ES · Basque Country · 43.26°N 2.92°W

bilbao

The Guggenheim's silver curves, riverside walks and pintxos in the old town.

Best time
May–September has the mildest, longest days, though showers are still likely. Winter is mild but wet, which is when the Guggenheim and the pintxos bars earn their keep.
How long
2 days
Getting there
Fly with one stop, usually via Istanbul, about 18–20 hours all in, or fly to Madrid and connect by a 1-hour flight or a 5-hour train. The airport bus takes about 20 minutes to the centre. Spain is 6 hours behind KL in summer and 7 in winter.
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ES · Basque Countrybilbao43.26°N 2.92°Wgowherelah.com
Dear group chat,The Guggenheim's silver curves, riverside walks and pintxos in the old town.— gowherelahTo: whoever’s drivingBilbaoES, Basque Country
KLbilbao
≈ 10,940 km from KL, as the crow flies
Deustuko San Pedro-Erribera, Bilbo, Bizkaia, Spain

Photo: Ben Bender · CC BY-SA 3.0

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Photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited on each.

Bilbao went from shipyard city to art city when the Guggenheim landed on its riverbank. The old town's Seven Streets are full of pintxos bars, and the coast is a short metro ride away.

Makan

  1. PintxosPlaza Nueva and the old-town streets are the place for a pintxos crawl.Map ↗
  2. Bacalao al pil-pilSalt cod in a silky sauce of olive oil and garlic, made by swirling the pan.Map ↗
  3. CarolinaA tall swirl of meringue on a tart base, Bilbao's favourite bakery sweet.Map ↗

Things to do

  1. Guggenheim MuseumFrank Gehry's titanium building is the star; outside, Puppy, a giant dog covered in flowers, guards the entrance.Map ↗
  2. Casco ViejoThe Seven Streets of the old town, and the arcaded Plaza Nueva lined with pintxos bars.Map ↗
  3. La Ribera MarketA big riverside market hall, with food stalls on the ground floor.Map ↗
  4. Vizcaya BridgeThe world's oldest transporter bridge, swinging a hanging gondola across the river at Getxo, a metro ride away.Map ↗

Good to know

  • A Barik card covers the metro, tram and buses, and works out cheaper than single tickets.
  • Halal kebab and Moroccan places are easiest to find in San Francisco and Bilbao La Vieja, across the river from the old town.

Last checked October 2026. Things change, so check opening times, fees and transport before you go.