One day in Bilbao, Spain: top things for your itinerary

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Famous as the home of the iconic Guggenheim Museum, Bilbao is one of Spain’s more overlooked destinations. Yet the city has so much to offer if you’re visiting: there is certainly enough should you only have one day in Bilbao.

On a visit to Bilbao, you will find excellent museums, superb dining options (not to mention distinctive cuisine), and a charming old town with historic architecture. There’s also plenty to keep you occupied if you can stay longer.

Read on to find out why Bilbao is a city you should put on your destination list and why spending one day in Bilbao is worth it. At the end of this post, you can also find out practical information to help you plan your trip.

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About Bilbao

The city of Bilbao is situated in northern Spain. It sits on a river of the same name (also known as the River Nervion) that flows north into the Bay of Biscay. It is also not that far from the French border. 

When you arrive in Bilbao, you are entering a unique part of Spain that has its own culture, history, and language – the Basque country. 

Bilbao is the largest city in this region, and many visitors combine a visit to Bilbao with nearby San Sebastian. This is just over an hour’s bus journey from Bilbao international airport, and is located along the coast towards the French border.

Like other towns and cities in the Basque region, such as San Sebastian and Guernica, you’ll know you are in Spain, but if you’re like me, you will feel a difference. Alongside the Spanish flag, you’ll see the Basque equivalent flying on buildings (this has a red background with a white cross laying over a green saltire) and hear locals conversing in the Basque language. You’ll also get to try the traditional pintxos (Basque tapas pronounced as ‘peen-cho’).

If experiencing a different part of Spain isn’t enough reason to go, you may also have time during one day in Bilbao to hop on the highly efficient metro and head out to the coast to visit some picturesque seaside towns. These include Portugalete and Gexto. A trip to these towns includes seeing and crossing one of the most unique bridges you are ever likely to see.

Fans of ‘Game of Thrones’ might also want to find time to visit the island of San Juan de Gaztelugatxe. This is one of the many dramatic settings featured in the popular HBO series.

Is Bilbao worth visiting?

You should definitely put this fascinating Basque city on your list of destinations to visit. Even if you only have one day in Bilbao, it is worth visiting: it’s a great city.

There is a diverse range of attractions to cater to all interests, including a lot if you are an art lover, and many of the top sights are close to each other.

If you plan to extend your trip, there are a few other places nearby that you can easily reach from Bilbao. These include Guernica, San Juan de Gaztelugatxe, and San Sebastian, so you could turn your trip here into a longer tour. 

How to get around Bilbao

Bilbao is a very walkable city, and most of the main attractions are located very close to one another, either in the new or old town.

One of the benefits of being a city that often gets overlooked by visitors to Spain is that the footfall can be quite light. This makes the city an easy place to explore on foot and to potter around and take in the sights. 

Walking tours

You can easily walk around the main sights independently. However, if you also want the benefits of having a local guide to give you a bit of the history of Bilbao while you walk around, then there are plenty of walking tours available.

This small group tour lasts for 2 hours and takes you around the main sites in the historic area, while this tour combines a walk with a final stop in a local bar for a drink and pintxo.

Or if you want to learn more about the gastronomy of the city, you can book this guided tour. It includes a stop at 5 different bars with 5 drinks and several different pintxos to try.

To explore more walking tours of Bilbao, click here.

By public transport

Bilbao has an efficient public transport system. You can take advantage of the city’s single tram line (Euskotren) on your one day in Bilbao. This winds its way around the north side of the new town from La Casilla before crossing the Bilbao River and continuing into the old town. 

The tram is handy for reaching all the main sights along the river, including the Guggenheim Museum, the Funicular de Artxanda, and the Zubizuri Bridge (the white bridge). I did this on my first morning and it was a great introduction to Bilbao and helped me get my bearings.

Bilbao also has an excellent and well-connected metro system comprising three lines. The metro links the old and new towns and even carries passengers up two lines to the Bay of Biscay and the coast. Ticket prices reflect the different zones but are excellent value for money.

Depending on how long you plan to stay in Bilbao, you have an option of purchasing the Bilbao Bizkaia Card. This tourist card provides unlimited free use of most public transport around Bilbao, sightseeing trips, discounts, and other benefits. 

The card is available for 24, 48, or 75 hours, and can be purchased from tourist offices or online.

Top things to do on one day in Bilbao

Below, I have listed the top things to do and the best places to visit in one day in Bilbao, based on my recent trip.

I doubt you’ll have time to do them all, but hopefully my overview will help you select the ones you particularly want to add to your itinerary. You can then earmark others for a return trip.

