24 Best Things to Do in Bilbao

On Spain’s wild north coast, Bilbao is a dynamic hub of inspiring architecture, culture, and gastronomy, surrounded by some of the country’s most dramatic scenery.

Things to do in Bilbao include sipping on fine wines, admiring contemporary art, and savoring the gourmet highlights of the Basque Country.

From the city’s jaw-dropping Guggenheim Museum and skyline-defining Iberdrola Tower to the ancient streets and churches of the Old Quarter, Bilbao boasts an eclectic mix of old and new landmarks for travelers to discover.

Here are 24 of the best things to do in Bilbao on your next Spanish vacation.

Trawl the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao

One of the most famous landmarks in Spain, the groundbreaking Frank Gehry-designed Guggenheim Museum’s titanium exterior has become synonymous with Bilbao’s modern landscape.

For some of the best views of the Guggenheim, cross La Salve Bridge—officially known as the Prince and Princess of Spain Bridge—and gaze back across the river to the museum.

One of the first works you’ll notice is the vibrant Puppy by Jeff Koons, a colossal flowering canine sculpture guarding Museum Square outside the Guggenheim.

Inside, you’ll see more works by Koons, plus pieces by Anish Kapoor, Mark Rothko, Eduardo Chillida, and Yves Klein.

Once you’ve admired the artwork, make a reservation for one of the best seats in Bilbao at the museum’s Nerua restaurant, helmed by chef Josean Alija. Nerua’s menu is led by the seasons and the flavors of the Basque Country, with Alija’s artistic touch creating plates of art worthy of the Guggenheim’s walls.

Read: Best Museums in Spain

Explore the World-Famous La Ribera Market

Cuisine forms a big part of the Basque Country’s identity, with Bilbao’s dining scene world-beating for its extraordinary collection of pintxos bars and the thrilling La Ribera Market.

The city’s market is a natural starting point to explore Bilbao’s myriad gourmet produce. The riverside market is set in a grand Art Deco building on the edge of the Old Quarter, one of the most beautiful places in Spain.

One of the largest indoor markets in Europe, it features a cookery school and gastro bars and offers an abundance of produce.

Breathe in the heady sights, sounds, and scents of the market. Some of the region’s finest ingredients are sold here, from fresh fish, vegetables, herbs, and meats to artisan bread, mushrooms, pickles, and preserves.

Wine, olive oil, chocolate, jelly, and candy are popular picks if you’re looking for a gourmet souvenir in Spain.

You could even get hands-on culinary experience at La Ribera’s second-floor cookery school. First, you’ll tour the market with the chef to pick up a selection of ingredients to create a Basque Country dish. The best part is that you’ll get to sample a delectable pintxos tasting menu afterward.

Marvel at Bilbao’s Bridges

With the Nervión River, which leads to the Estuary of Bilbao that meanders through the city, several bridges connect either side of the waterway. The eye-catching Vizcaya Bridge has straddled the mouth of the Nervión River since 1893.

Designed by Basque architect Alberto de Palacio y Elissague, a student of Gustave Eiffel, the Vizcaya Bridge is a masterclass in ironwork featuring lightweight twisted steel cables.

A UNESCO-listed landmark, Vizcaya was the first bridge in the world to carry people and traffic on a high suspended gondola and has since been used as a blueprint across the globe for similar structures.

Visit Vizcaya and its 148-foot walkway to learn about the bridge’s construction before making your way to another famous Bilbao bridge, Campo Volantin, also known as the Zubizuri Bridge. Located in the center of Bilbao, this 1997-built modernist overpass is an arched pedestrian footbridge.

The striking Campo Volantin was designed by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava, the designer behind New York City’s World Trade Center Transportation Hub and Tenerife’s Auditorio de Tenerife. Wander across the 246-foot bridge on a walking tour of the city.

Discover the Old Town of Bilbao

Travelers to Bilbao often make a beeline for the city’s Old Town for its swoon-worthy Seven Streets. Located on the right bank of the river, this is the beating heart of Bilbao.

The slender streets are filled with colorful and atmospheric centuries-old buildings and an array of shops and pintxos bars.

Explore the 14th-and-15th-century-built Bilbao Cathedral, defined by its Basque Gothic spire towering over the Old Town. Take a photo of the church’s gleaming exterior, with its elaborate architecture featuring a renaissance and neoclassical portico.

The Old Town’s Plaza Nueva is a relaxing spot for people-watching. Tall palm trees add a splash of green tranquility to each corner of the immaculate square, with neoclassical portico arches and arcades providing shade. Enjoy a coffee, a glass of wine, or Basque beer in one of the square’s many cafés or bars.

