Bilbao Travel Guide

A titanium museum on a tidal river, an old town of bar-lined streets and green hills running down to the Bay of Biscay. Start with one good day, then add pintxos, the coast and a vineyard.

First Day Book Ahead Free By Mood Where To Stay Map

Plan Your Bilbao Trip

One day covers the old town, the market, the Guggenheim and a hill view, and most of it is a walk along the river.

Full one-day itinerary
1Morning
Narrow medieval street in Bilbao's Casco Viejo with colorful facades and pedestrians browsing shop windows

Casco Viejo And The Seven Streets

Start in the medieval core, around Plaza Nueva and the seven parallel streets, before the bars fill.

Free
2Late Morning
The riverside facade of a large market hall beside the Nervion estuary in Bilbao's old town

Mercado De La Ribera

The covered market sits on the estuary at the edge of the old town, a short walk from Plaza Nueva.

3Afternoon
The curved titanium exterior of a curving metal-clad museum beside the river beside the water on a clear day

Guggenheim Museum Bilbao

Walk the river path to the titanium building. An adult ticket includes the audio guide.

Adult ticket €18
4Evening
A red funicular carriage climbing the green hillside above the Bilbao city skyline

Artxanda Funicular

A red carriage climbs to the Artxanda viewpoint in about three minutes, with the whole estuary below.

Guide leading a small group through the old town of Bilbao
2-Hour Small-Group Old Town Walk 4.7 from 442 reviews · from $40
Check availability

Things To Do In Bilbao, Ranked By What You Get

Eight places that earn the trip, with what each one gives you and what it costs to get in.

All Bilbao attractions
The curved titanium exterior of a curving metal-clad museum beside the river beside the water on a clear day Adult ticket €18 Guggenheim Museum BilbaoGehry's titanium building on the estuary, with galleries and a sculpture-filled plaza. The Vizcaya Bridge transporter bridge spanning the Nervion estuary between Getxo and Portugalete at dusk UNESCO Vizcaya BridgeA UNESCO World Heritage transporter bridge between Getxo and Portugalete. Arcaded neoclassical square in Bilbao's old town with outdoor tables and people walking under stone arches Free Plaza NuevaThe arcaded square at the centre of the old town, ringed by pintxos bars. The riverside facade of a large market hall beside the Nervion estuary in Bilbao's old town Mercado De La RiberaA landmark covered market on the Nervión estuary. A red funicular carriage climbing the green hillside above the Bilbao city skyline Artxanda FunicularA three-minute ride to the best view over the city. A white curved footbridge arching over a city river with modern buildings on both banks Free Zubizuri BridgeA white curved footbridge over the estuary, free to cross. Gothic cathedral facade rising above a narrow old town street in Bilbao on a cloudy day Catedral De SantiagoThe Gothic cathedral in the middle of the old town. The brick facade of a large former warehouse building beside a street in central Bilbao Azkuna ZentroaA former wine warehouse turned cultural centre, with a pool above the atrium.
23,129 traveller reviewsacross 49 checked tours
From $3cheapest paid tour today
Prices checkedagainst the booking page, refreshed monthly

Which Bilbao Tours Need Booking Ahead?

Forty-nine tours and tickets cover Bilbao, from pintxos crawls to Gaztelugatxe day trips. Three quick questions sort them into a shortlist for your dates.

1. What kind of experience are you after?
2. How much time do you have?
3. What are you happy to spend per person?

Here is a starting shortlist of the best-reviewed picks. Tap an answer below and the list rebuilds to fit your day.

