Is Bilbao worth visiting in Northern Spain
Bilbao, Spain located on the northern part of the Basque region of Spain has so much to offer any visitor to the country without the massive crowds. With so much history, culture, stunning architecture, art and of course amazing cuisine, Bilbao delivers a fantastic vacation or short visit to the region.
I would definitely put Bilbao on your bucket list of places to visit in Spain for an authentic and less crowded venues compared to the more touristy destinations around Spain. Also, exploring Basque country is so different and exciting to experience which is totally different than the rest of Spain with their own autonomous identity and culture.
How much time to spend in Bilbao?
I have easily spent a week here but if your time is short I would say 3 or 4 days will give you a good taste to the city and even some easy day trips you can do or just getting out of the city along the stunning coastlines is very doable with their metro system.
How to get to Bilbao
With the largest regional airport in the Basque region, you can catch many regional flights and even international flights that come and go from Bilbao airport. There are extensive train and bus services to and from Bilbao, so it is a well connected hub in the Basque region with plenty of choices of transportation to getting to visiting the region.
When is the best time to visit Bilbao and what is the weather like.
The best time to visit Bilbao typically is when the weather is milder and more pleasant to be outdoors. This tends to be around the early summer season from May to September. Average temperatures go from 19-20 degrees during the summer season to 25-30 degrees around July and August, making this a wonderful time to visit.
Weather is unpredictable and always changing so definitely bring layers to wear and an umbrella for changing patterns.
Top things to do and attractions to see around Bilbao
There’s so much to see and do around the city depending on your interests. You’ll love visiting the old town, enjoy the dynamic art scene here, visit many cultural and historic treasures or just enjoy the myriad of excellent architecture. If you are a foodie, then the dining scene here is outstanding with amazing regional cuisine and delicious pintxos (tapas like bars) to experience.
Visit the Old Town
With a fascinating history that explains the Old Town and growth to the rest of the city, this historic district is fascinating and filled with narrow streets that open up unexpectedly to glorious squares and filled with magnificent architectural treasures, churches and restaurants.
The best way to enjoy the Old Town is to talk a walking tour with a guide to show you the main sites and attractions to the area to get a better understanding on how the city developed and expanded quickly with the importance of trade and commerce in the region.
Exquisite art and architecture
Bilbao is a very artsy city and is filled with stunning examples of varied architectural styles from old to very contemporary. Walking by foot along the Nervion river, gives you an example of both of these architectural splendor, street art and sculpture and ending in the magnificent Bilbao Guggenheim Museum which thrust the city into the limelight of that impeccable artist inspired and one of the most creative cities to visit in Europe.
Bilbao as a world class food venue and scene
Located in Northern Spain in the Basque region which is known worldwide as a culinary region with more Michelin star restaurants than the rest of the country if not Europe. The foodie scene here in Bilbao is outstanding with Pintxos bars, cafes and restaurants that cater to an international crowd but offers amazing regional cuisine that relies on the finest ingredients in the market and used creatively.
With amazing food markets like the Ribera market located in the heart of the Old Town and many other local markets in the city, there’s always fresh and amazing ingredients of fish, meats and produce to choose from.
Enjoy the riverfront area along the Nervion River
The main river that cuts through Bilbao is the Nervion River which flows through the city and ends up at the Cantanbrian sea. Both waterfront areas have walking promenades that line the river and you can enjoy different scenes along the old town and walking through the newer sections of town and passing through the spectacular Guggenheim Bilbao museum. You’ll find lots of sculpture and street art along the way with fantastic views of historic buildings and interesting architecture that lines both sides of the river area. Taking a walk early in the morning or later afternoon when the temperature is more comfortable is definitely a wonderful experience and a fun way to see the entire city by walking along the shoreline.
Beautiful countryside and coastlines
The region around Bilbao is simply breathtaking with rolling hills to mountains that empty into rugged coastlines and wilderness. It’s amazing the see this balance of urban, wilderness to farmlands and scenic coastal areas. You can easily take the metro to outlying areas and visit the rugged natural areas and coastline of the region surrounding Bilbao. Or catch the funicular to reach the top summit of Artxanda – the local mountain for spectacular views and easy hiking trails to follow above the city. If nature is your thing, then there are lots of natural parks and wilderness areas to explore and enjoy the outdoors here around Bilbao.
Shopping venues and the downtown district
The newer areas of Bilbao is where the downtown business district and the main shopping area of the city. Easy to walk to with your map app or hard copy, you can visit or just walk through this area and see a different side of the city. The main transport hub with the train station and bus terminal is also located in the downtown district with easy access with the metro system, trams and other public transportation.
There’s a few interesting places to also explore in the downtown district or for getting you to other areas around Bilbao
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:
Check out these other posts to visiting the area around Bilbao
If you are visiting the areas around Basque country, we feature some additional places and attractions to visit in the region.
Conclusion to visiting Bilbao
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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