One day in Bilbao
4 stops, about 48 min of walking in total.
- Day 1: Casco Viejo · Abandoibarra and EnsancheCasco Viejo and the Seven Streets → Plaza Nueva → Guggenheim Museum Bilbao → Arriaga TheatreOpen in Google Maps
Spain
Bilbao itineraries
Bilbao sits on a bend of the Nervion river between green hills, with a medieval old town on one bank and Frank Gehry's Guggenheim Museum on the other. Most of what a first visit needs lies close to the river. Plan around the museum closing days, because they fall on different weekdays.
- 15 stops checked
- 2 to 4 days
- 1 to book ahead
- Best in June to September
Data checked on November 2, 2026
Itineraries for Bilbao
Each plan is built from the stop base, with visit time, the walk between stops and a lunch break. Open one and set your pace and arrival day.
2 days in Bilbao
9 stops, about 34 min of walking in total.
- Day 1: Abandoibarra and EnsanchePlaza Moyua and Gran Via → Fine Arts Museum → Guggenheim Museum Bilbao → Zubizuri footbridgeOpen in Google Maps
- Day 2: Casco ViejoRibera Market → Casco Viejo and the Seven Streets → Santiago Cathedral → Plaza Nueva → Arriaga TheatreOpen in Google Maps
3 days in Bilbao
13 stops, about 1 h 43 of walking in total.
- Day 1: Abandoibarra and Ensanche · Casco ViejoGuggenheim Museum Bilbao → Santiago Cathedral → Plaza Nueva → Arriaga TheatreOpen in Google Maps
- Day 2: Casco Viejo · Artxanda and BegoñaRibera Market → Basque Museum → Begoña Basilica → Casco Viejo and the Seven StreetsOpen in Google Maps
- Day 3: Abandoibarra and Ensanche · Artxanda and BegoñaPlaza Moyua and Gran Via → Fine Arts Museum → Zubizuri footbridge → Artxanda funicular and viewpoint → Abandoibarra riverside walkOpen in Google Maps
When to go to Bilbao
June to September are the best months, with afternoon highs of 23 to 26 degrees and the fewest rain days, 7 to 9 a month. The rest of the year has 10 to 14 rain days a month, and winter highs stay around 14 degrees. Bilbao is not dry in any month, so a light waterproof is useful all year.
- Best months
- June to September
13.5° Jan
14.2° Feb
16.6° Mar
18.1° Apr
21° May
23.5° Jun
25.4° Jul
26.3° Aug
24.5° Sep
21.5° Oct
16.6° Nov
14.1° Dec
Climate averages: Agencia Estatal de Meteorología.
Bilbao by season
Spring
9 to 19 °C · about 11 rainy days a month
Highs rise from about 17 degrees in March to 21 in May, with 10 to 12 rain days a month. The hills are green and the days get longer.
What to wear: Wear layers and a waterproof jacket, with shoes that dry quickly.
Summer
15 to 25 °C · about 7 rainy days a month
Afternoons reach 23 to 26 degrees, with about 7 rain days a month from June to August. It is the driest period, and the Guggenheim opens until 20:00.
What to wear: Wear light clothes, sunglasses and a thin layer for the evening.
Autumn
11 to 21 °C · about 11 rainy days a month
September is still warm at about 24 degrees, while October falls to 21 and November to 17. Rain days rise to 11 in October and 14 in November.
What to wear: Bring a waterproof and shoes with grip for wet pavements.
Winter
6 to 14 °C · about 12 rainy days a month
Highs are about 14 degrees and lows 5 to 6, with 11 to 13 rain days a month. Days are short, and snow is very rare.
What to wear: Wear a warm coat, a hat and waterproof shoes.
If it rains
Rain is common, so keep the indoor stops for wet hours. The Guggenheim, the Fine Arts Museum, the Basque Museum, the cathedral and the covered market are all indoors. Use the dry hours for the river walk and the viewpoints.
Stops under a roof
If it is hot and sunny
Summer is mild, but the sun is strong at midday along the river and on the Artxanda hill. Put walks on the quays in the morning or evening and keep museums for the middle of the day. Carry water and a hat on the hill.
Better outdoors
What Bilbao costs
Per person, without the hotel. Tickets are the prices of the stops in each plan, read on the official sites. Food and transport come from the city figures.
| Plan | Tickets | Transport | Food | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 day | €12 | · | €42 to €57 | €54 to €69 |
| 2 days | €34 | · | €85 to €114 | €119 to €148 |
| 3 days | €44 | · | €127 to €171 | €171 to €215 |
Stops with a ticket whose price we could not confirm are left out of the sum.
- Meal in an inexpensive restaurant€20
- Coffee€2.32
What to eat in Bilbao
Pintxos
Small bites on bread or on a skewer, eaten standing at the bar with a drink. The old town streets are full of them.
Bacalao a la vizcaina
Salt cod in a red pepper sauce, a classic Basque main dish.
Marmitako
A fish and potato stew with tuna and peppers, a fisherman's dish.
Pimientos de Gernika
Small green peppers fried in oil and salted, served as a tapa.
Txakoli
A dry, lightly sparkling Basque white wine, poured from a height into the glass.
Idiazabal cheese
A smoked sheep's milk cheese from the Basque Country, often served with quince.
Besides the sights
- 1
Pintxo evening in the old town
Move between bars along the Seven Streets and try one or two bites in each. It works best from early evening.
