If you can spare the time, we recommend staying in Bilbao for a couple of nights at the start or end of your tour. Bilbao is a modern and vibrant city, best characterized by its stunning Guggenheim Museum. It is also known for its high quality food, ranging from tasty pintxos to world class restaurants.
Below are just a few of the highlights that you can visit in the city:
Guggenheim Museum
The Guggenheim Museum is the most iconic building in Bilbao. Designed by Frank Gehry, it transformed the city upon its inauguration in 1997. The museum, which is one of the largest in Spain, specializes in modern art and is spectacular both inside and out.
The museum building is made up of shiny titanium and glass, combined with locally mined limestone. Inside the light reflects around in dazzling style, offering fine views of Bilbao's estuary and river. The displays inside range from Spanish cubism to more contemporary exhibits by artists such as David Hockney and Richard Serra.
Gastronomy in Bilbao
Another kind of art that is found throughout Bilbao are the typical Basque pintxos. In their simplest form, Pintxos are merely a slice of bread with a topping. But such an austere description doesn't come close to doing them justice.
Throughout Bilbao you can find some of the most elaborate pintxos in Spain. They are piled precipitously high with fine ingredients such as Jamón Ibérico, morcilla, freshly caught cod (bacalao) and a whole range of mouth watering sauces. The variety is almost endless, and visiting several pintxos bars is a very typically Basque way to dine in the evening. Our favourite location is Plaza Nueva - a large square in the historic center which is surrounded by
excellent little bars and bodegas.
If fine cuisine is more your thing, then Bilbao can also deliver. The city and surroundings are home to some of the best rated restaurants in the world, including Azurmendi and
Nerua. If you are interested in enjoying the tasting menu here, let us know in advance and we can help to book a table for you.
Historic Center
At first glance, Bilbao doesn't strike you as one of Spain's great historic cities. It lacks the monuments and sprawling old town of a place like Seville or Cordoba. Nevertheless, Bilbao does have an attractive historic center, situated around
the cathedral. The city grew to prominence in the late Middle Ages when it became a major port, transporting woolen goods from Spain to places like Flanders and England.
Within the historic center today, you can visit the Basque History Museum to find out more about the traditions of the region. You can also walk up the long and impressive Calzada de Mallona staircase, leading to Extebarria Park - a large open green space in the city center.
Vizcaya Bridge
Vizcaya Bridge is another of Bilbao's architectural marvels. Actually, it's not in Bilbao itself, but rather in the suburb of Portugalete, but it can be easily reached from the center by train or bicycle.
The bridge is a UNESCO World Heritage listed monument due to its technology and functionality. It is a transporter bridge that is still in operation today and takes people and cars across the Nervion River on a gondola, which is moved by a complex network of cables and pulleys. It's a fascinating structure for fans of industrial architecture.
If you wish to add some nights in Bilbao as an extension to your tour, please enter the details on the tour reservation form, or contact us to discuss your options.
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