Are you looking forward to discovering the capital of Biscay, eating pintxos and strolling through a destination that is as traditional as it is avant-garde? Bilbao awaits you!
If you want to spend a day in Bilbao, this route will help you make the most of your time and get to know some of the most important places in the city, both in the center and on the outskirts.
In my case, since I have family in the city, my base is usually the Deusto neighborhood. However, over the years, when I have been accompanied by family or friends and have booked accommodation, I have always stayed at the Ibis Budget Bilbao (near the Termibus), the Casual Arriaga (in the heart of the Old Town) or the NH Deusto (in the neighborhood of the same name).
The latter is the starting point of this suggested itinerary for spending 1 day in Bilbao.
Content index
First, a walk with the Guggenheim as the centerpiece
There is nothing like starting the day with a delicious tortilla pintxo from Bar Goa or Deustoarrak before heading out for a walk. Once our stomachs are full, we start our route by crossing the Euskalduna Bridge and seeing the outside of the Palacio de Congresos, one of the first samples of the incredible architecture that Bilbao has to offer.
Leaving the Sagrado Corazón and the Doña Casilda Park to the right, we start walking along the Paseo de Uribitarte, with the Deusto neighborhood and Campo Volantín on the other side of the Nervión River. Another option, more attractive from my point of view, is to cross the Deusto Bridge and see the Palacio de Congresos from the footbridge, following the route next to the Zubiarte shopping center, the Bilbao Aretoa of the UPV/EHU and the library of the University of Deusto, with the impressive university building on the other side.
Here the Campa de los Ingleses awaits you, with the Guggenheim – the jewel in the crown – right next to it. If you are in this area and have only one day in Bilbao, I recommend you to discover the museum from the lower side, that is, next to the stuary, from where you can see the lake and the artworks outside the museum (the colorful balloons and the spider – which they call ‘the amatxu’).
Unless you go when there is an exhibition that interests you, if you have little time, having little time, my recommendation is to leave the visit to the interior, perhaps for a next trip to the botxo; yes, if you have time to visit Bilbao in two or three days, do not hesitate to get your tickets (€15 for adults and free for children under 18) and spend a few hours.
Continuing on foot, the next things you will see are the famous Isozaki towers and the Zubizuri bridge (by Valencian architect Santiago Calatrava). In total, there are 12 bridges that cross the river, although if you follow this 24-hour itinerary of Bilbao to the letter, you will see seven of them (the Euskalduna, Deusto, Pedro Arrupe, La Salve, Zubizuri, City Hall and Arenal).
The Casco Viejo, an essential part of any visit to the ‘botxo’
Further on, you will find Bilbao’s City Hall, with the bridge of the same name in front of it, but instead of crossing it, I suggest you go straight on and walk for a while through the quiet Arenal Park, next to the Church of St. Nicholas.
You will find yourself in the area known as El Arenal – because of the park and the bridge – where the city’s main festivals are celebrated: Santo Tomás (December 21) or Aste Nagusia (Bilbao’s Semana Grande, held every year in August), but also book fairs, Sunday markets, Christmas fairs and many other events.
The Arriaga Theater is the gateway to the Casco Viejo – Old Town –, also know by locals as the Siete Calles, referring to the seven streets from which the city was formed. My favorite sports in this area to go for a drink – also called poteo – include Somera, the famous Plaza Unamuno, Barrenkale or Plaza Nueva, the main suqare of the Casco Viejo, with four entrances and where locals and tourists alike meet.
If you only have 1 day in Bilbao, you have to try the pintxos! For me, there are three main areas to taste these small pieces of Basque gastronomy without leaving the center: Plaza Nueva, Mercado de la Ribera and Ledesma.
To continue discovering Bilbao in one day, it’s time to leave the Casco Viejo behind and walk to Abandoibarra, next to Plaza Biribila, with the statue of Diego López de Haro – the founder of the city – in its center, to see the old train station and the new one, Abando.
This part of the route, which can be done in the morning, covers a total of about 4.5 km and an hour without stopping, so calculate at least 3 hours to be able to do it calmly, stopping to look at things and take pictures. Here you can get an idea of the part of the city you can see in these first hours in Bilbao:
Downtown Bilbao
As soon as you turn onto Gran Via, you will realize that it is the main street of the city and that, although it is full of shops, the wide sidewalks and limited traffic allow you to walk quietly. As you go along, you will see shops, banks and cafes, and the Diputación, before arriving at Plaza Moyúa – or Elliptical Square. In the vicinity of the Diputación, there are also some bars where you can have a drink and some pintxos if you want to make a stop along the way.
