How long in bilbao

Esme Fox. Day one: art. Day two: Old Town and pintxos. Day three: the sea and music. Day four: wine tasting in La Rioja. Day five: more art and more food. Give us feedback. Read Next View. Bilbao City Center by abba Suites. Hotel Ria de Bilbao. This is where the bourgeoise build their stately mansions.

El Ensanche is the most cosmopolitan district in Bilbao. The core is Plaza Moyua. There are lots of first rate shops, restaurants, and bars. Grab some chocolate truffles at Bilbao's grand dame bakery, Arrese, on Gran Via. On Gran Via, you can also inspect Bilbao's "Fosteritos. The "Fosteritos" were built at the same time as the Guggenheim and are part of Bilbao's urban architecture.

The curved canopies draw daylight down into the subterranean stations. The Bilbao Department of Health Building is particularly stunning. It's a shiny and angular glass and steel structure. It has a multi-faceted mirrored facade, designed by Juan Coll-Barreu in , and inspired by diamonds.

The building's design is meant to reflect Bilbao's dynamic nature. Plaza San Jose is also a must visit square in El Ensanche. It was named after the brilliantly white Church of San Jose. In the square, you'll find three over-sized bronze sculptures by Vicente Larrea. Commissioned between , the sculptures are made of folded sheets of steel resembling rock formations. It's an Art Nouveau building called the "Gaudi House.

But curves swirl and entwine the facade, recalling Gaudi's organic themes. If you want to eat lunch here before moving on, the most famous restaurant is La Vina del Ensanche.

This classic Bilbao restaurant has been around since In a vintage-y atmosphere, you can taste acorn-fed jamon and a broad range of pintxos. Be sure to cross the mind-bending stark white Zubizuri Bridge, designed by the acclaimed but controversial Santiago Calatrava, a Neo-Futuristic architect. It's popularly known as the Calatrava Bridge. The bridge almost looks like a sailboat on the river. Residents either hate it or love it.

The glass tiled footpath became known as the "wipeout bridge" because of its slipperiness after frequent rain in Bilbao. If you want a more casual lunch, head to the foodie paradise of the Mercado de la Ribera on the Nervion River. This beautiful Art Deco indoor food hall was designed in by the architect Pedo Ispizua. La Ribera is Europe's largest food hall. There's been a market on this site since the 14th century.

As part of Bilbao's urban renewal, La Ribera was restored and reopened in to acclaim. You'll see goat carcasses and pig heads. But you can also check out the beautiful stained glass panels.

Bilbao's wolfish coat of arms is in the largest panel. With a lovely sandstone exterior, the Arriaga is the oldest theater in Bilbao and serves as the opera house. It retains its original 19th century furnishings. Arriaga was mostly destroyed by a flood in It was renovated and reopened in If you're lucky, you can peak in a door or window and spy the dramatic marble staircase.

You can also inspect the historic landmark on a guided tour. The 2. Do NOT eat anything before embarking on this one ;. The market is near the outskirts of the Old Quarter. The gardens are among the many public parks found throughout the city. Several decades ago, the city was dealing with heavy pollution, traffic congestion, and other industrial problems. Bilbao has worked hard to make the city more breathable and liveable. There are numerous green spaces, but Arenal Gardens is one of the prettiest greenspaces in near Old Town.

The park is carefully landscaped with local foliage, walking paths, and benches for outdoor picnics. The gardens attract visitors from all over. The gardens also have a bandstand, with live performances during different parts of the year. Depending on when you visit, the open spaces may be full of activity, with musical acts, entertainers, and street performers. Maximize your day by pedalling around the city on a Bilbao Guided Bike Tour!

Eventually, you should work your way toward the bridge that takes you between Old Town and the neighbouring districts. The bridge is known for the unique graffiti that covers the lower portions.

As you cross the bridge, peer around the sides to get a better look at the street art and the large painting. When crossing the bridge, you may come across panhandlers. You can also see the next destination from the bridge, as the Guggenheim Museum was built under the structure on the other side of the river. The Guggenheim is the Bilbao branch of the Guggenheim Foundation. Besides the Bilbao museum, there are about a dozen other locations throughout the world. The area outside the museum includes a wide variety of interesting sculptures and art installations.

In the heart of Casco Viejo, in fact, are Las Siete Calles , the original "seven streets" of the city, which date back to the s. As you stroll the cobbled streets, you'll visit emblematic buildings such as the 14th-century Bilbao Cathedral , the Plaza Nueva New Square , the 16th-century Church of Saint Anthony and the Mercado de la Ribera Seaside Market , the largest covered market in Europe. The old quarter is also the best place to indulge in the local cuisine. The Basque region is known for a type of tapas called pintxos pronounced "peenchos".

This tour includes tastings of both the food and wine in Bilbao's old quarter. In the morning, you'll visit the most famous building in Bilbao: the Guggenheim Museum. This guided tour focuses as much on the architecture of the museum as it does the exhibits inside. The building itself is a contemporary masterpiece designed by the legendary Frank Gehry— a glimmering titanium structure that looks like a sculpture, with sleek lines sensually curving in seeming defiance of physics.

Inside, the museum's 24, square-meter space houses a treasure trove of works from great artists such as Andy Warhol, Anish Kapoor, Jeff Koons, Louise Bourgeois, and Eduardo Chillida. In the morning you'll leave Bilbao for San Sebastian.