Bilbao

A good amount of a visit to the Guggenheim Museum of Bilbao could be spent just outside, staring in awe at the glass and titanium cladding and flowing lines. Completed in 1997 and designed by Frank Gehry, the museum helped put the city in northern Spain on the map and houses works by many different artists, including Anslem Kiefer, Yves Klein, Eduardo Chillida, Jeff Koons, and Anish Kapoor. This ship-like metal building is made up of nineteen galleries that give precedence to Basque artists. Larger works of art can be seen on display outdoors in the Bilbao “Art District.”

Guggenheim Museum, Avenida Abandoibarra, 2, 48009 Bilbao, Phone: +34-944-35-90-00

The Bilbao Art District is the result of a public-private initiative creative to promote activities carried out by the cultural and artistic fabric of Bilbao as an important element in the city’s development and future.

The art district was established in 2013 with a goal of making art a “meeting point” for the city’s citizens. Covering the area between Paseo Abandiobarra, Colón de Larreátegui, Jardines de Albia, and the Maritime Museum, the Bilbao Art District is home to some of the most significant art galleries in the city, such as the Museum of Fine Arts and the Guggenheim Museum. Map

Considered to be one of the country's finest art galleries, the Museum of Fine Arts of Bilbao is a heavyweight with a more traditional museum setting. The span of time covered by the museum's collection is particularly notable, with its oldest work of art dating back to the 1100's and the most recent being present day.

Works by Baroque and Renaissance masters like Murillo and El Greco can be seen at the Museum of Fine Arts, along with Francis Bacon, Sorolla, Gauguin, and Goya. Among the masterpieces showcased are “Lying Figure in Mirror” by Bacon and “Laveuses à Arles” by Gauguin.

Museum of Fine Arts of Bilbao, Museo Plaza, 2, 48009 Bilbao, Phone: +34-9-44-39-60-60

Casco Viejo , or also known as the Old Town of Bilbao, is a rather interesting area to explore, a place full of bars and restaurants, boutique shops, historic sites, colorful architecture, and winding narrow streets.

It’s also a spot for sightseeing, with some of the Old Town’s top sights include the churches of San Anton and San Nicolas, the Arriaga Theatre, the central market, the Plaza Nueva, the Archeological Museum, and the Catedral de Santiago de Bilbao. For travelers headed out in search of pintxos or a meal at night, Casco Viejo is a good place to go.

The Bilbao Cathedral, also known as the Santiago Cathedral or the Cathedral of St. James, is dedicated Saint James the Apostle, who has been Bilbao's patron saint since the year 1643. Constructed during the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, the church was originally built in the Gothic style, however, its facade and tower were built in a neo-Gothic style.

The Cathedral of Bilbao is both one of Biscay Province’s most important gothic buildings and the oldest monument in the city. The best way to enter the cathedral is through the Puerta del Angel, on the north side.

Bilbao Cathedral, Done Jakue Plazatxoa, 1, 48005 Bilbao, Phone: +34-944-15-36-27

Formerly called the Alhondiga, the Azkuna Zentroa is a center for leisure and culture housed in the old wine exchange in Bilbao, serving as a venue for concerts, exhibitions, and more.

This modernist building was redesigned by Philippe Starck and now sits on forty-three unique columns or pillars, each a work of art on its own. In addition to watching a show or viewing an exhibition, visitors can also take a guided tour of the building. One of several cool features of the Azkuna Zentroa is its swimming pool with a glass-paneled floor on the upper level.

Azkuna Zentroa, Plaza Arriquibar, 4, 48010, Bilbao, Phone: +34-944-01-40-14

La Ribera Market is the city of Bilbao’s famous market situated along the river at the edge of the historic Casco Viejo. The market is one of the best ways for tourists to get well acquainted with the famous food scene of Bilbao and a good place to find numerous local products to bring back home.

Housed within a historic building, La Ribera Market is located on the same site of the city’s old market, which dates back to the fourteenth century. Along with food stalls, live music spaces, restaurants, and bars can be found in the market as well.

La Ribera Market, Ribera, s/n, 48005 Bilbao

Euskal Museo Bilbao is one of the best museums in Spain dedicated to Basque culture, taking guests on an interesting journey from the Palaeolithic days through the twenty-first century. The museum provides an overview of the life of artists, shepherds, mariners, and boat builders who left their mark on the modern identity of the Basque region.

On display at the Euskal Museo Bilbao are navigational instruments, sheep bells, woodcutter axes, model boats, fishing nets, looms, clothing, and more that help with illustrating everyday life. Round iconic funerary stones lead into the topics of Basque beliefs and rituals.

Euskal Museo Bilbao, Unamuno Miguel Plaza, 4, 48006 Bilbao, Phone: +34-944-15-54-23

Also known by the name of “Bilbi,” Bilbao La Vieja is a place to go in the city for atmosphere, new dining, art, and fashion. Connected to Abando and the Old Quarter, this area brings together both tourists and locals of the city alike who are drawn to fashion, signature cooking, and artwork.

The streets of Bilbao La Vieja are filled with urban wall art, where the contributions of many prestigious international artists can be found. Nestled between these art pieces are a number of restaurants, cafes, shops, and bars offering international seasonal food, craft beers, delicious pintxos, and more.

Located along the waterfront, the Bilbao Maritime Museum is an interactive museum bringing the Basque maritime history and watery depths of Bilbao, Spain to life. Visitors can begin their trip to the museum with a ten-minute film to get an overview of the history of Bilbao from the 1300’s through present day before they explore two display-filled floors showcasing intricate models, pirate threats, innovative coastal rescue strategies, harrowing shipwrecks, and old shipbuilding techniques. Outside, the Bilbao Maritime Museum displays a variety of boats for guests to clamber about. A free multilingual app offers commentary about numerous exhibits throughout the maritime museum.

Bilbao Maritime Museum, Ramón de la Sota Kaia, 1, 48011 Bilbao, Phone: +34-946-08-55-00