Category Archives: Bilbao

Two-days tour in Bilbao: What to visit in Bilbao, a city full of activities, culture and gastronomy

Bilbao, Tours and Guides

Guggenheim museum and bridge

mapa bilbao spainBilbao is one of the main cities of the Basque Country, in the north of Spain. It has more than 700.000 inhabitants, counting the city and the metropolitan area.

In this article we are going to tell you about what are the best places to visit in the city, and how to visit them on foot in a two-days weekend. Bilbao is very popular among the tourists because its gastronomy, the Guggenheim Museum and the benches of the estuary of the Nervion River.

 

Day 1: The Old Town, The estuary of the Nervion River and its bridges, The City Hall , Guggenheim Museum, University of Deusto, Casilda Park, Gran Via

– The Old Town (Casco Viejo): This is a zone of ancient buildings, narrow streets and squares in the centre of the city. To arrive at the Old Town you can go by metro Line 1 and 2 (Casco Viejo metro station) or go from the Train Station, which is placed in front of Arenal bridge, the most frequent entrance for people who want to walk.

In there, you will be able to visit San Nicolás Curch, Plaza Nueva, Santiago Cathedral, Santos Juanes Church and some museums.

plaza nueva bilbao san nicolas church bilbao

 

– The estuary of the Nervion River: The Old Town is located bordering the estuary of the Nervion River. Once viewed it, our recommendation is to bordering the river on foot in the water flood direction.

river bilbao bilbao historic center

Walking from Arenal Bridge (Puente del Arenal), you will reach the City Hall firstly, and then the Guggenheim Museum and the University of Deusto. During the ride, you will pass some famous bridges as Puente del Ayuntamiento, Zubizuri and Puente de los principes – La Salve.

city hall

 

– The Guggenheim Museum (Museo Guggenheim): This is a contemporary art center. The museum was inaugurated in 1997 and since then, it has become one of the most popular museums of Spain and Europe because its original and transgressive design.

Moreover, there are other relevant buildings of Bilbao near the museum: The University of Deusto, Doña Casilda Park, Iberdrola Skyscraper and more.

Guggenheim bilbao deusto university

 

– Casilda Park: This is the biggest park in the center of Bilbao. The ideal place to rest and enjoy of its fountains.

Also, close to the park is located Conference Arts Centre (Palacio de Congresos Euskalduna).

casilda park bilbao congress palace

 

– Gran Via Avenue (Don Diego Lopez de Haro): This Street is in the geometric centre of Bilbao, measures more than 1.5 km in length and it is the financial and institutional center of the city. This wide avenue is always full of people and reflects the life of the modern city.

Gran Via is a the perfect place to go shopping, take a coffee or eat something at the end of the afternoon.

gran via bilbao bizkaia governement headcuarters gran via bilbao

 

Gastronomy: It is said that the food in The Basque Country is the best food of Spain… and probably it is true. In Bilbao you can find a lot of premium restaurants. But you also can eat high quality food in many cheaper places: By trying the tapas you will be able to try a lot of different dishes in many bars of the zone.

The best sites to eat in Bilbao are located in the Old Town (Plaza Nueva and its surroundings) and in some other streets that are indicated in the touristic map (in the end of this article).

 

Day 2: Getxo (sea, beach and port), Portugalete and Santurtzi

– Getxo Town: Getxo is a town located 30 minutes away from Bilbao city. The location of the town in the Nervion river mouth, its beaches, its maritime port and its landscape, have turned Getxo in one of the most touristic places of the region.

To arrive at Getxo from Bilbao, get on the metro Line 1 to Algorta or Bidezabal metro stations. The sea and the beaches are the main attractive of Getxo. Also, it has a port and commercial zones.

getxo guecho port

 

– Portugalete and Santurtzi: At the other bench of the estuary of the Nervion River, there are placed the towns Portugalete and Santurtzi.

