What to do in Bilbao

What to do in Bilbao

Bilbao is the capital of the province of Biscay, in the north of Spain, in the autonomous community of Basque Country. With a population of 355,000 inhabitants, it is the most populous city in the Basque Country. Its climate, which is temperate for most of the year, its mountainous landscape and its proximity to the sea, make Bilbao a friendly and welcoming city for any visitor.

During the last decades, Bilbao has undergone a total urban renewal, becoming the modern and cosmopolitan city it is today. In addition, its high quality of life places Bilbao over the other cities of Spain.

Bilbao also offers a wide range of entertainment and cultural and dining activities. An infinite number of possibilities that make our guests live a unique experience.

What to do in Bilbao

Museums in Bilbao

No doubt Guggenheim, is the quintessential museum in Bilbao. Design by Canadian architect Frank O. Gehry, it opened in 1997. The building, clear example of avant-garde architecture of the twentieth century, houses permanent collections and temporary exhibitions of great international prestige.

Museo Guggenheim Bilbao

Another interesting museum in Bilbao is the Museum of Fine Art, which hosts a variety of works from the twelfth century to the present day. These include the collection of Spanish, Flemish, Dutch and Italian artists.

You can also visit other fantastic museums in Bilbao, such as the Archaeological Museum with interesting collections relating to the history of the Basque people; the Basque Museum with an attractive collection of items about the life and customs of the Basques; the Museum of Artistic Reproductions of classical art; the Ria de Bilbao Maritime Museum with objects and related maritime tradition of our people and the Museum of Sacred Art  with items from the XII - XX centuries.

Theatre in Bilbao

Several theaters in Bilbao offers an interesting annual program where opera, theater, dance and music are included. The Arriaga Theatre or the Champs Elysees Theatre.Teatro Arriaga en BilbaoFurthermore, every summer the Bilbao theaters perform in the streets, with the Kalealdi Street Theater and Arts Festival which includes street performances of contemporary dance, circus or puppet.Teatro en Bilbao Kalealdi

Gastronomy in Bilbao

If there is something that fascinates visitors to the city, it is the gastronomy in Bilbao. The tradition of going for pintxos on Thursday, Friday or Saturday nights with friends is something that is deeply rooted in Basque culture.

The variety of bars and taverns in different areas of the city, allow you to enjoy a wide variety of pintxos that you must accompany with a good txacolí

Architecture in Bilbao

Bilbao architecture is amazing, with emblematic buildings such as, among others: the City Hall of the nineteenth century; the  Euskalduna Palace, near the river of Bilbao, opened in 1999, where musical events and conferences are celebrated; the Arriaga Theatre  built in the nineteenth century, built in neo-baroque style, or the  Zentroa Azkuna or old Alhóndiga de Bilbao, a multipurpose civic center opened in 2010.

Arquitectura en Bilbao: Ayuntamiento

On the other hand, the religious architecture in Bilbao stands out, in places like the gothic Cathedral of Santiago  built in the fifteenth century; the gothic Church of San Anton, of the fifteenth century, or the Basílica of Nuestra Señora de Begoña, patron saint of Biscay , from the seventeenth century.

Music in Bilbao

For those who love music in Bilbao, every year, since 2006, the city hosts the Bilbao BBK Live with international and national pop-rock music groups, which has become a European music festival of reference.

There is also the Bilborock Room, to enjoy pop-rock performances; The Bilbao District Jazz and the Bilbao Ars Sacrum  about sacred music and the hall of the Philharmonic Society about chamber music.

Cinema in Bilbao

Moviegoers enjoy the cinema in Bilbao thanks to big film festivals such as the International Festival of Documentary and Short Film of Bilbao -Zinebi-  (held every year since 1959) or the Festival of Bilbao Fantasy Film -FANT  that celebrated its 21th edition in 2015.

Nature in Bilbao

The city of Bilbao is surrounded by splendid nature with a spectacular coastline and a mountainous landscape that make it the ideal place for sports such as surfing, paddle surfing, hiking or mountain biking.

Beaches such as Mundaka, or Sopelana or Plentzia and mountains like the Pagasarri  or Artxanda, make nature lovers fall in love with Bilbao.

Festivities in Bilbao

There are multiple festivities in Bilbao, and for different reasons. The most important, though, is called Semana Grande de Bilbao –Aste Nagusia-,  held on the Saturday before August 22. During the nine days - holiday in Bilbao, the streets are full of people and there are performances of all styles and for different tastes: concerts, plays, rural sports, bullfights, fireworks, etc.

There are other festivals in Bilbao, which also have a long tradition: its famous Christmas, with Christmas markets and Christmas characters such as Olentzero, from the tradition of the Basque-Navarre folklore; Carnival, with its unique colours, and Easter week, with the famous processions of the different brotherhoods through the streets of the city.

Bilbao neighborhoods

Visiting Bilbao neighborhoods is a good choice to spend a day off.

Cities with great charm as San SebastianVitoria or Santander are a few kilometers away and very well connected by public or private transport.

 

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