Bilbao is a city of a harmonious duo – modern stylish architecture and centuries-old monuments. As such, it’s a great spot for enthusiasts of both ancient history and a touch of freshness. If either of those sound up your alley, what’s worth seeing in Bilbao, the capital city of the Biscay province? What to visit on your trip to Bilbao? In today’s post, we’ll go over our list of the 11 best spots in Bilbao.
Bilbao
What to see in Bilbao?
Bilbao is the largest city in northern Spain, and also the largest city in the Basque Country. At every turn you get this feeling that this is one is not like the other cities in Spain – frankly, Bilbao prides itself on this uniqueness and nurtures its modern culture further. Not that it needs to, as it’s not just the architecture and the Guggenheim Museum that pulls tourists here, but also the excellent cuisine, a charming Old Town with lots of beautiful monuments to see and plenty of great parks. Bilbao, alongside a few nearby towns, is stretched out along the Estuary of Bilbao (or Bilboko, as the locals call it). Also, just so you’re prepared, tapas here are referred to as pintxos.
You can get around the city on foot or by metro, trams and buses. We recommend checking out the Bilbao Bizkaia card if you plan to use public transport a lot, as it gives you unlimited free access as well as other tourist perks. Read more at: https://www.bilbaobizkaiacard.com/en/home/.
The Guggenheim Museum
The sight Bilbao is most known for
It’s REALLY difficult for our eyes to not spot the Guggenheim Museum from afar. It immediately stands out from everything in its surroundings. Its design evokes odd ambivalent feelings for us, like something an AI made when we mixed in intergalactic spaceships and a modern version of Noah’s Ark.
The building was designed by the famous American architect, Frank Ghery. The entire structure was made from a combination of three raw materials – limestone, titanium and glass. You can see many futuristic sculptures around the Guggenheim Museum, with a giant spider at the forefront. Inside, as you can imagine, you can find exhibitions of contemporary artwork.
St James’ Cathedral
Bilbao’s Gothic cathedral
To already merge the most modern with the old, here we have the St. James’ Cathedral. This is a gem of the Gothic style with its soaring towers, intricately decorated rosettes and the beautiful cloisters all stemming from the 15th century. It’s a real feast for the eyes, as is the whole square in front as well.
Casco Viejo (Siete Calles)
Bilbao’s charming old town
Casco Viejo is Bilbao’s old town where you can find its famous ‘Seven Streets’. You can admire plenty of the city’s main architectural monuments and colourful buildings hiding tiny boutiques, atmospheric cafes and exquisite restaurants here. Walking along the winding, narrow streets is a real pleasure, even if you get lost in their maze. Make sure to leave some time for just sitting in one of the local restaurants and enjoy some of Basque specialities here – for instance, you can order pintxos, the local answer to the tapas known throughout Spain.
Puente Zubizuri
Bilbao’s most famous bridge
Puente Zubizuri is another landmark on the map of Bilbao. The modern form of the bridge resembles a sailboat, reaching 115 metres in height. Puente Zubizuri connects two parts of the city – the Paseo Campo de Volantín promenade on one side, with another Paseo de Uribitarte promenade on the other.
Puente Zubizuri, also called the White Bridge (or the Campo Volantin Bridge), was designed by the famous Spanish architect, Santiago Calatrava. The bridge was opened to pedestrians and cyclists in 1997 and has been the subject of much controversy ever since. Although there is no denying its aesthetic qualities, it failed in its only fundamental function – the bridge, being made of glass, was so slippery that many walkers… fell. Fortunately, the surface has since been improved and it is now possible to walk across the bridge with confidence.
The Vizcaya Bridge
The world’s first transporter bridge near Bilbao
Speaking of bridges, you can also take some time to see the Vizcaya Bridge in Bilbao (connecting Portugalete and Las Arenas). You can get here by metro. Okay, but why should I see it? Well, it’s the first transporter bridge to be built in the world. This is one of the reasons why UNESCO declared it a World Heritage Site in 2006.
