Best tours of Bilbao

Bilbao is the center around which the Basque Country revolves, the most important city and a cultural reference for all of Spain. It also has some of the most interesting attractions, among which stand out the Guggenheim Museum, the Artxanda Funicular and the architectural wonders of the Old Town.

Choosing the top 10 tours among the best things to see and do in Bilbao can be a challenge, but below I will tell you what excursions you have available and that will help you get to know the city, its attractions and all its profiles during your trip.

The Guggenheim Museum is the main reference in Bilbao since its inauguration in 1997, when its foundation caused an impact on the Basque economy, boosting tourism in the region and surpassing one million visitors every year.

Currently the museum houses contemporary art exhibitions but the 'Guggenheim effect' also achieved the revitalization of public and private spaces that converge in the Bilbao Estuary, so its function was also social.

You can visit the Guggenheim Museum on a guided tour in which you will explore the works of modern art it holds during a 2-hour visit. During the tour you will not only attend the internal exhibitions and walk through the galleries of the museum but you can also admire the architecture of the building designed by Frank Gehry, which simulates a ship made of stone, titanium and glass.

The Guggenheim houses works by Andy Warhol, Yves Klein, James Rosenquis and Antoni Tapies, among other renowned artists of the 20th century, and has permanent displays of its collection complemented by temporary exhibitions that you can discover on a guided tour.

Details of interest

• Price of the excursion... It costs approximately 68 euros including entrance to the museum, guide assistance and VIP entrance without queues.
• Duration of the tour... The guided tour lasts approximately 2 hours.
• Museum location... Avenida Abandoibarra 2, Bilbao.
• Museum opening hours... Tuesday to Sunday from 10.00 to 19.00 hours.
• How to get to the museum... From the center of Bilbao you can take the A3247 bus to Alameda Recalde station.

The Casco Viejo of Bilbao is made up of the seven streets that made up the old medieval quarter, an area that is now characterized by modern bars and traditional taverns that coexist in the narrow streets.

Walking through the old town will allow you to delve into the history of the city and also in the different profiles that today divide Bilbao into an old area and a modern one, built around the Guggenheim Museum.

You can get to know the Casco Viejo on guided tours in which you will visit the Cathedral of Santiago, with an architectural style reminiscent of the Middle Ages, and the churches of San Antón, San Nicolás and Santos Juanes. You can also visit the Mercado de la Ribera, which is characterized by its food stalls and tapas bars.

In the Casco Viejo you can also visit the Arriaga Theater, which is still open and promoting opera and dance performances.

Details of interest

• Price of the tour... It costs approximately 18 euros including the assistance of an expert local guide.
• Duration of the tour... Approximately 2 hours.
• How to get to Casco Viejo... By Bilbao Metro to Zazpi Kaleak station.

Riding the Artxanda Funicular is one of the best activities you can do in the city and is also an ideal plan if you plan to visit Bilbao with children. The funicular ride ends at the viewpoint, which is one of the highest points in the metropolitan area and will give you a great visual view of the Bilbao region.

From the Mirador del Monte Artxanda you can contemplate a panoramic view that includes the Guggenheim Museum, the Nuevo San Mamés Stadium and the Iberdrola Tower. From there you can also discover the Old Town, with the tower of the Cathedral of Santiago as insignia.

On Mount Artxanda you can take some of the best pictures of the city, especially if you plan to visit Bilbao in summer, when the days are clear and the panoramic views are cleaner.

Details of interest

• Price of the excursion... It costs approximately 19 euros including the funicular ride and access to the Mirador del Monte Artxanda.
• Duration of the excursion... Approximately 2 hours.
• How to get to the Funicular Square... From the center of Bilbao you can take the streetcar line 5 to Uribitarte station.

If you want to get to know the nightlife of Bilbao you can take a guided night tour through the main points of the city. The itinerary usually includes a visit to the Arriaga Theater and a tour of the bars in the Plaza Nueva area, the liveliest area of the old town.

