Bilbao

Basque culture meets bold design

Bilbao stands out in Spain’s Basque Country as a city where old traditions meet modern creativity. Its location along the Nervión River gives it scenic views and easy access to both urban life and nearby nature. The Guggenheim Museum draws visitors with its striking design and contemporary exhibits, while local markets showcase fresh seafood and regional foods. Walking through neighborhoods like Casco Viejo reveals historic streets filled with shops and cafes. Bilbao’s public transport makes getting around simple, connecting travelers to surrounding towns and coastal areas for day trips.

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City in Spain

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$	Cheap
$$	Medium
$$$	Expensive, upscale
$$$+	Very expensive, luxury

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Safety: 5.9

General Safety:	5
Health & medical:	7
Accessibility:	7
Tap water:	8

Read details

3/5

English is spoken in most hotels, museums, and tourist areas, but less so in small shops or local bars. Basic Spanish or Basque phrases are appreciated and can be helpful in daily interactions.

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Last update: 12 Oct 2026

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Bilbao Summary

These place ratings give you a quick overview of how well a destination matches different types of trips.

‘Best for’ scores:
The specific interest scores show where this place really shines – whether it's ideal for hiking, food & drink experiences, museums or other activities. These highlights help you understand what makes the destination special at a glance.

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Excellent for modern architecture and Basque food. Visit world-class art museums, explore riverfront districts, enjoy pintxos bars and walk vibrant city streets.

Place score

7.4

Best at:

Fine dining

Local cuisine

Museums

Architecture

Rivers

Personal score

Suited for

👶 7

Families

🧓 6

Seniors

❤️ 7

Couples

♻️ 7

Sustainability

Spain – Quick facts

Guide Etiquette Holidays Other

Power Grid:	230 V, 50 Hz Plug: Type C , Type F Type C: Type F: Read about power adapters
Currency:	Euro (EUR) £1 ≈ €1.19
Cashless info:	Rating 5/5 Cashless payment is widely accepted in Spain, particularly in urban areas and tourist destinations. Credit and debit cards are commonly used, and mobile payment options are available in many establishments. Save with a travel credit card
eSIM providers:	Best value: Saily Flexibility: Airalo Read our in-depth comparison

Tipping:	Tipping is not mandatory in Spain but appreciated for good service. In restaurants, rounding up the bill or leaving 5-10% is customary. Taxi drivers and hotel staff may also be tipped, though it is less common.
Public drinking:	Public drinking is restricted in some regions, particularly in tourist-heavy cities. Local laws may vary.
Public smoking:	Smoking is banned indoors in public places but allowed in designated outdoor areas.

La Tomatina (August)	A famous tomato-throwing festival, expect large crowds in Buñol.
Semana Santa (March/April)	Religious parades and events make this a busy time in major cities.
Christmas (December)	Markets and festive celebrations, with tourist areas becoming busier.

Emergency contact:	Emergency Number: 112 (Police, Fire, Ambulance)
Taxi apps:	Cabify, Bolt, Uber
Other:	Spain is known for its diverse culture, stunning architecture, and vibrant festivals. Public transport is reliable and efficient, making it easy to explore.

Best times to travel

The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.

Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.

Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.

Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.

Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.

for Bilbao, Spain

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Mar

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Apr

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May

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Jun

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Jul

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Nov

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Dec

High season:	June - Sep.
Shoulder season:	April - May, Oct.
Crowdedness:	8 (Very crowded)

Tap on a month for more info Hover over a month for more info

Climate details

Aste Nagusia (Semana Grande), late August: nine days of concerts and fireworks, starting the Saturday after 15 August

Nearby beaches (Sopelana, Plentzia) are only really suitable June to September

Don't miss

🖼️ Explore the Guggenheim Museum, a modern art masterpiece
🏘️ Stroll through Casco Viejo, Bilbao’s historic Old Town
🍷 Sample pintxos and local wines in bustling Plaza Nueva
🎭 Admire the architecture of the Arriaga Theatre
🌉 Walk across the iconic Zubizuri glass bridge
🍇 Visit the Mercado de la Ribera for fresh local produce

You've been here?

Why travel to Bilbao?

Bilbao is where tradition and innovation collide in the best way. The city’s transformation from gritty industrial hub to cultural hotspot is legendary and you can feel it as you wander from the shimmering Guggenheim to the labyrinthine Casco Viejo. Pintxos bars and lively markets offer a taste of Basque life, while leafy parks and riverside promenades invite you to slow down and soak it all in. It’s less crowded than Spain’s bigger cities, making it perfect for relaxed exploration. Just be ready for unpredictable weather – rain is common, but it’s what keeps Bilbao so beautifully green.

🏯Places worth seeing

1 The Guggenheim Bilbao
The museum showcases contemporary art in a titanium‑clad building designed by Frank Gehry. Its curved façade and innovative interior space attract visitors worldwide, making it a landmark of modern architecture.
2 Azkuna Centre
3 Arriaga Theatre
4 Plaza Nueva
5 Basílica de Begoña / Begoñako basilika
6 Casco Viejo
7 St. James' Cathedral

🎡Places for activities

1 Bilbao Fine Arts Museum
2 Mirador de Artxanda

🏞️Natural landmarks

1 Kobetamendia
2 Areatza / El Arenal
3 Etxebarria parkea
4 Nervión
5 Estuary of Bilbao
6 Iturrizar Doña Casilda parkea

🛍️Shopping

1 Mercado de La Ribera / Erriberako Merkatua
2 Gran Vía
3 El Corte Inglés

🎈Events

Aste Nagusia (Great Week Festival)
Bilbao BBK Live Festival
Bilbao Night Marathon
Basque Fest
Bilbao International Film Festival
Santo Tomás Fair
Bilbao Blues Festival
Bilbao Jazz Festival
Semana Santa (Holy Week)
Bilbao Food Festival

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Knowledge before you go

Book Guggenheim tickets online; queues get long in summer.
Eat pintxos in Casco Viejo; order one drink per bar, then move on.
Bring a light rain jacket; Atlantic weather shifts quickly, even in warmer months.
Ride the Artxanda funicular near sunset for skyline views, then walk down via quiet residential streets.

