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Bilbao was one of those cities I was not completely sure about before I arrived.
I knew people talked about the Guggenheim. I knew it was one of the main cities in the Basque Country. I knew it made sense for my northern Spain route after Burgos and before heading toward France. But I did not really know what the city would feel like once I got there.
And that is one of the things I love about slow travel through Europe. Some cities are obvious before you arrive. You already know the big monuments, the must-see squares, the famous viewpoints, and the food people will tell you to try. Other cities reveal themselves once you start walking.
Bilbao was that kind of city for me.
It was not just one attraction. It was the mix of the Old Town, the river, the modern museum area, the local energy, the Basque Country feeling, the easy walkability, and those little moments where you sit down with ice cream and people-watch instead of rushing to check off a list.
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Bilbao felt like a good city to slow down in, especially after moving through Lisbon, Porto, Vigo, Santiago de Compostela, and Burgos. Each stop had its own personality. Lisbon had the hills, tiled buildings, viewpoints, and that bright coastal city feeling. Porto had the river, wine, blue tiles, and moody charm. Vigo felt like seafood, water, and a quieter Galician city most travelers skip. Santiago de Compostela had the pilgrimage energy, cathedral, Old Town, and emotion of watching people arrive after walking the Camino. Burgos felt more Castilian, historic, and calm.
Bilbao felt different again.
It had more of a big city feel, but not in an overwhelming way. It felt modern and old at the same time. One minute I was walking through Casco Viejo, the Old Town, surrounded by historic streets and plazas. Later I was by the Guggenheim, looking at huge public art pieces, glass, metal, river views, and a completely different side of the city.
That contrast is what made Bilbao worth visiting for me.
If you are planning a northern Spain itinerary, Bilbao makes a lot of sense. It works well after Burgos, before heading toward Bordeaux or another stop in France, or as part of a bigger Basque Country trip. I go deeper into the route in my Burgos to Bilbao Travel Guide, but if you are already moving across northern Spain, Bilbao is one of those stops that gives the trip a fresh shift in energy.
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Is Bilbao Worth Visiting?
Yes, Bilbao is worth visiting, especially if you enjoy cities that mix history, art, food, architecture, and local culture without feeling like they are built only for tourists.
Bilbao is not the type of place where every corner screams postcard-famous Europe. It is not trying to be Lisbon, Paris, Barcelona, or Porto. It has its own identity, and I think that is exactly why it works.
The city has enough major sights to fill a full day or two, but it also gives you room to breathe. You can walk through the Old Town in the morning, stop by Mercado de la Ribera, visit the Cathedral of Santiago, wander toward the river, walk to the Guggenheim area, see Puppy and Maman outside, grab something sweet, sit for a while, and still not feel like you are rushing.
That is my favorite kind of city.
Bilbao is also a good place if you like seeing how a city moves between old and new. Casco Viejo feels historic, lived-in, and local. The Guggenheim area feels modern, polished, and dramatic. The river connects everything in a way that makes the city feel very walkable and easy to understand.
For me, Bilbao was not just about “going to see the Guggenheim.” I actually did not go inside the Guggenheim on this visit. I stopped outside, saw the famous Puppy flower sculpture, saw Maman, the giant spider sculpture, walked around the area, and enjoyed the riverfront. Even without going inside, that part of the city was still worth seeing.
If you do want a deeper look at that area, I share more in my Guggenheim Bilbao Area Guide, especially if you are deciding whether to go inside or simply enjoy the outside, the public art, and the river walk.
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First Impressions of Bilbao
I arrived in Bilbao by train from Burgos, which already made the city feel like part of a bigger northern Spain route instead of a random standalone trip.
That route was one of my favorite parts of traveling through this part of Spain. I had already spent time in Portugal, then moved through Galicia and northern Spain slowly. By the time I reached Bilbao, I had already been through cities that felt very different from the version of Spain most people picture.
Bilbao added another layer.