The tour usually passes through the Plaza Miguel de Unamuno, which is the meeting point of the locals and a place little explored by tourists during the night. It also usually includes a stop at the Mercado de la Ribera, where you will find a wide variety of Basque tapas and drinks.

The tour usually ends around Plaza Moyúa, which is the heart of Bilbao's nightlife, with visits to Azkuna Zentroa, which is an old wine warehouse converted into a leisure and cultural center, and Terraza Yandiola, a typical Basque restaurant with a terrace from which it is possible to contemplate the city.

Details of interest

• Price of the excursion... It has an approximate cost of 30 euros, including the assistance of the local expert guide and the entrance to Azkuna Zentroa.
• Duration of the tour... Approximately 2 hours.
• How to get to the meeting point at the Arriaga Theater... By Metro Bilbao to Zazpi Kaleak station.

The Mercado de la Ribera, which is one of the largest in Europe, is one of the places you must visit during your visit to the city. There you can buy a wide variety of fresh produce, but also have lunch or dinner at some of the best pintxo bars in Bilbao.

The products inside the Mercado de la Ribera are arranged according to floor. On the first floor are located the fishmongers, on the second floor the butchers and on the second floor the greengrocers, but in all sectors there are food stalls and on the first floor of the building there is a jazz bar.

Located in an area close to the Casco Viejo, the Mercado de la Ribera is the perfect place to stop between excursions and have lunch or to buy local products in the same place where the locals go shopping.

Interesting details

• Market location... Erribera Kalea s/n, Bilbao.
• Market hours... Every day from 8.00 am to 0.00 am.
• How to get to the market... By Metro Bilbao to Zazpi Kaleak station.

Bilbao is a city split in the middle by the estuary, which gives identity to each site and that fulfilled an industrial function. In addition, it also gives space to one of the best activities to do in the Basque Country: take a boat trip on the estuary to see all the facets of the city, from the medieval streets to the technological buildings of the modern area.

During the tour you will be able to see from the estuary the seven streets of the Old Town, the tower of the Cathedral of Santiago and the intense commercial and port activity that pulls the strings of the city. You will also pass by the new buildings, from the Guggenheim Museum to the New San Mamés

In this relaxing walk you will also learn, through the assistance of the expert local guide, the history of the evolution of the city and the Basque Country and get to know a little better the idiosyncrasy and culture of the Basques.

Interesting details

• Price of the excursion... It has an approximate cost of 76 euros, including the assistance of the local expert guide and the boat ride on the Bilbao estuary.
• Duration of the excursion... Approximately 2 hours.

Much of the attraction of Bilbao is that it is located in a strategic area to use the city as a base for touring other nearby sites. One of those places, perhaps the most prominent, is San Juan de Gaztelugatxe, the stone castle on the Basque coast that became world famous since it was part of the filming set of the popular series Game of Thrones.

Located just 35 kilometers from Bilbao, San Juan de Gaztelugatxe is an islet crowned by the hermitage of John the Baptist, which can be reached by a stone bridge with 241 steps. The best options to get to Gaztelugatxe from Bilbao are half-day organized excursions.

Also, keep in mind that if you want to discover San Juan de Gaztelugatxe in perspective you can go a little further and walk to the Matxitxako Lighthouse, from where you will see the walkway that connects the hermitage of the islet with the mainland from a place that is not frequented by tourists.

Details of interest

• Price of these excursions... They have an approximate initial cost of 67 euros per person, including round-trip transfers with hotel pick-up and the assistance of an expert local guide.
• Duration of these excursions... Approximately 6 hours.
• How to get to San Juan de Gaztelugatxe... The excursions include round trip transfers from Bilbao with hotel pick up.

Bilbao has changed its industrial profile in the last 25 years and has become a place that combines traditional and modern sectors, so one of the best options to get a broad knowledge of the city is to take a half-day bike tour that will take you around the main sites.

