Highlight 2 – Bilbao (Basque Country)
A formerly grey and industrial city, Bilbao has been reborn with beauty and splendor thanks to its culture, art, and gastronomy. Today, Bilbao is a must-see in Basque Country.
Top things to do
1- Guggenheim museum. Amazing from the outside and interesting inside (check which temporary exhibitions will be on during your visit. The Museum of Bellas Artes, very close to the Guggenheim offers a fantastic collection and is a must too!
2- Old District (Casco Viejo) Great for tapas and to enjoy a lively atmosphere. The famous 7 calles (7 streets) and Plaza Nueva are where most tapas and pintxos bars concentrate. There is a flea market in Plaza Nueva on Sundays.
3- Views from Funicular de Artxanda.
4 – The Bilbao bridge (15 minutes drive from Bilbao) A fantastic piece of engineering and great fun to try. Another day excursion worth trying is to San Juan de Gaztelugaxte (very popular since it appeared in games of Thrones)
5- Mercado de la Ribera. A great place for any foodie.
More things to do in Bilbao in this post where we have one of our guides, born in Bilbao, goes through all the best recommendations in the city.
These are our favorite hotels in Bilbao:
Barcelo Nervión. A perfectly located (at half distance from the Guggenheim and Casco Viejo) 4 star hotel that offers a fantastic breakfast and overall good value for money. Modern style
Hotel Gran Bilbao. A very modern hotel with excellent facilities. Not so close to the city center but at an area where street parking is permitted. Bear in mind that street parking is regulated in Bilbao city centre
Hesperia Bilbao. As Barcelo Nervion, located at a fantastic location and also very modern facilities and excellent breakfast.
Tayko. Great location and excellent boutique-style decoration.
If you want to enjoy a family-owned hotel, with a traditional basque atmosphere yet not far from Bilbao city center and with great value for money where you can park your car. Hotel Artexe is probably a great option for you.