Bilbao Tourist Attractions

Tourism in Bilbao, Spain, is multiplying. The city has invested heavily in new infrastructure and attractions, making it a popular destination for travelers from all over Europe.

Bilbao is home to some of Spain's most iconic architecture, including the Guggenheim Museum and the Zubizuri Bridge. They also offer a variety of cultural attractions, such as the Bilbao Fine Arts Museum and the Basque Culinary Center.

With its beautiful setting on the River Nervion, Bilbao is an ideal destination for a relaxing vacation or an exciting city break.

If you want to explore the region further, please visit getyourguide.com.

Bilbao: 1- or 2-Hour Sightseeing Boat Tour

Explore the heart of Bilbao from the water on a guided sailing tour. Explore the city from a different vantage point, the estuary. The boat can hold up to 80 passengers, with both inside and outdoor seating available.

Starting in Pio Baroja Square's City Hall Bridge, your hour-long tour will take you to the Villa's heart. Make your way to the banks of the Zorrozaurre River and then the Deusto Canal's starting point. Finish back where you started the excursion.

The same jetty at Pio Baroja Square is the starting point for the two-hour journey. Take a tour of the estuary and the Puente Bizkaia region as you sail past some of Bilbao's most famous sites and structures.

You can learn more about the city's architecture, the history of the route you're sailing, and its bridges, buildings, and other structures by listening to an audioguide, available in Spanish, Basque, English, French, German, and Italian.

Bilbao: Guggenheim Museum Skip-the-Line Guided Tour

Begin your tour of the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao with a meeting at the museum's entrance. You may avoid the lines by purchasing your tickets and learning more about one of the city's most recognizable landmarks without waiting in line.

Explore the building's structure and the outdoor sculptures surrounding the museum to find out why Bilbao was chosen as the site for the spectacular Frank Gehry-designed edifice.

Then, with the help of a guide, explore the museum's galleries, atrium, and terrace to become acquainted with the museum's most significant permanent and temporary exhibits.

Look up at its undulating, serpentine shapes with other large-scale artworks whose materials will amaze you.

Bilbao: S. Juan de Gaztelugatxe Getaria & San Sebastián Tour

San Juan de Gaztelugatxe is an islet in the Bay of Biscay that can only be reached via a footpath that you can take from Bilbao. Explore the area like a bird and spot the mystical cliffs featured in HBO's Game of Thrones TV series.

Next, visit Getaria, a town in Guipuzcoa, and take a walking tour of the town's old town. In this modest village, born sailor Juan Sebastián Elcano revolutionized the world.

Admire the town's historic fishing harbor, the Church of San Salvador, and the monument he erected to honor his achievements.

Stop into one of Getaria's many eateries for a bite to eat. Grilling fresh fish and other seafood from the area is a culinary delight. Get on the bus and head to San Sebastián for an informative sightseeing trip.

Before returning to Bilbao, stop by the Basilica of Santa Mara del Coro and the Church of San Vicente.

Bilbao: 3-Hour Guided Highlights Small-Group Bike Tour

Experience Bilbao like a local on a guided bike tour past the city's top attractions, including the world-renowned Guggenheim Museum. Explore the city's beautiful old and new landmarks and uncover its rich history.

Following your guide's lead from the central Calle de Villarias, use the city's bike lanes and pedestrianized streets to get around the congestion. Following the river's path, you can see how it shaped the city.

Check out the Frank Gehry–designed Guggenheim Museum, which opened in the 1990s on the banks of the Nervión River and is a striking stop on your bicycle tour of the city's modern and historical attractions.

The new San Mamés football stadium and the Euskalduna Conference Centre (constructed on the site of the former shipyards) are architectural marvels. Visit the Neo-Baroque Theater Arriaga to learn more about Bilbao's rich past.

From Bilbao: Gaztelugatxe and Gernika Tour

The spectacular rock islet of Gaztelugatxe, located off the coast of Bizkaia, is only 35 kilometers from Bilbao city center. They'll pick you up from your hotel so you may relax in nature on the way there.

Travel to the lookout and spend two hours wandering at your own pace. Visit the hermitage of San Juan de Gaztelugatxe, built in the 10th century, and make a wish by touching the bell in the chapel three times.

Take in the breathtaking panoramas of the Bay of Biscay on the way to Bermeo, where you may explore the quaint streets on foot. Visit the Casa de Juntas (Assembly House) in the historic town of Gernika, where Nazi Germany dropped its first aerial bombs, and see the iconic Tree of Guernica, a symbol of the people's traditional freedom.

Pedal your way through the winding alleys and open plazas of Casco Viejo (Original Town). You'll eventually reach the San Antón Bridge, which connects Bilbao La Vieja and Casco Viejo and marks the site of the old city walls.

