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Located in the Basque country of northern Spain, Bilbao is situated on the Nervion River and is made up of steep hills. Compared to other parts of Spain, the climate is more mild and tropical than the rest, staying pretty warm during the winter. In the past, Bilbao was mostly a very industrial city, but it has been transforming into a visitor’s paradise. The main jaw-dropper of Bilbao is the newly-created futuristic Guggenheim Museum, attracting many new visitors to the city. Another unique feature of the city is the famous 19th-century “Hanging Bridge” which allows ships to pass underneath, but is technically a large gondola that transports passengers from one side of the river to the other. If you are looking to explore a beautiful and unique city with both modern and ancient architecture, delectable cuisine, interesting museums, outstanding views, and friendly people, what are you waiting for? Book your flight to Bilbao now and truly take in everything this glorious Spanish city has to offer!

Bilbao Pictures

Things to do in Bilbao

In this city of such rich history, but constant renovation and exciting improvements, there is never a dull moment in Bilbao because it has something to offer for absolutely everyone. The most popular new attraction is the Guggenheim Museum, with its amazing curving architecture on the outside and very interesting and decorative exhibits on the inside. In front of the museum is a flower puppy, which is a famous symbol of modern Bilbao. Aside from this, Bilbao has museums galore, including the Museo de Bellas Artes, Basque Museum, La Ria Maritime Museum, and Muse Taurino, to name a few. Alongside museums, Bilbao has many gorgeous Gothic churches and cathedrals. One of the most symbolic is Basilica de Begona, but a few others are Cathedral of St. James, Iglesia de San Anton, and Iglesia de San Nicolas. Check out the Teatro Arriaga, which is the beautiful and detailed ancient theater now used as a tourist office. To experience lavish beauty, check out Palacio de la Disputacion which is ornate on both the outside and the inside. Also, check out Parque Etxebarria, transformed from an industrial building in the late 1900’s, which now has beautiful views of Casco Viejo and Teatro Arriaga. Old Town, or Casco Viejo, is filled with historical town houses and a feel for the past. For some amazing views, be sure to climb the stairs at Plaza Unamundo up to Parque Etxebarria and see Bilbao as a whole.

Nightlife in Bilbao

The nightlife of Bilbao can be everything from a relaxing evening, to bar and tavern hopping all night long. Casco Viejo is a great place to start your night off, and some bar-hopping zones are Paseo del Arenal, Calle Ledesma, and Calle Elcano. Located in Casco Viejo, the Lamaik is a comfortable and relaxing coffee house. Check out Cafe Nervion for a gorgeous view of the river. Another set of bars definitely worth your while are Cafe Iruna, Cafe La Granja, and Cafe Boulevard. For something more interesting and fun, head to Galeon, which is a bar with a maritime motif, a mermaid statue, and the decor as the inside of a ship. For karaoke and Spanish club music, Dakar is the place to check out. Another great street for nightlife is Calle Simon Bolivar, with a line of clubs such as Cotton Club, Caos, Pinkertons, and Indie.

Dining in Bilbao

Like many areas in Spain, the people of Bilbao do not even think about eating dinner until 8pm or after. Usually around 6pm, tapas or pintxos (the Spanish appetizer) and drinks are served at cafes, which are enough to hold you over until a late dinner. One of the best places for pinxtos in Bilbao is Aritz, where they are famous for their specialties. A few good places to eat near Plaza Nueva are Bilbao Cafe Bar, Charley Bar, Fernando, and Victor. To have a taste of the traditional Basque cuisine, check out Casa Vasca for some fabulous dishes. Another option is Matxinbenta, serving dishes such as tuna in piquant tomato sauce. If you are planning on going out to a nice dinner during your stay, it is recommended that you call to make reservations ahead of time, because many traditional restaurants tend to get booked up very quickly.

Shopping in Bilbao

One of the biggest covered markets in Europe is located in Bilbao, and is known as Mercardo de la Ribera. This market sells anything from produce, to fish and meat every single morning aside from Sundays. In Plaza Nueva, you can find a market every Sunday morning of used books, stamps, coins, and other small trinkets. The main shopping district of Bilbao is Plaza Moyua and Gran Via, where you can walk along to find clothing stores (name brands) and a department store, El Corte. Casco Viejo is and has always been a great shopping area of Bilbao, which has a good number of shoe shops along with many independent boutiques and some chain shops. If you should so desire a shopping centre, a new one was just built along the river, names Centro Comercial Zubiarte. Shops included here are a supermarket, outlets, bars, and a cinema.

Bilbao Travel Tips

• If possible, try not to drive or rent a car in Bilbao. Many streets are one-way hills and there tends to be construction projects around the city.
• From the first Saturday after August 15 until 9 days later is Bilbao’s Aste Nagusia or Semana Grande- the holiday of the city. Travel during this time and experience crowds in the street, music, events, and fireworks displays every night.
• When in Bilbao, go to the park! These public parks are scattered about the city, and it is truly a part of the culture to play sports, relax, read, eat, and even sleep in the park.