Destination guide
Bilbao
Spain
Bilbao, with a population of about 350,000 (2018, and over a million in the metro area), is the largest city in Spain's Basque Country. Bilbao is perhaps the best place in the world to experience the ancient culture and language of the Basque people, which has stubbornly held its own over thousands of years and is now…
AI insights
AI-written from the Wikivoyage listings, transport section and the video stats on this page
Prioritize walking along the river between the Guggenheim Museum and the Casco Viejo; this 30-minute stroll connects the city's modern architectural heart with its historic center, allowing you to bypass the city's difficult driving conditions caused by hilly, one-way streets.
When seeking high-quality pintxos, venture to the small, one-way streets away from main thoroughfares to find spots like Aritz, which has earned local contest recognition; these hidden areas often house clusters of authentic venues that are worth the extra walk.
Book your table well in advance for traditional Basque dining experiences, especially for restaurants offering specialized menus or unique settings like wine cellars, as these venues frequently fill up days ahead of time.
Base yourself in the Siete Calles (Old Town) if you want to stay in a historic, atmospheric district, but be aware that you will need to use public transport or walk to reach major cultural sites like the Guggenheim Museum, which are located outside of this immediate area.
Visit the Guggenheim Museum for the temporary rotating exhibits rather than the permanent collection, and ensure you see the Puppy sculpture outside, which is refreshed with new seasonal plantings throughout the year.
How we vet these picks
Every pick is drawn from real sources — YouTube creators, Wikivoyage, and Wikipedia. We only surface sources that actually exist and that we've checked for authenticity — no filler, no dead-end searches.Watch first
Ranked by views and how well each landed with the people who watched it, judged against the other coverage of this place — plus a local creator where we found one.
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Best time to go
Best window: February–October and December
Kind weather all year — there is no month to avoid.
Rated from ten years of daily temperature and rainfall recorded at this destination, via Open-Meteo's ERA5 reanalysis. Hover a month for its real numbers.
Getting around
Public transport
There is good citywide public transport through the bus network (Bilbobus) and the single-line tram. You can also use the metro to get around, although you will miss all views and it might not be the most convenient if your trip is only inside Bilbao.
On foot
It takes about 30 minutes to walk along the river between the Guggenheim Museum and the Casco Viejo.
By car
Bilbao is difficult to drive in. Hilly one-way streets, and frequent construction projects, make it a nightmare for drivers in parts of the city.
Transport notes from Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA 4.0.
What to see
Places are listed from Wikivoyage and our own sourced research. Worth it means a second, independent source names the place too; “3 sources agree” means three or more do — and each card names them, so you can check.
Basque Museum
4 sources agreeAlso recommended by Laura Bronner and 3 others
Plaza Unamuno, 4· Cheap
Established in 1921 to focus on the prehistory, archaeology, ethnography and history of Euskadi (Basque homeland). Not a particularly well laid out museum. It will be of passing interest to people who study Basque culture.
Vetted sources
Guggenheim Museum
Worth itAlso recommended by Michelin Guide and 1 other
Tram: Guggenheim· Cheap
Frank Gehry's spectacular twisting titanium-clad modern art museum is perhaps the most celebrated building of the 1990s, even starting what would be called the 'Bilbao-effect': The idea in urban planning that a star-quality building can…
Vetted sources
Guggenheim Museum Bilbao
Worth itAlso recommended by Lonely Planet and 1 other
Frank Gehry's titanium-clad museum that reshaped Bilbao's post-industrial waterfront.
Vetted sources
Museo Guggenheim Bilbao
Worth itAlso recommended by Lonely Planet and 1 other
Frank Gehry's titanium-clad building put Bilbao on the map, and inside you find major contemporary art alongside the architecture itself.
Vetted sources
Museo de Bellas Artes
Metro: Moyuako· Free
The Museum of Fine Art's remarkable collection boasts more than 6,000 works dating from the 12th century to the present day, and includes paintings, sculptures, drawings, engravings and decorative objects.
Vetted sources
Itsasmuseum
Muelle Ramón de la Sota, 1· Cheap
It's in what used to be the Euskalduna shipyard, this maritime museum is next to the current Euskalduna Performing Arts Centre. The museum covers an area of 27,000 m², 7,000 m² for indoor exhibitions and 20,000 m² for outdoor exhibitions…
Vetted sources
Puppy
Not a museum, but it is directly in the front of the Guggenheim Museum, created by Jeff Koons. It's one of the most famous symbols of modern Bilbao. It is a west Highland terrier 12 m high covered in flowers that are changed each season.