  1. 1-Hour City Boat, 2-Hour Portugalete 1-2 hours from $17 ★ 4.2 3,351 Check availability
  2. Gaztelugatxe Loop, Wine Tasting 10 hours from $67 ★ 4.7 3,182 Check availability
  3. 6-Hour Gaztelugatxe, Mundaka, Guernica 6 hours from $76 ★ 4.7 2,387 Check availability
  4. 3-Hour Basque Food and Wine Tasting 3 hours from $108 ★ 4.8 1,025 Check availability
  5. 10-Hour San Sebastian and Getaria 10 hours from $51 ★ 4.6 994 Check availability
  6. Dragonstone, Mundaka, Lunch Included 6 hours from $57 ★ 4.8 894 Check availability
  7. Biarritz and Saint-Jean-de-Luz Day Tour 10 hours from $80 ★ 4.7 888 Check availability
  8. 9-Hour Gaztelugatxe, Bermeo, Gernika 9 hours from $80 ★ 4.8 851 Check availability
  9. 3-Hour E-Bike, Small Group or Private 3 hours from $56 ★ 4.7 783 Check availability
  10. VIP Guggenheim, Small Group 2-2.5 hours from $108 ★ 4.5 750 Check availability
  11. 6-Hour Gaztelugatxe with Access 6 hours from $68 ★ 4.3 599 Check availability
  12. 2-Hour Small-Group Old Town Walk 2 hours from $40 ★ 4.7 442 Check availability
  13. Authentic Pintxos, Wine and Food Tour 3 hours from $115 ★ 4.9 431 Check availability
  14. French Basque Country, Bayonne Included 9-11 hours from $51 ★ 4.7 329 Check availability
  15. Chef-Led Wine and Food Walk 3 hours from $116 ★ 4.9 321 Check availability
  16. History and Culture, Small Group 2 hours from $41 ★ 4.7 276 Check availability
  17. 3.5-Hour Gaztelugatxe, Coast Walk 3.5 hours from $80 ★ 4.9 242 Check availability
  18. 3-Hour E-Bike Highlights Tour 3 hours from $57 ★ 4.8 241 Check availability
  19. Original Food Tour, Wine Pairings 3 hours from $117 ★ 4.9 219 Check availability
  20. Rioja Day Trip, Two Winery Tastings 9 hours from $85 ★ 4.4 208 Check availability
  21. Biarritz Loop, Hondarribia Stop 10 hours from $81 ★ 4.5 188 Check availability
  22. Gourmet Tapas and Pintxos Tour 3.5 hours from $87 ★ 5 186 Check availability
  23. 2-Hour Highlights Walk, Local Guide 2 hours from $35 ★ 4.5 164 Check availability
  24. San Sebastian First, Then Biarritz 10 hours from $81 ★ 4.2 149 Check availability
  25. 11-Hour Full Day, Txakoli Tasting 11 hours from $52 ★ 4.4 148 Check availability
  26. Semi-Private Rioja, 3 Premium Wineries 8-9 hours from $348 ★ 5 135 Check availability
  27. Gaztelugatxe Access, Guided Tour 6 hours from $70 ★ 4.4 134 Check availability
  28. Rioja and Laguardia, 8-Hour Tour 8 hours from $105 ★ 4.9 126 Check availability
  29. 10-Hour San Sebastian, Hendaye, Getaria 10 hours from $63 ★ 4.4 126 Check availability
  30. Exclusive Private Walking Tour 2-3 hours from $40 ★ 4.7 115 Check availability
  31. Exterior Guided Tour, Entry Included 1 hour guided, then entry from $51 ★ 4.7 113 Check availability
  32. Hands-On Pintxos Cooking Class from $115 ★ 5 112 Check availability
  33. 1.5-Hour Guggenheim Guided Tour 1.5 hours from $75 ★ 4.7 76 Check availability
  34. 4-Hour Basque Coast, Dragonstone 4 hours from $90 ★ 4.9 73 Check availability
  35. Pintxos Class, Cheese Board and Wine 2.5 hours from $90 ★ 4.8 70 Check availability
  36. 1.5-Hour Small-Group History Tour 1.5 hours from $34 ★ 4.7 70 Check availability
  37. 2-Hour Classic Bike Highlights 2 hours from $44 ★ 4.9 65 Check availability
  38. Pintxos and Drinks with a Local 3-3.5 hours from $101 ★ 4.7 60 Check availability
  39. Private Old Town Walk 2 hours from $35 ★ 4.7 55 Check availability
  40. Vitoria and Rioja, Winery Visit 9 hours from $81 ★ 4.4 36 Check availability
  41. Sopelana Surf Lesson, All Levels 2 hours from $45 ★ 4.8 21 Check availability
  42. Historical Walking Tour, Budget Fare 2 hours from $3 ★ 4.7 21 Check availability
  43. Vizcaya Bridge, Gaztelugatxe, Wine 5 hours from $87 ★ 4.8 20 Check availability
  44. Guggenheim Entry Ticket Only 2 hours from $32.40 ★ 3.1 16 Check availability
  45. Pamplona and Vitoria Day Trip 10 hours from $93 ★ 5 2 Check availability
  46. Dragonstone Entry, Ticket Included 3 hours from $67 ★ 5 1 Check availability
  47. Basque Free Tour: Historic Bilbao 2 hours Free, pay what you want ★ 4.76 2,399 See this free tour on GuruWalk
  48. Basque Free Tour: Guggenheim Museum 360 1.5 hours Free, pay what you want ★ 4.73 22 See this free tour on GuruWalk
  49. Feel Bilbao: A Journey Through Secrets, Culture and Essence 2 hours Free, pay what you want ★ 5 13 See this free tour on GuruWalk

Things To Do In Bilbao With Kids

Short rides and open air work better than long museum hours: a funicular, a boat on the estuary and a metro trip to the beach.