- 2
Walk the river
A path follows the Nervion from the old town to the Guggenheim and beyond, passing bridges and public art.
- 3
Sunset from Artxanda
Ride the funicular at the end of the afternoon and watch the city light up.
- 4
Day trip to Gaztelugatxe
The islet with its hermitage on the coast is reached by an organised trip or by bus, and needs a good part of a day.
- 5
Football at San Mames
Athletic Club plays in the stadium by the centre, and a match is a local event if the dates fit your trip.
Arriving
Bilbao has an airport with a bus service into the city. The main train stations are Bilbao-Abando for RENFE and Atxuri for Euskotren.
Getting around
The old town, the Guggenheim and the river are all walkable. For the longer legs use public transport. Fares are listed on the Bizkaia transport consortium site.
Where to stay
- Casco ViejoBest for evenings among bars and pintxo streets, though it is noisy on weekends.
- Abandoibarra and EnsancheQuieter, with the Guggenheim and the museums on foot and shops along Gran Via.
- Near the main train stationConvenient for arriving by train.
Before you go
- Check closing days first: the Guggenheim is closed on Mondays most of the year and the Basque Museum on Tuesdays.
- Tuesday is free at the Fine Arts Museum, with shorter hours and the temporary exhibitions closed.
- Buy the combined Guggenheim and Fine Arts ticket if you plan both on the same trip.
- Carry a light waterproof, because rain days occur in every month.
- Ask the bar how it counts pintxos before you order, and pay at the end.
The 15 stops in Bilbao
Every stop has its own page with opening days, ticket price, how to get there and where it fits in the itineraries.
-
Abandoibarra and Ensanche
Guggenheim Museum Bilbao
The titanium museum designed by Frank Gehry on the river, with modern and contemporary art and a building worth walking around. The ticket includes an audio guide.
Booking advised -
Casco Viejo
Casco Viejo and the Seven Streets
The old town, laid out in seven parallel streets on the right bank of the river, with small shops, bars and squares. It is a walk, with no ticket and no fixed route.
-
Casco Viejo
Santiago Cathedral
The Gothic cathedral of the old town, dedicated to Saint James, with a cloister you can visit. It is small by cathedral standards and the visit is short.
-
Abandoibarra and Ensanche
Fine Arts Museum
A large museum with works from the Middle Ages to the present, including Basque and Spanish painters. The collections close an hour before the building.
-
Casco Viejo
Ribera Market
A covered market on the river edge of the old town, with fresh food stalls and bars. Its opening times were not confirmed on an official page, so check before you go.
-
Artxanda and Begoña
Artxanda funicular and viewpoint
A short funicular ride up Artxanda hill, with the best open view over the city and the river. The hours and fare were not confirmed on an official page.
-
Portugalete and the estuary
Bizkaia Bridge
The transporter bridge between Portugalete and Getxo, an iron structure from 1893 on the World Heritage list. You can cross by the gondola or walk the high walkway.
-
Casco Viejo
Basque Museum
The museum of Basque history and culture in the old town, set around a cloister. It covers archaeology, ethnography and everyday life.
-
Casco Viejo
Plaza Nueva
The arcaded square in the middle of the old town, lined with bars and cafes. It is a place to stop, not a visit.
-
Abandoibarra and Ensanche
Zubizuri footbridge
The white pedestrian bridge across the Nervion designed by Santiago Calatrava. It is a short crossing between the two banks.
-
Artxanda and Begoña
Begoña Basilica
The sanctuary of Our Lady of Begoña on the hill above the old town, the church of the patron of Bizkaia. The visiting hours were not confirmed on an official page.
-
Abandoibarra and Ensanche
Azkuna Zentroa
A culture centre in a former wine warehouse, redesigned by Philippe Starck, with exhibitions, a library and cafes. The hours and prices were not confirmed on an official page.
-
Casco Viejo
Arriaga Theatre
The neo-Baroque theatre on the river edge of the old town, worth a look from outside. It is a quick stop on the walk through the Casco Viejo.
-
Abandoibarra and Ensanche
Plaza Moyua and Gran Via
The central square of the modern Ensanche district, with wide avenues and shopping streets. It is a place to pass through on the way to the Guggenheim.
-
Abandoibarra and Ensanche
Abandoibarra riverside walk
The promenade along the left bank near the Guggenheim and the Fine Arts Museum, with sculpture, bridges and modern buildings. It is a walk, with no ticket.
On hotel and airport Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi in hotels, cafés and airports is shared with other guests. A VPN encrypts the connection between your phone or laptop and the VPN's server, which helps when you check email or your bank on the road.
See NordVPNCommon questions
Is one day in Bilbao enough?
One day covers the Guggenheim, the old town and a walk along the river if you start at opening time. A second day lets you add the Fine Arts Museum, the Basque Museum, the funicular and the Bizkaia Bridge without rushing.
Do I need to book in Bilbao?
The Guggenheim sells tickets on its own site and a walk-up ticket is possible, but buying online avoids the queue at busy times. The other museums in this plan can be visited with a ticket bought on the day.
Is Bilbao walkable?
Yes, the old town, the Guggenheim and the river are all close to each other on foot. For the longer legs use public transport, and the funicular and the Bizkaia Bridge need a separate ride.
What is the best time of year to visit?
June to September have afternoon highs of about 23 to 26 degrees and the fewest rain days, around 7 to 9 a month. Winter highs sit around 14 degrees with 11 to 14 rain days a month, so pack a waterproof.