Bilbao, in the Spanish Basque Country, has reinvented itself around its estuary, the Nervión ría: Frank Gehry’s Guggenheim Museum, contemporary bridges and redeveloped quays sit alongside the old town of the Siete Calles and its pintxos bars. Things to do in Bilbao? Allow 2 days for the city and 1 to 2 more days for the coast (Vizcaya Bridge, San Juan de Gaztelugatxe). The city is close to the French border; the best time to go is June to September. Further east along the Basque coast, our guide to visiting San Sebastián covers La Concha bay and the pintxos bars.
This guide gives the highlights, a 2-day itinerary, day trips, the official climate and a Destination de Voyage tool: what to do in Bilbao depending on the weather, as rain is frequent here all year.
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Things to do in Bilbao: the highlights
The Guggenheim Museum
Opened in 1997, Frank Gehry’s titanium building is the reason many visitors come. Inside, modern and contemporary art, with monumental installations by Richard Serra. Outside, Louise Bourgeois’s spider Maman and Jeff Koons’s flowered dog Puppy can be seen for free. Book online in high season and allow 2 to 3 hours.
The Casco Viejo and the Siete Calles
The old town, on the right bank, is built around the “seven streets” of medieval origin. Here you will find Santiago cathedral, the church of San Antón by the ría and many shops. It is the liveliest district in the evening.
Plaza Nueva and pintxos
This 19th-century arcaded square is packed with pintxos bars, serving small bites at the counter. The custom is to have one or two pintxos and a drink (txakoli, the local white wine, or a zurito, a small beer) and then move on to another bar. A market is held here on Sunday mornings.
La Ribera market
On the banks of the ría, this large Art Deco covered market brings together fishmongers, butchers and greengrocers; a food hall with pintxos bars has opened inside.
The riverbanks and the bridges
A continuous promenade follows the estuary from the Casco Viejo to the Guggenheim, then to the Euskalduna palace. Along the way: Santiago Calatrava’s Zubizuri footbridge, the Isozaki Atea towers and the University of Deusto on the opposite bank. You can walk or cycle the route.
The Artxanda funicular
From the Campo Volantín district, a funicular climbs Mount Artxanda in a few minutes: the viewpoint looks out over the whole city and the ría. A good option for the end of the day.
The Fine Arts Museum and Doña Casilda park
Close to the Guggenheim, the Fine Arts Museum covers old masters, Basque art and modern art (Goya, El Greco, Gauguin, Chillida). It borders Doña Casilda Iturrizar park, the large garden of the Ensanche.
Azkuna Zentroa
A former wine warehouse redesigned by Philippe Starck, Azkuna Zentroa (the Alhóndiga) is a cultural center: exhibitions, cinema, media library, and an atrium whose columns are all different.
Begoña basilica and the maritime museum
The Begoña basilica, on the heights, is the sanctuary of the patron saint of Biscay; you reach it by steps from the Casco Viejo or by lift. Below the Guggenheim, the maritime museum (Itsasmuseum) tells the story of the port and the shipyards.
Itinerary: Bilbao in 2 days
Day 1, morning: Casco Viejo, La Ribera market, Santiago cathedral
Day 1, midday: pintxos on Plaza Nueva
Day 1, afternoon: walk along the ría to the Guggenheim (visit)
Day 1, evening: the Artxanda funicular at sunset
Day 2, morning: Fine Arts Museum and Doña Casilda park
Day 2, afternoon: Azkuna Zentroa, the Ensanche and Gran Vía, or a trip to the Vizcaya Bridge by metro
What to do in Bilbao depending on the weather
Bilbao gets rain about one day in three even in summer (7 to 8 days with precipitation in July-August, according to AEMET). Rather than putting up with the weather, plan your days around it:
If…
Then go for…
Save for later
It rains all day
Guggenheim, Fine Arts Museum, Itsasmuseum, La Ribera market, a pintxos crawl
Artxanda, the coast, San Juan de Gaztelugatxe
Showers with sunny spells
Casco Viejo (Plaza Nueva arcades), Azkuna Zentroa, Vizcaya Bridge
A long walk along the ría
Clear skies
Artxanda funicular, the ría on foot or by bike, San Juan de Gaztelugatxe, Getxo or Sopela beaches
Museums
Summer heat
Coast and beaches in the morning, museums in the afternoon
Hikes at midday
Destination de Voyage summary, based on the frequency of rain days published by AEMET.
