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What to see and do sightseeing in Bilbao
May 06 2021
Bilbao is the great cosmopolitan capital of northern Spain. El Botxo, as it is known among Bilbaoans and a good part of Biscayan people, has managed to go from being a very gray industrial city in the 1980s to becoming a highly relevant tourist destination.
The urban transformation of the city, giving great importance to pedestrians, promoting culture with scenarios such as the Guggenheim or reinforcing its wide hotel and gastronomic offer, have positioned Bilbao as one of the best destinations for a getaway.
From ILUNION Bilbao, one of the best hotels in the center of Bilbao, we invite you to discover that the charm of Vizcaya is not limited only to Bilbao, since the whole province hides incredible places to visit. Will you join us to see them?
Casco Viejo: the most authentic Bilbao
Siete Calles is the oldest neighborhood in Bilbao that served as the nucleus for the expansion of the city, for that reason it is also known as Casco Viejo. Although it is made up of more than 40 streets, most of them pedestrianized, the essential ones are seven: Artecalle, Tendería, Belosticalle, Carnicería Vieja, Barrencalle, Berrencalle Barrena and Somera. The latter is the oldest and a paradise for lovers of pintxos.
An interesting formula to discover the most popular monuments of Old Bilbao, such as the Arriaga Theater, the Plaza Nueva, the Santiago Cathedral or the La Ribera Market is through a Free tour, but without a doubt the best option is hand in hand from a native of Bilbao who will make you discover all the secrets of the area by visiting the best pintxos bars.
The Guggenheim Museum
If there is an unmistakable postcard of Bilbao in the last 25 years, it is that of the Guggenheim Museum. It is one of the most popular contemporary art museums in Spain, with more than one million visitors a year. Its curvilinear shapes and limestone, glass and titanium walls attract even more looks than the works on display inside. As with Puppy and Mama, the giant dog and spider sculptures located in front of the museum.
The Guggenheim Museum is less than 10 minutes from ILUNION Bilbao, in the heart of the Ría de Bilbao, the space that has perhaps most been regenerated in the urban aspect. There are great landmarks throughout the estuary, one of them is the museum itself, but the Zubizuri Bridge, designed by Santiago Calatrava or La Salve Bridge, also stands out.
Pintxos and pots in Bilbao
The pintxo culture perfectly defines the richness of Basque gastronomy. Going potes or txikiteo is a way to get together with friends to enjoy good food and good wines.
During the last decade, the pintxo-pote has gained strength due to its economic nature, but what makes up the success of this proposal is the taste of the Basques for good gastronomy. In fact, many of these txikiteo sessions end with sitting at a good table and having a good meal.
In Bilbao, the quintessential area to go potting is the Old Town, with historical places such as the Motrikes Bar and its famous grilled txampi. However, El Botxo is much more than Siete Calles, since Deusto, Pozas, Guggenheim or Diputación are also sceneries to discover.
Begoña, San Antón and the Cathedral of Santiago, the great churches of the city
Although Bilbao is not as Marian or religious a city as Seville or Santiago de Compostela may be, its streets also contain some churches that are well worth visiting.
The Cathedral of Santiago, in the middle of the square of the same name in the Old Town, is the oldest religious temple in the city. The Puerta del Ángel, the Gothic cloister, its tower and the stained glass windows are the highlights of this temple.
The Basilica of Begoña is of great interest because of the devotion that the people of Bilbao profess to the Virgin of Begoña, patron saint of Vizcaya. This temple is located in the neighborhood of the same name. In honor of this virgin, the Semana Grande de Bilbao is celebrated in the month of August.
Finally, it is also worth highlighting the Church of San Antón, a Gothic temple in the heart of the Old Town that is located next to the San Antón bridge and forms one of the best-known images of Bilbao.
And the Greater Bilbao? And Vizcaya?
The interest in knowing Bilbao lies not only in the attractions of the capital of Biscay, but in all the nearby towns that contain many other places with a lot of historical, cultural or landscape importance.
San Juan de Gaztelugatxe, on the Bermeo - San Juan Route, is one of them. Known worldwide for being the place in the fiction of Dragonstone, from the successful series Game of Thrones, the small hermitage of San Juan de Gaztelugatxe is much more attractive for the winding walk to the temple than for the temple itself.
Guernica is another essential corner. Bombed by Nazi aviation in 1937, which led to Picasso painting his well-known work, this town is also the headquarters of the General Councils of Vizcaya, in the Casa de Juntas de Guernica.
Guernica and Luno are part of the Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve, declared as such by UNESCO in 1984. On a route through this natural enclave we can enjoy towns like the one mentioned, but also Bermeo, Mundaka, Mendata, Arrazua, Elanchove and Múgica, among others.
All the recommended locations in Bilbao, as well as many others that are left out of this small guide but that are discovered only by walking the streets, are easily accessible on foot or by urban transport. For excursions outside the capital, the best option is to move by car, due to the proximity between locations.
