Bilbao completely surprised me, in the best way. It’s compact, vibrant, and full of culture. Think riverside walks, bold architecture, and a food scene built around hopping from bar to bar.
Before going, I really recommend checking the official tourism website to see if any events are happening during your stay:
👉 https://www.bilbaoturismo.net/BilbaoTurismo/en/tourists
Important note for fellow veggie travellers: every place mentioned here has vegetarian options—including pintxos (yes, really!). You won’t feel limited at all.
🚇 Getting Around Bilbao
One of the best things about Bilbao is how easy it is to get around. The city is very walkable, we often moved around on foot, and you can comfortably walk from the Casco Viejo to the San Mamés Stadium in about 30 minutes.
That said, if you’re staying a bit outside the center, public transport is super useful. We got the Barik card (€3) and used it constantly. It works across metro, tram, and buses, can be recharged, and can even be shared with up to 10 people, which makes it really practical.
You can also use it for the Funicular de Artxanda, which is definitely worth doing for the views over the city.
✈️ Getting to and from the Airport
Bilbao Airport (BIO) is only about 13 km from the city, so getting there is quick and easy.
The most practical option is the A3247 Bizkaibus:
- Around 15–20 minutes
- Runs every 15–20 minutes
- Costs about €3 (around €1.16 with the Barik card)
It stops at key points like Bilbao Intermodal and Plaza Moyúa, so it’s very convenient.
Taxis and Uber are also available (around €20–€35), which can be useful if you’re arriving late or have luggage.
🍷 What to Drink in Bilbao
Food is central to the experience, but so are the drinks.
- Txakoli: a dry, slightly sparkling white wine typical of the region
- Basque cider: tangy and poured in a traditional way
- Kalimotxo: red wine mixed with cola (sounds strange, but it absolutely works!)
🗣️ A Few Words in Basque
A small thing that goes a long way:
- Kaixo: Hello
- Agur: Goodbye
- Eskerrik asko: Thank you (the most useful one!)
🗓️ Day 1 – First Pintxos & First Impressions
We arrived in the afternoon, dropped our things, and went straight to the Casco Viejo.
This is where you quickly understand how Bilbao works. Instead of sitting down for a full meal, you move—from bar to bar—having one drink and one pintxo in each.
We started along Calle Goienkale, stopping at:
- Bar Motrikes (their mushroom pintxo is a must)
- K2
- Bar La Muga
- Bar Egurre
Everything had vegetarian options, which made it easy to just enjoy and try different things.
We ended the evening in Plaza Nueva (Plaza Berria), which was full of life: busy, loud, and exactly the kind of place you want to be on your first night.
🗓️ Day 2 – Getting to Know the City
We started the day at Jatera Berria, their chocolate palmeras (in different flavours) were honestly incredible.
After that, we joined a free walking tour starting at the Teatro Arriaga (we booked it through GuruWalk: https://www.guruwalk.com/walks/31120-basque-free-tour-historic-bilbao).
The route gives a really good overview of the Old Town and its history, passing through:
- Plaza del Arriaga
- Kiosco el Arenal
- Plazuela de San Nicolás
- Plaza Miguel Unamuno
- Portal de Zamudio Kalea
- Plazuela de Santiago
- Mercado de la Ribera (free entry food market)
- San Antón Church area
- Muelle de Marzana
- Casco Viejo streets
It’s a really nice mix of plazas, hidden corners, and riverside views, and it helps you understand how the Old Town is structured before wandering it on your own.
For lunch, we went to Irrintzi: more pintxos, a relaxed atmosphere, and plenty of veggie options.
In the afternoon, we walked up to Parque Etxebarria. It’s a nice uphill walk, but there’s also an elevator (around €1, payable with the Barik card) if you prefer.
From there, we continued to the Basílica de Begoña
🕒 Opening hours: 08:30–13:30 & 17:00–20:00
Then back down towards Plaza Moyúa and Gran Vía.
We also stopped by Azkuna Zentroa, a cultural center worth visiting not just for the building itself, but for its constantly changing exhibitions and events: https://www.azkunazentroa.eus/en/.
Dinner was at Crock & Cock: more pintxos, great sangria, and a really friendly atmosphere.
🗓️ Day 3 – Views, Architecture & Walking the City
Breakfast at Pastelería Martina de Zuricalday was the perfect start. We tried some typical pastries from Bilbao:
- Carolina
- Butter bun
- Rice cake
Then we took the Funicular de Artxanda early (definitely recommended before it gets crowded).
💸 Around €6 return, with discount using the Barik card.
From there, we spent most of the day walking through the city:
- Zubizuri Bridge
- Palacio de Ibaigane
- Guggenheim Museum Bilbao: Striking modern art museum known for its bold architecture and ever-changing contemporary exhibitions, making it one of the city’s most iconic and visually impressive cultural landmarks.
- 🕒 10:00–19:00
- 💸 €14
Lunch was at Margarito (tapas, burgers, wraps, more veggie options!).
In the afternoon, we followed the river:
- Pedro Arrupe Bridge
- University of Deusto
- Euskalduna Palace
- Free guided visits available: https://www.euskalduna.eus/es/detalle/BISITAK22@Janto_KB/PENONUM
- Bilbao Maritime Museum
And then we ended at the San Mamés Stadium, which, even if you’re not into football, is worth seeing. It just fits the city somehow.
For dinner, we switched things up with Asian food:
Or, if you want to keep exploring Basque food, Plant Bites is a fully plant-based pintxos spot.
🗓️ Day 4 – One Last Walk
We kept this morning slow on purpose.
A coffee, a short walk, revisiting favorite corners… trying to stretch those last few hours.
We stopped by the river for one final drink at:
And honestly, it felt like the perfect ending.
💛 Final Thoughts
Bilbao is a city that’s easy to enjoy without overplanning. You walk, you stop, you eat, you move again. The mix of old and modern, combined with the pintxos culture, makes everything feel flexible and social.
The Secret Street 
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