The designer of this unusual attraction was Albeto Palacio, a student of Gustave Eiffel himself. If you haven’t seen one of these before, the way it works is that a gondola hangs from the top structure of the bridge and moves back and forth, transporting cars and passengers from Portugalete to Las Arenas. Transporter bridges were designed to allow ships to still pass through with a bridge functioning simultaneously. In the case of Vizcaya, you can also take a ride to the very top of the bridge (50 metres high) and get a fantastic panoramic view of the area.
The Torre Iberdrola skyscraper
The tallest building in Bilbao
The Torre Iberdrola skyscraper is impossible to miss when in Bilbao. Quite literally, as the building overshadows the rest of the city with its massive height. The Torre Iberdrola rises to 165 metres, making it the tallest office building in the Basque Country. Its 41 floors are home to offices of various corporations, many in the financial sector. The skyscraper was designed by architect Cesar Pelli and took four years to build – it was completed in 2011. A helipad for emergency helicopters is located on top of the building.
Mercado de la Ribera
Bilbao’s largest market
The Mercado de la Ribera is a feast for all food lovers out there. The market is one of the largest of its kind in the whole of Europe. It has a bustling atmosphere, filled with stalls, colourful delicacies and, above all, the sweet smell of fresh vegetables and fruit. A real highlight is the opportunity to eat in the restaurants inside, prepared with the same products you can buy yourself at the Ribera Market. Be sure to pay Mercado de la Ribera a visit and stock up on local specialities.
Doña Casilda Park
Bilbao’s most beautiful park
Located in the Abando district, the Doña Casilda Park was created in 1907 as an initiative of Casilda Iturrizar, a local philanthropist. The founder wanted to simply create a relaxing spot for the people of Bilbao. The park is an ideal hideaway from the business of the city, covered with lush green trees, shrubs and flowers. The whole area has been designed in the manner of English gardens, with charming little alleys, fountains and ponds.
Arriaga Theatre
The oldest theatre in Bilbao
The Arriaga Theatre, built in 1890, is one of the most beautiful buildings in all of Bilbao, and that’s saying something. It’s immensely impressive with its neo-baroque style, richly decorated facades and intricate carvings on the clock. Perhaps you can even find the time for one of the performances here?
Plaza Nueva
Bilbao’s vibrant city square
A morning cup under the palm trees in a café overlooking the historic townhouses? Exactly what you can experience in Plaza Nueva. Modern social life takes place right under its neoclassical buildings. The square hosts concerts, cultural events and festivals. If you like old books and little souvenirs, be sure to come to Plaza Nueva on Sundays, when the flea market takes stage.
Begoña Basilica
A unique basilica in Bilbao
Construction of the Begoña Basilica began in 1519 and continued for practically the whole century. This is reflected in the architecture of the temple – Gothic influences are evident, mixed with elements more characteristic of the Renaissance period. The interior of the basilica is decorated with paintings depicting scenes from the life of Jesus; the ceilings are illuminated by magnificent chandeliers and then there is a neo-classical altarpiece with a statue of Virgin Mary (Camarín de la Virgen) in the centre. The two styles merge beautifully and give a coherent whole – it’s a very impressive basilica, and we highly recommend you give it a go.
Map of Bilbao’s best places
What to visit in Bilbao?
1) Guggenheim Museum
2) Bilbao Cathedral
3) Casco Viejo
4) Zubizuri Bridge
5) Torre Iberdrola
6) Mercado de la Ribera
7) Doña Casilda Park
8) Arriaga Theatre
9) Plaza Nueva
10) Begoña Basilica
Bilbao is certainly worth visiting if you’re planning a trip to Spain, especially if the dance between modernity and history sounds alluring for you. Even if not and you’re only interested in one side, Bilbao should still have enough to satisfy you on that end.
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