Places to visit in Bilbao

Tourism near Bilbao Airport has been steadily increasing over the years. The airport is convenient, just twelve kilometers from downtown Bilbao and only three hours away from Madrid by car. Many travelers come to explore the bustling city center of Bilbao with its fine restaurants, world-class museums, vibrant nightlife, and fascinating Basque culture.

The nearby Guggenheim Museum is one of the most popular attractions in Bilbao for tourists – it's home to a vast collection of contemporary art that has helped shape this port city into an international cultural hub.

Visitors also enjoy exploring the region, which features winding cobblestone streets lined with traditional architecture, shops selling local products such as cured meats and cheeses, and textiles like hand-woven scarves or colorful pottery.

For outdoor enthusiasts, there are plenty of opportunities in Bilbao, too – you can take part in activities such as hiking or mountain biking along trails through lush forests or kayaking around beautiful coves along the coast.

Additionally, beaches are waiting for tourists before heading back to the airport for your flight home. For more tourism options in Spain, please visit us at getyourguide.com.

Bilbao: 1- or 2-Hour Sightseeing Boat Tour

Experience the heart of Bilbao from the water on a guided sailing tour. Discover a new side of this stunning metropolis by exploring it from the estuary. The boat can hold up to 80 passengers, with indoor and outdoor seating available.

Starting at the City Hall Bridge in Pio Baroja Square, your hour-long tour will take you right to the heart of the Villa. Make your way to the banks of the Zorrozaurre River and then the Deusto Canal's starting point. Stop back at the starting point to wrap things up.

The jetty in Pio Baroja Square is where you'll start your two-hour journey. Take a tour of the estuary and the Puente Bizkaia region as you sail past some of Bilbao's most famous sights.

Various audio guides are offered in various languages, including Spanish, Basque, English, French, German, and Italian, so passengers can learn more about the city, its architecture, and the history of their sailing route.

Bilbao: Guggenheim Museum Skip-the-Line Guided Tour

To begin your tour of the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain, meet your guide at the museum's front entrance. Get the inside scoop on one of the city's most recognizable landmarks without waiting in line.

Explore the building's structure and the outdoor sculptures surrounding the museum to find out why Bilbao was chosen for the stunning Frank Gehry-designed building.

Then, stroll through the galleries, atrium, and terrace with your guide to become acquainted with the museum's most significant permanent and temporary collections.

See it in the company of other large-scale works of art whose materials will surprise you, and marvel at its undulating, serpentine shapes.

Bilbao: 3-Hour Guided Highlights Small-Group Bike Tour

Experience Bilbao like a local on a guided bike tour of the city's top attractions, including the world-famous Guggenheim Museum. Discover the city's rich past and the wonders it offers in the present day.

Following your guide from the central Calle de Villarias, take advantage of the bike lanes and pedestrianized streets to avoid the congestion of the main roads. The river's path can shed light on the importance of the river to the city's growth.

Bicycle past modern and historic landmarks and make a pit stop at the striking Guggenheim Museum, which debuted in the 1990s on the banks of the Nervión River thanks to the efforts of architect Frank Gehry.

See the new San Mamés football stadium and the Euskalduna Conference Centre, constructed on the old shipyards' site. The Neo-Baroque Teatro Arriaga is just one of the historical sites to visit in Bilbao.

Bilbao: San Mamés Museum and Stadium Tour

The tour begins at the museum, which can be accessed through either of the two gates (19 or 20) to the world-famous San Mamés stadium. Then, get a glimpse of football at the grassroots level.

As you enter the field through the tunnel, explore the locker rooms, and picture the press room humming with anticipation, you feel like a real football player.

In addition to touring the stadium, you can learn about football's rich history by exploring the cutting-edge Athletic Club museum. Take a tour of the 500 unique football-related objects collected over a century.

Marvel at trophies, uniforms, graphics, and media portraying the club's history and success.

The museum has something for everyone: a playroom full of activities, an immersive video wall, 600 videos, 13 interactive systems, and 4 audiovisual productions.

From Bilbao: Basque Country Tour

Visit the historic industrial districts that once kept Bilbao running by taking the river road down to the coast. On your trip to Bizkaia, you'll see the Transporter Bridge, the world's oldest bridge of its kind and a popular tourist attraction.

After that, you'll head into the province's interior, but only after passing by the neighborhood of Neguri and its old mansions owned by wealthy industrial managers. Explore the historic old Castle of Butron and take in the charming local homes and farmhouses.

After visiting the coastal village of Bakio, a favorite vacation spot for local Basques, you can continue along the stunning coastline to the town of San Juan de Gaztelugatxe.

One of the most picturesque spots on the entire Basque coast is rumored to be here. The old hermitage of San Juan sits atop a massive rock linked to the mainland by a winding staircase made of stone.

You'll keep going until you reach Bermeo, a small fishing village. Stopping by, you can see the Juradera Church, Ercilla Tower, old port, and Town Hall, among other attractions. You'll have some downtime during lunch, and your guide can suggest great places to eat.

In the future, you will visit Mundaka, a stunning location with breathtaking views of the Urdaibai Biosphere, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. After that, you'll reach Gernika, where you can see the Basque Sacred Tree, the Casa de Juntas, or the old Law House.

From Bilbao: Biarritz, Saint Jean de Luz, San Sebastian Tour

This full-day guided tour from Bilbao allows you to see Biarritz and the charming coastal village of Saint Jean de Luz. Roll down the windows and smell the salt air as you admire the vast blue ocean as you travel. Before exploring San Sebastian, Spain, grab a bite at a local eatery.

Guests will be picked up from their Bilbao hotel and taken on a guided tour of Biarritz, a popular summer destination for European nobility. Learn where to find the best vantage points in the city and how to get to the most famous spots.

Visit the coastal village of Saint Jean de Luz to taste the traditional local dessert. And finally, make a pit stop in San Sebastian to explore the city's historic quarter on foot before heading up Mount Igueldo for a bird's-eye view of the area.