Bilbao in 2 Days: everything you need to know

Bilbao is a port city located in the north of Spain, in the Basque Country. It is surrounded by mountain ranges and crossed by the Nervión River, whose waters flow into the Cantabrian Sea. It is an ideal place to get to know the Basque culture, visit some of the most important museums in the world and taste its unique gastronomy.

If you are visiting Bilbao for two days, you will probably want to make the most of your stay in the city, so here is an itinerary with the best things to do in Bilbao. On the first day I suggest you visit emblematic sites such as the Old Town, the Guggenheim Museum, the Ribera Market and the Artxanda viewpoint, and the following day you can visit one of the oldest bridges, walk along the port area and stroll along its wild beaches and cliffs, to complete an unforgettable stay.

On the first day of your tour you should not miss a stroll through Casco Viejo, to immerse yourself in the culture and history of the city, and the Mercado de la Ribera. Nor should you miss the Guggenheim Museum and its innovative construction on the banks of the River Nervión.

I also recommend that you go up to the Artxanda viewpoint, where you will have an incredible view of the city and can take the best photographs of the Bilbao sign. In the Old Town there are also many shops, bars and restaurants where you can have lunch. And in the evening you can go to the Mercado de la Ribera market to taste some delicious pinchos and other typical dishes of the area, while you enjoy a concert by the river.

Guggenheim Museum

The Guggenheim Museum is a very interesting museum to visit, even if you are not particularly interested in contemporary art, as its building is an architectural wonder of the city that has attracted many visitors since its foundation.

The striking thing about the building is its curved titanium forms that seem to bend by chance, although they follow a logic perfectly designed by the architect Frank Gehry. Outside, there are must-see sculptures such as Jeff Koons' Puppy at the entrance and Louise Bourgeois' Mama, a huge, long-legged spider.

Inside, there are permanent and temporary exhibitions dedicated to contemporary art that have given the museum great prominence in the art world. Many famous exhibitions that have toured the world have been presented in this museum, such as those of artists like Kandinsky, Antonio Saura, Andy Warhol, Doris Salcedo and Henri Michaux.

If you are interested in knowing in detail the works exhibited in the museum, you can hire a two-hour privately guided tour of the Guggenheim to learn about the history of the museum, its works and much more.

• Location: Erribera Kalea, s/n, 48005 Bilbao.
• Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday from 10am to 7pm. Some Mondays it is also open. It is best to check opening times before you go.
• Entry fee: Around $15. Children under 18 years of age do not pay admission.

Artxanda Funicular and Viewpoint

3 kilometres from the Guggenheim Museum, across the La Salve bridge, is the Artxanda viewpoint, from where you will have one of the best views of the city. There you can have your photograph taken with the 150-metre-long railing that reads the phrase "Bilbao-Bilbo" in big red letters, which has become customary when visiting the city.

The good thing is that to get to the Artxanda viewpoint you have to take the Artxanda funicular, which is a walk in itself, because you will have a panoramic view of the city as the funicular rises up to the viewpoint. Once at the top of the Artxanda hill, 250 metres high, you can see the city, the Casco Viejo, the Nervión river, its bridges and even the sea.

In the Funicular Park you can also see the sculpture of the Footprint, which is made of carbon steel and is about 8 metres high. It was made by the sculptor Juanjo Novella to pay homage to those who fought against fascism in the Spanish Civil War of 1936.

How to get to the Artxanda viewpoint

To get to the Artxanda viewpoint, walk one kilometre from the Guggenheim Museum to Plaza Moraza, crossing the La Salve bridge, or take a taxi. There you can take the Artxanda funicular, which leaves every 15 minutes and takes 3 minutes to reach the viewpoint.

If you have rented a car, it is best to take the funicular, otherwise you will have to make a long detour to take a lift up to the viewpoint. You can check the Artxanda funicular's timetable and fares on the Artxanda funicular website.

