Planning a city trip to Bilbao? We’ve got your back! We’ve gathered some great tips for those moments when you’re wondering what to do in Bilbao. Whether you’ve arrived from Bilbao airport to the city center by plane and metro, or you’ve simply driven straight to Bilbao by car, we’ve found fun activities in Bilbao and fantastic day trips from Bilbao for every mode of transport.
And here comes the best part: to truly experience Bilbao and see all the highlights, we have something special for you — the Bilbao Bike Tour: the Highlights! Discover this vibrant city in a relaxed and adventurous way as you cycle past the beautiful sights.
Buy your tickets in advance and avoid frustration
By getting your tickets online in advance, you ensure a smooth visit to popular attractions and can fully enjoy what Bilbao has to offer. In Bilbao, the Athletic Bilbao stadium and the Guggenheim Museum are some of the top attractions that draw many visitors.
Save money right away and avoid long queues!
Let our enthusiastic guide take you to the most iconic spots!
Discover the history of Athletic Bilbao at San Mamés stadium
Football club Athletic Bilbao is the great pride of Bilbao. San Mamés stadium, also known as La Catedral, is their home ground.
During a tour of the stadium, you’ll experience what it’s like to be in the changing rooms, the tunnel, and the press room. Take a seat in the dugout and feel like a real Basque footballer. In the San Mamés museum, you’ll participate in interactive games and audiovisual productions. Through 500 objects, including the iconic red and white kits, you’ll learn more about the club’s history. A must for every football lover.
- Tour tickets: Buy online
Guggenheim Museum: modern and experimental art
The Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao has helped the city shed its image as a working-class port city and gain a hipper reputation. The building itself is a gem to see. The exterior reflects the city’s fishing tradition with titanium and fish-scale-shaped plates. These plates create the illusion of fish scales.
Around the museum, you’ll wander among artworks such as a giant spider with marble eggs by Louise Bourgeois and the Flower Puppy by Jeff Koons. Inside the museum itself, you’ll find works by Salvador Dalí, Andy Warhol, Joseph Beuys, and Picasso. You’ll get a tour through art from the second half of the 20th century to the present day.
- Guggenheim tickets: Buy online
- More info about the Guggenheim museum
Itsasmuseum, museum in a former shipyard
Hidden beside the river, on the edge of the city, you’ll find the museum about the maritime history of the Basque Country. Life at sea from the perspective of the port of Bilbao is central to this museum. Through interactive displays, you’ll learn more about the development of maritime activities in this city.
All video presentations and nautical information boards are available with English translation, so you can easily follow along. The museum is easily accessible by tram from the city center. You can easily buy tickets here.
- Itsasmuseum tickets: Buy online
The impressive exhibitions at Deusto Expo Center
In the Deusto district, just a ten-minute walk from the Guggenheim Museum and five minutes from San Mamés stadium, lies the Deusto Expo Center. This space was once an old bus garage and was carefully renovated with respect for the industrial architecture. The unique features and the free height of 6 meters make this space the ideal place for all kinds of artistic exhibitions.
Deusto Expo Center tickets: Buy online
See the city from a different perspective: take the Artxanda funicular
Not sure what to do in Bilbao and want a panoramic view over the city? Take the Artxanda Funicular, the cable car, to the top of Mount Artxanda.
From the city center, you’ll be taken by electric cable car to the top of Mount Artxanda. On this mountain lies a recreation area with a hotel, a restaurant, a sports complex, and a park. If you climb a bit further, you’ll be rewarded with a panoramic view over the sea, the city, and the Ría del Nervión. From this height, you can also recognize the Puppy at the Guggenheim Museum and San Mamés stadium.
Cruise along the Ría de Bilbao
A boat trip is a relaxing way to see many of Bilbao’s sights. The multilingual audio guide tells you more about the culture and history of the Basque city.
You can choose between a one-hour boat trip and a tour of just over 2 hours on a hop-on hop-off boat. This gives you the opportunity to get on and off whenever you want, and you can freely wander around near the stops. The boat stops in Santurtzi, Getxo and Portugalete, among other places—perfect spots to sample the local dishes and atmosphere.
