Bilbao

Bilbao is a city that loves to surprise you. Tucked into a green river valley in the Basque Country of northern Spain, it was once a tough, smoky industrial city built on steel and ships. But Bilbao reinvented itself in a spectacular way, and today it buzzes with energy, creativity, and incredible food.

The moment you see the Guggenheim Museum rising above the Nervión River, you understand what all the fuss is about. Its rippling, metallic skin catches the light like something from the future, and its arrival in 1997 changed the city forever, putting Bilbao firmly on the world map. Nearby, the elegant white arc of the Zubizuri Bridge curves gracefully over the water, and a funicular railway climbs the hillside for jaw-dropping views across the whole city.

Then there is the Old Town, a jumble of winding medieval streets where locals crowd into tiny bars to share pintxos, the Basque version of tapas. Bilbao is a city with serious character, and it will absolutely win you over.

Bilbao Puzzle Set

City illustration + map puzzle, shipped to your door.

Available in 110, 252, 520 and 1,014 pcs

From $44.99

Shop puzzle set

Quick fact

Bilbao is the largest city in the Basque Country region of northern Spain and was once a major industrial port city famous for its steel and shipbuilding industries.

Fun fact

When the shiny, titanium-clad Guggenheim Museum opened in Bilbao in 1997, it was so spectacular that it single-handedly transformed the city into a major tourist destination — a phenomenon economists now call the 'Bilbao Effect'!

Landmarks

Guggenheim Museum Bilbao

This dazzling museum looks like a giant silver flower or a ship made of shiny metal, and inside it holds some of the most exciting modern art in the whole world.

Casco Viejo (Old Town)

Bilbao's charming Old Town is a maze of narrow medieval streets packed with pintxos bars, where you can eat delicious little snacks piled high on slices of bread.

Zubizuri Bridge

This elegant curved footbridge over the Nervión River looks like a white sail and is so beautiful that it has become one of Bilbao's most photographed spots.

Bilbao Fine Arts Museum

One of the best art museums in Spain, this gallery holds a fantastic collection spanning 700 years, from ancient paintings to exciting contemporary works.