Stand on the Abandoibarra riverbank at dusk and the titanium curves of the Guggenheim Museum catch the last light, the whole facade shifting colour as the sky above the estuary does the same. A few steps away, Puppy sits covered in flowers that are changed with the seasons, and beyond it the old town begins, where the Puente de San Antón crosses the Nervión beside the Iglesia de San Antón.
Bilbao suits travellers who like their cities walkable and varied: a morning of art, an afternoon of Gothic churches and covered markets, an evening of pintxos in the Casco Viejo. The city is compact enough to cover on foot, with a metro and tram filling the gaps, and the surrounding mountains and the Bay of Biscay never far from view.
This guide covers the museums, churches, bridges, markets and civic buildings worth your time, followed by a plan for a single day and answers to the questions visitors ask most often.
Top things to do in Bilbao
1. Guggenheim Museum
Frank Gehry's twisting, titanium-clad modern art museum is the building that changed how the world saw Bilbao. The curves are covered in titanium squares that shimmer in the sunlight, and the skylights of the largest gallery are designed to look like the fins of fish. The permanent collection is not particularly impressive, but the museum always hosts at least one interesting temporary exhibit, frequently made up of masterpieces from the other Guggenheim collections.
It sits on Abandoibarra etorbidea, reachable by tram at the Guggenheim stop. It is closed on 1 January and 25 December, and in July and August it opens daily.
2. Puppy
Not a museum but a sculpture directly in front of the Guggenheim Museum, created by Jeff Koons. It is one of the most famous symbols of modern Bilbao: a west Highland terrier 12 metres high, covered in flowers that are changed each season.
Because it stands outside, you can see it at any hour and combine it with your visit to the Guggenheim Museum in the same stop.
3. Museo de Bellas Artes
The Museum of Fine Art holds a remarkable collection of more than 6,000 works dating from the 12th century to the present day, including paintings, sculptures, drawings, engravings and decorative objects. From 2023 the museum has been undergoing a major extension and renovation project, and entry is through the old building only.
It is on Plaza del Museo, near the Moyuako metro stop. It is closed on Tuesdays, and for 2025, until the major renovation works are complete, entry is free.
4. Azkuna Zentroa
A building that has been modernised according to designs by Philippe Starck and Thibaut Mathieu. The complex contains a library, several bars and restaurants, a cinema and even a roof swimming pool with a glass floor.
It is a good indoor stop on a wet day, and its bars and restaurants make it a practical place to break up a day of sightseeing.
5. Mercado de la Ribera
One of the biggest covered markets in Europe, built in 1929 on the site of the original Rivera Street market. Fresh produce, fish and meat are sold in the market every morning except Sundays.
It stands next to the Iglesia de San Antón, so pair the two, along with the Puente de San Antón, in a single walk through the old town.
6. Puente de San Antón
Next to the Iglesia de San Antón sits Bilbao's most emblematic bridge. It is a short stop rather than a destination in itself, but it anchors the oldest part of the city.
Combine it with the Iglesia de San Antón and the Mercado de la Ribera, all within a few steps of one another.
7. Iglesia de San Antón
A Gothic-style church from the first half of the 15th century, dedicated to San Anton in the 16th century. The building mixes styles, including a renaissance portico and a baroque tower built in 1777, and it was constructed on the ruins of a former alcazar. It appears on Bilbao's shield.
It sits beside the Puente de San Antón and the Mercado de la Ribera, making the three easy to see together.
8. Cathedral of St. James
A Gothic-style 14th-century cathedral named after Bilbao's official patron saint, with three naves and small Gothic cloisters. Its neo-Gothic tower and main façade were designed by Severino de Achúcarro in the 1800s.
The adjoining Plaza de Santiago has a fountain designed by Luis Paret during the reign of Carlos III, inscribed Por el bien público. The cathedral is in the Casco Viejo, convenient to the Plaza Nueva and the Teatro Arriaga.
