Top places to visit in Bilbao

• Puente de Vizcaya (Bizkaia Bridge)

  Heritage · about 0.8 h · check the fee at the gate

  World's oldest transporter bridge (1893), a UNESCO site linking Portugalete and Getxo.

• Guggenheim Museum Bilbao

  Museum · about 2.5 h · entry €16 (≈ ₹1,740)

  Frank Gehry's titanium landmark of modern and contemporary art on the Nervión.

• Casco Viejo (Siete Calles)

  Heritage · about 1.3 h · check the fee at the gate

  Bilbao's medieval old town of seven streets, cafés and pintxo bars.

• Mercado de la Ribera

  Market · about 0.8 h · check the fee at the gate

  Riverside covered market, one of Europe's largest, with pintxo stalls.

• Museo de Bellas Artes

  Museum · about 1.5 h · entry €10 (≈ ₹1,090)

  Fine-arts museum spanning old masters to Basque and contemporary art.

• Catedral de Santiago

  Church · about 0.5 h · entry €5 (≈ ₹540)

  Gothic cathedral at the heart of the old town, a Camino waypoint.

• Basílica de Begoña

  Church · about 0.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  Hilltop Gothic basilica of Bilbao's patron Virgin, reached by lift or steps.

• Zubizuri Bridge

  Heritage · about 0.3 h · check the fee at the gate

  Calatrava's white curved footbridge over the Nervión.

• Funicular de Artxanda

  Viewpoint · about 0.8 h · entry €3 (≈ ₹270)

  Century-old funicular to the Artxanda hill with panoramic city views.

• Azkuna Zentroa (Alhóndiga)

  Cultural · about 0.8 h · check the fee at the gate

  Philippe Starck-reimagined wine warehouse, now a culture and leisure centre.

• Plaza Nueva

  Heritage · about 0.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  Arcaded neoclassical square famed for its Sunday market and pintxo bars.

• Parque de Doña Casilda

  Nature · about 0.8 h · check the fee at the gate

  Romantic 20th-century park of ponds, fountains and shaded paths.

Things to do

• Guggenheim Museum Guided Visit Cultural · 2 h · from EUR 30 per person
• Bilbao Pintxo & Txakoli Tour Food Tour · 3 h · from EUR 65 per person
• Old Town Walking Tour Walking Tour · 2 h · from EUR 15 per person
• San Juan de Gaztelugatxe Day Trip Day Trip · 5 h · from EUR 60 per person
• Artxanda Funicular & Viewpoint Sightseeing · 1 h · from EUR 5 per person

Day trips and tours

• Bilbao & Basque Coast Day Tour 9 h · from EUR 110

Where to stay in Bilbao

• Casco Viejo about EUR 115 per night

  Bilbao's medieval Seven Streets, heart of the pintxo scene.

• Abando about EUR 130 per night

  Elegant 19th-century Ensanche with the Guggenheim and Gran Vía shopping.

Hotels

• Gran Hotel Domine Bilbao 5-star · EUR 180 to EUR 420 per night
• Hotel Carlton 5-star · EUR 160 to EUR 360 per night
• Miró Hotel 4-star · EUR 130 to EUR 280 per night
• Ganbara Hostel 2-star · EUR 20 to EUR 60 per night
• Petit Palace Arana Bilbao 3-star · EUR 95 to EUR 190 per night

Where to eat

• Gure Toki Basque, Pintxos, Modern · about EUR 25 per person
• Sorginzulo Basque, Pintxos · about EUR 18 per person
• Café Iruña Basque, Cafe, Spanish · about EUR 22 per person
• La Viña del Ensanche Basque, Pintxos, Spanish · about EUR 35 per person
• Nerua Guggenheim Basque, Fine Dining, Modern · about EUR 170 per person
• Bar Charly Basque, Pintxos · about EUR 20 per person

Getting around

• Metro main way to get around

  Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.

• Tram main way to get around

  Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.

• Walking main way to get around

  Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.

Safety and scams to avoid

• Pickpockets in crowds

  Casco Viejo & metro

  Crowded pintxo bars and metro rush make easy pickpocket targets.

  How to avoid it: Keep wallet in a front pocket; watch bags in busy bars.

More in Spain

• Seville
• Granada
• Valencia
• Málaga
• Palma de Mallorca
• Córdoba