Look, let’s be real for a second. Most people think Bilbao is just a giant shiny titanium museum and a bunch of rainy hills. They fly in, take a selfie with a giant floral dog named Puppy, eat one croquette, and head straight to San Sebastián.
Big mistake. Huge.
Honestly, if you’re wondering what to visit in Bilbao, you’ve gotta look past the Guggenheim’s curves. This city has spent the last thirty years pulling off the greatest glow-up in European history. It went from a gritty, rusted-out industrial port to a place where you can find Michelin-starred food inside an old wine warehouse. It’s a vibe. It’s slightly chaotic, intensely proud, and it smells like grilled mushrooms and salt air.
If you want the actual soul of the place, you need to know where to walk, what to skip, and how to eat without looking like a total amateur.
The Titanium Elephant in the Room
You’re going to the Guggenheim. Obviously. Frank Gehry’s masterpiece is basically the reason anyone knows where Bilbao is on a map. But here is the thing: the outside is actually more interesting than the inside for about half the people who visit.
Walk around the perimeter first. You’ve got Puppy, the massive West Highland Terrier made of 38,000 live plants, which is adorable until you realize he has an internal irrigation system that basically makes him a giant, breathing topiary. On the river side, there’s Maman, the 30-foot tall bronze spider. It’s creepy. It’s beautiful. It’s a metaphor for motherhood, apparently.
Inside, the architecture is a dizzying mess of glass and limestone. If you aren't a hardcore contemporary art fan, the "Matter of Time" installation by Richard Serra is the one you can’t skip. You walk through these massive weathering steel spirals and lose your sense of direction. It’s weirdly meditative.
Pro tip for 2026: If you’re trying to save a few Euros, the Guggenheim actually has a free entry window on Tuesday evenings from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM. Just keep in mind it gets packed. Like, "shoulder-to-shoulder with a stranger" packed. If you want peace, book a morning slot on a Wednesday or Thursday.
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Getting Lost in the "Seven Streets"
Cross the bridge and head toward Casco Viejo. This is the Old Town, or Zazpi Kaleak in the Basque language. It’s a maze.
The "Seven Streets" are the original medieval heart of the city. You’ll find laundry hanging from balconies, tiny boutiques selling handmade Basque berets (called boinas), and more bars than you can count.
Basically, this is where you do your txikiteo—the Basque version of a pub crawl.
Don't just walk through. Stop at Plaza Nueva. It’s a grand, Neoclassical square surrounded by arches. On Sundays, people trade stamps and old coins here. Every other day, they’re just crushing pintxos.
What to visit in Bilbao for the best food
You don’t order a "meal" here. You grab a plate, pick a couple of things off the bar, and move to the next place.
- Gure Toki: Go for the oxtail croquettes. They are life-changing.
- Motrikes: They do one thing—txampi (grilled mushrooms). They’re spicy, messy, and you’ll want five.
- La Viña del Ensanche: Technically just outside the old quarter, but their Iberico ham is legendary. It’s been there since 1927.
The Market That Broke Records
If you want to see where the locals actually buy their hake and Idiazabal cheese, go to Mercado de la Ribera. It’s the largest covered market in Europe.
It looks like a giant boat docked on the edge of the river. Inside, it’s Art Deco stained glass meets raw fish. It’s glorious. The ground floor has a massive food court area where you can get craft beer and high-end tapas, but the upper floors are where the "real" market happens.
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Watch the grandmothers arguing over the price of peppers. That’s the real Bilbao.
Artxanda: The View You Actually Need
Stop walking for a minute. Go to the Artxanda Funicular. It’s this bright red little cable car that’s been chugging up the mountain since 1915.
It takes about three minutes to reach the top. From there, you can see the whole city tucked into the "Abra" valley. You’ll see how the river snakes toward the sea, the red roofs of the old town, and the futuristic towers of the new district.
It’s the best place to wrap your head around how small Bilbao actually is. You can walk the whole thing in a day if your shoes are good enough.
The Culture Hub Most Tourists Miss
Azkuna Zentroa (or the Alhóndiga) is a trip. It used to be a wine warehouse. Now, it’s a cultural center designed by Philippe Starck.
When you walk in, you’ll notice 43 different columns holding up the inner buildings. Every single one is different—some are marble, some are wood, some look like they belong in a Chinese temple.
Look up. The ceiling is actually the bottom of a swimming pool. You can literally see people swimming laps through the glass floor while you’re standing in the atrium. It’s bizarre and brilliant.
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Beyond the City Limits
If you have an extra day, get on the Metro. Yes, the Metro. It was designed by Norman Foster (locals call the glass entrances "Fosteritos") and it’s spotless.
Take it to Getxo. You’ll find the Vizcaya Bridge, a UNESCO World Heritage site. It’s a "transporter bridge"—basically a giant hanging gondola that carries cars and people across the river. It looks like an Erector set built by a giant.
Or, if you’re a Game of Thrones nerd, take a bus to San Juan de Gaztelugatxe. It’s the real-life Dragonstone. It’s a 45-minute drive from the city, and you have to climb 241 stone steps up a jagged island to a tiny hermitage.
Fair warning: it’s a hike. Your calves will burn. But ringing the bell at the top three times for good luck makes you feel like a local, even if you’re just a tourist with a camera.
How to Not Look Like a Tourist
- The Schedule: Nobody eats dinner at 6:00 PM. If you show up at a restaurant then, they might still be doing their afternoon nap (siesta) or setting up. Aim for 9:00 PM.
- The Wine: Order Txakoli (pronounced cha-ko-lee). It’s a slightly sparkling, very dry white wine. They pour it from a height to break the bubbles. It’s refreshing and cheap.
- The Language: Most people speak Spanish, but "Euskara" (Basque) is everywhere. Throw out a "Kaixo" (hello) or "Eskerrik asko" (thank you). It goes a long way.
- The Weather: It rains. A lot. They call it sirimiri—a fine, misty drizzle that doesn't stop. Don't let it ruin your day; just buy a decent umbrella and keep moving.
Actionable Next Steps
To make the most of your trip, start by booking your Guggenheim tickets at least two weeks in advance if you're visiting in the summer. If you want to eat at a Michelin-starred spot like Mina or Nerua, you'll need to call a month ahead.
Download the "BilbaoBizkaia" app for real-time bus and metro schedules. Pick up a Barik card at any metro station; you can load it with 5 or 10 Euros and it works for the metro, the tram, and even the Artxanda funicular.
Focus your first day on the Abandoibarra riverside and the Guggenheim, then dedicate your second day entirely to the Casco Viejo and the heights of Artxanda. This gives you the perfect mix of the city's futuristic "new" face and its gritty, medieval heart.