Bilbao: San Mamés Museum and Stadium Tour

The journey starts at the museum between Gates 19 and 20 of the world-famous San Mamés Stadium. Then, get an inside look at football at the grassroots level.

Feel like a real football player as you enter the field through the tunnel, explore the locker rooms, and see the press room humming with anticipation.

Combine your stadium tour with a trip to the Athletic Club museum, where you can peruse an impressive collection of unique football artifacts.

Explore the exhibits and learn about the museum's collection of 500 unique football-related artifacts amassed over a century. View memorabilia from the club's history and present, including trophies, uniforms, artwork, and videos, all in a single location.

Four audiovisual productions, thirteen interactive systems, six hundred videos, an immersive video wall, and a playroom with amusement for all ages make this museum a must-visit.

From Bilbao: Basque Country Tour

As you make your way to the shore along the river route in Bilbao, take in the sights of the city's historic industrial districts. In Bizkaia, you must see the Transporter Bridge, the oldest bridge of its kind and still in use today.

After that, you'll drive deeper into the province, passing by the Neguri area and its historic homes, once the domain of prosperous industrial managers. Explore the landmark ancient Castle of Butron and take in the picturesque nearby houses and farmhouses.

First, you'll see the coastal village of Bakio, a popular summer vacation spot for local Basques. Then you'll continue along the stunning and rugged coastal road until you reach your second destination, San Juan de Gaztelugatxe.

One of the most picturesque spots along the entire Basque coast can be found here. The old hermitage of San Juan is perched atop a large rock, and the mainland is reached through a winding stone ladder.

You'll keep going till you reach Bermeo, a fishing village. The Juradera Church, the Ercilla Tower, the old dock, and the Town Hall are just some attractions you'll see during your time here. Your tour might suggest some great places to eat during your free lunch.

Later, you'll make a pit stop at Mundaka. This stunning location offers breathtaking views of the Urdaibai Biosphere, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

After that, you'll reach Gernika, where you can see the Basque Sacred Tree and the Casa de Juntas, the historic Law House.

From Bilbao: Half or Full-Day Game of Thrones Guided Tour

Experience the magic of Game of Thrones up close and personal on a tour of the stunning locales where Season 7 was shot. Explore breathtaking locations while following the footprints of Game of Thrones A-listers like Tyrion, Daenerys, and Jon Snow.

You can begin your excursion on the beach at King's Landing, which was recorded at Muriola Beach in Barrika. Check out the area where Davos, Tyrion, and Gendry ran from the Gold Cloaks. Then, visit Butron Castle, a castle reminiscent of those found in the Middle Ages. Have fun pretending to be a noble of Winterfell in your photo ops with cloaks and swords.

Proceed to the next stop on tour, the Dragonstone Fortress at Bermeo's San Juan de Gaztelugatxe. Feel like a real Khaleesi by conquering the same 241 stairs as Daenerys. Bermeo is a great place to stop for lunch since it has excellent pintxos, tapas, and txakoli, a local white wine.

Reach your ultimate destination, Dragonstone seashore, where Daenerys stepped foot upon her homecoming home. Itzurun Beach in Zumaia was the ideal location for filming Dragonstone because of its antiquity (it is 60 million years old).

From Bilbao: Vizcaya Bridge, Gaztelugatxe, Bermeo, & Gernika

Get out of Bilbao for the day and onto some other fascinating and historic Basque Coast locales. Experience the sights of the Vizcaya Bridge and Gernika, a historic city rich in culture, a traditional fishing village, and delicious local fare.

Upon reaching the shore, stop at the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Vizcaya Bridge in Bilbao to learn about the city's fascinating industrial background.

Make your way past the magnificent Butron Castle to Urdaibai's Biosphere. Explore the mysterious San Juan de Gaztelugatxe, filming set for the hit HBO series "Game of Thrones." and take in the stunning vistas from its vantage point.

On your way back, take a stroll through the picturesque streets of Bermeo, another traditional fishing village. Try some pintxos as part of a local food tasting.

At the end of Gernika, you may see the fascinating Assembly House and the well-known Tree of Gernika.

From Bilbao: Biarritz, Saint Jean de Luz, San Sebastian Tour

Spend a day being taken through Biarritz and the charming coastal resort of Saint Jean de Luz, departing from Bilbao. You can smell the sea with the windows down and take in the ocean's vastness as you go. Have a bite of a delicious local delicacy before exploring the quaint alleys of San Sebastian, Spain.

After being picked up from your Bilbao hotel, you'll start your tour with a stop in Biarritz, a popular summer destination for European nobility in the French Basque Country. Find the best vantage points for seeing the city's landmarks.

Visit the coastal village of Saint Jean de Luz for a sample of the traditional local dessert. Next, head to San Sebastian for a stroll around the historic district and a trip to the summit of Mount Igueldo for breathtaking vistas.