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Spain

Bilbao

Allow two days: one for the Guggenheim and riverside, one for the Casco Viejo market and a pintxos crawl, plus a coast trip. We have mapped 4 sights, 1 activity and 1 outdoor spot here, each with a reason to go.

Plan Bilbao with friendsBrowse 10 places
Bilbao, Spain
Places
10

4 See · 1 Do · 1 Outdoors · 3 Eat · 1 Drink

Curated routes
1

Basque Coast Food Trail

Best season
May – Oct

from our route notes

Warmest month
August

24°C / 75°F avg high

Coolest month
February

12°C / 54°F avg high

Wettest month
November

about 146 mm rain

Climate: NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages.

Things to do in Bilbao

10 places from our curated routes, grouped by what you will do there. Each one has its own page with the address and full notes.

See

4 sights worth building a day around across Abandoibarra, Abando and Casco Viejo.

  • Guggenheim Museum Bilbao in BilbaoPhoto: Naotake Murayama · CC BY 2.0
    See

    Guggenheim Museum Bilbao

    Gehry's titanium museum, with Koons's flower-covered Puppy outside and Serra's steel mazes inside.

    Tip Book online; go at opening to see the atrium quiet.

    • Abandoibarra
    • $$
    • 2.5 hr
    • Morning
  • Museo de Bellas Artes de Bilbao in BilbaoPhoto: MuseoBBAABilbao · CC BY-SA 3.0
    See

    Museo de Bellas Artes de Bilbao

    Fine arts museum with Spanish masters and Basque painters, next to Doña Casilda park.

    • Abando
    • $$
    • 1.5 hr
    • Afternoon
  • Plaza Nueva in BilbaoPhoto: No machine-readable author provided. Martin253~commonswiki assumed (based on cop · Public domain
    See

    Plaza Nueva

    Arcaded square in the old town lined with pintxos bars.

    Tip Sunday morning flea market; evening for pintxos.

    • Casco Viejo
    • Free
    • 45 min
    • Evening
  • Vizcaya Bridge in BilbaoPhoto: Javier Mediavilla Ezquibela Esta imagen tiene una licencia libre (que puedes ver · CC BY-SA 2.0
    See

    Vizcaya Bridge

    1893 transporter bridge, a UNESCO site, with a gondola and walkway on top.

    • Portugalete
    • $
    • 60 min
    • Afternoon

Do

1 activity for when the group wants to do more than look in Castaños.

  • Funicular de Artxanda in BilbaoPhoto: Xabier · CC BY-SA 4.0
    Do

    Funicular de Artxanda

    Short funicular ride up to a viewpoint over the city and river.

    • Castaños
    • $
    • 60 min
    • Sunset

Outdoors

1 outdoor spot for fresh air in Bermeo coast.

  • San Juan de Gaztelugatxe in BilbaoPhoto: CATA Z · Google
    Outdoors

    San Juan de Gaztelugatxe

    Hermitage on an islet reached by 241 steps along a stone causeway.

    Tip Free booking required in peak months; book online ahead.

    • Bermeo coast
    • Free
    • 2.5 hr
    • Morning

Eat

Where we would book a table in Bilbao across Casco Viejo and Abando.

  • Mercado de la Ribera in BilbaoPhoto: PA · CC BY-SA 4.0
    Eat

    Mercado de la Ribera

    Riverside Art Deco market with produce stalls and a pintxos food court.

    Tip Go late morning for the stalls, then eat upstairs.

    • Casco Viejo
    • $
    • 60 min
    • Late morning
  • Café Bar Bilbao in BilbaoPhoto: Café Bar Bilbao · Google
    Eat

    Café Bar Bilbao

    Plaza Nueva bar with tiled walls and a counter of pintxos.

    • Casco Viejo
    • $$
    • 45 min
    • Evening
  • La Viña del Ensanche in BilbaoPhoto: La Viña del Ensanche · Google
    Eat

    La Viña del Ensanche

    Old-school deli and wine bar specializing in ibérico ham and refined pintxos.

    Tip Reserve for a table; or eat at the bar.

    • Abando
    • $$$
    • 75 min
    • Lunch

Drink

Our picks for a drink in Bilbao in Abando.

  • Café Iruña in BilbaoPhoto: Café Iruña Bilbao 1903 · Google
    Drink

    Café Iruña

    1903 café with Moorish-style tiles, good for coffee or a vermouth.

    • Abando
    • $
    • 45 min
    • Afternoon

How to fit Bilbao into a trip

Bilbao is stop 1 of 3 on our Basque Coast Food Trail route. Follow it as-is or lift Bilbao into your own plan.

Getting here and onward

Distances are straight-line estimates between destination centers, not road distances.

Bilbao month by month

Average daily highs run from 12°C / 54°F in February to 24°C / 75°F in August. November is the wettest month, with about 146 mm of rain. Outlined months fall in the best season on our routes.

Average daily highs, NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages. Bilbao weather and the best time to visit →

Near Bilbao

2 other destinations from our guides within about 100 km (62 mi), measured in a straight line.

Bilbao questions, answered

How many days do you need in Bilbao?

Our route notes suggest 2 days in Bilbao. On our Basque Coast Food Trail route it is stop 1 of 3 in a 5-day trip. The listed visit times for our 10 places add up to roughly 13 hours, before travel between them, so you will need to choose.

What is Bilbao best known for?

Allow two days: one for the Guggenheim and riverside, one for the Casco Viejo market and a pintxos crawl, plus a coast trip. Standouts on our list: Guggenheim Museum Bilbao (Gehry's titanium museum, with Koons's flower-covered Puppy outside and Serra's steel mazes inside); Museo de Bellas Artes de Bilbao (Fine arts museum with Spanish masters and Basque painters, next to Doña Casilda park); Plaza Nueva (Arcaded square in the old town lined with pintxos bars).

When is the best time to visit Bilbao?

Our Basque Coast Food Trail route is best May – Oct. NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages put the warmest highs in August (24°C / 75°F), the coolest in February (12°C / 54°F) and the most rain in November (about 146 mm).

What are the best things to do in Bilbao?

Start with Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, Museo de Bellas Artes de Bilbao, Funicular de Artxanda, Plaza Nueva and Vizcaya Bridge. Our guide lists 10 places in all, from 4 sights, 1 activity, 1 outdoor spot, 3 places to eat and 1 bar or café.

Where should a group eat in Bilbao?

Our picks: Mercado de la Ribera (Casco Viejo); Café Bar Bilbao (Casco Viejo); La Viña del Ensanche (Abando). Go late morning for the stalls, then eat upstairs (Mercado de la Ribera).

What is near Bilbao?

The closest destinations in our guides are San Sebastián (about 77 km / 48 mi) and Laguardia (about 84 km / 52 mi). Distances are straight-line estimates, not road distances.

Plan Bilbao with your crew

Open the Basque Coast Food Trail route in TripsCircle, invite friends with a link, settle which of these 10 places make the cut with a quick poll, then split costs and share one packing list.

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