1 Day in Bilbao, Spain
Welcome to Bilbao
When we were planning a trip to Spain, we knew we wanted to visit Basque Country and planned to spend some time in San Sebastian (which was awesome). Since Bilbao was so close, we decided to tack on a day to see the famous Guggenheim Museum there. It ended up working out because we could easily bus from San Sebastian to Bilbao and then fly from Bilbao to Barcelona. It wasn’t our favorite stop in Spain, but if you happen to be in the area, here’s a good one-day itinerary that hits the key spots in the city.
Our complete Spain itinerary included four days in Madrid, three days in San Sebastian, one day in Bilbao, and then finally three days in Barcelona. Check out those itineraries for other Spain recommendations.
Where to Stay
Bilbao is pretty small and easy to walk around. We stayed at The The Hotel Petit Palace Arana Bilbao in the historic district. It was cheap and functional, and they served free breakfast which is really the way to my heart.
Day 1. Walk Around Bilbao and Visit the Guggenheim
We arrived mid-morning and had one full day in Bilbao, flying out early the next morning.
11:00 - Arrive at the Bilbao bus station (A). We took the Alsa bus from San Sebastian; it was an hour and 20 minutes and very comfortable. One note if you decide to do this: the bus station staff are less used to foreign travelers so you may need to get some help with Spanish translation to make sure you get to the right bus.
11:30 - Drop bags off at the hotel (B). We walked from the bus station to the hotel (~30 min). There is also a Metro line that takes you from San Mamés to Zazpi Kaleak, the closest stop to the hotel.
12:00 - First spend some time exploring Casco Viejo (the Historic District), including the Catedral de Santiago (C) (open Tue-Sat 10am-1:30pm and 4-7pm, Sun 10:30am-1:30pm, 5€). We didn’t go inside the cathedral opting instead to wander around the narrow streets. Make a stop at La Ribera Market (D) (open Mon-Thu 8am-2:30pm, Fri 8am-2:30pm and 5-8pm, Sat 8am-3pm, closed Sun) to pick up some small plates and snacks to keep you energized for the day.
1:30 - Take as much time as you want exploring the neighborhood, and then head over the Zubizuri Bridge, a neat looking pedestrian bridge that takes you across the river.
2:00 - Head to the Guggenheim Museum (C) (open Mon-Fri 10am-8pm, 10€). It’s ~20 min walk from the hotel, and there is a nice pathway next to the river. The outside is so cool to see; the curves and color of the building are distinct and impressive. We found the outside to be more exciting than the inside, but if you are a big museum person you’ll probably like it more. We spent about 30 minutes outside and 90 minutes inside and then were ready to go.
4:30 - Take the long way to the Federico Moyua Plaza (D), a pretty, central plaza. Take some pictures of the fountain and buildings.
5:00 - Have dinner and a glass of wine at La Viña del Ensanche (open Mon-Fri 8:30am-11pm, Sat 12pm-12am, closed Sun). If this seems too early for dinner for you, you can always head back to the hotel and come back out later to this place which is open all evening.
Before You Go
Costs for Two People
Bus (from San Sebastian to Bilbao) - $20
Flight (from Bilbao to Barcelona) - $110
Lodging - $140
Food - $120
Activities - $20
International Phone - $5
Total Costs = $415 (updated 2019)
Pre-Travel Checklist
Make sure your passport won’t expire within 6 months of your departure date.
Double check open hours as they can change (e.g., in the off season and during national holidays.)
Download offline google maps for Bilbao.
Tips
Spaniards eat late compared to American standards. Lunch is around 2pm and dinner around 9:30-10pm.
In most restaurants, there wasn’t even an option for meal tipping on the credit card machine. Leaving a couple of euros in cash is nice.
While nearly everyone we interacted with in Spain spoke English, that was less so the case in Bilbao (except for the Guggenheim). When in doubt, try to find someone who looks young to ask questions.
