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Bilbao Less Than 48 Hours

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Bilbao Less Than 48 Hours

Introduction

Bilbao Less Than 48 Hours – In less than 20 years, Bilbao has transformed itself from a nondescript industrial town into one of Spain’s coolest destinations. Often described as “gritty” and “authentic”, this northern port is more than just a big-nosed character actor to Madrid or Barcelona’s glamorous Õlm star. Until the late 1990s, Bilbao relied on its commercial prowess over its looks. It was where Õsh came in and iron went out. Gourmands and art lovers would arrive by ferry, before swiftly disappearing to glamorous San Sebastian.

Bilbao Less Than 48 Hours
Bilbao Less Than 48 Hours : The Guggenheim

That all changed in 1997 when The Guggenheim arrived. The famous art museum, built along the once rundown riverside, didn’t just transform Bilbao, but the world. Now, any attempt to revitalise a city with high-end architecture or art is referred to as The Guggenheim eàect – homage to the extraordinary revolution Frank Gehry’s building wrought on the city. Half Sydney Opera House, half spaceship, Bilbao is worth visiting for the museum alone. Its success inspired even more spending in the city: the metro stations were designed by Norman Foster, while Zubizuri Bridge was created by superstar architect, Santiago Calatrava. Still Bilbao isn’t slowing down, and work has already begun on ambitious plans to redevelop the grimy Zorrotzaurre district.

Important Note: There are 19 yes 19! Michelin Starred Restaurants in Bilbao. See all the list here.

Flights and getting there

Most visitors arrive in Bilbao via its international airport, conveniently located 12km northeast of the city. Direct flights connect Bilbao with London (2 hours), Paris (1½ hours), Lisbon (2¼ hours), Frankfurt (2 hours) and Amsterdam (2 hours), as well as Barcelona (1¼ hours), Madrid (1 hour) and other Spanish cities. You can also arrive to Bilbao by train other parts of Spain, including Madrid (from 5 hours) and Barcelona (around 7 hours).

Bilbao Short Stay Package

Let’s Start Our Challenge

For visitors, the city’s heart still remains in the medieval streets of the Old Town. Known locally as Las Siete Calles (The Seven Streets), the narrow cobbled walkways hold the 14th-century Santiago Cathedral at their centre and are bordered by the covered market. It’s here that visitors snack on delicious pintxos (tapas on sticks) that locals say are every bit as good as the ones in San Sebastian, no matter how many Michelin stars their neighbour gets. With stunning beaches just down the road, decent surf on the Basque coastline and a burgeoning working class arts scene in the barrios (neighbourhoods) of San Francisco and La Vieja, Bilbao may not trump Barcelona, but it no longer has to look up to anyone.

Day 1

Morning: You would be forgiven for mistaking architect Frank Gehry’s building for a savvy structural Instagram ploy – the selfies taken outside of the Guggenheim Museum (Abandoibarra Etorbidea, 2; 00 34 944 35 90 80) in Bilbao may just outnumber the entry tickets sold. Take in the special exhibits and colossal Serra sculptures and, yes, take a picture or two with Jeff Koons’ giant floral ‘Puppy’.

Bilbao Less Than 48 Hours
Bilbao Less Than 48 Hours : Guggenheim Museum with Giant Puppy

Cross the Puente de La Salve to see an excellent example of Bilbao’s penchant for urban art, ‘Giltza Bat’ by Verónica and Christina Werckmeister, one of many impressive street murals around the city. Then head towards the Funicular de Artxanda, and hop on for a ride to the top of the city. On Saturday mornings, be sure to catch the free guided tour, which takes you behind the scenes to the mechanical room to tell the story of this 100-year-old railway car.

