1. Guggenheim Museum Bilbao
Frank Gehry’s titanium-clad museum of modern and contemporary art, with Jeff Koons’s flower-covered Puppy outside.
2. Casco Viejo
The old town’s Seven Streets, full of pintxos bars, plus the Plaza Nueva.
3. La Ribera Market
A large covered market on the river, with a pintxos area.
4. Artxanda funicular
A short funicular ride to a hilltop with a view over the city.
5. Vizcaya Bridge
The world’s oldest transporter bridge, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, just outside the city at Portugalete.
6. Fine Arts Museum
A strong collection from old masters to Basque painters.
7. San Juan de Gaztelugatxe
A hermitage on a rocky islet reached by a long stone stairway, about 40 minutes away. Free entry needs booking in busy months.
Day trips from Bilbao
- San Juan de Gaztelugatxe: about 45 minutes by car.
- San Sebastián: about 1h15 by bus.
- Getxo and the Vizcaya Bridge: about 30 minutes by metro.
What to eat
- Pintxos in Plaza Nueva
- Bacalao al pil-pil
- Bilbao’s steakhouses (asadores)
Tip: The metro is designed by Norman Foster and easy to use.
Planning to stay longer? Read our full Bilbao guide.
