04 · Culture
“Best European City 2018”
Founded in 1300, Bilbao was built on a bend of the Nervión estuary for defence and growth. Its economic boom gave rise to the Seven Streets and to a flourishing trade in iron.
After the crisis of the 1990s it reinvented itself as a modern city; the opening of the Guggenheim Museum in 1997 drew the world’s attention and revitalised the whole town.
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We begin in the charming Old Town, which started with just three streets and grew into the famous Seven Streets. We stroll along the Arenal to the church of San Antón, which together with its bridge appears on the city’s coat of arms.
We continue through Santiago square and Correo street to the lively Plaza Nueva, ending at Unamuno square.
High above Bilbao stands the Basilica of Begoña, built in the 16th and 17th centuries and rebuilt after the Carlist Wars. Inside is the Virgin of Begoña, affectionately known by locals as “the Amatxu” (mum).
We walk down to the City Hall through Etxebarria park, once home to a huge steelworks and now offering lovely views of a city where tradition and modernity intertwine.
By the estuary we admire the City Hall, a symbol of the city, and walk along the riverbanks past historic buildings and modern towers that tell the story of Bilbao’s transformation.
The walk leads us to the Artxanda funicular, which takes us up the hill for unbeatable views.
From the famous Artxanda viewpoint you can see the whole of Bilbao: the estuary winding through the city, the Guggenheim, San Mamés stadium and the mountains that embrace it. The perfect spot for photos and fresh mountain air.
We cross the Calatrava bridge to the Guggenheim Museum, opened on 18 October 1997 and designed by Frank Gehry. Its flowing forms of titanium, limestone and glass reflect the light in astonishing ways.
At the entrance we are greeted by Jeff Koons’ “Puppy”: a 12-metre dog covered in thousands of flowers that are changed twice a year.
Along lively Pozas street we reach the Alhóndiga, a former wine warehouse turned cultural centre by Philippe Starck, with 43 columns, each one different.
We walk down the Gran Vía, the city’s main artery, back to the Old Town… where we recharge with some delicious pintxos.
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94 reviews · #11 of 198 tours in Bilbao
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Greater Bilbao Route
“Where the estuary embraces the land, our identity blooms”