On these excursions with a local guide you will be able to discover Bilbao's main attractions, ride along the estuary and learn about local history. You will also be assured of a quiet and safe ride, as the city has many bike lanes away from traffic and these tours usually include all the safety features.

Bike tours are also ideal if you plan to visit Bilbao with children, as they usually include seats for the younger ones and several stops for visitors to hydrate and consume food, making these tours a relaxed experience.

Interesting details

• Price of these tours... They cost approximately 31 euros, including the assistance of a local guide and safety elements.
• Duration of these tours... Approximately 4 hours.

Do you want to know the history of the railway tragedy of Plaza Circular, or the legend of the Fish Man? Do you know what were the exemplary punishments applied to the condemned in the Church of San Anton? You can learn about all these mysteries in these guided night tours through the historical city of Bilbao, which hides intrigues, catastrophes, enigmas and legends.

On these tours you can enter the Seven Streets with the assistance of an expert local guide and, in addition to learning about the mysteries of Bilbao, visit the most emblematic monuments and see the cobblestone streets of the old town illuminated by moonlight, especially in the Plaza Miguel de Unamuno, which is one of the central points of the city.

These tours are ideal if you are one of those who when visiting a city also wants to know the alternative histories of each place and discover the mysteries of the most emblematic sites of each place.

Details of interest

• Price of these excursions... They have an approximate cost of 12 euros per person.
• Duration of these tours... Approximately 1 hour and a half.

Gastronomy is one of the strong points of the Basque Country and in Bilbao you can take a gastronomic tour to taste the best local flavors. On these excursions that include a walking tour of the best restaurants and tapas bars in the Casco Viejo you will try more than 10 different foods and drinks in varied tastings.

This gastronomic tour of Bilbao also includes dessert and free time within the 3-hour excursion for you to enjoy the food stores located around Plaza Nueva at your own pace.

These gastronomic tours also include Bilbao wine tasting and the assistance of an expert local guide who will take you around the best corners of the city to taste the real Basque flavors.

Details of interest

• Price of these excursions... They have an approximate initial cost of 97 euros per person, including tastings and the assistance of a local guide.
• Duration of these tours... Approximately 3 hours.
• How to get to Plaza Nueva... By Bilbao Metro to Zazpi Kaleak station.

You can book tours online in advance or book them once you arrive in the city. If you plan to visit the Basque Country in the summer or during the high season months I recommend that you book in advance to avoid last minute price increases.

Also keep in mind that some excursions, such as boat tours, night tours or gastronomic tastings that include a walk through the Casco Viejo, may be cancelled due to rain, so I advise you to check the weather during your visit at the time of booking.

The answer depends on the chosen excursion. Those that consist of visiting sites near Bilbao are usually full or half day tours, while those that include tours of the Old Town, the funicular or the Guggenheim museum last on average between 2 and 3 hours.

Take into account the duration of the tours before booking, especially if you are planning a short stay in the city. If that is your case, here is a guide to get to know Bilbao in 3 days.

In this tour you will be able to see the main points of Bilbao and that can not be left out of any tour of the city, such as the Casco Viejo, the funicular to the Mirador de Artxanda, the Guggenheim Museum and the Ribera Market and also other sites on the outskirts of the city that are central attractions of the Basque Country.

Among the attractions near Bilbao you can visit the Basque-French coast, the stone castle of San Juan de Gaztelugatxe and the Rioja wine route that starts in Vitoria, the capital of the Basque Country.

You can do the excursions on your own, but on a guided tour you will learn about other aspects of the attractions, as in the case of the Guggenheim Museum, where the local guide will not only tell you about the internal exhibits, but will also tell you about the architecture of the building and how its inauguration changed the skyline of the city.

In addition, on excursions to nearby sites, booking a guided tour will save you time and money, as most of them include round-trip transfers with hotel pick-up.