So now you know, when you need centrally located hotels in Bilbao, visit us at ILUNION Bilbao. The unbeatable location of our 3-star urban hotel, its wide range of services and its spacious rooms for events, make this contemporary design hotel the ideal choice for business and leisure trips.
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The urban transformation of the city, giving great importance to pedestrians, promoting culture with scenarios such as the Guggenheim or reinforcing its wide hotel and gastronomic offer, have positioned Bilbao as one of the best destinations for a getaway.
From ILUNION Bilbao, one of the best hotels in the center of Bilbao, we invite you to discover that the charm of Vizcaya is not limited only to Bilbao, since the whole province hides incredible places to visit. Will you join us to see them?
Casco Viejo: the most authentic Bilbao
Siete Calles is the oldest neighborhood in Bilbao that served as the nucleus for the expansion of the city, for that reason it is also known as Casco Viejo. Although it is made up of more than 40 streets, most of them pedestrianized, the essential ones are seven: Artecalle, Tendería, Belosticalle, Carnicería Vieja, Barrencalle, Berrencalle Barrena and Somera. The latter is the oldest and a paradise for lovers of pintxos.
An interesting formula to discover the most popular monuments of Old Bilbao, such as the Arriaga Theater, the Plaza Nueva, the Santiago Cathedral or the La Ribera Market is through a Free tour, but without a doubt the best option is hand in hand from a native of Bilbao who will make you discover all the secrets of the area by visiting the best pintxos bars.
The Guggenheim Museum
If there is an unmistakable postcard of Bilbao in the last 25 years, it is that of the Guggenheim Museum. It is one of the most popular contemporary art museums in Spain, with more than one million visitors a year. Its curvilinear shapes and limestone, glass and titanium walls attract even more looks than the works on display inside. As with Puppy and Mama, the giant dog and spider sculptures located in front of the museum.
The Guggenheim Museum is less than 10 minutes from ILUNION Bilbao, in the heart of the Ría de Bilbao, the space that has perhaps most been regenerated in the urban aspect. There are great landmarks throughout the estuary, one of them is the museum itself, but the Zubizuri Bridge, designed by Santiago Calatrava or La Salve Bridge, also stands out.
Pintxos and pots in Bilbao
The pintxo culture perfectly defines the richness of Basque gastronomy. Going potes or txikiteo is a way to get together with friends to enjoy good food and good wines.
During the last decade, the pintxo-pote has gained strength due to its economic nature, but what makes up the success of this proposal is the taste of the Basques for good gastronomy. In fact, many of these txikiteo sessions end with sitting at a good table and having a good meal.
In Bilbao, the quintessential area to go potting is the Old Town, with historical places such as the Motrikes Bar and its famous grilled txampi. However, El Botxo is much more than Siete Calles, since Deusto, Pozas, Guggenheim or Diputación are also sceneries to discover.
Begoña, San Antón and the Cathedral of Santiago, the great churches of the city
Although Bilbao is not as Marian or religious a city as Seville or Santiago de Compostela may be, its streets also contain some churches that are well worth visiting.
The Cathedral of Santiago, in the middle of the square of the same name in the Old Town, is the oldest religious temple in the city. The Puerta del Ángel, the Gothic cloister, its tower and the stained glass windows are the highlights of this temple.
The Basilica of Begoña is of great interest because of the devotion that the people of Bilbao profess to the Virgin of Begoña, patron saint of Vizcaya. This temple is located in the neighborhood of the same name. In honor of this virgin, the Semana Grande de Bilbao is celebrated in the month of August.
Finally, it is also worth highlighting the Church of San Antón, a Gothic temple in the heart of the Old Town that is located next to the San Antón bridge and forms one of the best-known images of Bilbao.
And the Greater Bilbao? And Vizcaya?
The interest in knowing Bilbao lies not only in the attractions of the capital of Biscay, but in all the nearby towns that contain many other places with a lot of historical, cultural or landscape importance.
San Juan de Gaztelugatxe, on the Bermeo - San Juan Route, is one of them. Known worldwide for being the place in the fiction of Dragonstone, from the successful series Game of Thrones, the small hermitage of San Juan de Gaztelugatxe is much more attractive for the winding walk to the temple than for the temple itself.
Guernica is another essential corner. Bombed by Nazi aviation in 1937, which led to Picasso painting his well-known work, this town is also the headquarters of the General Councils of Vizcaya, in the Casa de Juntas de Guernica.
Guernica and Luno are part of the Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve, declared as such by UNESCO in 1984. On a route through this natural enclave we can enjoy towns like the one mentioned, but also Bermeo, Mundaka, Mendata, Arrazua, Elanchove and Múgica, among others.
All the recommended locations in Bilbao, as well as many others that are left out of this small guide but that are discovered only by walking the streets, are easily accessible on foot or by urban transport. For excursions outside the capital, the best option is to move by car, due to the proximity between locations.
So now you know, when you need centrally located hotels in Bilbao, visit us at ILUNION Bilbao. The unbeatable location of our 3-star urban hotel, its wide range of services and its spacious rooms for events, make this contemporary design hotel the ideal choice for business and leisure trips.