• Cost of the funicular ride: Around 2.50 EUR.
• Opening hours: from 7.15am to 10pm from October to May, except on Sundays when it starts running at 8.15am. From June to September it runs until 11pm on weekends and holiday eves.

Old Town

After visiting the Artxanda viewpoint, you can head to the Casco Viejo, a historic pedestrianised area full of bars, restaurants, shops, towers, squares, gardens, churches and narrow streets. Also known as Las Siete Calles, it is the place where the city of Bilbao was born 700 years ago and an important commercial and cultural centre of the city.

The seven old streets are located parallel to the Cathedral of Santiago in the direction of the river Nervión. These streets are: Somera, Artekale, Tenderia, Belostikale, Carniceria Vieja, Barrenkale and Barrenkale Barrena.

On the other hand, you will see that there are many historical or interesting sites outside these pedestrian streets such as Plaza Nueva, Plaza Unamuno and the Basque Museum. The best way to get around the Old Town is on foot, as it is not very big, and the sites are very close to each other.

Places of interest in the Old Town

• Plaza Nueva: it was built in the 19th century. It is of neoclassical style, with 5 entrances and rectangular shape surrounded by semicircular arches.
• Arriaga Theatre: it is a neo-baroque theatre built at the end of the 19th century, and is dedicated to the composer Juan Crisóstomo de Arriaga. It is located in the square of the same name.
• Basque Museum: it is the historical and artistic museum of the Basque Country and a very beautiful building from an architectural point of view. Its style is neoclassical.
• Cathedral of Santiago: it is the oldest building in the Old Town, whose construction began in the 14th century. It is neo-Gothic in style.
• San Antón Church: it is a gothic style church built in the 15th century. It is the church that is on the city's coat of arms and, due to its location next to the estuary and the Antón Bridge, it is one of the most popular sites in Bilbao.

Another option, as well as walking through the streets of the Old Quarter, is to take a boat trip along the estuary to get to know the city from another point of view, from the Nervión riverbed.

How to get to the Old Quarter

From the Artxanda viewpoint you should take the funicular down to the Artxando do-Funikularra Funicular station in Plaza Moraza, which is one kilometre from the Old Quarter. A good option is to walk along the banks of the Nervión river to the Arenal bridge, which is near Plaza Nueva, as it is a nice walk.

You can also take the metro to the Zazpikaleak/Casco Viejo station, or take a taxi.

La Ribera Market

Two blocks from Bilbao Cathedral is the Mercado de la Ribera, which has been considered one of the most complete markets in the world. Rationalist and art deco in style, it was built in 1990 by Pedro Ispizua.

The Mercado de la Ribera is the place where the people of the neighbourhood buy all kinds of food and fresh produce, making it the ideal place to meet the locals. It also has gastrobars where you can try some of the local delicacies, such as gildas and seafood, and the characteristic pinchos.

The Market also has a café overlooking the river, the Café-bar La Ribera, a jazz bar where, if you wish, you can cook the food you bought at the market.

• Location: Erribera Kalea, s/n, 48005 Bilbo.
• Opening hours: From 8am to midnight every day except Sunday, when it opens at 11am.

On your second day in the city of Bilbao you can visit the oldest bridge in the city, its harbour area, stroll along the coast and visit the wild beaches and cliffs, which will be the ideal complement to your tour of the Old Town of Bilbao.

Starting at the Vizcaya Bridge, you can have lunch in the Old Port and then take a walk along the coast to marvel at the incredible scenery on the shores of the Bay of Biscay. You should be prepared with comfortable shoes and clothes, water and food, as these are natural sites where there are no bars or restaurants.

In the evening, for a nice end to the day, you can sign up for a gastronomic tour in Bilbao and enjoy one of the best cuisines in the world.

Vizcaya Bridge

The Vizcaya Bridge is the only ferry bridge in the city. It is also the oldest ferry bridge in the world, which is why it was declared a World Heritage Site in 2006. The bridge crosses the river Nervión, connecting the neighbourhoods of El Arenal and Portugalete.