Vetted sources
Museo Taurino (Bullfighting Museum)
· Cheap
Martín Agüero, 1, Plaza de Toros de Vista Alegre, (Near Plaza Zabalburu). Next to a bullring, the Museo Taurino highlights the role bullfighting has played in Euskadi.
Vetted sources
What to do
Mercado de la Ribera
Worth itAlso recommended by Lonely Planet
Europe's largest covered food market lets you graze fresh Basque produce and seafood under one roof.
Vetted sources
Puente Colgante (Vizcaya Bridge)
Worth itAlso recommended by Lonely Planet
You walk the elevated catwalk of the world's oldest transporter bridge, suspended above the Ría del Nervión.
Vetted sources
What to eat
Asador Etxebarri
Worth itAlso recommended by World's 50 Best Restaurants and 1 other
Bittor Arguinzoniz's live-fire grill restaurant in nearby Atxondo, ranked No. 2 on the World's 50 Best Restaurants 2025 list.
Vetted sources
Nerua Guggenheim Bilbao
Worth itAlso recommended by Michelin Guide
Josean Alija's one-Michelin-star restaurant inside the Guggenheim, built on Basque farm and coastal produce.
Vetted sources
Plaza Nueva pintxos crawl
Worth itAlso recommended by Lonely Planet
You wander in and out of neoclassical-arcaded bars in the casco viejo, assessing the pintxos displayed on every counter.
Vetted sources
Bar El Globo
Worth itAlso recommended by Lonely Planet
Famous for its txangurro gratinado, spider crab meat served hot as a single pintxo bite.
Vetted sources
Malatesta
Goienkale/Somera 10, Bilbao
A place where you can have a drink, snack on pinchos and eat in the heart of Bilbao's Siete Calles. Vegetarian and vegan options. There is always an exhibition on, and cultural events are held here.
Vetted sources
Restaurante Kasko
c/Santa María, 16
This restaurant claims that their Pintxos are a miniaturization of Basque cooking culture. The Pintxos are presented very nicely and in an appetizing way on the bar counter. Staff proficient in English, occasionally live Piano music.
Vetted sources
à table
Dos de Mayo 18
Cozy place in the old quarter of Bilbao. An authentic Basque-French restaurant offering a true flavour of that traditional cuisine. Good cellar. Reservation required. Service in English.
Vetted sources
Aritz
Calle Zugastinobia 4
Was once one of the best Pintxos bars in Bilbao, quite out of the way (almost hidden really in a very small, one way street away from the main thoroughfares). Ask for it and you will be given directions.
Vetted sources
Zortziko
c/Alameda de Mazarredo 17
Traditional Basque dishes such as pigeon breast or marinated sea bass. Formal environment with late Victorian style furnishing, frequently booked days in advance. Ask about reservations to dine in the wine cellar.
Vetted sources
Matxinbenta
c/Ledesma 26
Basque food, specialities include fresh tuna in piquant tomato sauce and piperada. Reservations required.
Vetted sources
Where to stay
Ganbara Hostel
Prim 13
The only hostel in the Seven Streets area: the heart of the Old Town district of Bilbao. This makes it the ideal spot for anyone who wants to keep their finger on the pulse of the city: it is close to most of the museums and monuments, to…
Vetted sources
Bilbao Akelarre Hostel
Morgan 4-6· Moderate
A private youth hostel a few minutes by walking from the Guggenheim Museum, in the historic district of Deusto University.
Vetted sources
Albergue Bilbao
Ctra Basurto-Kastrexana, 70
A youth hostel with 48 rooms (22 double rooms). A bit of a journey away from the centre, but connected by bus.
Vetted sources
Holiday Inn Express Bilbao
Zarandoa Kalea 5
Contemporary hotel close to Bilbao Airport and 10 km from the city centre.
Vetted sources
NH Palacio de Oriol
Avda. Cristobal Murrieta, 27, 48980 Santurtzi
Overlooking the Abra Bay, the hotel occupies a palace built in 1902.
Vetted sources
Travel essentials
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Travel content from Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA 4.0. Encyclopedic context from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Videos via the YouTube Data API.