The first thing I appreciated was how easy it felt to stay central and walk. I love cities where I can put my bag down, step outside, and start exploring without figuring out too much transportation right away. Bilbao gave me that.
From the center, I could walk to Casco Viejo, the market, the cathedral, the river, and the museum areas. That makes a huge difference when you are traveling full time or moving from city to city often. Some places are beautiful but tiring. Bilbao felt like a city where you could explore without constantly feeling like you needed a plan.
I also liked that Bilbao did not feel chaotic. It felt active, but not stressful. There were people out, cafés, restaurants, locals going about their day, visitors walking around the museum area, and plenty of places to pause.
That kind of balance is what I look for more and more when I travel.
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Things to Do in Bilbao
Bilbao is not a city where you need to overcomplicate the itinerary. A lot of the best things to do here connect naturally by walking.
Start with Casco Viejo, Bilbao’s Old Town. This is where I would begin if it is your first time in the city. The streets are walkable, atmospheric, and full of places to stop for food, drinks, and casual wandering. It is the kind of area where you do not need to rush. You can walk, turn down side streets, look at the architecture, stop in a plaza, and let the city unfold.
I share more detail in my Bilbao Old Town Walking Guide, but for a first visit, this is the area that helps you feel the older side of the city.
One of the main stops in the Old Town is the Cathedral of Santiago. Since I had just come from Santiago de Compostela and Burgos, it was interesting to see how another northern Spanish city carries that Camino and cathedral connection in its own way. Bilbao does not have the same pilgrimage emotion as Santiago de Compostela, and it does not have the massive cathedral presence of Burgos, but the Cathedral of Santiago still adds history and weight to the Old Town.
From there, Mercado de la Ribera is an easy stop. Even if you are not planning a full meal, it is worth walking through because markets give you a different feel for a city. You see the local food culture, the rhythm of everyday life, and the kind of casual eating that makes northern Spain so good for slow travel.
If food is a big part of your trip, read my Where to Eat in Bilbao Old Town Guide. I keep it honest there because Bilbao is the kind of city where you can wander, look at menus, stop for pintxos, grab wine, or pick a casual spot without needing every meal to be planned days in advance.
After the Old Town, follow the city toward the river.
The river walk was one of my favorite parts of Bilbao. It gives the city space. You can walk toward the Guggenheim area, see the bridges, watch people pass, and take in how the city shifts from historic streets to modern architecture.
Then there is the Guggenheim area. Even if you do not go inside the museum, the outside is worth seeing. Puppy, the giant flower-covered dog sculpture, is right there and honestly feels like one of those public art pieces that instantly becomes part of the city’s identity. Maman, the giant spider sculpture, adds a completely different mood.
I did not go inside the Guggenheim on this visit, but I still think the area is one of the top things to do in Bilbao. Sometimes the outside of a museum, the public art, and the atmosphere around it can still be a full experience.
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I also visited the Museum of Fine Arts of Bilbao. Some sections were closed because of construction during my visit, but admission was free, which made it an easy choice. I always appreciate when a city has museums that feel accessible, especially when you are traveling for longer periods and trying to balance paid attractions with free or low-cost experiences.
For a fuller breakdown of what to prioritize, start with my Best Things to Do in Bilbao Spain guide. That post is better if you want the full list before deciding how to organize your day.
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Bilbao Old Town
Casco Viejo is one of the best areas to explore in Bilbao because it gives you that older, more traditional side of the city before you move toward the modern museum district.
This is where Bilbao felt most walkable and easy for me. I did not feel like I needed to chase attractions every minute. I could wander, look around, stop when something caught my attention, and keep moving.
That is the kind of travel I enjoy more now.
The Old Town is also where you can feel the food culture more naturally. Bilbao is known for pintxos, and even if you do not have a specific restaurant plan, this is the area where you can walk around and find places that look good. Sometimes that is the best way to eat in Spain, especially in cities where the food scene is built around bars, small plates, and casual stops.