To arrive at them from Getxo, there is only one way to cross the estuary: the Vizcaya Bridge (Puente colgante de Vizcaya).

vizcaya bridge portugalete

 

Day 3 (extra day): San Mamés Stadium, Boat dock and House of the Mercy

If you have some free time on the second day or you have one day more,  don’t leave Bilbao without seeing these other places:

– San Mamés Football Stadium:

san mames 2

 

– Boat dock Ramón de la Sota and Euskalduna Bridge: Both of them can be seen from the Football Stadium.

bilbao old port

 

– House of the Mercy (Casa de la misericordia):

house of mercy

 

Bilbao touristic map

In the map below, there are described the most important monuments and places of Bilbao. Also, you have resalted the old town (in pink), the gastronomy areas (yellow), shopping streets (soft green and orange), nitghlige (dark green) and culture (blue).

bilbao touristic map

Getxo: Sea and beach near Bilbao

Beach, mountain and nature, Bilbao

getxo

Getxo (or Guecho) is a town of 80.000 inhabitants located 30 minutes away from Bilbao city. The location of the town in the Nervion river mouth, its beaches, its maritime port and its landscape, have turned Getxo  in one of the most tourist places of the region in the last century.

To arrive at Getxo from Bilbao, get on the metro Line 1 to Neguri, Aiboa, Algorta or Bidezabal metro stations. The trip from the centre of Bilbao city to Getxo will take almost 30 minutes.

 

The beaches and the sea in Getxo

The sea beach and grassand the beaches are the tourist main attraction of Getxo. Its beaches (Las Arenas, Ereaga, Arrigunaga, Azkorri-Gorrondatxe and Barinatxe) can be classified in two groups: The ones which are closest to the open sea –with rougher sea- and the beaches protected by the port, -with calmer sea-.

To arrive at the beaches, get off at Bidezabal metro station or at Algorta.

beach getxo

 

The maritime port 

The maritimeguecho port port of Getxo has areas for any kind of boats, also cruisers.

Besides, there is a maritime club where people can sail, go canoing, etc..

panoramic port at getxo

 

Commercial zones and gastronomy

The commercial algortazones of Getxo are in Algorta neighborhood and the surroundings of the maritime port.

As we have told in other posts, remember that the Basque Country is one of the regions of Spain with best culinary culture. There are many bars and restaurants everywhere with a lot of variety food, above all “tapas” and fish.

Portugalete, Santurtzi and the estuary of the Nervion River

At the other bank of the estuary of the Nervion River, there are placed the towns Portugalete and Santurtzi. These towns are less tourist than Getxo, with more industrial areas. Anyway, both of them have also their attraction for people who want to discover new places.

There is only one way to cross the estuary from Getxo-Leioa to Portugalete-Santurtzi: the Vizcaya Bridge (Puente colgante de Vizcaya), which was declared World Heritage in 2006 by UNESCO.  This suspension bridge was constructed between 1887 and 1893 and was the first of its class in the world.

 

Metro Map of Bilbao and Getxo

Below you have a metro and train map of Bilbao, Getxo (Guecho), Leioa (Lejona), Portugalete, Santurtzi (Santurce) and its surroundings:

bilbao metro map

More places to visit near Getxo

– The Guggenheim Museum (Bilbao): Museo Guggenheim is a contemporary art center placed in Bilbao, in the Basque Country. The museum was inaugurated in 1997 and since then, it has become one of the most popular museums of Spain and Europe because its original and transgressive design.

– The Old Town of Bilbao:  This is a zone of ancient buildings, narrow streets and squares in the centre of Bilbao. This zone is popular among citizens and tourists because its gastronomy, atmosphere and for its churches and traditional buildings.

Casco Viejo de Bilbao / The Old Town of Bilbao

Bilbao, Gastronomy, Nightlife, Streets and monuments

plaza nueva bilbao

The Old Town of Bilbao  (Casco Viejo) is a zone of ancient buildings, narrow streets and squares in the centre of Bilbao. This zone is popular among citizens and tourists because its gastronomy, atmosphere and for its churches and traditional buildings.

To arrive at the Old Quarter you can go by metro Line 1 and 2 (Casco Viejo metro station) or go from the Train Station, which is placed in front of Arenal bridge, the most frequent entrance for people who want to walk.

 

The train station

Santander Train Stationtran station bilbao (La Concordia) is the main station of the city. The long distance trains stop there and also it has a metro station inside (Abando).

The station was built in 1902 and its structure and decoration still has an industrial flavour that gives it a special attractive for tourists.

 

The Nervion River and its bridges

Close to the Train Station,bilbao historic center you will find Arenal Bridge. This is the main entrance to the Old Town for the citizens who are coming from the commercial streets of Bilbao (Gran Vía and surroundings).