Once you’ve refueled, dive into the fascinating Archaeological Museum (Arkeologi Museoa) to explore the two-story exhibition revealing the history of the city, from prehistoric through to recent times.

Other Old Town highlights include the riverside Church of San Anton, its striking bell tower, and the many independent shops selling everything from vintage wear to leather goods and books.

Ride the Cable Car to Mount Artxanda Viewpoint

Mount Artxanda looms some 800 feet above Bilbao, offering sweeping views of the city from the summit.

You could enjoy a breezy walk to the top or opt for the more leisurely red-and-white cable car from Plaza del Funicular, just a 10-minute walk from City Hall. The cable car takes around three minutes to reach the top.

Take in Mount Artxanda’s peak, admiring the city views from the leafy park and gardens, with several restaurants and a sculpture at the top.

Relax on Bilbao’s Beaches

The frothy north shore of mainland Spain boasts a string of phenomenal beaches, several within a short drive from the center of Bilbao.

Playa de Sopelana is a gorgeous golden sweep 20 minutes from the city center. Look out for paragliders flying from the cliffs above the beach.

Neighboring Arrietara Beach is a buzzing stretch that’s popular with surfers. If you don’t fancy hiring a surfboard, try the superb El Peñón de Sopelana restaurant, where you’ll be treated to wonderful sea views and delectable dishes of tuna, octopus, turbot, and Iberian ham.

Gorliz Beach, a 30-minute drive from Bilbao, is a blissful seaside spot with a pretty promenade, surf lessons, and board rental.

Northwest of the city, Playa de la Arena is a picturesque beach where the Cantabrian Sea lashes at the shore. Enjoy a walk on the satiny sand and a coffee from one of the beachfront cafes.

Sip Exquisite Wines in La Rioja

Two hours south of Bilbao, via the scenic Parque Natural de Gorbeia, travelers could experience one of the world’s most prized wine regions, La Rioja.

La Rioja is home to rolling green hills, ancient settlements, and hundreds of wineries in the foothills of the verdant Sierra de Cantabria.

Visiting the area on a vineyard tour and sipping on a selection of barrel-fermented bold red and creamy white wines is among the best things to do in Bilbao.

Taste the region’s grapes at sun-dappled bodegas in the town of Laguardia, the capital of Rioja Alavesa, where subterranean tunnels are used to age wines in oak barrels.

Bodegas Carlos San Pedro Pérez de Viñaspre sits on a 600-year-old cave, which has been used as a winery for over 300 years. Here you could sample a range of the producer’s wines following a tour of the underground wine caves.

At Dorretxe, you could experience a more unconventional vineyard tour—on a Segway—paired with a visit to the estate’s wine cave and a tasting.

Laguardia’s showpiece is Bodegas Ysios. The Sierra Cantabria frames this state-of-the-art winery with a wavy roof designed by Santiago Calatrava to mirror the mountainous landscape. Try Bodegas Ysios’ refreshing Ysios Rosé—just the antidote to a balmy summer’s day.

Read: Best Wine Cruise Destinations for Oenophiles

Stroll Around the Medieval Town of Castro Urdiales

Digging deep into Basque Country history is one of the best things to do in Bilbao. Culture-hungry travelers can do this on a stroll around the medieval town of Castro Urdiales, also known as Flavióbriga.

Around 20 miles northwest of Bilbao, picturesque Castro Urdiales is surrounded by glorious Spanish beaches— including Urdiales, El Fraile, and Brazomar—and easy to reach via a local taxi or bus.

In the Old Town, marvel at the 13th-century Santa Maria de la Asunción, a sprawling Gothic church next to the 12th-century Castle of Santa Ana, which features a lighthouse on top.

Wander the castle’s grounds, soaking up the spectacular views of Castro Urdiales’ sweeping harbor.

From the castle, cross the single-arched Roman Bridge and enjoy the short walk to Plaza del Ayuntamiento with its attractive porticoed Town Hall for a coffee or refreshing drink.

La Goleta, La Cierbanata, and Restaurante Marisquería Alfredo are popular restaurants within the square serving tasty pintxos, the name for Basque Country tapas.

Visit the Beautiful Fishing Port of Bermeo

Take off on a dopamine-sparking road trip to the charming fishing port of Bermeo, tucked into the jagged Basque Country coastline in Biscay, just a 35-minute drive from Bilbao.

Bermeo is built around a bustling harbor, where row upon row of hard-working fishing boats are moored.