Passengers boarding a red funicular carriage at the lower station in BilbaoArtxanda FunicularA red carriage up the hill in about three minutes. Families walking along the riverside promenade beside a curving metal-clad museum beside the river in Bilbao on a bright dayFamily ItinerarySculptures, the river walk and a beach day. The Vizcaya Bridge transporter bridge crossing the Nervion estuary between Getxo and Portugalete on a clear dayGetxoMetro Line 1 reaches the coast in about half an hour.
Family on a short boat tour of the Bilbao estuaryEstuary Boat1-Hour City Boat, 2-Hour Portugalete4.2 from 3,351 reviews · from $17Check availability

Things To Do In Bilbao When It Rains

Rain falls year-round here, so the plan is covered: galleries, a market hall and bars with a roof.

The brick facade of a large former warehouse building beside a street in central BilbaoAzkuna ZentroaExhibitions, a cinema and a pool above the atrium. Stalls of fresh produce and seafood inside a bright market hallMercado De La RiberaStalls under one roof beside the estuary. a curving metal-clad museum beside the river's titanium curves reflecting on a wet day beside the Nervion estuaryRainy Day ItineraryMuseums first, then the covered bars of the old town.
Small group inside a Guggenheim Bilbao gallery with a guideGuggenheim Tour1.5-Hour Guggenheim Guided Tour4.7 from 76 reviews · from $75Check availability

Things To Do In Bilbao At Night

The evening is the pintxos crawl: one bar, one pintxo, one drink, then on to the next.

A pintxos bar counter in Bilbao crowded with small plates and glasses of txakoli winePintxos Crawl RouteFrom Plaza Nueva to the Ensanche in five or six bars. Evening view over the Nervion river in Bilbao with illuminated buildings and a curving metal-clad museum beside the river glowing along the waterfrontNightlife GuideTxakoli, zurito and late riverside walks. The ornate facade of Teatro Arriaga beside the Bilbao estuary at duskTeatro ArriagaBilbao's opera house at the foot of the old town.
Guide and visitors at a Bilbao pintxos bar counterPintxos TourPintxos and Drinks with a Local4.7 from 60 reviews · from $101Check availability

Things To Do In Bilbao This Weekend

The city is compact enough that two days cover the headline sights, with the coast in reach on the Sunday.

a curving metal-clad museum beside the river beside the Nervion river on a bright morning, with the La Salve bridge behind itWeekend ItineraryFriday evening, a full Saturday and a coastal Sunday. a curving metal-clad museum beside the river beside the Nervion river on a bright morningBilbao And San SebastiánThe direct bus takes about an hour and twenty minutes. a curving metal-clad museum beside the river beside the Nervion estuary on a bright morningHow Many DaysTwo days, three days or a week.
Small group on e-bikes beside the Bilbao estuaryE-Bike Tour3-Hour E-Bike, Small Group or Private4.7 from 783 reviews · from $56Check availability

Bilbao Neighbourhoods

The Casco Viejo keeps seven medieval streets and the densest pintxos bars. Abandoibarra holds the Guggenheim beside riverside walks, and the Ensanche adds grid-plan shopping.

Bilbao Itineraries

One day covers the old town, the Guggenheim and a pintxos crawl. Add a second day for the estuary and the coast.

A white curved footbridge arching over a city river with modern buildings on both banks People walking through a stone archway into a lively square with cafe tables in Bilbao

Free Things To Do In Bilbao

The riverside, the Zubizuri footbridge and the old town squares cost nothing to walk, and a tip-based guided walk can set you up. Under-18s also enter the Guggenheim free.

Plaza Nueva Zubizuri Bridge Abandoibarra Riverfront Casco Viejo Budget Tips
Guide leading a free walking tour through the old town of Bilbao
Basque Free Tour: Historic Bilbao 4.8 from 2,399 reviews · free, pay what you want
See this free tour on GuruWalk

Where To Eat In Bilbao

Pintxos are the main event, cider and txakoli are the drinks, and bacalao al pil pil is the dish to order when you see it.