As well as crossing the river in a small boat, you can take the lift up to the pedestrian walkway, which is 45 metres high, and enjoy a panoramic view of the river, the city and the sea. From there you can also see the sophisticated working mechanisms of the ferry as it passes beneath your feet.

You can walk up to the footbridge from either the Portugalete neighbourhood or from Las Arenas, where there are metro stations very close to the lifts. Walking along the footbridge is completely safe for children. And, if you wish, you can also get on the boat to complete the journey, which is included with the purchase of the ticket.

• Location: C/Barria N° 3 -Bajo 48.930, Las Arenas (Getxo), Bilbao.
• Walkway opening hours: from 10 am to 2 pm and from 4 pm to 8 pm.
• Ticket price: around 9 EUR for the basic ticket and 12 EUR for the ticket with audio guide. Children under 5 years of age are free of charge.
• Recommendations: it may not be possible to enter on rainy days.

How to get to the Vizcaya Bridge

The best option if you don't have a car is to go by bus, as you will be dropped off closer to the base of the bridge. If you prefer the metro, you should get off at Portugalete or Areeta station and walk about 9 blocks to the bridge.

By car, take the BI 637 road and take Zugatzarte Avenue to the mouth of the river, and then turn into Eduardo Coste Street.

Old Port - Portu Zaharra

A 15-minute bus ride from the Vizcaya Bridge takes you to Puerto Viejo or Portu Zaharra, a charming fishing village where you can stroll around for a while and choose a restaurant for lunch. Originally, in the 17th and 18th centuries, a fishermen's port was established here to assist the ships that were shipwrecked in the area.

Puerto Viejo is made up of beautiful white houses and has a varied and interesting gastronomic offer.

Very close to Puerto Viejo is Arrigunaga beach, one of the most beautiful beaches in Bilbao, which is a good option if you prefer not to move around too much.

La Galea promenade

La Galea is an area of cliffs, wild beaches, giant waves and lighthouses. This route is also known as the Cliff Walk. It is a 3.5 kilometre walk along the coast to Gorrondatxe Hondartza beach, which you can do in full or in part.

From Puerto Viejo you can get there by taking a combination of buses or by taking a taxi to the car park at the Fort of La Galea, the starting point for the walk to Gorrondatxe beach. From the car park you have to walk back a little to see the Fort, which is an abandoned military construction dating back to the 18th century.

Along the coastal path you will find viewpoints, the La Galea lighthouse, stone seats to rest on and incredible views of the cliffs. The walk is really worthwhile and you won't realise how far you've walked because the natural surroundings are wonderful and very peaceful. However, it is also possible to reach Gorrondatxe beach by car.

Another option, if you are one of those people who enjoy walking, is to start the coastal walk from Puerto Viejo, and walk about 6 km to Gorrondatxe beach. In general, the walk is not difficult, as it only goes uphill on the stretch from Puerto Viejo to La Galea lighthouse.

Gorrondatxe beach Hondartza

Gorrondatxe Hondartza or Azkorri beach is a beach about 800 metres long and 115 metres wide of black sand and rocks surrounded by cliffs. It is possible to take a dip in its waters if the weather is pleasant, but bear in mind that it is an area with strong waves, where surfing is often practised.

The beach has showers, toilets and a drinking fountain, and is guarded by lifeguards. It is isolated from the urbanisation so you won't find any bars or restaurants nearby. If you enjoy wild natural surroundings, you will love this beach.

To return to the centre of Bilbao you can go back the same way in the direction of La Galea lighthouse or continue walking to Sopelana beach, where you can take the metro from Larrabasterra station.

From Sopelana beach it is one and a half kilometres to Larrasbasterra station, while from Gorrondatxe Hondartza beach it is 2.5 kilometres to Berango station, where you can take the metro back to the centre of Bilbao.

This is the itinerary I suggest you follow if you are in Bilbao for two days, but if you stay in Bilbao for 3 days or more, you will have plenty of options to add to your list of activities. One last recommendation for your stay in the city is not to leave without trying the best pintxos in Bilbao.