9 places, 4 of them free and 3 tours and activities. Guggenheim glitter, a lively old town and some of Spain’s best pintxos.
Abandoibarra
Frank Gehry’s shimmering titanium building, holding bold contemporary art and giant outdoor sculptures.
Tuesday–Sunday, roughly 10:00–19:00; closed Mondays outside peak season
Casco Viejo
The compact medieval old town, with seven original streets full of bars and shops.
Open-air; shops keep their own hours
Casco Viejo
One of Europe’s largest covered markets, beside the river, with a food hall upstairs.
Monday–Saturday, mornings to early evening
Artxanda
A short funicular ride to a hilltop park with a panorama of the whole city.
Daily, roughly 7:15–22:00
Doña Casilda Park
A calm, high-quality museum of Basque, Spanish and European art beside a park.
Wednesday–Monday, roughly 10:00–20:00
Portugalete (12 km)
A UNESCO-listed transporter bridge from 1893 that carries cars and people over the river.
Runs daily; the high walkway has its own hours
Bakio (35 km)
A dramatic islet linked to the coast by a stone causeway and stairway, topped by a hermitage.
Access by timed booking in season
Indautxu
A lively student-area street where locals drink and graze between bars.
Bars typically open lunchtime and evenings
Planning Bilbao? 5 places to eat are one tap away.