How many days in Bilbao? Plans for 1–4 days

Bilbao is the largest city of the Basque Country, a former port and steel town that reinvented itself around Frank Gehry's Guggenheim Museum. The centre is compact: the old town, the riverside and the Guggenheim are a pleasant walk apart, and the metro runs out to the coast. The short answer: 2 days for the essentials, 3 days are ideal, and from 4 days a trip to San Juan de Gaztelugatxe or San Sebastián fits in.

How many days in Bilbao? The overview

Two things are worth knowing in advance. The Guggenheim is normally closed on Mondays, except in summer and on a few holidays, so check the museum's calendar before you plan your days. And the city fills up during Aste Nagusia, the big festival week in August.

One day in Bilbao: the Guggenheim and the old town

One day is enough for the Bilbao most people picture. Start at the Guggenheim Museum when it opens. The titanium building alone is worth the trip, and Jeff Koons' flower dog Puppy at the entrance and Louise Bourgeois' spider Maman on the riverside can be seen without a ticket. Inside, allow around three hours. Buy tickets on the museum's official website.

In the afternoon, walk along the river past Calatrava's white Zubizuri footbridge to the Casco Viejo. The Siete Calles, the seven parallel lanes of the medieval town, lead to the Gothic Santiago Cathedral and the arcades of Plaza Nueva. In the evening, do as the locals do: one or two pintxos standing at the bar, then on to the next.

Two days in Bilbao: market, Begoña and Artxanda

The second day starts at the Basilica of Begoña on its hill above the old town. Walk down the long Mallona steps into the Casco Viejo and on to La Ribera, one of the largest covered markets in Europe, right on the river, with pintxo counters for lunch. Tickets for guided tours and boat trips in Bilbao^* are also on Tiqets.

In the afternoon, choose between art and a view. The Fine Arts Museum next to Doña Casilda Park has works from El Greco and Goya to Basque painters; a combined ticket with the Guggenheim is available. Or take the Artxanda Funicular, running since 1915, up the city's local hill for the view over the whole valley, ideally towards sunset.

Three days in Bilbao: the ideal length

Three days give you the estuary down to the sea as well. Our ready-made plan divides them like this:

• Day 1 – Casco Viejo and Artxanda: the Basilica of Begoña, the Siete Calles, Santiago Cathedral, Plaza Nueva, La Ribera market, the Artxanda Funicular.
• Day 2 – Guggenheim and Abando: the Zubizuri bridge, the Guggenheim Museum, pintxos on Calle Ledesma, the stained glass of Abando station, the Fine Arts Museum, Doña Casilda Park.
• Day 3 – the Vizcaya Bridge and Getxo: the old town of Portugalete, the Vizcaya Bridge, the Paseo de las Grandes Villas, the old port of Algorta, and back in the city Azkuna Zentroa.

The Vizcaya Bridge from 1893 is the world's oldest transporter bridge and a UNESCO World Heritage Site: a gondola hanging from the steel frame carries pedestrians and cars across the river. You can also walk across the top on the upper walkway, which needs a separate ticket. The metro takes about 25 minutes from the centre to Portugalete or Getxo.

Four days or more: Gaztelugatxe and San Sebastián

From the fourth day, the Basque coast is the obvious choice. San Juan de Gaztelugatxe, a hermitage on a rocky islet linked to the mainland by a stone bridge and a long staircase, lies on the coast near Bermeo. Access is free, but on busy days you must book a free ticket on the website of the provincial government of Bizkaia beforehand.

San Sebastián is about an hour and a quarter away by bus, with La Concha beach, the pintxo bars of the old town and two viewpoint hills; more in our article how many days in San Sebastián. Vitoria-Gasteiz, the Basque capital, and the wine villages of Rioja Alavesa are other day trips. Bus and train connections^* can be compared on Omio.

Where to stay in Bilbao

For a short stay, two areas work best:

• Casco Viejo (old town): right among the market, the cathedral and the pintxo bars, everything on foot. Partly noisy at night.
• Abando: between the old town and the Guggenheim, with the main station, quieter and well connected by metro and train.

An airport bus connects Bilbao Airport with the city centre; if you arrive late with luggage, you can book an airport transfer in Bilbao^* with Kiwitaxi. Visitors from outside the EU, for example from the UK, usually pay less with a travel eSIM for Spain^* (Airalo) than with roaming; our eSIM price index compares the prices per gigabyte.

Best time to visit Bilbao

Averages 2015–2024 from the ERA5 reanalysis (via Open-Meteo), rounded.

Bilbao is at its best from May to September, with 20 to 26 °C by day and rarely real heat. The city lies in the green, wet north of Spain: rain falls in every month, most from October to February, so pack a rain jacket whatever the season – the Guggenheim and the market are good plans for a wet day. Winters are mild, with daytime highs around 12 to 14 °C. In August, the Aste Nagusia festival week fills the streets and the hotels.

Bilbao compared: how many days for other cities?

If you are choosing between cities, this is how many days we recommend in this series for a first visit.

Base map: Natural Earth

More in our articles how many days in San Sebastián and how many days in Madrid, and all cities of the series in the overview how many days in each city.

How YesTrip helps you plan

YesTrip has a ready-made three-day plan for Bilbao with times, short walks and a map for each day, from the Basilica of Begoña to the Vizcaya Bridge. With one tap you copy it into the app, then move stops, drop what does not interest you and add your hotel, a Monday without the Guggenheim or a day in San Sebastián. The app shows the weather for your travel days, the packing list suggests a rain jacket when showers are likely, and with the offline package you have the map without a connection. YesTrip is free.

Bilbao trip planDay by day, with map and tips

If you want to carry on across the north afterwards, our 10-day northern Spain itinerary runs all the way to Santiago.

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