Admire the Guggenheim Museum

For many tourists, a visit to the eye-catching landmark that is the Guggenheim Museum, is the main reason they visit Bilbao. When you see this iconic museum building yourself, it’s not hard to see why. Designed by Frank Gehry, this wavy titanium-tiled structure that houses contemporary art is quite unlike anything you will have seen on your travels. 

Without a doubt, the Guggenheim’s shimmering exterior is captivating. Even if you’re not particularly enthusiastic about modern art, or you don’t have much time, you still should go and see it and wander around the outside for a short time. For the best views of the museum, walk up to the middle of the Puente de Salve bridge next to it and soak up this mesmerising architectural masterpiece.

If you do want to go inside, the exhibition is laid out on three levels that can be reached by lifts and stairs. The atrium is an open design, so when you are standing on the walkways on the upper levels, you can also look down and admire some of the exhibitions below from a different angle. 

When I visited the Guggenheim Museum, there was a huge exhibition showcasing the work of artist June Crespo, as well as a section on Pop Art. I particularly liked wandering through the enormous maze-like steel structures by Richard Serra named ‘The Matter of Time’. 

You can also see Jeff Koons’ ‘Tulips’, gigantic multi-coloured balloons that are shaped like flowers. 

Outside the Guggenheim

Koons was also the artist behind the towering 12 metres tall highland terrier that stands sentry outside the museum on the roadside. Designed with a mind-boggling number of different flowers, ‘Puppy’ is one of the popular attractions outside the museum. 

There’s also Louise Bourgeois’ quite terrifying ‘Maman’, a colossal spider-looking structure. This stands on the riverside, along with several other outside exhibits. 

You can book tickets to the Guggenheim Bilbao Museum on the museum’s main website.

Alternatively, if you want more information as you go through the museum, this private small group tour allows you to the skip-the-line and go around the Guggenheim with an official tour guide.

Explore Bilbao’s old town

Casco Viejo – Bilbao old town – has a charming feel and is very different from the new town (see further down), which is situated across the Bilbao River. Depending on what you want to do, there is enough here to keep you occupied for almost an entire day. 

Plaza Arriaga

The most likely starting point for the old town, whichever way you come – along the river from the Zubizuri bridge or from the new town across the Puente del Arenal (Arenal Bridge) on foot or via the tram – is Plaza Arriaga. 

This is where you’ll find the fetching Teatro Arriaga – Bilbao’s opera house – with its two green domes.

There is also the twinned-spired Iglesias San Nicolas de Bari church nearby. From the church, it’s then just a few minutes’ walk to the old town’s main square, Plaza Nueva.

Plaza Nueva

The old town’s main square is the very picturesque Plaza Nueva. The centre of this square is open to the elements, while the four surrounding sides are covered by a connecting walkway. These house fabulous eateries selling a diverse range of local dishes and showcase the region’s own version of tapas – pintxos. 

This is a great spot to grab something to eat; the menus look really appetizing and each bar apparently has a house speciality. It’s a buzzing area, and I imagine a very atmospheric spot in the evening. 

If you are here on a Sunday, you might want to wander around the public market that sets up here.

La Ribera market

If you fancied another eating option within a short walk, I suggest heading to the distinctive indoor market on the riverside, Mercado de la Ribera. This is right next to the Ribera tram stop. 

As the historical information on the wall inside explains, this iconic Art Deco building was constructed in the late 1920s. It survived until a devastating flood in 1983 after which it was refurbished. Then, in 1990, the ‘Guinness World Book of Records’ cited it as Europe’s biggest covered market (although I suspect this is no longer the case). 

A major renovation of the building’s structure, stalls, and services began in 2009. Three years later the new market opened to the public. It includes a new gastro bar on the ground floor. 

Most of the lower level contains eateries and food stalls where you can salivate at the rich selection of pintxos displayed in glass cabinets.

There are also market stalls at the opposite end. The second floor is where you’ll find most of the local market sellers selling fresh produce, including seafood, meat, cheeses, and fruit and vegetables. 

The building’s internal design is quite intriguing in that it features some attractive stained-glass windows.

Las Siete Calles

In English, Las Siete Calles translates as ‘seven streets’. Due to its proximity to the river where goods would have been loaded and unloaded in olden times, it is one of the city’s oldest districts, dating back to the 15th century. 

These parallel streets are quite narrow and ooze charm. You will find a myriad of different outlets lining each side. There are boutiques and shops, as well as cafes and bars that sell pintxos.

So, this is another area to consider exploring for something to eat and drink. If you’re lucky enough to have more than one day in Bilbao, it would be lovely at night when I imagine the streets burst into life.

