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The Guggenheim Museum Bilbao beside the river

Bilbao

Bilbao's titanium-clad Guggenheim transformed a gritty port into one of Spain's most exciting cities.

Photo: José Ligero Loarte, CC BY-SA 4.0
  • RegionBasque Country, Spain
  • AirportBilbao (BIO)
  • Best forArt, food
  • Visit1–2 days

Frank Gehry's Guggenheim Museum opened in 1997 and kick-started Bilbao's reinvention. Today the city is a confident mix of contemporary architecture, an atmospheric old town and some of the best eating in Spain.

Things to do

  • The Guggenheim and Jeff Koons' flower-covered Puppy outside.
  • The Museo de Bellas Artes, one of Spain's best art museums.
  • The Seven Streets of the Casco Viejo and the Plaza Nueva pintxos bars.
  • The Mercado de la Ribera, one of Europe's largest covered markets.
  • A day trip to the island chapel of San Juan de Gaztelugatxe.

Getting there

Bilbao airport (BIO) has flights across Europe. It's about 1 h 15 to San Sebastián, around 2 hours to Pamplona and the Navarrese Pyrenees, and about 4 hours to Jaca.

Stay near Bilbao

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Header photo: Photo: José Ligero Loarte, CC BY-SA 4.0

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