Table of Contents
A. About Bilbao
Nickname: El Botxo (The Hole)Situated on the estuary of the River NerviĆ³n Bilbao in northern Spain is a splendid example of successful city planning.
From a gritty industrial port town 30 years ago, it developed into a highly attractive tourist destination with around 345,000 inhabitants and a wonderful atmosphere.
The main draw is obviously the titanium-covered Guggenheim Museum by the famous architect Frank Gehry. If you want to see great paintings (classic or modern) the Fine Arts Museum with its carefully assembled collection might be an even better choice.
The Good:
The fascinating Guggenheim Museum is for many the main reason to visit Bilbao, but once you're there this enchanting city offers various other attractions like large pedestrian zones (mainly in the lively old town), solid shopping, and of course incredible tasty Basque food (the pintxos!).
Furthermore, the biggest city in the Basque country provides great options for nearby excursions and the transport system with a stylish modern metro is excellent.
The Not-So-Good:
Fortunately, Bilbao has no noticeable weaknesses!
B. Best Things to Do in Bilbao in 2024 (Detailed List with Photos and Information)
In total, we count more than twenty sights in Bilbao. The following sights contribute to a score of 6.25/10 in this most important category:
# Guggenheim Museum 8
Europeās titanium-covered highlight of modern architecture by the famous Canadian American architect Frank Gehry still looks incredibly modern even if it was inaugurated back in 1997.
The Guggenheim Museum, one of the world's most spectacular buildings that you should appreciate from all angles, contains a collection of 20th-century American and European art and temporary exhibitions of modern art.
This is our selection of the five best artworks of the Guggenheim Museum:
(Click on images to open in lightbox)
1) Puppy, Jeff Koons (1992)
Jeff Koons / CC BY-SA 4.0
2) Maman, Louise Bourgeois (1999)
by Doalex / CC BY-SA 3.0
3) Tall Tree and the Eye, Anish Kapoor (2009)
by Kamahele / CC BY-SA 3.0
4) The Matter of Time, Richard Serra (2010)
by Ardfern / CC BY-SA 3.0
5) Tulips, Jeff Koons (2006)
by dalbera / CC BY-SA 2.0
Modern Art Museum | Modern Architecture Gallery Space: 11,000 m2 / 120,000 ft2 | Galleries: 21 | Established: 1997 | Visitors (2018): 1,265,756
# Fine Arts Museum 6
Spain's second-largest collection after the Prado in Madrid (more than 10,000 works including 1,500 paintings, four hundred sculptures, and more than 6,500 works on paper) contains an extraordinary variety of carefully chosen artworks from 12th century to 20th-century pop art.
Donāt miss the exceptional modern and contemporary art on the 2nd Floor.
This is our selection of the five best paintings of the Fine Arts Museum Bilbao:
1) St. Sebastian cured by the Holy Women, JosƩ de Ribera (c. 1621)
by Wikimedia / Public Domain
2) The Abduction of Europa, Marten de Vos (c. 1590)
by Wikimedia / Public Domain
3) The Annunciation, El Greco (DomƩnikos Theotokopoulos) (c. 1596-1600)
by Wikimedia / Public Domain
4) Washerwomen in Arles, Paul Gauguin (c. 1888)
by Wikimedia / Public Domain
5) Lot and his Daughters, Orazio Gentileschi (c.1628)
by Wikimedia / Public Domain
Art Museum (Ancient-Modern Art) Gallery Space: 5,089 m2 / 54,777 ft2 | Galleries: 33 | Artworks on Display: ca. 600 | Established: 1914 | Visitors (2017): 314 987
(Click on images to open in lightbox)
# Casco Viejo (Old Town) 6
Bilbaoās compact and atmospheric old quarter, situated separated from the rest of the town on the east side of the River NerviĆ³n, is full of charming, pedestrianized streets, mouthwatering pintxos (Basque tapas) bars, and plenty of small shops, museums, and churches.
Highlights include the central Catedral de Santiago, the fine square Plaza Nueva as well as Iglesia de San AntĆ³n next to Mercado de la Ribera.
# Funicular Artxanda and Mount Artxanda 6
Take the cable railway to the top of the 300 m-high (984 ft) Mount Artxanda for spectacular views over Bilbao's urban landscape including (of course) the eye-catching Guggenheim Museum.
# Zubizuri White Bridge 5.5
Opened to the public in 1997, this stylish white suspension footbridge, designed by the well-known architect Santiago Calatrava, elegantly spans the NerviĆ³n River.
Bridge | Modern Architecture Opened: 1997 | Architect: Santiago Calatrava
# Azkuna Zentroa 5
This old warehouse has been renovated under the lead of the famous French designer Philippe Starck in 2010 to become one of Bilbao's most pulsating cultural places.
There are forty-three individually designed columns, giant screens, illuminated benches, and a transparent rooftop swimming pool, which can be seen from below.
Modern Building multi-purpose venue
# Ribera Market 5
With a surface area of 10,000 square meters, this characteristic building on the right bank of the NerviĆ³n River is regarded as Europe's largest covered market.
C. Other Notable Sights and Attractions in Bilbao
-
- Basque health department building (modern building) 5
- Bilbao-Abando Train Station 5
- Teatro Arriaga (opera house)5
- Palacio Euskalduna (conference center and concert hall) 5
- City Hall 4.5
- Palacio de la Diputacion 4.5
- Euskal Museoa Bilbao Museo Vasco (museum) 4.5
- Plaza Nueva (square)4.5
- Plaza Moyua (square)4.5
E. Top 10 List of the Best Things to Do in BilbaoĀ (including close-by excursions)
For an optimal three-day stay in the charming city of Bilbao, we highly recommend visiting these top ten must-see attractions: