Sightseeing OverviewBilbao is a striking city, set on the curves of the River Nervión, and surrounded by green hills. Its regeneration owes a lot to the
Guggenheim Museum, but there are plenty of other attractions drawing tourists to the city, such as the
Fine Arts Museum, the
Euskalduna Palace, and the
Maritime Museum. The wonderful
Old Town is a must see, with its bustling streets lined with ancient mansions, small boutiques and bars, the arcaded
Plaza Nueva and the
gothic cathedral.
To get a good overview
of the city, the trip on the 800m- (2,624ft-) long
funicular railway up Monte Artxanda is recommended, as the viewpoint at the top offers a wonderful panorama of the city and its estuary.
The marvelous 100-year-old
transporter bridge spanning the River Nervión between Portugalete and Getxo to the north of Bilbao also offers great views of the estuary.
Tourist InformationBilbao Turismo Plaza Ensanche 11
Tel: (94) 479 5760/70.
Website:
www.bilbao.net/bilbaoturismo Bilbao Turismo has several offices around town - at Plaza Ensanche 11, the airport, Plaza Arriaga and the Guggenheim Museum.
PassesThe Bilbao Card is a pass that allows holders to receive significant discounts at museums, shops, restaurants and shows, as well as on public transport. You can buy it at the following tourism offices: Plaza Ensanche 11, Avenida Abandoibarra 2, Bilbao International Airport and Plaza Arriaga. It’s available for one, two or three days.
Key Attractions:Guggenheim Museum Bilbao’s greatest tourist attraction is without doubt the US$100-million Guggenheim Museum. Designed by architect Frank Gehry, it is a vast titanium-clad structure in the center of Bilbao and has 11,000 sq m (118,403 sq ft) of exhibition space distributed amongst 19 galleries. It features the works of some of the most influential artists of the later half of the 20th century - Picasso, Motherwell, Rauschenberg, Still, Tàpies, Warhol, Klein, and de Koonig.
Avenida Abandoibarra 2
Tel: (94) 435 9080.
Website:
www.guggenheim-bilbao.esBilbao Fine Arts Museum Celebrating its 100-year anniversary in 2008, the Bilbao Fine Arts Museum features an extraordinary variety of artworks from the 12th century to the present. The collection includes more than 6,000 works of art, from paintings, sculptures and drawings to engravings and decorative objects. It is divided into three parts; one for classic European art, with works by artists like El Greco, Murillo, Goya and van Dyck; the second for contemporary art, including works by Gauguin, Bacon, Chillida and Barceló; and the third for Basque art, showing works by Regoyos, Zuloaga, Echevarría, Iturrino and Arteta among others.
Museo Plaza 2
Tel: (94) 439 6060.
Website:
www.museobilbao.comEuskalduna Palace Considered to be among the most significant contemporary architectural works made by Spanish architects, Euskalduna Palace was designed by Federico Soriano and Dolores Palacios and represents the last ship built in the old Euskalduna shipyard. A symbolic representation of Bilbao’s industrial heritage, this huge multifunctional complex, built in 1999 and located in the city center, holds a renowned conference center, voted the best in the world in 2003, and a magnificent auditorium. There are guided tours every Saturday at noon.
Avenida Abandoibarra 4
Tel: (94) 403 5000.
Website:
www.euskalduna.netThe Old Town (Casco Viejo) The Old Town is a labyrinth of narrow pedestrian streets branching out from the Plaza Nueva. The area has an atmosphere all of its own, created by locals and tourists strolling the streets, nibbling on
pintxos (the Basque version of tapas), drinking and enjoying the street life. The St James Cathedral (tel: (94) 415 3627) has honored Bilbao’s official patron saint since 1643. Built at the end of the 14th century in gothic style, it has three naves with triforium and ambulatory. The building became a cathedral in 1949.
The Ría de Bilbao Maritime Museum Situated in the docks of the old Euskalduna shipyard in Abandoibarra, and opened in 2004, Bilbao Maritime Museum is dedicated to all things relating to the sea and navigation. The indoor section includes exhibitions, a media archive, an auditorium, a shop and a cafe. Outside you can visit the old docks of the Euskalduna Shipyards, where the you can find shelter for vessels, the pump house and the unique Carola crane. There are several permanent and temporary exhibitions. Closed Monday.
Muelle Ramón de la Sota 1
Tel: 902 131 000.
Website:
www.museomaritimobilbao.org Further Distractions:The Great Biscay Transporter Bridge The marvelous bridge of Puente Vizcaya spans the Nervión River from Getxo just to the north of Bilbao over to Portugalete on the west. More than 100 years old (it was built in 1893), it is 160m (524ft) long and 50m (164ft) tall and affords a superb view of the Bilbao Estuary and the Abra Bay. It transports cars and pedestrians across the river in a hanging gondola. It’s also possible to take the lift up to the upper footbridge, from where excellent panoramic views can be enjoyed.
Getxo
Tel: (94) 480 1012
or 463 8854.
Website:
www.puente-colgante.com The Museum of Basque Archaeology, Ethnography and History This museum is well worth a visit. It features exhibits from the Basque region’s prehistory, archaeology, ethnography and history. The permanent collection allows visitors to explore topics such as prehistorical Vizcaya, the maritime world in the region, fishing and trade, pastoral life, handicraft textiles, pottery, weapons and furniture. Closed Monday.
Plaza Miguel de Unamuno 4
Tel: (94) 415 5423.
Website:
www.euskal-museoa.org
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