9. Plaza Nueva
Bilbao's Plaza Nueva was first named Plaza de Fernando VII, and construction began on 31 December 1829 and finished exactly 20 years later. The Academy of the Basque Language occupies the old Diputación building here, and the plaza is surrounded by buildings with entrances only on some sides.
There is a market of used books, stamps, coins and other small items in the plaza every Sunday morning, which is the liveliest time to see it.
10. Teatro Arriaga
Inaugurated on 31 May 1890, the first Teatro Arriaga burnt down on 22 December 1914, and the second opened on 5 June 1919. Evocative of the Opera House in Paris, the theatre has an ornate façade and a beautiful interior, and the square in front is named after the Bilbao composer Juan Crosótomo de Arriaga.
There is a tourist information office in the theatre building, with the entrance on the left side as you face the theatre.
11. Basílica de Begoña
Overlooking Bilbao, this is perhaps the most symbolic religious building in the city. Built in the 16th century by Sancho Martinez de Arego, who was also responsible for the Iglesia de San Antón, it is a basilica of three naves. Its façade and tower were destroyed in 1835 during the first Carlist War, and the present ones were designed by Jose Maria Basterra and constructed between 1902 and 1907.
Its position above the city makes it a natural pairing with a walk down into the Casco Viejo afterwards.
12. Estación Abando
Even if you are not taking a train, it is worth visiting the platforms of the RENFE station for the impressive stained glass atrium depicting some traditional Basque jobs.
It sits next to La Concordia station, and the Abando metro stop is right there, so you can see both stations in one stop.
13. La Concordia Station
Built between 1898 and 1902 on the banks of the Nervión, this station was designed by the engineer Valentín Gorbeña, with the art nouveau main façade added later to a design by the architect Severino Achúcarro.
It is directly beside Estación Abando, so visit the two together and take in both the art nouveau façade and the stained glass atrium next door.
14. Itsasmuseum
Housed in what used to be the Euskalduna shipyard, this maritime museum sits next to the current Euskalduna Performing Arts Centre. It covers the three docks, the walkway surrounding them and the estuary.
Note that summer opening hours differ from winter ones, so call ahead to check before you go.
15. Vizcaya Bridge
Also known as Puente Colgante, the hanging bridge, this is the only UNESCO World Heritage site in Spain listed in the Industrial category. You can use your Barik card to cross, though the price is the same as buying a ticket.
It is reachable by Cercanías at Portugalete on the west side or by metro at Areeta on the east side.
If you only have one day
Morning. Start at the Guggenheim Museum on Abandoibarra, arriving for opening so you have time for the building and a temporary exhibit, then step outside to see Puppy in front of it. Walk to the Museo de Bellas Artes on Plaza del Museo, noting that it is closed on Tuesdays.
Afternoon. Cross into the Casco Viejo and see the Cathedral of St. James and its Plaza de Santiago, then the Teatro Arriaga and the Plaza Nueva. Continue to the Iglesia de San Antón, the Puente de San Antón and the Mercado de la Ribera together, since they stand side by side. If time allows, finish with the stained glass atrium at Estación Abando and the art nouveau façade of La Concordia Station next door.
Evening. Return to Azkuna Zentroa for its bars and restaurants, or head back toward the river for a last look at the Guggenheim Museum and Puppy as the light goes.
Frequently asked questions
When is the Guggenheim Museum open?
It is open Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 20:00, and in July and August it is open daily from 10:00 to 20:00. It is closed on 1 January and 25 December.
Which museums in Bilbao are closed on a Tuesday?
The Museo de Bellas Artes is closed on Tuesdays, and the Basque Museum is also closed on Tuesdays as well as on public holidays. Plan those visits for another day of the week.
When is the best time to visit the Mercado de la Ribera?
Produce, fish and meat are sold in the market every morning except Sundays, so a morning visit gives you the fullest market.
How do I cross the Vizcaya Bridge?
You can use your Barik card to cross, but the price is the same as buying a ticket. The west side is served by Cercanías at Portugalete and the east side by metro at Areeta.
Decide which day suits the Guggenheim Museum and the Museo de Bellas Artes, check the market mornings, and you have enough to start planning your trip to Bilbao.