Explore the historic Bilbao Old Town
Bilbao’s Old Town is a real treasure and filled with so many historic and cultural sites that you can easily spend an entire day enjoying all the main attractions here. We share all the important and beautiful spots to visit around the historic center of town to give you an insight to the city’s past and how it grew to its present stage.
A brief history to Bilbao’s Old Town (Casco Viejo de Bilbao)
Bilbao’s Old Town, known locally as *Casco Viejo*, is the historic heart of the city, with roots stretching back to the 14th century. What began as a small settlement along the Nervión River quickly grew into an important port and trading hub, connecting northern Spain with distant regions in Europe and the Americas. The town’s strategic location played a significant role in its development, turning it into a bustling center of commerce.
The Old Town is characterized by its seven main streets, *Las Siete Calles*, which formed the core of medieval Bilbao. These narrow, winding streets are lined with colorful buildings and traditional shops that echo the city’s rich past. Despite the devastation caused by severe flooding in 1983, which damaged much of the area, careful restoration efforts have preserved the historical essence of the Old Town, allowing it to retain its unique charm.
Today, *Casco Viejo* is a lively blend of history and modernity. Landmarks like the Gothic Santiago Cathedral and the bustling *Plaza Nueva* stand as testaments to its storied past, while the many pintxo bars offer a taste of Basque culture. The area’s mix of old-world charm and contemporary vibrancy continues to make it a focal point for both locals and visitors.
Let’s start our tour of Old Town
A fantastic place to start our tour of the Old Town of Bilbao is right at the Opera House which is the entrance to most areas of the Old town.
The Opera House of Bilbao, known as Teatro Arriaga, is a cultural landmark named after the Bilbao-born composer Juan Crisóstomo de Arriaga, often called the “Spanish Mozart.” Opened in 1890, the theater’s neo-Baroque architecture, inspired by the Paris Opera House, makes it one of the city’s most visually striking buildings.
Tip – If you have time, try to book a performance to the many events held all week covering operas, ballets, concerts and theatrical performances – it’s also a great way to see the opulent interiors of the Opera House for these events.
Main attractions and cultural sites of Bilbao’s Old Town
Now that we pass through the Opera House we can visit the many historic and cultural attractions around the city, Here’s the top places to visit around the Old Town of Bilbao:
Cathedral of Santiago (St. James)
The main cathedral in the center of the old town was built during the Jacobean period and remodeled a few times up to the current and new facade built in the 19th century. The gothic style cathedral has three naves and an adjoining cloister and is worth visiting both with the price of admission. You also get a free visit to another historic church in the Old Town called, Church of San Antón.
Plaza Nueva
One of the most popular plazas in the old town with the area being lined with so many Pintxos (tapa) bars and restaurants. The neo-classical square was built in 1851 with beautiful archways and porticoes that line the entire square and the center set up as the public place for the old town where folk demonstrations, events and regular gatherings take place.
La Ribera Market
The main shopping public market is called the Mercado de la Ribera Market which was build around 1929. Located alongside the Bilbao Estuary, the market covers over 10,000 square meters with a lovely food and restaurant scene downstairs and the upstairs areas focusing on produce, meat, seafood and different finished specialty foods made regionally. It’s a great place to explore and try even more pintxos (tapas) small bites that are the specialty of each vendor in the market.
Plaza Unamuno
Another popular square and local hangout spot in the Old Town is Plaza Unamono named after a famous and controversial Basque writer, Miguel de Unamuno. There is a sculpture of him located on the square that bears his name to this square filled with bars, restaurants and other specialty shops.
San Antón Basilica
One of the oldest churches in the Old Town and was the first church that visitors to the Old Town would see after crossing the Roman bridge. Sitting in a very picturesque setting along the Bilbao estuary San Anton Basilica and dedicated to St. Anthony the Great who is their patron saint. Built in Gothic style with one main nave, the church was constructed from 1546 yo 1548 and contains beautiful works of Manuel Losada, Luis Paret and Guiot de Beaugrant.
Do these fun walking and other guided tours of the Old Town
If you want to have a guided tour with a local and insider that can explain the history, culture and architecture of the Old Town, I would consider doing a walking tour of the area. Here are some of my recommendations below:
Wander through the main streets around Old Town
It’s easy enough to just explore the main streets that run through the old town. These mostly small and narrow streets are filled with galleries, tourist shops and bars/eateries that are fun to explore and enjoy the vibe of the area.
Siete Calles (Zazpi Kaleak): This is the heart of Bilbao’s Old Town, named after the original seven streets that formed the medieval town. These streets are:
- Calle Somera
- Calle Artecalle
- Calle Tendería
- Calle Belostikale
- Calle Carnicería Vieja
- Calle Barrenkale
- Calle Barrenkale Barrena
How to get around Bilbao
Metro
You can take the Metro underground to take to your various parts around the city. The main metro stop for the Old Town is at Casco Viejo fronting the Siete Calles.
Tram
The tram goes in a circular route along the the many popular places to visit around the city. In the Old town, the main stop is at Arriaga which is at Plaza del Teatro which is the main plaza and gateway to Old Town.
Bus
Many Bilbobus lines stop at the Arenal: 03, 11, 22, 28, 30, 40, 56, 58, 62, 71, 72, 75, 77 and 85. All of them run frequently around the city.
Taxi service
You can easily catch taxi service to get your to many parts of the city. The best drop off point at the entrance of Arriaga or the Opera House.
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Check out our other posts to visiting Bilbao below
Conclusion to visiting Bilbao’s Old Town center
Bilbao’s city center is a tapestry of historical and cultural landmarks, providing a delightful blend of exploration, relaxation, and discovery for visitors from all walks of life. Thanks for checking out this post on Visit Spain and Mediterranean, please do share the post with any of the social media channels around the post, thanks for visiting!
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