The Basque Country’s main city in northern Spain, transformed by the titanium curves of the Guggenheim; famous for pintxo-hopping in the old town bars and Basque cooking.
Warm and relatively dry — good for riverside walks and pintxo crawls. source
September–October
Summer crowds fade; cool days for museums and the city. source
Weather: May–June and September–October are best; the Atlantic climate brings rain year-round, and August hosts the big Aste Nagusia festival. source
Times to avoid: Under-18s enter the Guggenheim free, so families only need adult tickets. source
Weather varies from year to year; check the forecast before you go.
Don't miss in Bilbao
Guggenheim Museum Bilbao Frank Gehry’s titanium-clad modern art museum; the ticket includes an audio guide, and under-18s are free. source
Old Town pintxo bars Pick pintxos from the counters and hop from bar to bar, Bilbao-style. source
Basque classics Taste bacalao al pil-pil, squid in its ink and other Basque classics. source
Where to stay in Bilbao
Old Town (Casco Viejo)
The Siete Calles, packed with pintxo bars.
Abando / around the Guggenheim
Near the museum and riverside promenade, served by the airport bus.
What to eat in Bilbao
Bacalao al Pil-Pil — Salt cod in an emulsified olive-oil and garlic sauce
Txipirones en su Tinta — Baby squid stewed in their own ink
Pintxos — Basque bite-sized snacks, often on bread
Bilbao tips and things to watch out for
Bilbao travel tips
A Bilbobus single costs €1.70; a Barik card is much cheaper and gives free transfers within 45 minutes. Bizkaibus A3247 links the airport to the city. source
Good to know in Spain
Meal times in Spain tend to be later than in many countries, but opening hours vary by restaurant; check before visiting. source
For Granada’s Alhambra, select your visit date and entry time on its official ticket site. source
Watch out for in Spain
Pickpockets are rife on Las Ramblas and the Barcelona metro, and around Madrid’s Puerta del Sol. source
Phones left on terrace tables can vanish in seconds. source
General advice for the whole country. Check official government travel advice for entry rules and safety before you go.
Restaurant prices for Bilbao are still being collected. The estimate also uses some official meal and transit prices checked in other cities in Spain.
Bilbao attraction & theme park tickets
Official sellers’ prices for one adult admission. Select attractions in the calculator to add them to your budget.