The Catedral de Santiago de Bilbao

A stone’s throw from Las Siete Calles is this magnificent cathedral, which you can only really appreciate when you get up close. 

Despite its imposing spire, the cathedral is difficult to see among the old town’s winding streets and is obscured by Casco Viejo’s compact layout. 

The cathedral is dedicated to St James the Apostle, the city’s patron saint. Showcasing gothic designs, it dates from the 1400s and has some notable features. These include the ‘Door of the Angel’ and, of course, its soaring tower. 

The Basque Museum

If you are visiting the Basque region and want to learn more about its people, culture, history, and language, you could visit the Euskal Museoa Basque Museum. Inside this ethnographic museum, located on Plaza Miguel Unamuno, you can find out more about the Basque people through its collection of over 20,000 artefacts and objects. 

Note that the museum is temporarily closed at the moment (spring 2024). You can find out more about when it might reopen on its website.

Visit the Museo de Bellas Artes

This superb Museum of Fine Arts, which I didn’t have the time to visit on my one day in Bilbao, is not in the old town but rather a stone’s throw from the Guggenheim Museum on the edge of the new town. It holds in the region of 8,000 works of art from Spain and elsewhere. 

You may also have to choose which museums to visit if you only have one day in Bilbao. But if you have enough time, and enjoy fine arts, you should consider visiting this museum (note it is closed on Tuesdays).  

If you want to explore the collections inside, there seems to be a lot on offer. Like many museums, there are temporary exhibitions, along with permanent collections that cover classical, contemporary, and Basque art. The website highlights masterpieces by artists such as Francis Bacon, Bartolome Esteban Murillo, El Greco, Francisco Goya, and Paul Gauguin.

Stroll through the Parque de Dona Casilda de Iturrizar

Once you are done in the fine arts museum – or before, if you fancy it – take a stroll through the relaxing and spacious Parque de Dona Casilda de Iturrizar. This is the largest park in Bilbao.

There is a large pond in the centre, as well as a series of fountains nearer the entrance at the opposite end of the park from the Museo de Bellas Artes. Literally outside the entrance at this other end of the park is the Euskalduna tram stop if you then want to hop on a tram and go elsewhere.

Take a wander along the riverside 

If the sun is out, I recommend walking along the river from the Guggenheim Museum to the old town. You can cross over to the other side of the Bilbao River on the much-photographed Zubizuri bridge.

In the Basque language, its name means ‘White Bridge’. If you’re standing on its curved walkway under the bridge’s sail-like arch, there are great views in each direction. 

On the opposite bank, you can walk along Paseo Campo de Volantin to Puente del Avuntamiento towards the old town. From here, it’s a short walk on to the attractive tree-covered Plaza del Arenal, and the Teatro Arriaga mentioned above.

However, after crossing the bridge – and before venturing in this direction – I would suggest a short detour. Turn left, cross over the Paseo Campo de Volantin, and follow the signs to the Artxanda Funicular via a road called Mugica y Butron. The funicular takes you to the top of Mount Artxanda, a perfect place to get a bird’s eye view of the city.

Ride the funicular for superb views over Bilbao 

You will know that you have reached the entrance to the Artxanda Funicular when you see the image below.

When I visited, a round-trip to the summit of Mount Artxanda and back was 4.30 euros. I have to say, this was more than worth the cost of the short ride. 

The views over central Bilbao at the top on a clear day are spectacular, and it’s a great way to see out across the area. I spent about 20 minutes wandering along the different sides of the viewpoint, looking out over the sprawling city and the snaking river that winds before you below. 

Explore the new town

Just as with Bilbao’s old town, there is plenty to do in the newer part of the city.

Walk along Bilbao’s main shopping street 

If you are up for it during your one day in Bilbao – and it does make for a very pleasant walk when it’s sunny – you can wander on foot from Plaza del Arriaga on the edge of the old town across the Puente Del Arenal bridge to Plaza Circular.

You can then walk leisurely along Bilbao’s main boulevard – Gran Via Don Diego Lopez de Haro (or just Gran Via). This central artery is where to go if you fancy some retail therapy or want to indulge in a little window shopping. 

As you walk, you pass through the spectacular Plaza de Federico Moyua. This sports a huge roundabout and is lined with grand buildings, including the Carlton Hotel with its grand exterior. 

When you walk up from Plaza Circular, there are a few parallel streets that you can potter along. Here you’ll find a fabulous selection of eateries catering to all tastes. I noticed quite a few sushi outlets, which obviously would benefit greatly from Bilbao’s proximity to the Bay of Biscay and its rich seafood, which are essential ingredients for sushi.

