Two days cover the essentials; with three you can add San Juan de Gaztelugatxe and the Urdaibai coast or a trip to San Sebastián. It is a compact city with a good metro, green and rainy: bring an umbrella and an appetite.
What to see in Bilbao: top sights
Guggenheim Museum Bilbao
Frank Gehry’s titanium building that transformed the city, beside the estuary. Outside wait Puppy, Jeff Koons’s flower dog, and Maman, Louise Bourgeois’s giant spider; inside, Richard Serra’s huge steel sculptures and exhibitions of contemporary art.
Recommended time: 2–3 h
Tip: Walk around the building before going in: every side is different, and the fog sculpture in the pool comes on at intervals.
Hotels near Guggenheim Museum Bilbao · 357 propertiesThe Old Town and the Seven Streets
Bilbao’s medieval origin, with the Seven Streets, the Gothic Cathedral of Santiago and Plaza Nueva, arcaded and full of pintxos bars. On Sunday mornings the square hosts a market of stamps, coins and old books.
Recommended time: 2 h
Tip: Start your pintxos crawl in Plaza Nueva and try the hot ones, made to order.
Hotels near The Old Town and the Seven Streets · 384 propertiesLa Ribera Market
Hotels near La Ribera Market · 398 properties
One of the largest covered markets in Europe, in a rationalist building from 1929 on the banks of the estuary. Downstairs are stalls of Cantabrian fish, cheeses and vegetables; upstairs, an area of counters serving pintxos.
Recommended time: 1 h
Fine Arts Museum
Hotels near Fine Arts Museum · 373 properties
One of Spain’s best painting museums, with works ranging from El Greco and Goya to Basque and contemporary art. It stands next to Doña Casilda park, a short walk from the Guggenheim.
Recommended time: 1.5–2 h
The estuary promenade and Zubizuri
The old industrial port is now a waterside promenade several kilometres long linking the Old Town with the Guggenheim and the Euskalduna Palace. On the way you cross the Zubizuri, Calatrava’s white bridge, next to the Isozaki towers.
Recommended time: 1–2 h
Tip: A boat trip on the estuary shows the city from the water and can go all the way to the river mouth.
Hotels near The estuary promenade and Zubizuri · 387 propertiesArtxanda Funicular
A century-old funicular climbs in a few minutes from the centre to Mount Artxanda, with the best view of Bilbao, its bridges and the Guggenheim. At the top there are grill restaurants, picnic areas and walking paths.
Recommended time: 1.5 h
Azkuna Zentroa
The old wine warehouse, redesigned by Philippe Starck as a culture and leisure centre: a hall with 43 different columns and a rooftop swimming pool with a transparent bottom you can see from below.
Recommended time: 45 min
Basilica of Begoña
The shrine of the Amatxu, patron saint of Bizkaia, on a hill above the Old Town. You climb up the Mallona steps or take the lift from Calle Esperanza, with views over the rooftops of the centre.
Recommended time: 45 min
San Mamés
Hotels near San Mamés · 242 properties
The stadium of Athletic Club, “the cathedral” of football, a club that only fields Basque players or players trained in its youth system. A guided tour takes in the museum, the dressing room and the pitch; seeing a match is even better.
Recommended time: 1.5 h
Bizkaia Bridge
The world’s oldest transporter bridge, from 1893 and a World Heritage Site: a gondola hanging from cables carries people across the estuary between Portugalete and Getxo, and you can walk along the top walkway, fifty metres up.
Recommended time: 1–2 h
Tip: It is about 20 minutes from the centre by metro; combine it with a walk around Las Arenas and the old port of Algorta.
Hotels near Bizkaia Bridge · 58 properties
Day trips from Bilbao
San Juan de Gaztelugatxe
About 45 min by car
A hermitage on an islet joined to the coast by a stone bridge and some 240 steps, made famous by Game of Thrones. In high season you must book access, which is free.
Gernika and Urdaibai
About 45 min by car or train
The town of the Tree of Gernika, symbol of Basque freedoms, and the Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve, with its marshes, Mundaka’s famous surf wave and the port of Bermeo.
San Sebastián
About 1 h 15 min by car or bus
La Concha beach, the Old Town and its pintxos bars and the view from Mount Igueldo, all in one day.
