Bilbao Weekend Guide – Basque Country

I’m just going to say it – Bilbao is an exceptional city. It soon found its way up our ‘favourite European cities list’, and in this article I am going to explain why! Bilbao has extraordinary architecture, beautifully manicured green spaces, and pintxos to die for. This Bilbao weekend guide has all the info you need to make the most of your time in this dynamic Basque city.

Bilbao (or Bilbo in Basque) is situated in the Basque Country in northern Spain. With other tourist hotspots like San Sebastián and Gaztelugatxe (a Game of Thrones filming location) nearby, Bilbao should be on your must-see list!

Where to stay in Bilbao

There’s no doubt about it, choose a central city hotel when spending a weekend in Bilbao. We chose the pet-friendly Bilbao City Rooms (Alameda Recalde), just minutes from the Guggenheim Bilbao and Casilda Iturrizar park. Other central Bilbao hotels to consider are: The ever-reliable Ibis Hotel is near the train station and shopping district. If you want a lush riverfront option, the Tayko Hotel in the old town is perfect.

For a relatively big city, Bilbao is easy to drive around, and has great underground parking facilities. These factors allowed us to choose a centre-city location as a base. Which was also bonus as we were travelling to Bilbao with our dog.

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Things to do on a weekend in Bilbao

Mount Artxanda

A funicular ride up to Mount Artxanda will show you the most breathtaking views of Bilbao. The funicular leaves from Funikularreko Plaza, just a few blocks north of Zubizuri Bridge. For just a few euros you can take this speedy funicular straight to the top of Mount Artxanda. There is even a dog-friendly cabin in the funicular, so you can take your pup up to the beautiful parks at the top.

Guggenheim Bilbao

You can’t visit Bilbao without seeing the Guggenheim Museum. Whether you go inside to visit the exhibitions, or just admire the incredible Frank Gehry architecture, this building is a must-see in Bilbao. The shimmering surface that catches the light in different ways throughout the day. The external gallery of public art that enhances the surrounding waterfront.

The inside of the Guggenheim is equally fascinating in my opinion. A full height church-like central hall reveals the structure of the building. Windows punctuate the rib cage of support beams and bridges that connect the galleries, and light finds corners it usually doesn’t. View the video below to see views from inside!

Street Art & Parks

One thing that struck us about Bilbao was the exceptional parks and street art. The parks were plentiful and well-maintained. And the street art and fountains everywhere… wow! From the imposing Louise Bourgeois ‘Maman’ statue in front of the Guggenheim, to Jeff Koons’ 43-foot flower-covered dog statue ‘Puppy’, and the impressive fountain in Plaza Moyúa. The city of Bilbao acts as one giant outdoor gallery.

The green spaces in Bilbao are second to none. Casilda Iturrizar Park was one of my favourites. Kinda like a mini Central Park, Casilda Iturrizar has a section set aside for exercising your dog, a lovely pond and play area, and many paths for walking and jogging. The Paseo de la Memoria park runs from the Euskalduna bridge, along the riverfront to the Guggenheim. Another great great space (also good for dogs), is Etxebarria Park, up on the hill behind the old town (Casco Viejo).

Take a River Cruise

We saw lots of great word-play using the words Bilbao and the Basque version Bilbo. Bilboats was one of the best ones we saw! Take a river cruise along the Estuary of Bilbao / Nervión River. It’s a great way to see the city of Bilbao, and perfect for a weekend trip as it will orientate you quickly.

Eat ALL the Pintxos

Pintxos are different from Tapas – they are typically bite size morsels served on a slice of thick cut baguette. These delicious and carb-loaded mouthfuls of awesomeness are a Basque Country speciality. My favourites were the ham croquettes and oven roasted chorizo on bread – so tasty! Combine some Pintxos with a jug of sangria or crisp white Rioja (or red Rioja in winter)!

Explore the old town (Casco Viejo)

Casco Viejo is Bilbao’s old town. The little winding streets and grand plazas of Casco Viejo will become one of your favourite places to hangout on your weekend in Bilbao. Plaza Nueva / Barrio has glorious neoclassical architecture and colonnades with shops and bars spilling out into the square.

Vizcaya Bridge

If you’ve got time, take the metro out to the Vizcaya Bridge, the first iron bridge to use a gondola to transport people and cars across a river.

Where to go shopping in Bilbao

I loved the boutiques and galleries in Casco Viejo personally. You can find leather workers, art, antiques and specialist homeware stores in this area. If you head over Areatzako Bridge into the new town, you will reach the area around Mazarredo Zumarkalea. You can find the big name brands and chain stores around here.

Bilbao Weekend Guide

Bilbao quickly captured our hearts. The public spaces and art everywhere made it a very pleasing city to walk around. The food and drink culture is relaxed and convivial, and the people are so friendly and welcoming. I hope this Bilbao weekend guide not only puts this fabulous city on your radar, but also tempts you here one day!

Love city breaks as much as me? How about art and tapas in Madrid, or springtime in Malta?

All photos & content © Hannah Henderson and may not be used without permission (sharing this blog post is fine, though!). Images shot with a Canon DSLR T3i Rebel + Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM; and an iPhone.