Day trips from Bilbao
The Vizcaya Bridge (Portugalete-Getxo): the world’s first transporter bridge (1893), a UNESCO World Heritage Site; reachable by metro. You can cross in the gondola or walk along the upper walkway.
San Juan de Gaztelugatxe: a hermitage on an islet linked to the coast by a stairway, on the Biscay coast. Access may require a free booking at certain times: check before you go. Car or bus recommended.
Getxo and Sopela: beaches and cliffs at the mouth of the ría, by metro.
San Sebastián: reachable by bus or car, for La Concha bay and the old town.
Gernika and Urdaibai: the martyred town and the biosphere reserve of its estuary.
On the French side, the Basque Country is easy to combine: see our guides to the French Basque Country and Biarritz.
When to go to Bilbao
June to September is the best time: 23 to 26 °C (73 to 79 °F) in the afternoon, 6 hours of sunshine a day and the fewest rain days. Spring and early autumn are still pleasant for a city break, as long as you accept some showers. November is the wettest month (171 mm / 6.7 in according to AEMET); winter is mild (13 to 14 °C / 55 to 57 °F in the afternoon) but grey. In summer, the Semana Grande (Aste Nagusia) livens up the city (check dates with Bilbao city council): accommodation is more expensive.
Month
High °C (°F)
Low °C (°F)
Rain mm (in)
Rain days in 7 days
Sun per day (h)
Verdict
January
13.5 (56)
5.3 (42)
130 (5.1)
2.9
2.6
⚠️ Mild but rainy
February
14.2 (58)
5.1 (41)
109 (4.3)
2.8
3.4
⚠️ Mild but rainy
March
16.6 (62)
6.7 (44)
98 (3.9)
2.4
4.4
⚠️ Frequent showers
April
18.1 (65)
8.1 (47)
97 (3.8)
2.8
4.8
⚠️ Frequent showers
May
21.0 (70)
11.0 (52)
76 (3.0)
2.3
5.7
✅ Pleasant
June
23.5 (74)
13.8 (57)
58 (2.3)
1.7
6.0
✅ Ideal
July
25.4 (78)
15.8 (60)
52 (2.0)
1.7
6.0
✅ Ideal, sunniest
August
26.3 (79)
16.1 (61)
53 (2.1)
1.7
5.9
✅ Warm, festive
September
24.5 (76)
13.9 (57)
75 (3.0)
2.1
5.4
✅ Pleasant, fewer visitors
October
21.5 (71)
11.6 (53)
112 (4.4)
2.4
4.2
⚠️ Rain increasing
November
16.6 (62)
8.3 (47)
171 (6.7)
3.2
2.8
❌ Wettest month
December
14.1 (57)
6.1 (43)
127 (5.0)
2.8
2.6
⚠️ Grey, festive season
Temperatures, precipitation and sunshine: AEMET (Spanish State Meteorological Agency) 1991-2020 normals, Bilbao airport station (via the Wikipedia article “Bilbao”). Rain days in 7 days and sun per day: Destination de Voyage calculation (precipitation days × 7 ÷ days in the month; monthly sunshine hours ÷ days in the month).
How to read it: over a week in July, expect 1 to 2 rain days; in November, 3 or more. For the rest of Spain, which is drier, see when to go to Spain.
Budget for Bilbao
Pintxos are paid for one by one and the bill climbs quickly in the evening; for accommodation, compare prices when you book.