This is one of the largest squares of Bilbao and one of the strategic points of reference. It divides the Gran Vía in two – once you cross the square, it continues to the Sagrado Corazón – and is surrounded by interesting buildings such as the Chavarini Palace, the Palace of the Civil Government and the Carlton Hotel. It is also pedestrianized, with benches, green areas and a fountain in the center.
From the square you can see the Iberdrola Tower in the distance, although it will not be unfamiliar to you because you will have seen it in the morning on your way to the Guggenheim. After crossing Plaza Moyúa and turning left, you will come to Ercilla Street and the hotel of the same name, where you can enjoy a cocktail on its rooftop, one of the trendiest rooftop terraces in Bilbao.
This busy street will take you directly to Plaza Indautxu, another meeting point for locals, either to go downtown or to stay in the area of García Rivero, Urquijo or Pozas to have a drink.
In the same neighborhood of Indautxu is the Alhóndiga, an old wine cellar that was restored after a fire in 1919 and inaugurated as a civic center in 2010. Inside, it combines sports, culture, gastronomy and leisure: a must visit during your 24 hours in Bilbao.
This part of the day is the one that will take you less time, since it covers little more than 1 km and is done in about 20 minutes, so it is the perfect time to take advantage and have lunch in the Casco Viejo before you leaving it behind, in Ledesma or in the Diputación area, for example.
Following the riverbed of the estuary to Las Arenas
To complete this route for one day in Bilbao, I suggest you leave the center and dive into the greater Bilbao by taking the metro from Indautxu or Plaza Moyúa to Getxo Marina, getting off at the Neguri stop.
When you get off, follow the path to the left, cross the park and you will find yourself in front of the port. A relaxing walk of about 30 minutes awaits you, with views of classic buildings, moored boats, fishermen and a beautiful park at the end of the walk, in Las Arenas, from where you can see the mouth of the Nervión.
You will also see the maroon tones of the Vizcaya Bridge or Hanging Bridge (declared World Heritage by UNESCO), which connects Las Arenas and Portugalete. If you want to enjoy the view, I recommend buying the pass to go up to the top of the bridge (it costs 7€); then you can go down on the Las Arenas side or cross to Portugalete.
My recommendation would be to go up, see it, and come back down through the same spot to cross to the other side on the hanging conveyor that connects the two parts of the bridge. This trip costs a few cents, so if you’re not very interested in seeing the estuary and the Abra from above, you can cross this way – if you buy the 7€ pass, you don’t need to buy another one to cross the lower part.
An approach to the left bank of the Nervión estuary
After passing to Portugalete and continuing along the banks of the river, you will arrive at Plaza Solar, where the Town Hall of Portugalete is lcoated, in a very charming and well-preserved square.
Going up Santa Maria Street, a beautiful Romanesque street, you will see the Basilica of Santa Maria. I’m not lying when I say that although it’s small, it will leave a very good taste in your mouth: from the outside it’s very pretty, not ostentatious and clean, and inside it’s simple but special. In front of it there’s a viewpoint that I recommend you look at before a visiting the Salazar Tower Museum.
Afterwards, you can go to Santurce and, after walking past the sports center, approach the marina and the fishing port. It is also advisable to visit the Town Hall Square and the Museum of the Sea, especially if you see that you have enough time.
After walking down Calle del Dólar, full of shops, bars and clubs (especially at the end of the street), you will reach Paseo de la Sardinera. And there is no better way to end this intense day than by returning to the center of Bilbao to enjoy as many pintxos as possible or to sit down for dinner.
This part of the itinerary will take most of the afternoon, and it may even get dark as you stroll through Santurce. All in all, it’s about 5 km, which is quite a walk, so feel free to subtract some of the points visited to adjust it to your liking.
Restaurant options if you only have one day in Bilbao
In the Old Town: Bodega Joserra, Lurrina or Rio-Oja.
In Abando: Batzoki Abando.
In the Alhóndiga/Indautxu area: Txirene (MICHELIN Star), HDH or Batzoki Indautxu.
If you want to eat pintxos, some of my favorite places are Sacacorchos in Heano area, La Olla in Plaza Nueva, Gure Toki and Sorgínzulo in Casco Viejo, Abadía – next to the Guggenheim – or GildaToki, with several locations in the city.
As you can see, in order to visit Bilbao in one day, it is necessary to wear comfortable shoes, since the route I propose is quite intense as far as walking is concerned.
It will also be useful, especially if you want to use different means of transport during the day, to get a Barik transport card. You can recharge it and use it througout the day, and it is valid for several people.
If you happen to have more than 1 day in Bilbao, or you’re looking for a specific route to do by the sea or with kids, don’t miss the Punta Galea route, one of my favorite weekend plans.
Have a good trip, ondo pasa!