Focus your time in Bermeo on visiting some of the town’s remarkable landmarks, including the 14th-century cloisters of the convent of San Francisco and the Fisherman’s Museum at the Gothic Ercilla Tower.

Call into Santa Eufemia, the oldest church in Bermeo, built in the 13th century before being reconstructed in the 15th century, where mass is still held every day at noon.

Roam the narrow streets of Bermeo’s historic center, Casco Viejo, near the waterfront. The lanes here are oriented from east to west, crossed with inclining winding lanes filled with tiny seafood restaurants and pintxos bars.

Find a local spot to dine on some of Bermeo’s specialties, including straight-from-the-water grilled sea bream, garlic-infused shrimp, and even sweet-tasting barnacles.

Visit Vitoria-Gasteiz

The capital of the Basque Country is the postcard-worthy Vitoria-Gasteiz, a one-hour journey southeast of Bilbao. Based around a medieval center, much of which was built in the 12th century, Vitoria-Gasteiz was once a fortified town.

Visit the unmistakable Cathedral of Santa María to see its elaborate entrance, built in the 14th century, and an octagonal tower containing a bell tower from the 16th and 17th centuries.

Tour the Gothic Church of San Miguel, home to the image of the White Virgin, the city’s patron saint, bordering Plaza de la Virgen Blanca (White Virgin Square).

In contrast to Vitoria’s ancient Old Town, the city’s modern Artium is a contemporary art museum. Pieces focus on Basque Country and Spanish artists, with works by Joan Miró, Pablo Picasso, Begoña Ameztoy, and Nestor Basterretxea on display.

You could also step inside Museo Bibat—set within the 16th-century Bendaña Palace—combining the city’s Archeological Museum and the more offbeat Playing Card Museum.

Vitoria-Gasteiz has no shortage of top-drawer restaurants, too. Make a lunch reservation at El Clarete for its intimate setting and modern Basque cuisine.

Wander Around the Hamlet of Hondarribia

On the Spanish-French border, Hondarribia is an alluring seaside town roughly an 80-minute drive east of Bilbao.

Explore Hondarribia’s majestic walled Old Town. Enter through the Santa Maria atea—the ancient gate—to wander the maze of sloped cobbled streets.

The Castle of Emperor Carlos V and the 16th-century Church of Santa María are two of Hondarribia’s most stirring landmarks, conveniently positioned next to each other.

Away from the bustling Old Town, Hondarribia offers an expansive sandy beach at the mouth of the Bidasoa River. Spot the neighboring French beach, Plage d’Hendaye, on the opposite side of the river.

Quaint cafés with bags of old-world charm and intimate restaurants are scattered around Hondarribia. Try La Hermandad de Pescadores, translating as The Fishermen’s Brotherhood, on Zuloaga Kalea, for soul-warming fish soup, fried-cod tacos, and clams in a Basque sauce.

Enjoy a Day Trip to San Sebastián

If you’re on your second trip to Bilbao, consider heading out of town to visit San Sebastián on a whistlestop tour.

San Sebastian is around 63 miles east of Bilbao, making for a breezy 60-minute journey by road.

This sophisticated resort is set around a delightful crescent bay featuring two beaches, Ondarreta and La Concha, facing the small, green-covered Santa Clara Island. Bronzed vacationers enjoy swimming the short distance to the island from the mainland during summer.

Stroll around San Sebastián’s iconic promenade, known as La Concha Walk for its shell shape, making your way to the Old Town.

San Sebastián is a joy for food lovers, with some of the most celebrated restaurants in the Basque Country clustered around the city’s photogenic Old Quarter.

San Sebastian’s oldest neighborhood offers back-to-back pintxos bars, peppered with fine-dining restaurants, traditional cafés, and ice-cream parlors. Relax with small plates of expertly-crafted Basque Country cuisine in one of the quarter’s lively bars before returning to Bilbao.

Taste Tapas at Las Siete Calles

Spain is known for its tapas. If you want to experience Bilbao’s incredible food culture, you should carve out some time to take a tapas tour of the city’s Las Siete Calles. This Seven Streets neighborhood will give your taste buds a true Basque-inspired gastronomical treat.

Among this collection of historic, narrow streets, known to locals as Zazpikaleak, you’ll find lots of different bars offering pintxos and Basque tapas, as well as traditional rustic restaurants, woven through these distinctive-looking narrow lanes.

As you explore the area, close to the Nervión River, you will quickly learn that Zazpikaleak also holds a lot of history in its streets. And while this zone dates back to medieval times, the atmosphere and colorful facades here still have a strong cultural and culinary pulse.

