Bilbao is the right spot to get your first taste of the Basque Country. Home to the Guggenheim and the famous pintxos, the euskera capital is now a great spot to explore art and gastronomy. Strolling down the Casco Viejo (very different from La Habana) only to end up in front of the Cathedral it’s just one of the many cool things that might happen during your visit. Not too shabby, uh?
Nevertheless, I have to admit, and behold this will sound controversial, Bilbao is not among those destination I would head back to. That said, let’s leave this for later, here’s what Bilbao has to offer!
The river promenade in Bilbao
Things to do
There are lots of things to do in and around Bilbao so here’s the list of my favourite ones that I would surely do again.
Guggenheim Museum Bilbao
As you might know, the Guggenheim is not just an interesting museum but overall a unique masterpiece from an architectural point of view. Each Guggenheim is different but under the same roof it unifies an enormous variety of art piece worth a look. Whether you prefer modern art or renaissance beauties, here’s the place to go.
The Guggenheim in Bilbao
Train Station
The Bilbao-Concordia railway station is another beautiful piece of architecture, worthy to be up on this list. Even though the inside has been modernised and lost most of its grandeur, the outer façade still retains a gorgeous Belle Époque style.
Façade of the Train Station
Pintxos Bar
And what’s better than taking a break from those architectural marvels in a Pintxo Bar? Not to be mixed up with “Pinchos” (skewers) the word is the euskera version of the Spanish tapas. Pretty much anywhere in the city, especially in the plazas of Casco Viejo, going to a Pintxo Bar for a quick snack, dinner or even a drink is super common. Beware, you might fell in love with the Pintoxs.
Photo from thetravelista.net
Casco Viejo
Essentially the old medieval quarter of the city, this barrio (neighbourhood) is where most of the traditional shops, bars and buildings are located. The narrow alleys and the beautiful historical buildings are a nice sight for a relaxed afternoon stroll.
Stairs leading up to Park Etxebarria from Casco Viejo
Vizcaya Bridge
Also known as the oldest transporter bridge in the world, this beauty built back in 1893 by one of Eiffel’s students, is still working nowadays and it’s a sight to behold. Currently, it connects the towns Portugalete and Las Arenas, only a short 10km away from Bilbao city center. Oh, did I mention that is a UNESCO World Heritage site?
The Vizcaya Bridge
Park Extebarria
Right in the heart of the Casco Viejo, the Extebarria Parquea (in euskera) is a lovely spot to enjoy a 360° view over the city skyline. Nevertheless, is a great spot also to leave behind the city traffic and enjoy some stroll in nature.
View of the city from Park Extebarria
Bilbao for a day or two
Generally speaking, Bilbao is not a city I would go back to. The city itself has a some interesting spots and places to visit but overall it was not overwhelming. Just your average medium-sized city that requires 1-2 days for a full visit.
On a separate note, if you’re planning to swing by to visit, you might want to get yourself a car so that you’ll have more freedom to visit the surroundings and not just what’s pithing the city limits.
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