Explore Bilbao
Your perfect trip to Spain
Bilbao is not Spanish; it is Basque. This distinction is everything. It is a city of rain, iron, and verdant green hills that squeeze the urban sprawl against the Nervión river. The air smells of wet earth and the salty breeze from the nearby Bay of Biscay. It is industrial-chic, a former rusty shipyard that reinvented itself with a single titanium building: The Guggenheim.
But the soul of Bilbao isn’t the museum; it’s the Casco Viejo (Old Town) and the ritual of Txikiteo (going from bar to bar drinking small wines). Here, food is not tapas; it is Pintxos—elaborate, gourmet bites spiked onto bread with a toothpick. The bars are piled high with them like jewelry displays.
The people are sturdy, direct, and fiercely loyal. They speak Euskera, a language older than Latin that sounds like nothing else on earth. The weather is moody—”Sirimiri” is the light, constant drizzle that Bilbaínos ignore without umbrellas. The light is diffused and grey, making the green mountains pop.
To enjoy Bilbao, you must eat. Order the Txuletón (massive steak) and drink the Txakoli (sparkling white wine poured from a height). It is a city of substance, not flash.
The perfect plan for Bilbao:
Day 1 Agenda
Theme: Titanium & Art
- Morning: Guggenheim Museum. Hack: The outside is better than the inside. Walk around it, see “Puppy” (the flower dog) and “Maman” (the spider). If you go in, check if the exhibit interests you; the permanent collection is small.
- Afternoon: Walk the river bank to Zubizuri Bridge (Calatrava). Take the Artxanda Funicular up the mountain. The view of the city nestled in the valley is the best orientation.
- Evening: Ledesma Street. Pintxo hopping. Try Bar El Globo for the stuffed crab (Txangurro). Drink Txakoli.
Day 2 Agenda
Theme: The Seven Streets (Old Town)
- Morning: Ribera Market. The biggest covered market in Europe. Inspect the fish stalls—the freshness is insane.
- Afternoon: Casco Viejo (Siete Calles). Wander the narrow streets. Visit the Santiago Cathedral. Lunch at Plaza Nueva. Go to Gure Toki or Sorginzulo. The fried calamari (rabas) are essential.
- Evening: Dinner at a traditional Asador. Try Asador Indusi. Order the Steak (Chuleta). It will be rare and salty.
Day 3 Agenda
Theme: Design & Culture
- Morning: Azkuna Zentroa. A wine warehouse turned cultural center by Philippe Starck. Look at the 43 different pillars in the atrium and the glass-bottom pool on the roof.
- Afternoon: Walk the Ensanche neighborhood. Elegant 19th-century architecture. Shopping on Gran Vía.
- Evening: Cross the river to Bilbao La Vieja (Bilbi). The hipster/gritty area. Craft beer at Bihotz Café. View of the market from the bridge at night.
Weather
Summer (Jun-Sep): The best chance of sun. 20-25°C. Festivals like Aste Nagusia (August).
Spring/Autumn: Green and beautiful, but rain is almost guaranteed. Pack a raincoat.
Winter (Dec-Feb): Grey, damp, and cool. But the cider houses (Sidrerías) open in Jan.
Local Customs
1. Pintxo Etiquette: Don’t load a plate with 10 pintxos. Take 1 or 2, eat, drink, pay, and move to the next bar. Save the toothpicks? No, they usually count them or ask you what you had.
2. Throwing Napkins: Like the rest of Spain, trash on the floor in a bar is a good sign.
3. Basque Pride: Never call them Spanish. They are Basque.
History & Culture
Founded in 1300, Bilbao was the industrial heart of Spain, churning out steel and ships. By the 1980s, it was a polluted, dying rust belt city amidst ETA terrorism. The “Bilbao Effect” refers to the miraculous 1997 opening of Frank Gehry’s Guggenheim, which sparked a total urban regeneration. It is the textbook example of how architecture can save a city.
Getting Around & Safety
Metro: Designed by Norman Foster (“Fosteritos”). Clean and futuristic.
Tram: Runs along the river past the Guggenheim. Scenic.
Walking: The best way. The city is compact.
Info for Nomads
Bilbao is welcoming but reserved. Basques are honest friends once you break the ice. The tech scene is growing.
Workation Vibe
Good connectivity.
- Cinnamon Coffee Lab: Cozy, good cake, central.
- Ambigú (San Mamés): Modern, spacious, view of the river.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the food expensive? +
Pintxos range from €2 to €4 each. It adds up if you eat 10. Sit-down meals are pricier than southern Spain but the quality is arguably the best in the country.
Is it always raining? +
It rains a lot. That’s why it’s green. But summer can be sunny and hot. Just embrace the drizzle; it rarely pours hard enough to stop you.
Is it safe? +
Yes. The political violence of the past is gone. It is one of the safest, wealthiest cities in Spain.