Top Things To Do In Bilbao, Spain

Next stop on my Spain itinerary is the city of Bilbao. If you want to know more about this city and why you should visit, keep reading!

Bilbao, España.

Welcome to the Basque Country, this region located in northern Spain and southern France which spans from the Bay of Biscay to the Pyrenees Mountains. While there is a couple of cities that make up the basque country, in this post we will be focusing on the city of Bilbao. Once you reach this region you may notice a few changes from the popular cities you probably just came from such as Madrid or Barcelona. For starters, the language spoken is different it's not spanish but the basque dialect called euskera. Although Bilbao is one of the biggest cities within the basque country, there's more of a relaxed vibe here and not as hectic as other touristy cities. Bilbao use to be an industrial port city that was not a place where people wanted to visit. That all changed thanks to the world famous Guggenheim Museum which transformed the city. With implementing a redesign of the city within the past couple of years, Bilbao has changed for the better and pushed tourism forward with these new adjustments.

After leaving Segovia (click here) to read more, we arrived to Bilbao in the afternoon. The weather was a bit gloomy and a tad colder than the other cities we were in previously. This is one of the cities on this tour that I wish I had more time in. This city has so much to offer and found the modern mixed with the old architecture to be so beautiful. After checking in our hotel, we went back on the bus to head to the city and explore. We had some free time to do whatever we pleased and here are a few recommendations on what to do while you're in Bilbao!

Visit the Guggenheim Museum.

Guggenheim Museo Bilbao is what changed this city into what it is today. With it's modern architecture and contemporary art, this museum has become the symbol of this city which attracts tourists from all over to visit. Make sure you don’t only check out the different exhibitions, but also take the time to take a walk around the building and study it from different angles it's honestly so impressive.

Ride the Funicular de Artxanda.

For the best views of Bilbao take the Artxanda Funicular up to the viewpoint on Mount Artxanda. You get an amazing panorama views and a great place for photo opportunities. It costs less than euro for a ticket and you'll also find cafes at the top.

Walk Around The Waterfront.

Walk along the Nervión River and take in the beauty of the city. You'll find many people either walking, running, or sitting on benches along the waterfront. It's such a relaxing area but also lively with street performers, live music, and food stands that are scattered around this area.

Visit the Old Town.

Bilbao's old town also known as Casco Viejo, is the historic center that you should visit when you're visiting. With shops, cafés, restaurants and more, this area is great to get lost and walk around. If you want a local experience I would definitely look for accommodation in this area because you'll be in the the mist of city action!

Explore the Town at Night.
Bilbao comes alive at night so definitely check it out when the sun goes down. Head in to town and have an amazing dinner experience. The food in the basque country is so delicious, it won't disappoint! During our stay, there was an actual festival going on which had the Bilbao streets filled with people, live music, and dancing until the early morning hours.

Comment below,

Have you ever visited Bilbao before?