Bilbao

Guggenheim Museum Bilbao

This iconic museum of modern and contemporary art, designed by architect Frank Gehry, stands as the undisputed symbol of the city’s urban renewal. Inside, visitors can explore top-tier temporary exhibitions and the permanent collection that defines art from recent decades, all housed within a titanium structure that changes color depending on the daylight. Opening hours are from 10:00 to 19:00, and it is necessary to purchase tickets in advance to access the galleries. Just outside, Jeff Koons’ floral sculpture “Puppy” welcomes tourists, becoming a mandatory photo stop before entering.

Vizcaya Bridge

This historical monument stands out as the world’s first transporter bridge, an engineering feat declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2006. Travelers can cross the estuary using the elevated pedestrian walkway, which operates from 10:00 to 19:00 and requires a ticket, or observe the vehicle transport service that runs 24 hours a day. Its iron structure joins the two banks of the river, offering a unique perspective on the port activity and the area’s industrial landscape.

Camino de Santiago (Northern Route)

Located in the Casco Viejo (Old Town), this route marks the official direction toward the Cathedral of Santiago, identified with the number 148005 in the world heritage register. It serves as the main access hub to the city’s most historic religious monument, guiding pilgrims and tourists through cobblestone medieval streets. Its importance lies in connecting Bilbao with the European pilgrimage network, keeping a thousand-year-old tradition alive right in the urban center.

Cathedral of Santiago de Bilbao

This 14th-century Gothic temple, situated in the heart of the Casco Viejo (Old Town), functions as an essential stop on the Camino de Santiago and a testament to the town’s faith. Opening hours for tourist visits are from 10:00 to 18:00 and require the purchase of a ticket to access the interior and admire its religious architecture. It is a cultural meeting point where the history of the diocese intertwines with the constant flow of pilgrims seeking their stamp on the credential.

Other Points of Interest

• Puente Zubizuri (White Bridge): Designed by Santiago Calatrava and completed in 1997, this steel-and-glass pedestrian bridge connects Campo de Volantín with Uribitarte, serving as an iconic photo spot over the estuary with free access 24 hours a day.
• Ría del Nervión: It forms the main geographical axis upon which the city’s primary tourist and architectural attractions are built, acting as the aorta of metropolitan Bilbao and a stage for economic development since the Middle Ages.
• Torres Isozaki: A 165-meter skyscraper designed by César Pelli that serves as a corporate headquarters and stands as the tallest building in the Basque Country, dominating the urban skyline from the Abando area.
• Puente de La Salve: Popularly known by this name although its official title is Príncipes de España, this colossal green concrete bridge crosses the estuary next to the Guggenheim and was the first in Spain to feature a cable-stayed system.
• Casco Viejo (Las Siete Calles / The Seven Streets): This is the historic heart of Bilbao, filled with shops, pintxos bars, and charming buildings that preserve the original medieval layout.
• Azkuna Zentroa: A former wine warehouse converted into a modern leisure and culture center by Philippe Starck, notable for its thematic columns in the central courtyard.
• Mercado de la Ribera: One of the largest covered markets in Europe, where you can find fresh produce and a gastropub area for dining beside the water.
• Paseo de Abandoibarra: The central axis of urban renewal that transformed old shipyards into a riverside park inaugurated in 2003, ideal for walking among contemporary sculptures.
• Museo del Athletic Club: Located in the San Mamés stadium, it narrates the club’s history since 1898 with historical artifacts and an original wooden grandstand.
• Iglesia de San Antón: Situated on Calle de la Ribera, it dates back to before the founding of the town in 1300 and is distinguished by its north façade beneath a gallery from 1559.
• Plaza Nueva: A neoclassical square in the Casco Viejo, famous for its pintxos bars and for hosting a traditional Sunday market.
• Mirador de Artxanda: Offers the best panoramic views of Bilbao and is accessible via a century-old funicular rising from the city center.
• Museo Chillida-Leku: An open-air museum dedicated to sculptor Eduardo Chillida, located in a natural setting in Hernani, Gipuzkoa, within a farmhouse restored by the artist himself.