13 Best Things to Do in Bilbao, Spain

When it was inaugurated in 1997, Bilbao’s Guggenheim Museum definitely put the industrial northern Spanish city on the map. Housed in an interesting metal ship-like building designed by Frank Gehry, the museum showcases works by artists such as Anish Kapoor, Jeff Koons, Eduardo Chillida, Yves Klein and Anslem Kiefer. Many of the larger artworks are also displayed outside, in what is known as the ‘Art District’.

The Basque Country is of course well known for its pintxos bites – small pieces of bread, topped with all manner of local ingredients, from meat and seafood to vegetables and cheese. Bilbao, along with San Sebastián and Vitoria-Gasteiz is home to some of the best pintxos bars in the country, so make sure you check them out while you’re here.

One of the best things to do in Bilbao is exploring the Old Town, known as the Casco Viejo. This part of the city is full of narrow winding streets, colourful architecture and an interesting array of shops and bars. Some of the top sights in the Old Town include the Catedral de Santiago de Bilbao, the Archeological Museum, the Plaza Nueva, and the churches of San Nicolás and San Antón.

The Museo Bellas Artes or Fine Arts Museum is one of the most important fine-art collections in the Basque Country and has been open since 1914. The collection includes works from the 12th century to the modern day, and features artists such as Francisco de Goya, El Greco, Paul Gauguin, Francis Bacon and Eduardo Chillida.

The Azkuna Zentroa, which used to be known as the Alhóndiga, is a cultural and leisure centre housed in the city’s old wine exchange. The modernist building was re-designed by the French designer Philippe Starck, and now rests upon 43 unique pillars or columns – each a stunning piece of artwork in its own right. Even if you’re not going to see an exhibition or show here, it’s worth going in for a guided tour just to look around.

The Plaza Nueva sits at the heart of the Casco Viejo and is home to a number of cafés, bars and restaurants. Built in the 19th century, it was completed in 1851 and is surrounded by elegant neoclassical portico arches and arcades. On Sundays, locals come here to buy and sell collectables and antiques.

This majestic Cathedral was officially built and completed between the 14th and 15th centuries as Bilbao’s main parish church, but according to many historians, it probably existed in one form or another before the foundation of Bilbao in 1300. The church was only recently declared a cathedral in 1950, when the city Roman Catholic Diocese of Bilbao was officially created. The beauty of this particular cathedral is in its mix of differing architectural styles: the cloister and the main vault respect the style of the 15th century, while the façade and the spire were built in Gothic revival style. Near the cathedral you’ll also find the famous Puerta del Angel, the portal that give access to calle del Correo. Consecrated to Santiago (Saint James the Great), Bilbao’s cathedral was an important point of transits for pilgrims who followed the Way of Saint James from the northern side. Recommended by Giulia Luzi

The Euskal Museoa, or Museo Vasco de Bilbao, is home to Bilbao’s main archaeological, ethnographic and historical collections centered around northern Spain. Located right beside the Iglesia de los Santos Juanes, it stands where the Colegio de San Andrés used to be and was completely renovated in recent years. In addition to the collection, it offers libraries patrons can peruse full of historically significant documents and photographs.