Holiday in Bilbao

About Bilbao

Bilbao has transformed from a gray industrial city into one of Europe's most exciting cultural destinations, thanks to the iconic Guggenheim Museum. Frank Gehry's titanium-clad museum building (opened in 1997) marked the beginning of one of the most successful urban transformations in the world — the 'Bilbao Effect' has since become a fixed term in urban planning. Jeff Koons' giant flower dog 'Puppy' and Louise Bourgeois' spider 'Maman' in front of the museum are iconic photo motifs. The Old Town (Casco Viejo) with its Siete Calles (seven streets) forms the historical core and is the center of Basque pintxos culture. In the narrow alleys, bars with artfully topped snacks line up — a pintxos tour through Plaza Nüva and along Calle Ledesma is one of the best culinary experiences in northern Spain. The Mercado de la Ribera is the largest covered market hall in Europe. Beyond the Guggenheim, Bilbao surprises with the Zubizuri Bridge by Santiago Calatrava, the Azkuna Zentroa (a converted wine warehouse by Philippe Starck), and the elegant Artxanda funicular with panoramic views. The city lies on the Río Nervión and is surrounded by green mountains. The Museum of Fine Arts has an impressive collection from El Greco to Francis Bacon. From Bilbao, you can reach the dramatic coast of Gaztelugatxe (filming location of Dragonstone in Game of Thrones) and the Rioja Alavesa wine region in under an hour.