When you're traveling to Bilbao, it's important to know where to go. We've put together a list of the top places to visit in this Spanish city.
Start your vacation off with a visit to the Mercado de la Ribera, Europe's largest indoor market. Here you'll find everything from fresh produce to quality Basque culinary equipment.
1. Guggenheim Museum
If you're a fan of modern and contemporary art, then the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao is a must-see. Designed by Canadian-American architect Frank Gehry, this stunning building is a modern masterpiece that combines complex shapes and captivating materiality to create a striking structure that complements the industrial landscape of the Nervion River.
When the Guggenheim opened in 1997, it changed the way that people think about museums. Its success made it a global model for renewal, boosting Bilbao's economy in the process.
The Guggenheim Museum evokes the industrial history of Bilbao, while still being bold enough to challenge our assumptions about the connections between art and architecture. This is what makes it a truly spectacular building.
It is a marvel to walk around the building and see all the different forms that make up its complex structures. There are hundreds of maintenance and cleaning technicians who work daily inside the building, making sure everything works properly.
2. Mercado de la Ribera
Located in the heart of Casco Viejo, the old city centre, this is a must-visit spot for any food lover. It is the largest indoor market in Europe with 10,000m2 of stalls selling local fresh produce.
The building was designed in art deco style by Pedro Ispizua and fuses stained glass, latticework and decorative plaster. It was built without interior columns and has large open spaces, good ventilation and lots of natural light.
Inside the market, you’ll find fish on the ground floor, meat on the first floor and fruits and vegetables on the second. It’s a great place to get acquainted with local foods such as Basque green peppers, or the best steaks and seafood.
The Mercado de la Ribera also has a trendy jazz cafe with a big glass window overlooking the river. The range of dishes is unique, and live music is played here every night. There is also a gastrobar square where you can try pintxos, gildas or hamburgers, in a welcoming atmosphere.
3. Museum of Fine Arts
The Bilbao Fine Arts Museum (Museo de Bellas Artes) is one of the city’s most visited attractions. It is located inside Dona Casilda Park and houses an impressive collection of art from Spain and beyond.
The museum features collections from the 12th century to the present day, showcasing ancient, modern and contemporary art, as well as paintings from the Spanish and Flemish schools. It also contains creations by Basque artists such as Zuloaga, Regoyos and Echevarria.
Featuring an extraordinary variety of works, the museum boasts masterpieces by Bermejo, Gossaert, Benson, Mandijn, Vredeman de Vries, Lucas Cranach the Elder, De Vos, Anthonis Mor, Alonso Sanchez Coello, El Greco, Pourbus, Gentileschi, Ribera, Zurbaran, Van Dyck, Murillo, Arellano, Melendez, Bellotto, Mengs, Goya, Paret, Villaamil, Gustave Dore, Ribot, Zamacois, Madrazo, Gauguin, Cassatt, Sorolla, Guiard, Iturrino, Ensor, Regoyos, Romero de Torres, Zuloaga, Sunyer, Gutierrez Solana and Daniel Vazquez Diaz.
Architect Frank Gehry designed the building with a vision to ''let the randomness of the curves catch the light." This is a spectacular structure that is a must-see during any visit to Bilbao.
4. Mount Artxanda
One of the city’s best vantage points, Mount Artxanda sits in a beautiful mountainous valley along the River Nervion. Taking a funicular up to the top of the mountain is an excellent way to experience Bilbao’s natural beauty from a new perspective.
The funicular departs at least every fifteen minutes, and it’s easy to combine a ride on the Artxanda Funicular with other Bilbao attractions during a shared or private city tour. The funicular’s summit viewpoint offers panoramic views across the city & beyond to the Bay of Biscay.
The Artxanda Funicular is an essential addition to any visit to Bilbao. It’s a fun way to get a fresh perspective on the city, and it also allows you to escape from the bustle of the streets below.