Afternoon: There’s nothing like fresh air atop a mountain to whet primal appetites, and Txakoli Simon (Camino San Roque, 89; 00 34 944 45 74 99) is the spot in which to dine. Take a seat at their communal outdoor tables and enjoy a giant Basque txuleta steak, served sizzling to the table. After lunch, explore the top of Mount Artxanda. Walk around the park, pop into a miniscule hermitage, and fall in with another piece of urban art: an enormous finger print by artist Juan José Novella. Back at the bottom of the mountain, explore the city by foot, keeping an eye out for more of its impressive street art. First head west to Olabeaga, where you can catch the artist SpY’s famous ‘Soñar’ work. Then move towards the old part of town, where an amble along Bilbao La Vieja StreetCortes Street and through to Plaza Kirikiño will be rewarded by the sightings of various murals by Bada, Fermín Moreno and Jorge Rubio.

Late: Of Bilbao’s Michelin-starred spots, Mina (Muelle Marzana; 00 34 944 79 59 38) is definitely the spunkiest. Chef Álvaro Garrido and his self-titled ‘warriors’ serve up cheeky dishes, like a twist on everyone’s favourite spicy mussel pintxo, swapping out béchamel for lemon balm-coconut juice (it works). With a lovely location overlooking the Ribera market, it’s worth staying and splurging on the well-priced tasting menu. Finish off the night at Gin Fizz (Lersundi Kalea, 1; 00 34 946 42 14 10), where the bartenders can be found in snazzy suits, twirling their shakers and serving up magic cocktails.

Day 2

Morning: Start the morning like many locals do, at the Mercado de La Ribera (Erribera Kalea; 00 34 944 79 06 95). One of the best places to shop for food in all of Basque Country, this market still retains the authenticity it had when it opened in 1929. Gather up that shopping bag and a bit of courage and speak with the friendly stallholders, generally happy to help advise on produce purchases and preparation.

Bilbao Less Than 48 Hours : Mercado de La Ribera

With your eyes sated, it’s time for a bit of an appetite-opener for the stomach. Aperitif time, better known as the hora del vermut, is a ritual. Across the estuary from the market, prop up on your favorite stair of the muelle de Marzana to enjoy a prepared vermouth from the vintage favorite, Marzana 16 (Martzana Kalea, 16; 00 34 946 75 30 36).

Afternoon: Bilbao’s pintxo scene is worthy of extended study, so start your crash course at nearby El Perro Chico (Arechaga Kalea, 2; 00 34 946 40 26 65), where you can get internationally inspired small bites, from gyozas to arepas. Then head over to Gure Toki (Plaza Nueva, 12; 00 34 944 15 80 37) one of Bilbao’s obligatory pintxo stops, both for number of awards won and originality of creations. Make your way to the affluent neighborhood of Indautxu, which is known for its nightlife and also houses one of the city’s most fascinating buildings. Azkuna Zentroa (Arriquíbar Plaza, 4; 00 34 944 01 40 14) a former wine and olive oil warehouse, has been repurposed into an all-purpose cultural center.

There’s no big building in Bilbao without a big name architect, and the interior of the ‘Alhondiga’ (as it is popularly called) is a journey into Philippe Starck’s imagination, with splendidly trippy columns and an expansive atrium full of surprises. Check out the running exhibition, or take a swim in the top-floor swimming pool. The importance of football in the average Bilbao resident’s life cannot be overstated, and with good reason – the Athletic is one of the only clubs in Spain to have never dropped out of La Liga’s first division. Catch a game, in season, at the futuristic San Mamés Stadium (Rafael Moreno Pitxitxi; 00 34 944 24 08 77), recently renovated to the tune of €211 million (£186 million), and get caught up in the patriotic fervor with 53,000 other fans.

Late: Take a taxi to one of Basque Country’s best places to eat: Azurmendi (Legina Auzoa; 00 34 944 55 83 59). Toss out the GPS you needed to arrive, because chef Eneko Atxa’s explosive tasting menu is best enjoyed without a roadmap. Named #38 in The World’s 50 Best, it’s also won the award for most sustainable restaurant, thanks to its housing in a bioclimatic building powered by geothermal energy and a commitment to compost food waste to fertilize local farms, as well as research into heritage food breeds.

Attraction Tickets

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