Getting to and around Bilbao
By air: Bilbao airport has international flights; check current routes from your departure airport. The airport is served by bus from the center.
By car: by motorway from the French border at Hendaye; tolls apply. Park in a car park and explore on foot. UK photocard licences can be used in Spain (GOV.UK); US drivers should check the Transportation section of travel.state.gov.
By bus: services link Bilbao with San Sebastián, Biarritz and Bayonne; the bus station is Termibus.
Getting around: metro (stations designed by Norman Foster), a tram along the ría and the Artxanda funicular. The center is easy to explore on foot.
Where to stay in Bilbao
Area
Best for
Highlights
Casco Viejo
Atmosphere, budget
Pintxos, nightlife; sometimes noisy
Abando and the Ensanche
First visit
Central, stations, between the old town and the Guggenheim
Abandoibarra (Guggenheim)
Comfort
Riverside, museums on foot
Indautxu
Quiet, local
Shops, metro, less touristy
Book early for the Semana Grande and big Athletic Club matches.
Entry requirements, health and safety
US citizens (travel.state.gov, last updated August 11, 2025): Schengen rules apply. Your passport should be valid for at least 3 months beyond your stay, and you need sufficient proof of funds and a return ticket.
UK citizens (GOV.UK, updated 12 August 2026): no visa for up to 90 days in any 180-day period as a tourist. Your passport must have been issued less than 10 years before the day you arrive and be valid for at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave the Schengen area. The EU Entry/Exit System (EES) means fingerprints and a photo may be taken at your first entry, free of charge.
Lost passport: according to GOV.UK, you cannot use a police report to leave Spain: you need a new passport or an emergency travel document.
Health: UK travellers can use a GHIC or EHIC for medically necessary state healthcare, which does not replace travel insurance; whatever your nationality, take out insurance covering medical costs. Emergency number: 112.
Safety: the U.S. Department of State notes that pickpocketing and theft are very common at tourist spots, airports, train stations and beach destinations. GOV.UK warns of extreme heat in summer, wildfires and flash floods (follow AEMET warnings), and of strong undercurrents on some beaches: never swim when the red flag is flying.
Meal times: lunch is around 2 pm and dinner after 9 pm; pintxos are mostly eaten from noon to 3 pm and in the evening.
Umbrella: bring one in every season.
Language: signs are in Spanish and Basque; a few words of Euskara (“eskerrik asko”, thank you) are appreciated.
Museums: many close on Mondays; check opening hours before planning.
Frequently asked questions
What to do in Bilbao in one day?
The Casco Viejo and La Ribera market in the morning, pintxos on Plaza Nueva, the riverside walk to the Guggenheim in the afternoon, then the Artxanda funicular late in the day.
How many days do you need to visit Bilbao?
Two days for the city, three to four with the Vizcaya Bridge, San Juan de Gaztelugatxe and San Sebastián.
How do you get to Bilbao?
Bilbao airport has international flights from several European hubs; check current routes from your departure airport. Buses link the airport with the city center.
What is the typical dish of Bilbao?
Pintxos at the bar, but also cod (bacalao) a la vizcaína or al pil-pil, with a glass of txakoli.
What is the best time to visit Bilbao?
From June to September, when rain is least frequent and sunshine longest, according to AEMET normals.
Is Bilbao worth visiting?
Yes, for its architecture, food and the nearby coast; it combines well with San Sebastián and the French Basque Country.
Our sources
AEMET: AEMET (Spanish State Meteorological Agency) 1991-2020 normals, Bilbao airport station, via the Wikipedia article “Bilbao”
Destination de Voyage calculation: rain days per week, sunshine hours per day, “what to do depending on the weather” matrix
Entry requirements, health and safety read on 26 October 2026: U.S. Department of State, Spain country information (travel.state.gov, last updated August 11, 2025), and UK FCDO, foreign travel advice for Spain (GOV.UK, updated 12 August 2026)
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