Unique experiences in the former wine warehouse La Alhóndiga
La Alhóndiga was originally a warehouse for the wine merchants of the Basque city. The warehouse was given a new purpose after standing empty for several years in the 1970s. Since then, the warehouse has served as a centre for leisure and culture. You’ll find a gym, a cinema and a media library, among other things.
The swimming pool on beautiful pillars is an absolute must-see. In the ceiling of La Alhóndiga, you occasionally see a swimmer pass by. You can also satisfy your hunger and thirst effortlessly at La Alhóndiga. In the restaurant, you can taste local and Spanish dishes, and in the bar with rooftop terrace, you can enjoy a refreshing mocktail or a nice glass of wine. Afterwards, you can browse the shops where delicious local wine, art books and design take centre stage.
Cycling in Bilbao with a guide
Exploring Bilbao with an English-speaking guide? You can do it by bike! In 2.5 hours, you’ll get a tour of the main sights of the Spanish city, and the English-speaking guide will tell you some well-kept secrets.
Baja Bikes has several bike tours on offer. The Highlights Bike Tour is the ideal start to your Bilbao city trip. Do you have extra time and want to get more out of your bike tour? Then choose the Bilbao Bike Tour to Getxo, where you cycle through the city towards Getxo for 5 hours. The guide will lead you not only past the main highlights, but also past some lesser-known places in the city.
After this complete bike tour, the city will have no secrets left for you. During the Secrets of Bilbao bike tour, you’ll see the other side of Bilbao. This bike tour shows you all the characteristics that make the city unique, such as the art galleries, festivals and street art.
Would you like a bike tour tailored to you? Then book a bike tour with a private guide. You determine the route and the pace.
Explore the charming Portugalete
Portugalete is less than 15 km from Bilbao, making it easily accessible by metro and the perfect destination for a day trip from Bilbao.
The main attraction of the village is the Puente Vizcaya. This gigantic structure is a so-called transporter bridge, which means that the bridge consists of a frame from which a platform hangs. This platform serves as a shuttle service between two shores. It takes you from Portugalete to Getxo, and vice versa. Adventurers walk across to the other side over the construction, at a height of 46 metres. The magnificent view quickly makes you forget your fear of heights.
There’s much more to discover in Portugalete. The most beautiful buildings along the quay were built during the Industrial Revolution, which was an important period for the town. The Gran Hotel Puente Colgante is a good example of this. The building is located on El Solar Plaza, a beautiful square with plane trees, a lovely gazebo and pastel-coloured merchant houses. The authentic alleyways around this square form the medieval heart of the village. It’s lovely to stroll past the Basque houses, Gothic buildings and street art that refers to Portugalete’s past.
The rocky island of Gaztelugatxe
From Bilbao, it’s just under thirty kilometres to Gaztelugatxe, a small peninsula connected to the mainland by a stone bridge. After climbing the 231 steps of the steep staircase at the end of the bridge, you stand face to face with Ermita San Juan de Gaztelugatxe, a 10th-century church dedicated to John the Baptist that once served as a monastery of the Knights Templar. In the past, the church bell warned fishermen when they could expect a storm. Today, San Juan is a place of pilgrimage.
In addition, the peninsula is considered one of the most beautiful spots on the Basque coast. This didn’t escape the makers of Game of Thrones, who filmed some beautiful shots for the series on the island. Since then, the peninsula has attracted many visitors, especially in the summer months. The parking spaces are often occupied, and it’s recommended to reserve a free ticket in advance.
Experience Spanish life in Santander
Less than 100 km from Bilbao lies the important port city of Santander. With the Bilbao Santander train you’ll arrive relaxed in this coastal city. A major reason to visit the city is its many diverse beaches.
Santander boasts no fewer than 12 beaches! It’s the ideal place to enjoy a day of sun, sea and sand. The city’s location, between the sea and mountain ranges, creates many high waves that have a special appeal to surfers.
