This former industrial heavyweight of northern Spain has been reborn as a modern-day destination for fantastic foods and great art. The largest city in the Basque Country, Bilbao is the kind of place that sucks you in slowly with its subtle charm and welcoming people.
Take some time to explore this little gem nestled in the far north of Spain and you might end up staying longer than you planned to.
Where to stay
There's a wealth of accommodation to suit all budgets and tastes in and around Bilbao.
For an authentic local experience try one of the hostels or guesthouses in the historic Casco Viejo (old quarter) area. You'll be at the center of the action in the evenings when many of the streets come to life with people spilling out of the numerous pintxo bars in this area.
For a slightly quieter stay there's a good selection of private apartments at reasonable rates in the Deusto district. This area is just north of the centre and a pleasant walk along the riverside will bring you down into the center.
It's also worth considering one of the many hotels which have sprung up around the Abra Bay to the north of the city. A stay here will offer you stunning views across the once busy harbour and out towards the Bay of Biscay.
Where to eat and drink
Food plays a very central role in Basque culture and therefore visitors to Bilbao are wonderfully spoiled for choice when it come to dining out.
The key fixture of the local cuisine is Pintxos, better known to most people as tapas, with the Basque version tending to be more elaborate than its Spanish counterpart. You'll be hard pressed to find a bar in Bilbao which doesn't serve these bite sized wonders, which make the perfect compliment to a cool beer or delicious glass of Rioja.
Plaza Nueva at the center of the old town has a good selection of bars in which to sample pintxos but it can get rather packed, particularly on Friday and Saturday evenings. Head into the surrounding narrow streets to seek out some potentially quieter spots like Irrintzi, nicknamed the "pintxo tavern."
Also be sure to visit a "sidrería" whilst you are in the Basque Country where the menu usually consists of cod or omelette, followed by steak and finished off with Idiazábal cheese and nuts. The name refers to the local Basque cider which projects from a tap in the wall and you catch it directly into your glass! This is said to aerate the cider and give it increased flavor but does become trickier to do after you've had a few glasses...
What to see and do
Guggenheim Museum: The huge twisting structure of the Guggenheim modern art museum sits proudly on the riverbank in central Bilbao. Designed by Frank Gehry and opened in 1997 this spectacular titanium-clad is pretty hard to miss as it glistens in the sun.
Some parts of the structure don't even serve a purpose and are just there to add to the effect of this stunning structure. It can feel slightly disappointing inside given the elaborate exterior but admission costs €13.00 for adults if you want to investigate.
Also don't miss the giant Flower Puppy, a modern icon of Bilbao created by Jeff Koons, which sits patiently outside the museum entrance.
Funicular Railway: Artxanda Funicular Railway runs up the top of the Artxanda Mountain to the north of the city center. The area on top of the mountain is home to several restaurants, hotels and parks with spectacular views back across Bilbao and out to the sea.
A regular service runs all day so the wait is only a few minutes even in the summer time. Rides cost €0.95 per person each way but are also included in the local transport pass. It takes around 5 minutes to reach the top.
Getting to Bilbao
Many domestic and budget European airlines fly here making it a great choice for a long weekend break from nearby countries. From the airport, the bus service leaves twice an hour and costs just €1.50 for the 25-minute ride into the center.
Train travel to Bilbao is also possible with train links to Barcelona (seven hours) and Madrid (five hours), where you can connect to services from Portugal and France.
Regular buses also run to and from the stunning harbor town of San Sebastian (1 hr) or Santander (1 hr 15 mins) nearby.
So the only question left is when are you planning your travels to this Basque gem of culture and food?
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