If you are planning a vacation to Bilbao, you picked the ideal location. There are plenty of activities to discover the essence of Bilbao, and it boasts a diverse range of tourist places. Bilbao is also known as Bilbo in Basque, which is the official language of the Basque Country (along with Spanish).
Bilbao is the capital of the province of Vizcaya and has the largest population density in the autonomous community, with the majority of residents concentrated in the metropolitan region, however, this is changing.
Bilbao is undoubtedly a town worth exploring because it has so much to see and do. For this reason, we recommend booking a rural house or a flat, which will allow you to rest in between walks, as long as the weather permits, as this is a rainy region.
To get here, connectivity is excellent, with an airport, train station, and roads that are well-equipped to get you here safely and quickly. To give you an indication of the distance, driving from Bilbao to Madrid takes about 4 hours, whereas flying takes just over an hour.
Furthermore, once inside the city, and following the sustainable city ideology, you can get around comfortably by bus, suburban train or tram, although the easiest way to do so is via Metro Bilbao, whose map has three lines and was inaugurated in 1995. However, if you prefer something more sustainable, you can also take an electric bicycle.
Even though Bilbao does not have a beach, you can still see the Nervión estuary, a fantastic starting point for getting to know the city. While on a stroll, you will pass by bridges such as the Bizkaia Bridge, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Furthermore, its commercial port is one of our country's five most significant, and we encourage that you visit it.
The Guggenheim Museum, widely recognized as a gateway to Basque culture, is Bilbao's tourism symbol. In addition to the artefacts, it serves as a symbol of the city's transformation and a driving force for tourism and the economy.
Other emblems of its heritage in terms of civil architecture are the Casa Consistorial, where the Town Hall is located in the centre. The Euskalduna Palace, which is currently used to hold congresses and events, and the Chávarri Palace are the most representative.
Bilbao's civil architecture includes the Arriaga Theatre, the University of Deusto, and the four skyscraper towers that rise over the city's skyline.
When it comes to religious architecture, we recommend the following places of worship - the Basilica of Nuestra Señora de Begoña which is the city's patron saint, the Cathedral of Santiago, the current seat of the Bilbao diocese and the Gothic cathedral of San Antón.
San Mamés Stadium, where Athletic Club de Bilbao, the best team in the world, trains, will be another 'temple' for football fans to visit.
Finally, we'd like to emphasize Bilbao's food, which features several products from the sea and estuary, including cod, which is usually served 'al pil pil' or 'a la vizcaína,' and elvers. These foods always pair well with a pleasant Txacolí wine from the Bizkaia Designation of Origin, and together they constitute a superb menu to enjoy during your stay.