How to travel to Bilbao

Bilbao Airport (BIO) has direct flights from major Spanish and European cities and is just 25 minutes from the center by airport bus (A3247). Long-distance trains connect Bilbao to Madrid and Barcelona, while buses link it to San Sebastián and other Basque destinations. The port also serves ferries from the UK.

Access summary

From Bilbao Airport (BIO): Bizkaibus A3247 or taxi, about 20–30 minutes.
From San Sebastián: Direct buses to Bilbao, usually around 1.5 hours.
From Madrid: Long‑distance buses or trains to Bilbao, roughly 4–5 hours.

Check your route from anywhere

Where to stay in Bilbao

Bilbao offers a wide range of accommodation, from stylish boutique hotels in the old town to modern chains near the river and affordable hostels for backpackers. Most places are high quality and staying central means you can walk to most attractions.

Hotel recommendations

*by rating and popularity. Commissions have no influence on the rankings.

Vincci Consulado de Bilbao

9.3

NYX Hotel Bilbao by Leonardo Hotels

8.7

Mercure Bilbao Jardines De Albia

8.9

Radisson Collection Bilbao

9.3

Ilunion Bilbao Hotel

8.6

NH Collection Villa de Bilbao

8.8

Hotel Puerta de Bilbao

8.4

Abba Euskalduna

8.8

Gran Hotel Domine Bilbao

9.7

Sercotel Coliseo Bilbao

8.9

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How to get around Bilbao

Bilbao is compact and very walkable, especially in the city center and old town. The metro, trams and buses are modern, clean and easy to use, connecting all major sights and neighborhoods. Bike rentals and e-bike tours are a fun way to explore further afield. The main transport hub is Abando railway station and the A3247 airport bus is quick and affordable.

Budget snapshot

Costs compared to home

We calculate the average costs when travelling to destinations and compare those with the living costs at your home. With this you can get an estimate of how expensive or cheap the destination is for you.

To customise this, you can set up which location and price level are used for the calculations in your account settings.

-18 %

Daily expenses in Bilbao are around 18% lower than the average across United States. That means you'll spend considerably less on meals and getting around.

Exchange rate trend

The exchange rate price factor shows how expensive or cheap a currency currently is compared to its historical average. It's a quick way to see if a country is currently more or less affordable due to exchange rate changes.

-3 %

Your exchange rate (GBP to EUR) is 3% better than in recent years. That means travelling now costs around the same compared to the past.

Travel costs

To help you plan your trip, we provide estimated daily costs per person (when travelling as a pair) for different travel styles. These numbers give you an idea of what you might spend each day at this destination, including accommodation, food, transport and activities.

Additionally, we also provide average hotel costs for different travel styles to give you an estimate for the accommodation only.

Please note that these are only estimates. The real costs depend on booking times, season and other factors.

Daily cost summary

Travel style categories explained:

Backpacker:
Staying in hostels or budget hotels, cooking your own meals or eating cheap and choosing low-cost activities.

Mid-range:
Staying in mid-range hotels, eating at a mix of restaurants and casual spots and enjoying a variety of activities.

Luxury:
Staying in luxury hotels, dining out at high-end restaurants and enjoying premium experiences without worrying about the price.

	Backpacker	Mid-range	Luxury
💵 Total costs per day, including accommodation	£59	£129	£309
🏨 Accommodation per night, per person	£26	£59	£118
🍝 Food per day	£27	£61	£166
🚕 Transportation per day	£7	£8	£25

Food & Drink

🍽️ Restaurant Dinner, per person	£25
🍛 Lunch Set, per person	£14
🍟 Fast food combo	£9.50
🍝 Preparing your own food, per day	£8.50
☕ Cappuccino	£1.90
🍺 Beer in a restaurant, 0.5 l	£3.30

Transportation

🚌 Public transport ticket	£1.50
🚕 Taxi Ride, 10 km / 6 mi	£15
⛽ Petrol, 1 l	£1.30

Other

🎞️ Cinema ticket	£8
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's consult	£60
🤧 Cold medication	£6
💇 Basic haircut	£11.50

Safety information overview

General safety

Bilbao is generally very safe, with low rates of violent crime. As in any city, watch for pickpockets in crowded areas and keep an eye on your belongings, especially at festivals or in busy markets.

Health & Medical

Medical care in Bilbao is excellent, with modern hospitals and pharmacies widely available. No special vaccinations are needed. Tap water is safe and high quality.

Accessibility

Most public transport and major attractions are accessible, but some old town streets are narrow and cobbled, which can be challenging for wheelchairs. Many hotels and museums offer good facilities for visitors with disabilities.

Tap water

Tap water is safe, clean and readily available throughout the city. Many public fountains and restaurants will refill your bottle on request.