Eat at Café Iruna

Located on the edge of a beautiful tree-lined park called Jardines Albia is this city institution.  Café Iruna is a charming eatery founded in 1903.

Most guidebooks recommend checking this place out. It’s incredibly popular with locals too, judging by the packed tables at lunchtime and the patrons standing at the counters drinking beer or wine and snacking on pintxos. 

If you time it right, you can grab a table or stand at the counter and admire the incredible interior while sipping on a soft or hot beverage or an alcoholic drink. You can also order a snack or something more substantial. 

Arguably, the standing area is the more impressive of the two sections. This end is surrounded by eye-catching tiled walls with coat of arms and advertising liquors. 

A short walk away is Kafe Antzokia. This showcases Basque culture through concerts in the evening and a café and restaurant during the day.

Pop into Azkuna Zentroa

This former wine warehouse, which has been transformed into a multi-purpose venue that hosts cultural and leisure attractions, is located a few blocks south of Plaza de Federico Moyua. 

It’s not hard to spot the building as you approach it. Its classical façade with two turreted towers is very impressive, and there is a modern glass roof. 

I thought the inside was more stunning. The ground floor comprises two main sections. One has steel beams that rise to the ceiling, and then a much lower section that features 43 individually designed pillars that feel like they are there to stop the ceiling from slowly crushing you. 

Should you plan to visit, there are a few things to see and do here, including cinemas, cafés and restaurants. The latter includes a very popular, albeit pricey (probably because it is a Michelen Guide restaurant), eatery called Yandiola. This is on the rooftop and serves Basque dishes alongside Spanish cuisine.

Go on a boat trip

Another way to see some of the city sights is by boat. And if you only have one day in Bilbao, this is a convenient way of taking a look at some of the landmarks while getting some information by audioguide at the same time.

This boat trip can be booked for either 1 or 2 hours and has an audioguide in 6 different languages.

There is also this longer (4 hours) tour that combines a walking tour of the city with a boat ride. You also get a drink and local pintxo to try.

Head out to the coast and cross the world’s oldest shuttle bridge

If you only have one day in Bilbao, you may not have time to go to the coast. But if you have longer, it’s worth considering getting out of the city to Portugalete and the neighbouring port of Gexto, especially if the weather is good. 

The single biggest attraction at these two coastal towns is undoubtedly the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Bizkaia Transporter Bridge (also known as the Vizcaya Bridge and the Puente Colgante). This modern bridge spans the Ria del Nervion (Bilbao River) and links Portugalete and the Las Arenas district of Gexto. 

The Bizkaia Transporter Bridge

The bridge’s designer was Alberto Palacio, who had previously worked under Gustave Eiffel. Up close to this architectural masterpiece, it’s easy to see the influence Eiffel had on his pupil’s clever design. 

You can cross the bridge two ways. The first is to use the suspended 25 metre white gondola that carries pedestrians and a few cars across to the other side in a 90-second journey.

This perilous-looking, albeit stable, system uses powerfully strong connecting wires that suspend from a rail nearly 50 metres above. It then uses 36 wheels to shuttle the dangling gondola across. ‘Gondola’ is what the local Gexto Plan describes it, but from a distance, I’d say it looks more like a flat white box! 

Note that you must pay a small fee to use the gondola and need to have coins available for this (bank cards are not accepted). 

Alternatively, you can pay to take the lift to a pedestrian walkway and cross this way. There are lifts on both sides of the bridge that take pedestrians up to the walkway. Not surprisingly, you will be rewarded with excellent views from up here on a clear day. 

Explore Portugalete and Gexto

Before you cross the bridge from Portugalete to the Gexto side, you should spend some time exploring the waterfront on this side of the river.

You will no doubt notice the eye-catching blue and yellow building by the river (this houses the town’s tourist information office). This is a short walk from the attractive Plaza del Solar, with its beautiful pastel-coloured buildings, bandstand, and distinctive trees. 

Because the Gexto side of the bridge is flat, it is a bit less eye-catching. Even so, it still contains some interesting sights. There appeared to be more restaurants and shops here and you are close to a beach – Playa de Las Arenas.

There is also an attractive garden here. This contains a large monument to local engineer Evaristo Churruca, who helped develop Bilbao into a seaport.

One of the best things you can do is walk from this monument along the seafront to Playa de Ereaga. Named Paseo de las Grandes Villas, this seafront walkway is lined with grand mansions and villas, all with their own unique designs. 

On the sea wall, you’ll find panels that provide more information about some of the most impressive buildings. Many of these showcase Basque architectural features. However, I have to say that one of them looked very Swiss to me!

