Last Updated on October 24, 2026 by Sarah Wilson
Bilbao was one stop on our girls’ road trip around northern Spain, and it turned out to be a much nicer city than I’d imagined.
We had only one full day to explore, so we decided to see where our feet took us rather than trying to cram in every attraction.
We had stayed overnight the previous night in Laredo, a coastal town roughly halfway between Bilbao and Santander. Accommodation in Bilbao was rather expensive when we looked, as several events were taking place in the city, including a night run and a concert. Rather than pay over the odds for a hotel, we decided to stay in Laredo and use it as a base for our road trip.
So, for our day in Bilbao, we drove to the Bilbao Exhibition Centre (BEC), left the car there and took the metro into the city centre. It was straightforward and saved us the hassle of driving around an unfamiliar city looking for parking (and much cheaper too!)
Here’s how we spent our day in Bilbao.
Visiting the Basilica of Begoña
Our first stop was the Basilica of Begoña, dedicated to the patron saint of Biscay. Getting there involved walking up a fair number of steps. It’s a nice church, but if your time in Bilbao is limited or you don’t fancy stairs, then I recommend spending more time exploring the old town.
When we arrived at the church, a wedding was taking place inside. At the same time, tourists were wandering around taking photographs. It felt a little strange trying to look around a church while someone’s very personal occasion was going on.
Wandering around Bilbao’s Old Town
Bilbao’s Old Town, known as Casco Viejo, is a lovely area to explore on foot. We didn’t have a particular route planned and simply wandered around the streets, enjoying the atmosphere and looking at the traditional buildings.
I’m not sure whether we saw all the sights we were supposed to, but it was a very pretty area, and we enjoyed exploring it at our own pace.
We passed Mercado de la Ribera, Bilbao’s famous covered market beside the river. We only saw it from the outside and didn’t go in. We’d arrived in the afternoon, so we may have missed the best time to visit.
Walking along the river to the Guggenheim Museum
From the Old Town, we made our way along the river towards the Guggenheim Museum.
The walk was a lovely way to approach the museum, and the building itself is certainly an impressive sight. Even before we went inside, there was plenty to see.
As luck would have it, we were visiting for the museum’s 29th anniversary, when admission was free. I expected it to be packed, but it wasn’t nearly as crowded as I’d imagined.
Free entry was a bonus, and it gave us the opportunity to explore a famous Bilbao attraction without having to pay the usual admission fee.
Is the Guggenheim Worth Visiting?
I can appreciate the architecture and the creativity behind much of the art, but I have to admit that some of the exhibitions inside were a little weird for my taste. Modern art isn’t always something I connect with, and this was one of those occasions.
I actually preferred some of the artwork outside the museum.
The enormous spider sculpture, Maman, by Louise Bourgeois, is quite something. Then there’s Puppy, Jeff Koons’ giant floral dog, which is much more my sort of thing. It’s difficult not to be impressed by a dog covered in flowers.
Another sculpture that caught my attention on our walk to the Guggenheim was Las Sirgueras, a group of four women holding and pulling a thick rope beside the river.
The sculptures commemorate the women who once hauled boats along Bilbao’s estuary using ropes and their own strength. It’s a tribute to an important part of the city’s working history, and I found it particularly interesting once I knew the story behind it.
I was glad we went inside the Guggenheim, even if the exhibitions weren’t entirely to my taste. The building and the outdoor sculptures were highlights for me, and you don’t have to love every famous attraction just because everyone else does.
Dinner in Plaza Nueva
After visiting the Guggenheim, we headed back towards the Old Town and made our way to Plaza Nueva.
This attractive square is surrounded by arcades, with cafés, bars and restaurants tucked beneath them. It seemed a good place to stop for dinner after a day of walking.
We ate at Café Bar Bilbao, where we enjoyed pintxos and tapas.
Pintxos are a Basque speciality, often consisting of small bites served on bread or held together with a cocktail stick. They’re a great way to try a few different things without committing to one large meal.
It was a lovely spot to finish our day before heading back to the metro and collecting the car.
Is One Day in Bilbao Enough?
You could easily spend longer in Bilbao, especially if you wanted to explore more of the old town, spend more time at the Guggenheim’s exhibitions, visit other attractions, or enjoy the city’s food scene.
However, we managed to see several of the main highlights in a day, and we didn’t feel rushed.
Leaving the car at BEC and taking the metro into the centre worked well for us. We could explore on foot without worrying about parking, and staying in Laredo gave us a more affordable base for our northern Spain road trip.
I have to admit that Bilbao was much nicer than I’d expected. We enjoyed wandering around the Old Town, walking along the river and seeing the Guggenheim, even if the art inside wasn’t quite my cup of tea.
We certainly didn’t see everything Bilbao has to offer, but that wasn’t really the point. We had a lovely day exploring somewhere new, and I came away with a much better impression of the city than I’d expected.
Sometimes that’s the best part of travelling: discovering that a place you weren’t particularly sure about turns out to be somewhere you really enjoy.
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