Planning a trip to Bilbao? Looking for recommendations on what to do in Bilbao in a day? Then you’ve come to the right place!
The city of Bilbao offers one of the best getaways in the Basque Country. It’s hard to find a city that has changed so much in such a short space of time. Bilbao, the most populous city in the Basque Country, has been overtaken by its sister city of San Sebastian in the tourism sector, but that doesn’t take away from what Bilbao has to offer.
In this article, we want to share with you a getaway to discover the things to see in Bilbao.
Artxanda funicular
It’s in this “cultural section” that you’ll find one of the best views of the city. The city of Bilbao lies in a kind of trench surrounded by mountains and hills.
To the south, the Pagasarri mountain range overlooks Bilbao from above.
To the north, the climb is a little more comfortable, as it’s accessible by funicular up to Artxanda, from where you can get a breathtaking view of Bilbao. The lawn invites you to sit back and watch the people below, the planes landing in the city and the clouds passing by.
Arriaga Theatre
This is Bilbao’s most distinguished theater and a must-see building. Built in the 19th century in neoclassical style, it is dedicated to the Basque composer Juan de Arriaga.
This composer started out as a musician at a very young age, and some call him the Basque Mozart. By the age of 11, he was already composing music and performing it all over town.
On the other side of the Nervión estuary lies one of Spain’s most beautiful railway stations, Abando. It was designed by English railway engineer Charles Blacker Vignoles, who also designed the railway lines between Bilbao and Tudela.
The old town
In this part of the city, we can discover a completely different Bilbao. The streets are narrow around Santiago Cathedral, where they exit in all directions and end on the banks of the Nervion estuary or in another street.
This area is known as “Zazpi Kaleak” (the seven streets in Basque) because at the time, this district had only seven streets to get around.
The cathedral of the city’s patron saint, Santiago
The cathedral dates back to the 14th and 15th centuries, with some Renaissance features such as the side arches on Rue Fait Jalue.
Walking near the cathedral can be a little stressful for the claustrophobic, as its high walls contrast with the narrow streets that surround it.
As you can see, Bilbao is a city brimming with picturesque must-sees. So grab your ticket and set off to discover all that this magnificent city has to offer.
Related article: Want to get away from it all? 5 must-see places on the Basque coast