Vitoria-Gasteiz
About 1 h by bus
The Basque capital, with an almond-shaped medieval quarter, the Cathedral of Santa María, which you can tour while it is being restored, and plenty of parks.
Bilbao in 3 days
Day 1
The Old Town in the morning: the Seven Streets, Santiago Cathedral and La Ribera Market. Walk along the estuary to the Guggenheim and spend the afternoon in the museum. Pintxos in Plaza Nueva.
Day 2
The Fine Arts Museum and Doña Casilda park, Azkuna Zentroa and the funicular up Artxanda. In the afternoon, the metro to the Bizkaia Bridge and sunset in Getxo.
Day 3
A day trip to San Juan de Gaztelugatxe, Bermeo and Mundaka, stopping in Gernika on the way back.
Bilbao with kids
- The Artxanda funicular and the park at the top.
- Puppy and Maman the spider, outside the Guggenheim.
- Crossing the estuary in the gondola of the Bizkaia Bridge.
- A boat trip on the estuary.
Free things to do in Bilbao
- The outside of the Guggenheim, with Puppy and Maman.
- The estuary promenade and the Zubizuri.
- The Old Town and the Sunday market in Plaza Nueva.
- Doña Casilda park.
- The hall of columns at Azkuna Zentroa.
Where to stay in Bilbao
Bilbao is compact and has a good metro: from almost any central neighbourhood you can walk to the Guggenheim and the Old Town.
The Old Town
The liveliest quarter, full of pintxos bars and traditional shops; busy by day and by night.
Places to stay in The Old Town · 384 propertiesAbando and Indautxu
The elegant 19th-century grid, with the Gran Vía, shops and good connections, between the Old Town and the Guggenheim.
Places to stay in Abando and Indautxu · 401 propertiesDeusto
Across the estuary from the Guggenheim: quieter and studenty, with a local feel.
Places to stay in Deusto · 298 propertiesGetxo
By the sea and the Bizkaia Bridge, with beaches and grand mansions, about 25 minutes from the centre by metro.
Places to stay in Getxo · 66 properties
When to go to Bilbao
Bilbao has an Atlantic climate: mild, green and with rain spread throughout the year, so bring an umbrella. Spring and autumn are pleasant for walking, and summer is mild, without great heat.
In August the city celebrates Aste Nagusia, its Big Week, with concerts, fireworks and food stalls in the Old Town. In July, the Bilbao BBK Live festival brings international bands to Mount Kobetamendi.
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Frequently asked questions about Bilbao
How many days do you need in Bilbao?
Two days for the Guggenheim, the Old Town, the estuary and Artxanda. With a third you can go to Gaztelugatxe and the Urdaibai coast or to San Sebastián.
Do I need to book the Guggenheim in advance?
It is not compulsory, but in summer, at Easter and on long weekends it is worth buying on the official website to get in at the time you want.
Do I need to book San Juan de Gaztelugatxe?
In high season, yes: access is free but must be booked in advance on the website of the Bizkaia provincial government. Outside those dates you can visit freely.
How do I get from the airport to Bilbao city centre?
By the Bizkaibus airport bus, which takes about 20 minutes to the centre. A taxi takes about 15 minutes.
What is the best area to stay in Bilbao?
The Old Town for the pintxos atmosphere; Abando and Indautxu for a comfortable, well-connected centre; Deusto for something quieter opposite the Guggenheim; and Getxo if you would rather sleep by the sea.
Guide written by the buiigo team · Updated October 8, 2026
Photo credits
Bilbao: Didier Descouens, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Guggenheim Museum Bilbao: José Ligero Loarte, CC BY-SA 4.0 · The Old Town and the Seven Streets: Andrzej Harassek, CC BY-SA 3.0 · La Ribera Market: Zarateman, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Fine Arts Museum: Tim Tregenza, CC BY-SA 3.0 · The estuary promenade and Zubizuri: Basotxerri, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Artxanda Funicular: Jules Verne Times Two, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Azkuna Zentroa: Fred Romero, CC BY 2.0 · Basilica of Begoña: Manuel Portero, CC BY-SA 4.0 · San Mamés: Валерий Дед, CC BY 3.0 · Bizkaia Bridge: Ebaki, CC BY-SA 4.0