However, as the estuary of the Nervion River borders the old quarter, there are some other bridges in the zone as La Merced Bridge, La Ribera Bridge and San Antón Bridge.

In the newest part of Bilbao, you also can find the following bridges: City Hall bridge (Puente del Ayuntamiento), Zubizuri bridge and Princes Bridge (Puente de los príncipes).

 

Churches and relevant buildings

From Arenal Bridgesan nicolas church bilbao can be seen San Nicolás Curch, built in 1756. Near it, there is located Plaza Nueva (New Square), a neoclassical square where you will find the Royal Academy of the Basque Language, and a lot of bars and restaurants always full of people.

Then, bilbao cathedralbordering the river to San Antón Bridge, there is San Anton Church and La Rivera Market.

Other important buildings that you will see in the zone are Santiago Cathedral, Santos Juanes Church and some museums.

 

 

The Gastronomy in Bilbao

Don’t leave the Old Quarter without trying the gastronomy!

Although the food is impressive in all the city, in this zone there are a large amount of bars and restaurants. Above all at Plaza Nueva and its surroundings, where there are a lot of places where you can eat “tapas” (small sandwiches or dishes with original and innovative food).

It is said that the food in The Basque Country is the best food of Spain… and probably it is true. In Bilbao you can find a lot of premium restaurants. But you also can eat high quality food in many cheaper places: By trying the tapas you will be able to try a lot of different dishes in many bars of the zone. Don’t miss it!

Once viewedriver center bilbao the historic centre of Bilbao, our recommendation is to bordering the river in the water flood direction. Doing that you will reach the City Hall firstly, and then the Guggenheim Museum.

 

More places to visit in Bilbao

– The Guggenheim Museum: Museo Guggenheim is a contemporary art center placed in Bilbao, in the Basque Country. The museum was inaugurated in 1997 and since then, it has become one of the most popular museums of Spain and Europe because its original and transgressive design.

– Getxo (Guecho): Getxo is a town of 80.000 inhabitants located 30 minutes away from Bilbao city. The situation of the town in the Nervion river mouth, its beaches, its maritime port and its landscape, have become it one of the most touristic places of the region in the last century.

Museo Guggenheim / The Guggenheim Museum (Bilbao)

Bilbao, Emblematic buildings

Guggenheim bilbao

The Guggenheim Museum (Museo Guggenheim) is a contemporary art center placed in Bilbao, in the Basque Country. The museum was inaugurated in 1997 and since then, it has become one of the most popular museums of Spain and Europe because its original and transgressive design.

 

The building

This museum has Guggenheim museum bilbaomany characteristics that makes it unique: Its structure, designed by the architect Frank Gehry has a curved surface covered in titanium. What’s more, its situation, close to the river bank, creates a wonderful game of highlights when the sun reflects its rays in the titanium and then they are reflected in the water.

 

The surroundings of the museum

The Guggenheim Museum is located in the estuary bank of the Nervion River, at Bilbao city center. Around it, you will find some famous sculptures, a tourism center and green zones. Moreover, there are other relevant buildings of Bilbao near the museum: The University of Deusto, Doña Casilda Park, The Princes Bridge, Iberdrola Skyscraper and more.

Guggenheim panoramic

To arrive at Guggenheim, you can go on foot from the train station (10 minutes) or from the bus station (6 minutes). You can also go by tram.

Another option to arrive atGuggenheim museum and bridge the museum is to go from the train station in the historic centre of Bilbao, bordering the river until arrive at the museum. Surely, doing this you will take the nicest photos of Bilbao.

 

More places to visit in Bilbao

– The Old Town of Bilbao:  This is a zone of ancient buildings, narrow streets and squares in the centre of Bilbao. This zone is popular among citizens and tourists because its gastronomy, atmosphere and for its churches and traditional buildings.

– Getxo (Guecho): Getxo is a town of 80.000 inhabitants located 30 minutes away from Bilbao city. The situation of the town in the Nervion river mouth, its beaches, its maritime port and its landscape, have become it one of the most touristic places of the region in the last century.

Other popular museums in Spain

– Reina Sofía Art Center (Madrid): This art gallery forms part of the “Madrid’s triangle”, next to Prado Museum and Museum of Thyseen-Bornemisza. These three art galleries are must-see places in Madrid. Each of them is full of masterpieces of art. This museum is dedicated to the modern art, mostly of the 20th century.

Read also our article about the best destinations to visit in Spain.