Bilbao food guide
Pintxos displayed on a bar counter in Bilbao's old town Pintxos Small bites stacked along the bar counters of the old town and the Ensanche. Bottles of Basque cider stacked in the wooden barrels area of a traditional cider house Basque Cider Natural cider poured straight from the barrel in txotx season, January to late April. A busy pintxos bar counter in Bilbao loaded with small skewered bites and glasses of txakoli wine Bacalao Al Pil Pil The salt-cod dish Bilbao orders at lunch, with txakoli alongside.

A Map Of The Best Things To Do In Bilbao

Loading the map. Every place is also listed below.

Click the map to zoom with the scroll wheel. Numbers match the list.

  1. Casco ViejoCasco Viejo, where most first days start
  2. San Francisco (Bilbao la Vieja)Casco Viejo · 260 m from Casco Viejo
  3. Plaza NuevaCasco Viejo · 180 m from Casco Viejo
  4. Catedral de SantiagoCasco Viejo · 60 m from Casco Viejo
  5. Mercado de la RiberaCasco Viejo · 250 m from Casco Viejo
  6. Teatro ArriagaCasco Viejo · 210 m from Casco Viejo
  7. Bilbao City HallCasco Viejo · 720 m from Casco Viejo
  8. Basilica de BegonaCasco Viejo · 840 m from Casco Viejo
  9. AbandoAbando & Ensanche · 630 m from Casco Viejo
  10. EnsancheAbando & Ensanche · 870 m from Casco Viejo
  11. IndautxuAbando & Ensanche · 1.4 km from Casco Viejo
  12. BasurtoAbando & Ensanche · 2.2 km from Casco Viejo
  13. Museum of Fine Arts BilbaoAbando & Ensanche · 1.4 km from Casco Viejo
  14. Mercado del EnsancheAbando & Ensanche · 890 m from Casco Viejo
  15. Azkuna ZentroaAbando & Ensanche · 1.1 km from Casco Viejo
  16. San Mames StadiumAbando & Ensanche · 2.2 km from Casco Viejo
  17. Abandoibarra RiverfrontRiverside & Abandoibarra · 1.7 km from Casco Viejo
  18. Guggenheim Museum BilbaoRiverside & Abandoibarra · 1.4 km from Casco Viejo
  19. Euskalduna PalaceRiverside & Abandoibarra · 1.9 km from Casco Viejo
  20. Zubizuri BridgeRiverside & Abandoibarra · 1.1 km from Casco Viejo
  21. Puente de la SalveRiverside & Abandoibarra · 1.4 km from Casco Viejo
  22. Torre IberdrolaRiverside & Abandoibarra · 1.6 km from Casco Viejo
  23. Parque de Dona Casilda IturrizarRiverside & Abandoibarra · 1.7 km from Casco Viejo
  24. The Ria de BilbaoRiverside & Abandoibarra · 1.1 km from Casco Viejo
  25. DeustoDeusto & Zorrotzaurre · 3.1 km from Casco Viejo
  26. Artxanda FunicularDeusto & Zorrotzaurre · 1.7 km from Casco Viejo

Bilbao Day Trips

The Biscay coast, San Sebastián and the Rioja vineyards all fit in a single day, by tour, bus or train.

The rocky islet of San Juan de Gaztelugatxe with its stone hermitage connected to the Basque coast by a narrow causeway and steps under a cloudy skyCoast

Gaztelugatxe

A rocky islet and hermitage reached by a stone bridge and a long staircase.

9-hour tour · 4.8 from 851 reviews · from $80Check availability
View over San Sebastián from a hilltop, with the beach curving along the bay and the old town rooftops belowCity

San Sebastián

The old town and a pintxos lunch, about 1 hour 20 minutes by direct bus.

10-hour tour · 4.6 from 994 reviews · from $51Check availability
Green estuary marshes and hills of the Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve in Biscay, northern SpainBiosphere

Urdaibai

A UNESCO Biosphere Reserve with Bermeo, Mundaka and Gernika.

6-hour tour · 4.8 from 894 reviews · from $57Check availability
Vineyard covered hills above a Rioja village with rows of vines stretching toward distant mountainsWine

Rioja

Haro's wineries and the walled hill town of Laguardia.

8-hour tour · 4.9 from 126 reviews · from $105Check availability

All day trips

Bilbao Weather Month By Month

Tap a month. Figures are 1981 to 2010 AEMET climate normals for the Bilbao airport station.