The Cathedral of Santiago is also in this area, so it is easy to combine the cathedral, the streets, the market, and a food stop into one relaxed walking route.
If you only have one day in the city, I would spend part of it here and part of it near the river and Guggenheim. That gives you both sides of Bilbao without making the day feel too packed. I break that down more clearly in my One Day in Bilbao Itinerary.
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Guggenheim Bilbao and the Riverfront
The Guggenheim is probably the most famous attraction in Bilbao, and even if you are not a huge museum person, the area around it is still worth visiting.
This is where Bilbao feels more modern and dramatic. The building itself has that futuristic, sculptural look, and the riverfront around it makes the whole area feel open and photogenic. It is a strong contrast to Casco Viejo, which is exactly why I think it is worth seeing both.
I saw Puppy, the flower dog sculpture, outside the museum. I also saw Maman, the giant spider sculpture. These are the kind of public art pieces that make the museum area feel like more than just a building you enter with a ticket.
I did not go inside the Guggenheim, so I am not going to pretend this was a full museum visit. For me, this stop was about the outside, the sculptures, the river walk, and the atmosphere.
And honestly, that was enough for that day.
Sometimes you do not need to do every paid attraction to enjoy a city. Sometimes walking around the outside, sitting by the river, grabbing ice cream, and taking in the energy is the experience.
That is exactly what Bilbao gave me.
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Zubizuri Bridge and Bilbao’s River Walk
One thing I should not skip when talking about Bilbao is the Zubizuri Bridge. It is one of the city’s most recognizable modern bridges, and if you are already walking along the river toward the Guggenheim area, it is easy to add it into your route.
Bilbao is one of those cities where the river really helps you understand the layout. You can move from the older streets of Casco Viejo toward the more modern museum area, and the walk itself becomes part of the experience. Zubizuri fits perfectly into that because it gives you another piece of Bilbao’s modern design side without needing to pay for a ticket or plan a big stop around it.
I would not treat it like a long attraction where you need to spend a lot of time. It is more of a quick but worthwhile stop while walking the riverfront. Cross it, pause for a few photos, take in the views, and keep moving toward the Guggenheim, Puppy, Maman, and the wider museum area.
This is also why Bilbao works so well as a walking city. Some of the best parts are not huge attractions by themselves. They are the streets, bridges, river views, public art, and small moments that connect one part of the city to the next.
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Museum of Fine Arts of Bilbao
The Museum of Fine Arts of Bilbao was another stop I made while in the city.
During my visit, parts of the museum were under construction and some sections were closed, but admission was free. Because of that, it felt worth going in and seeing what was available. When you are traveling for a while, free museums can be such a good balance. You still get culture, art, and a deeper feel for the city without adding another expensive ticket to the day.
This museum also gave me a different side of Bilbao beyond the Guggenheim. The Guggenheim gets most of the attention, but Bilbao is not only one museum. If you enjoy art, slower museum visits, or free cultural stops, the Fine Arts Museum is worth considering.
I talk more about what the visit felt like in my Bilbao Fine Arts Museum Guide, especially if you are deciding whether it fits into a short itinerary.
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How Many Days Do You Need in Bilbao?
I think one to two full days in Bilbao is enough for most first-time visitors.
With one full day, you can see the Old Town, Cathedral of Santiago, Mercado de la Ribera, the riverfront, the Guggenheim exterior, Puppy, Maman, and maybe stop for pintxos or a casual meal. It will be a full day, but it is doable because Bilbao is very walkable if you stay central.
With two days, you can slow down. You can spend more time in Casco Viejo, visit a museum, enjoy the riverfront without rushing, eat more casually, and maybe use Bilbao as a base for another nearby Basque Country stop.
For my travel style, I always prefer the slower version when possible. I would rather have time to sit, grab ice cream, people-watch, and actually feel the city than run through every attraction with no space to breathe.
But if you are moving through northern Spain and only have one day, Bilbao still works.
