on foot, enjoying pintxos on outdoor terraces, and catching the summer festival season.

• 🎸 Bilbao BBK Live (July 9-11, 2026) – one of Europe's premier music festivals on Mount Kobetamendi with world-class acts and stunning city views

• 🎉 Aste Nagusia (late August, 9 days) – Bilbao's biggest party with street concerts, fireworks, traditional Basque sports, and the iconic Marijaia mascot

• 🎭 Free summer concerts – the Bereziak programme brings free gigs to venues across the city throughout July

🌸 Spring (March–May) | 13–17°C

Mild temperatures and longer days make this ideal for sightseeing without the summer crowds. April can be rainy, but May is gorgeous for exploring the Guggenheim, pintxo hopping, and day trips to the coast.

• ✝️ Semana Santa (Easter) – atmospheric processions through Casco Viejo with traditional music and ceremonial dress

• 🎭 Basque Fest (Easter week) – celebrates Basque traditions through music, dance, gastronomy, and rural sports

• 🌷 Flower displays – the city's parks and plazas burst into bloom, perfect for strolling

🍂 Autumn (September–October) | 14–22°C

September stays warm and dry – arguably the sweet spot for visiting. October brings more rain but fewer tourists and a brilliant atmosphere in the pintxo bars. The nearby San Sebastian Film Festival draws A-listers in September.

• 🎬 San Sebastian Film Festival (September) – just an hour away, Spain's answer to Cannes with red carpet glamour and world premieres

• 🍇 Grape harvest season – perfect for day trips to the Rioja wine region

• 🎭 Cultural season kicks off – theatres and concert halls launch their autumn programmes

❄️ Winter (December–February) | 8–13°C

Mild by northern European standards, with temperatures rarely dropping below freezing. The city feels properly local without the tourist crowds, and the pintxo bars are at their cosy best. December brings festive markets and one of the Basque Country's biggest traditional fairs.

• 🎄 Santo Tomás Fair (21 December) – over 100,000 people flock to El Arenal and Plaza Nueva for traditional talo con chorizo, txakoli wine, live Basque music, and farm produce

• 🎭 Carnival (February) – colourful parades and street parties throughout the city

• ⛸️ Christmas markets and ice skating – festive atmosphere with lights and nativity scenes across the Old Town

🏝️ Nearby Destinations

San Sebastian – Spain's culinary capital is just an hour away by car or train, with the stunning La Concha beach and more pintxo bars per square metre than anywhere on Earth

Santander – elegant Belle Époque beach city about 100km west, with gorgeous Sardinero beach and the stunning Palacio de la Magdalena

Cantabria – the wider region offers dramatic coastlines, prehistoric caves at Altamira, and the fairy-tale medieval village of Santillana del Mar