Getting to Portugalete and Gexto

You can take the metro to either town. Portugalete has its own metro station on line 2, and you can get off at either Areeta or Gobela for Gexto on line 1. The journey time is around 30 minutes. 

I would recommend going to Portugalete first. Its metro station is at the top of a steep hill and you can walk down to the most picturesque part of Portugalete right next to the shuttle bridge. You can then cross to Las Arenas and explore Gexto.

Take a trip out to San Juan de Gaztelugatxe

If you have time, you could also make the trip to San Juan de Gaztelugatxe. This is an islet on the Basque coast located about 35 kilometres to the northeast of Bilbao, and which is connected to the mainland by a man-made bridge. 

It is a very popular tourist destination, largely because it is one of the locations featured in the TV series ‘Game of Thrones’.  

However, due to its isolated location and distance from Bilbao, visiting it will be more of a day trip. Many websites recommend booking an organised tour that also takes in some of the scenic towns on the Basque coastline.

This might be something you want to consider doing, especially as there are no direct buses or trains from Bilbao. A round trip using public transportation from Bilbao could be quite time-consuming. 

How to get to Bilbao

Most people who visit Bilbao will arrive at Bilbao international airport. This is a short bus journey into the centre as it’s only about 12 kilometres north of the city. 

You can fly into the airport from many Spanish cities, including Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Seville, and Malaga. It is also possible to fly here from several European cities, such as Amsterdam, Athens, Dublin, Frankfurt, Istanbul, London, Munich, and Paris. 

The carriers servicing direct flights to Bilbao from the UK include budget airlines like Vueling (London Gatwick) and EasyJet (London Gatwick and Manchester). From mainland Europe, carriers like Air France (Paris), KLM (Amsterdam), and Lufthansa (Frankfurt) offer direct flights, among others. 

An alternative way to get to Bilbao if you are travelling within Spain is to take the train to the city and arrive at Abando station. If you arrive here, you are right in the centre of the action, just across the river from the old town. It’s right next to Abando metro station, so you can hop onto the metro system from there. 

Abando metro station is adjacent to another train station, Concordia. This features an attractive art nouveau façade dating from the early 1900s which is worth photographing from the riverside entrance. 

If you are staying elsewhere, you may also wish to book a guided tour that will take you to the city for a day. For example, you can book this guided tour from nearby San Sebastian.

Getting from Bilbao airport to Bilbao

Bilbao airport is not very big. As soon as you step out into arrivals, you’ll find the green Bizkaibus (A3247) waiting outside the entrance at the far-right end of the concourse. This will take you into the city centre. 

You can pay the fare on the bus, which was 3 euros when I visited in April. The journey takes about 20 minutes, depending on traffic. 

The entrance into Bilbao is quite spectacular. As you near your destination, the bus drives into a short tunnel and emerges on a large road bridge with the city centre popping up in front of you. You’ll immediately see the famous Guggenheim Museum and its glittering titanium wavy exterior down to your right. 

The bus stops at Plaza de Federico Moyua in the heart of the city’s new town. This is the best spot to get out for most city centre attractions and hotels. There is also a metro stop here if your accommodation is located close to another metro station on the metro line. 

The bus departs the airport every 20 minutes in early morning and evening and every 15 minutes during the day. It is reasonably priced, so is better value than a taxi to the centre unless you really are in a hurry. You could be paying 25 to 30 euros for this.

The best time to visit Bilbao

Located in the north of Spain near to the Bay of Biscay, and in a valley surrounded by lush green mountains, Bilbao is a city that sees a fair amount of rain throughout the year. But if you do get caught by the rain when you visit – as I did in April – there is no shortage of things to see and do inside during your one day in Bilbao.

Regarding the weather, a good time of year to spend one day in Bilbao is during May, June, or September. This is when it will be the warmest and driest. 

August is also a good month to visit if you want hot weather – the temperature averages in the low 20s in centigrade, but it can rise to as high as 26 degrees centigrade. However, this is also when large numbers of tourists visit. August also coincides with a massive festival called Semana Grande. Expect accommodation and airfares to reflect the popularity of visiting during this month. 

One day in Bilbao

I hope you have a great time Bilbao, especially if it’s your first time visiting the city.

There are other posts on my website about short trips to Spain, including on what to do in one day in Malaga. I have also written some top tips for visiting the magnificent Alhambra in Granada and how to take a trip on the Soller railway (‘Orange Express’) in Majorca.

You can also check out my posts on trips to nearby Portugal and France. I have also written about other destinations in Europe, including Switzerland, Germany and Italy.

Written by Nick Warburton; edited by Emma Marshall

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