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Is Bilbao Walkable?
Yes, Bilbao is very walkable if you stay central.
That was one of my favorite things about visiting. I stayed in a central area and walked everywhere I needed to go. I did not have to overthink transportation for the main sights, which made the city feel easier right away.
For a first-time visit, staying central makes the most sense. You want easy access to the Old Town, the river, the Guggenheim area, restaurants, and transit if you are arriving or leaving by train or bus.
Bilbao does have public transportation, but for the kind of visit I had, walking was enough. And honestly, walking is the best way to experience a city like this anyway. You notice more. You find random streets. You stop when something looks good. You get a feel for how the neighborhoods connect.
That is especially true in Bilbao because the city changes as you walk. The Old Town, market area, riverfront, and Guggenheim district all have different moods, and walking lets you feel those shifts instead of just jumping from attraction to attraction.
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Bilbao as Part of a Northern Spain Itinerary
Bilbao fits really well into a northern Spain itinerary.
For me, it made sense after Burgos. Burgos had that older Castilian feeling, with the cathedral, museums, Camino history, and a slower inland rhythm. Bilbao brought a different energy with the Basque Country, the Guggenheim, the river, and a bigger city feel.
That contrast made the route more interesting.
If you are planning a similar trip, you could move from Portugal into Galicia, then continue through northern Spain. Lisbon, Porto, Vigo, Santiago de Compostela, Burgos, and Bilbao all work together well because each city gives you something different.
Vigo gives you water, seafood, and a less obvious Galicia stop. Santiago de Compostela gives you pilgrimage history, emotion, and one of the most atmospheric Old Towns in Spain. Burgos gives you cathedral beauty, museums, and a quieter historic city. Bilbao gives you Basque culture, modern architecture, art, and an easy city break before continuing toward France.
That is why I liked this route so much. It did not feel repetitive.
Bilbao is also a practical stop if you are continuing toward Bordeaux or other parts of France. It helps break up the journey and gives you a completely different Spanish city before leaving the country.
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What Bilbao Feels Like
Bilbao felt calm but not boring.
It felt like a place where people actually live, not just a city arranged around tourists. I liked that. There were visitors, of course, especially around the Guggenheim, but the city did not feel swallowed by tourism in the same way some bigger European destinations can.
It felt like a place where you could explore and also just exist for a while.
That matters to me more now than it did when I first started traveling. After years of full-time travel, I do not always need the loudest city or the biggest attraction list. Sometimes I want a city that gives me enough to do, but also enough room to breathe.
Bilbao did that.
It gave me museums, Old Town streets, food, river walks, public art, and relaxed moments. It gave me a city that felt easy to move through. It gave me a stop that made sense in the bigger northern Spain route.
And sometimes that is exactly what makes a city worth visiting.
Final Thoughts: Should You Visit Bilbao?
Yes, I think Bilbao is worth visiting, especially if you are already traveling through northern Spain or looking for a Spanish city that feels a little different from the usual tourist route.
Come for the Guggenheim area, but do not make that the only reason you visit. Walk through Casco Viejo. Stop by Mercado de la Ribera. Visit the Cathedral of Santiago. Walk along the river. See Puppy and Maman outside the Guggenheim. Grab something sweet. Sit down. People-watch. Let the city be slower than your checklist.
Bilbao is not just a museum stop. It is a good city for walking, eating, looking around, and feeling a different side of Spain.
If you are building a northern Spain itinerary, I would not skip it. Start with my Best Things to Do in Bilbao Spain guide if you want the full attraction list, or use my One Day in Bilbao Itinerary if you only have a short stop and want a walkable route through the city.
Cavetta is the creator of LifeWithVetta.com and has been traveling the world full time since 2020. She has visited more than 60 countries while worldschooling her son and documenting what it really takes to live abroad. Her guides focus on travel, moving abroad, digital nomad life, and designing a life beyond the traditional path.