November is the wettest month (147mm) and the coldest shoulder month at once, the honest worst-time-to-visit answer.

Jan: 9.3℃Feb: 9.7℃Mar: 11.5℃Apr: 12.6℃May: 15.7℃Jun: 18.4℃Jul: 20.4℃Aug: 20.9℃Sep: 19.2℃Oct: 16.4℃Nov: 12.4℃Dec: 9.9℃ 080160 5°15°25° JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec Rain mm Temp ℃
  • Monthly rainfall (mm)
  • Mean temperature (°C)
AEMET station 1082 Bilbao Aeropuerto/Loiu, 1981 to 2010 normals: August is warmest at 20.9°C average, January coldest at 9.3°C, November wettest at 147 mm and July driest at 50 mm, 1120 mm across the year.
MonthMean tempRainfall
January9.3°C120 mm
February9.7°C86 mm
March11.5°C90 mm
April12.6°C107 mm
May15.7°C78 mm
June18.4°C60 mm
July20.4°C50 mm
August20.9°C76 mm
September19.2°C73 mm
October16.4°C111 mm
November12.4°C147 mm
December9.9°C122 mm

Data: AEMET (Agencia Estatal de Meteorologia), station 1082 Bilbao Aeropuerto/Loiu, 1981-2010 official normals (current published table).

Where To Stay In Bilbao

Pick the district first. The Casco Viejo puts the bars underfoot, Abando sits beside the station and the Gran Vía, and Indautxu is quieter with pintxos bars of its own.

Full where-to-stay guide
Narrow medieval street in Bilbao's Casco Viejo with colorful facades and pedestrians browsing shop windows

Casco Viejo

Best For Pintxos On The Doorstep

The seven streets, Plaza Nueva and the market are all on foot.

Casco Viejo Area Guide
View along the Gran Vía boulevard in Bilbao with the Moyúa square fountain and mid-rise stone facades under a soft sky

Abando

Best For Trains And The Guggenheim

The Gran Vía, Plaza Moyúa and the rail station, with the Guggenheim at the river edge.

Abando Area Guide
Evening view of a tree-lined shopping street in Indautxu, Bilbao, with lit storefronts and people walking

Indautxu

Best For A Quieter Base

A residential district a five-minute walk from the Guggenheim area, with bars on Licenciado Poza street.

Indautxu Area Guide

Getting Around Bilbao

The metro, a riverside tram and the airport bus cover most needs, and most tours meet near the old town or the Guggenheim.

Open The Full Map

What Is Bilbao Famous For?

1

The Guggenheim

A titanium-clad museum on the estuary that turned a shipyard city toward culture.

2

Pintxos

Small bites on bar counters, eaten standing, one bar after another.

3

Vizcaya Bridge

A UNESCO World Heritage transporter bridge, listed in 2006.

4

Athletic Club

A football club that fields only Basque-trained players, at San Mamés.

5

The Casco Viejo

Seven medieval streets, Plaza Nueva and a cathedral on the right bank.

6

Gaztelugatxe

A rocky islet and hermitage on the Biscay coast, an hour from the city.

Do You Tip In Pintxos Bars?

Tipping in Bilbao's pintxos bars is optional and genuinely rare. This page explains what locals actually do, when rounding up makes sense, and how the txikiteo bar culture works.

Read the full answer

Is Bilbao Worth Visiting For Tourists?

A straight answer to whether Bilbao deserves a place on a Spain itinerary: what the city offers, what it costs, and who it suits.

Read the full answer

What Are The Best Michelin Restaurants In Basque Country?

Basque Country, the Spanish autonomous community whose largest city is Bilbao, holds more Michelin stars per capita than anywhere else in Spain. This page names the starred tables worth booking, what they cost, and how to actually get in.

Read the full answer

Is The Basque Country Worth Visiting?

Bilbao, in Biscay province in northern Spain, is the practical gateway to the Basque Country, and the region around it packs museums, coastline, wine country and one of Europe's most distinctive food cultures into a compact area.

Read the full answer

Bilbao Trip Planning Guides

All guides and answers
How Many Days Do You Need In Bilbao? Getting Around Bilbao Is The Bilbao Bizkaia Card Worth It? Bilbao Weather By Month How Expensive Is Bilbao? Bilbao Airport To City Center

Latest Bilbao Answers

Short answers to the questions visitors ask most.

49 tours compared by price and rating · from $349 tours · from $3 Compare Tours →