You’ll find a lot of shops and boutiques in Las Siete Calles as well, but of course, a pintxos tour is the reason to visit. Move from bar to bar, picking your favorite-looking pintxos from the display. Typical snacks include gilda, a small skewer of pepper, anchovy, and olive, marinated anchovies, and battered squid rings.

Book a San Mamés Stadium Tour

Can you hear the roar of the “Los Leones,” or the “Lions”? If you can, you must be close to the exceptionally beautiful San Mamés Stadium, home to the city’s Athletic Club, affectionately referred to by their “Lions” nickname.

This football “cathedral” is considered one of the most unique sports stadiums in the world due to its sleek design and unique Basque heritage. Furthermore, the club, with its eye-catching red and white colors, is one of the oldest in all of Spain.

Part of the uniqueness of San Mamés Stadium’s design stems from its distinctive glowing façade, composed of hundreds of illuminated panels that light up the exterior, which is particularly striking after the sun goes down.

Athletic Club is also considered the home of Basque football, since the team recruits exclusively from players of Basque descent, tethering the club and the stadium to Basque cultural life, while simultaneously boosting regional pride.

If you want to check out this iconic sports building for yourself, you can book a tour of the stadium, along with the team’s museum, and then see why locals are so proud of this institution.

Visit the Basilica of Begoña

The impressive Basilica of Begoña offers spectacular city views, as well as vistas of the surrounding mountains, from its prime hilltop location.

Devotees have flocked to worship Our Lady of Begoña, the patron saint of Biscay, at this site for centuries. It was built in the 16th century in a Gothic style—with touches of Renaissance design—and features magnificent recessed coffered ceilings and gorgeous stained-glass windows.

As you admire this structure’s historical and spiritual splendor, make sure you take in the Elizabethan altarpiece, which legend says rests in the very spot where the Virgin Mary mysteriously appeared hundreds of years ago.

On the trek up to this Spanish church, you’ll pass through some lovely greenery, which is a delight in itself when the sun is shining and there’s birdsong in the air.

Immerse Yourself in Basque Culture at Azkuna Zentroa

Are you interested in Basque culture showcased in a site loaded with fascinating architectural design? If that’s the case, arrange a visit to Azkuna Zentroa, built inside the old Alhóndiga wine warehouse.

This building has been repurposed as a chic-looking modernist cultural and leisure hub, with 43 Italian-designed pillars adorning the lower level.

The main space, redesigned by the French architect Philippe Starck, is a colossal site, home to a mixture of museums, a cinema, exhibition spaces, a sports center, a swimming pool, plus some fine-dining restaurants and trendy bars.

From tasty cuisine to art displays, cultural events, and workshops, along with the chance to work out and play sports, Azkuna Zentroa demonstrates Bilbao’s commitment to urban reinvention.

Meander Through El Ensanche District

El Ensanche provides a wonderful look into Bilbao’s stately and slightly more sophisticated side. The commercial hub of Bilbao, this neighborhood offers high-end shops, stylish cafés, wine bars, and some of the city’s most important institutions, like the Provincial Government of Biscay.

Created in the city’s Abando district, El Ensanche is best taken in by simply strolling through it. Wide boulevards, imposing structures and expansive squares attest to its heyday in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, although it’s still very cosmopolitan and relevant these days as well.

The Gran Via thoroughfare is the main focal point of El Ensanche. Fringed by grand buildings on all sides, featuring Baroque, Modernist, Neo-Gothic, and other styles, this large boulevard is the perfect spot for shopping and people-watching.

Take your time to appreciate the diversity of eclectic or neoclassical architecture here, along with the circular Plaza Moyúa and its beautifully landscaped garden and central fountain.

Appreciate Iberdrola Tower’s Grandeur

If you’re contemplating some things to do in Bilbao, the Iberdrola Tower, for many, denotes all that is modern about the city. It’s the city’s tallest skyscraper and the tallest building in the Basque Country, symbolizing the region’s wealth and economic prowess.

With 41 stories, the building happens to be the central headquarters of the Iberdrola renewable energy company. It was designed by the Argentinian-American architect César Pelli.

Although the tower is not open to the public, this elegant glass building next to the Nervión River stands as a testament to Bilbao’s industrial might.

Check Out Etxebarria Park’s Vistas and Greenery

Etxebarria Park is a breath of fresh air thanks to its wavy slopes of urban greenery. Built on the site of a former steel mill, with the mill’s tall brick chimney left in place, this park occupies a prominent position in the Begoña district and on Bilbao’s skyline.

The founding of the park saw the city convert a landscape blighted by an old industrial site into a lush public space, helping pave the way toward the wider revitalization of the region as a whole.