Even if you’re not interested in the beach, Santander is a pleasant city to spend time in. The city is packed with architectural landmarks, such as the Palacio de Deportes, the Mercado Municipal del Este and the Catedral de Nuestra Señora de la Asunción de Santander.
Along the Paseo de Pereda you’ll get a taste of California, with modern houses combined with palm trees along the water. The Jardines de Pereda are a lovely place to enjoy a relaxing stroll. The nearby Centro Botín is a work of art to behold. The building is supported by multiple columns and part of the building hangs over the sea.
The Centro Botín is used for multiple purposes. Part of it is set up as an art gallery and another part is used for education, but there’s also a shopping area with several restaurants.
Tired of all that sightseeing? In the many bars of the old fishing district Puertochico you can enjoy a nice drink and local bite. The ideal way to end your day trip to Santander.
El Soplao Cave, no ordinary stalactite cave
If you’re a fan of speleology, this is one of the most amazing day trips from Bilbao. This stalactite cave is far from ordinary. The crystal-shaped stalactites for which the cave is famous resemble coral. With a bit of imagination, the stalactites also look a bit like people.
In any case, visiting El Soplao cave is a unique experience. In converted mining carts you take a short train ride. This ride is a reference to the miners who discovered the cave. Afterwards you follow a guided tour of about an hour, which unfortunately is only available in Spanish.
At each stop you get an explanation and an audio and light show. If this short tour through the cave isn’t enough for you, you can book the Adventure Tour. This way you’ll see more of the less accessible parts of the cave.
- Want to see El Soplao Cave? Buy your tickets online
San Sebastian: city beaches and beautiful panoramas
San Sebastian is located just 150 km from Bilbao and is easily accessible by the Bilbao San Sebastian train. In this fashionable seaside resort, wealthy citizens and royals enjoy the grandeur of the city. San Sebastian has beautiful remnants from the belle époque period, cultural hotspots, beautiful city beaches and many renowned restaurants.
Located in an idyllic bay, shaped like a half moon, lies one of the most beautiful city beaches in Europe. Playa de la Concha is a popular beach with both locals and tourists. Especially in summer it can get very crowded. Along the entire beach runs a promenade, Paseo de la Concha. The Balcón del Bicentenario on this promenade offers you an excellent view over the beach. Bilbao beach combines perfectly with all other activities.
Prefer to keep it small-scale? Then choose Playa de Ondaretta. This beach is located near Mont Igueldo. With the cable car you reach the top of this mountain, from where you have a panoramic view over the beaches, the sea and the surroundings.
Would you rather soak up some culture? Then San Sebastian is also perfect for you. The Palacio de Miramar was built in the mid-19th century as a holiday home for Isabella II of Spain. You can’t visit the palace itself, but it’s wonderful to stroll through the gardens. Peine de Viento XV consists of three steel structures that appear to lie crumbled and scattered in the surf. Together with the rocks of the Concha bay in the west, however, they form an impressive whole.
For a lively atmosphere head to Parte Vieja, where you can enjoy sunny terraces, shop in local stores and taste pintxos in the restaurants and bars.
Get tipsy with the Sip-By-Sip Tour
The Rioja wine region produces many delicious wines. The Sip-By-Sip tour takes you to 3 of the best wineries in the Rioja region. The wineries were deliberately selected for their uniqueness and their contrasts. You’ll learn more about the intriguing history of the region and get to see the green vineyards up close. You’ll taste some of the most famous wines. Afterwards you’ll be guided through the award-winning village of Laguardia, which is known for its underground cellars and is considered one of the most beautiful medieval villages in Spain.
Let a local guide you on a walking tour of Bilbao
Not sure where to start in Bilbao and love walking? Then let a local guide you around, who can tell you many stories about both the residents and the places you visit.
Tired of the beaten path and want to discover the other side of Bilbao? Ask for an alternative tour, such as a graffiti tour, a culinary tour or a tour of the architectural highlights.
Still prefer the traditional tour? The guide will be happy to take you past all the city’s attractions. You can tailor the tour completely to your preferences.