From the expanses of the park’s rolling lawns, tree-lined paths, and outlooks across the city and the river, you can see just how far the urban regeneration of Bilbao has come.

With different types of outdoor festivals held here, Etxebarria Park is a scenic spot to catch a cultural event, set up an impromptu picnic, go for a jog, or simply take in the splendid views of this Spanish city and its environs.

Explore Creativity at the Bilbao Fine Arts Museum

A visit to the Bilbao Fine Arts Museum, or Museo de Bellas Artes, numbers among the best things to do in Bilbao, offering you a multifaceted glimpse into the city’s cultural landscapes.

The collection here encompasses art forms and styles from the Middle Ages and Renaissance, through Romanticism, Impressionism, and Expressionism, all the way up to the modern era.

This large reddish-orange building, adjacent to Doña Casilda Iturrizar Park, showcases works by artists like El Greco, Goya, Gauguin, Bruegel, and some of the most important Basque and Spanish painters around, including Aurelio Arteta, Adolfo Guiard, and Marta Cárdenas.

With its diverse collection housed in an artfully balanced building that amalgamates neoclassical and modernistic styles, the Museo de Bellas Artes’ thoughtfully curated expositions are ideal for lovers of the fine arts.

Delight in Nature & Fountains at Doña Casilda Iturrizar Park

When you’re in Bilbao, a trip to Doña Casilda Iturrizar Park should not be missed. This green lung, located in the city center, is the perfect oasis for a quick escape from the hubbub of the surrounding streets.

Get ready to be wowed by the elegant design of Bilbao’s main park, which includes an ornamental pond inhabited by ducks, pretty fountains shooting water and mist into the air, plus easy-to-traverse paths passing beneath different tree species including magnolias, cypresses, and maples.

The park, built in the early 1900s, also features striking flower beds and large green lawns, reminiscent of an English garden.

As you roam around and say “hello” to the ducks and swans, you’ll notice a traditional merry-go-round, plus several intriguing sculptures, including one of a famous clown. Doña Casilda Iturrizar, while not large, is just the right size for a relaxing walk among the grass and the trees.

Hike Pagasarri Mountain

If you’re looking for a bit of physical activity, why not tackle Pagasarri Mountain? This forested peak isn’t far from the town center. You can reach the base, or at least get close to it, by metro or train.

The mountain, 2,208 feet in height, will provide you with some of the best views of Bilbao and the surrounding Basque Country.

The trail to the top is well-marked. You’ll walk through shaded woodlands and green meadows. It is not a technically difficult hike, but you will need some stamina to reach the summit. As you hike along the service road, which serves as the main trail, you’ll encounter goats, cows, and horses.

Once you make the summit, you can see Bilbao spread out below you. In the distance, you will also see other peaks rising above the clouds, including Ganekogorta Mountain.

Read: Best Places to Go Hiking in Spain

Take a Guided Tour at Arriaga Theatre

The neo-baroque Teatro Arriaga, built around 1890, honors the musician known as the “Spanish Mozart,” Juan Crisóstomo de Arriaga, who died at the tender age of 19.

Inside this splendid building, which mimics the look of the Paris Opera House, you’ll find gold ornamental detail and plush red velvet drapes, seats, and curtains, making this house of music a sumptuous piece of architecture, designed by the Basque architect Joaquín Rucoba.

The sights, sounds, atmosphere, and events scheduled in the main auditorium are first-rate. In addition to standard theater performances, Arriaga also hosts different types of concerts and contemporary dance shows.

If you’re in town long enough, consider taking in a show at this amazing theater. If you’re short on time, you can still book a guided tour, offered in Basque, English, and Spanish, that will provide you with plenty of insight into the theater’s history, architecture, and acoustic design.

Discover Basque Shipbuilding History at the Bilbao Maritime Museum

If you’re interested in naval history and shipbuilding, you’ll be inspired by a visit to the Bilbao Maritime Museum, an elegantly designed museum focused on the maritime traditions of the Bizkaia and the Euskalduna Shipyards.

The impressive buildings and docks here bear witness to the industrial strength of Bilbao, along with everyone who ever worked in the shipyards.

This Spanish museum, housed in the yard’s former factory buildings, just south of the riverfront, includes the dry dock, older ships and boats, along with different exhibitions detailing the region’s historical relationship with seafaring communities and maritime commerce over the centuries.

The Bilbao Maritime Museum is laid out in such a way that you can explore the exhibits inside and outside, and all the different refurbished ships, at your own pace, making for a fun and educational morning or afternoon filled with maritime history.

Read: Best Things to Do in Spain

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