Best tours of Bilbao

Bilbao is the centre around which the Basque Country revolves, the most important city and a cultural reference for the whole of Spain. It also has some of the most interesting attractions, including the Guggenheim Museum, the Artxanda Funicular and the architectural wonders of the Old Town.

Choosing the top 10 tours among the best things to see and do in Bilbao can be a challenge, but here are the excursions available to you that will help you get to know the city, its attractions and all its profiles during your trip.

The Guggenheim Museum has been the main reference point in Bilbao since its inauguration in 1997, when its founding made an impact on the Basque economy, boosting tourism in the region and surpassing one million visitors every year.

Nowadays the museum hosts contemporary art exhibitions but the 'Guggenheim effect' also achieved the revitalisation of the public and private spaces that converge in the Bilbao Estuary, so its function was also social.

You can visit the Guggenheim Museum on a guided tour where you will explore the works of modern art it holds during a 2-hour visit. During the tour you will not only see the internal exhibits and walk through the museum's galleries but also admire the architecture of the Frank Gehry-designed building, which simulates a ship made of stone, titanium and glass.

The Guggenheim houses works by Andy Warhol, Yves Klein, James Rosenquis and Antoni Tapies, among other renowned 20th century artists, and has permanent displays of its collection complemented by temporary exhibitions that you can discover on a guided tour.

Interesting details

• Price of the tour... The cost of the tour is approximately 68 euros including entrance to the museum, the guide's assistance and VIP entrance without queuing.
• Duration of the tour.... The guided tour lasts approximately 2 hours.
• Museum location... Avenida Abandoibarra 2, Bilbao.
• Museum opening hours... Tuesday to Sunday from 10.00 to 19.00.
• How to get to the museum... From the centre of Bilbao you can take the A3247 bus to Alameda Recalde station.

The Old Quarter of Bilbao is made up of the seven streets that made up the old medieval quarter, an area that is now characterised by modern bars and traditional taverns that coexist in the narrow streets.

A tour of the old quarter will allow you to delve into the history of the city and also the different profiles that today divide Bilbao into an old area and a modern one, built around the Guggenheim Museum.

You can get to know the Old Quarter on guided tours where you can visit the Cathedral of Santiago, with an architectural style reminiscent of the Middle Ages, and the churches of San Antón, San Nicolás and Santos Juanes. You can also visit the Mercado de la Ribera, which is characterised by its food stalls and tapas bars.

In the Old Town you can also visit the Arriaga Theatre, which is still open and promoting opera and dance performances.

Interesting details

• Price of the tour... Approximately 18 euros including the assistance of an expert local guide.
• Duration of the tour... Approximately 2 hours.
• How to get to Casco Viejo... By Bilbao Metro to Zazpi Kaleak station.

Riding the Artxanda Funicular is one of the best activities you can do in the city and is also an ideal plan if you plan to visit Bilbao with children. The funicular route ends at the viewpoint, which is one of the highest points in the metropolitan area and will give you a great visual overview of the Bilbao region.

From the Mount Artxanda viewpoint you can see a panoramic view that includes the Guggenheim Museum, the Nuevo San Mamés stadium and the Iberdrola Tower. From there you can also discover the Old Town, with the tower of Santiago Cathedral as its landmark.

On Artxanda Mountain you can take some of the best photographs of the city, especially if you plan to visit Bilbao in summer, when the days are clear and the panoramic views are clearer.

Details of interest

• Price of the tour... It costs approximately 19 euros including the funicular ride and access to the Mount Artxanda viewpoint.
• Duration of the excursion... Approximately 2 hours.
• How to get to Plaza del Funicular... From the centre of Bilbao you can take the line 5 tram to Uribitarte station.

If you want to get to know Bilbao's nightlife, you can take a guided night tour of the city's main sights. The itinerary usually includes a visit to the Arriaga Theatre and a tour of the bars in the Plaza Nueva area, the liveliest part of the old town.

The tour usually passes through the Plaza Miguel de Unamuno, which is the meeting point of the locals and a place little explored by tourists during the night. It also usually includes a stop at the Mercado de la Ribera, where you'll find a wide variety of Basque tapas and drinks.

The tour usually ends around Plaza Moyúa, which is the heart of Bilbao's nightlife, with visits to Azkuna Zentroa, which is an old wine warehouse converted into a leisure and cultural centre, and Terraza Yandiola, a typical Basque restaurant with a terrace from which you can look out over the city.

Interesting details

• Price of the tour... The cost of the tour is approximately 30 euros, including the assistance of the local expert guide and entrance to Azkuna Zentroa.
• Duration of the tour... Approximately 2 hours.
• How to get to the meeting point at the Arriaga Theatre... By Bilbao Metro to Zazpi Kaleak station.

The Mercado de la Ribera, one of the largest in Europe, is a must-see during your visit to the city. There you can buy a wide variety of fresh produce, but you can also have lunch or dinner at some of the stalls and the best pintxo bars in Bilbao.

The products inside the Mercado de la Ribera are arranged according to floor. On the ground floor are the fishmongers, on the first floor the butchers and on the second floor the greengrocers, but there are food stalls in all areas and a jazz bar on the ground floor of the building.

Located in an area close to the Old Town, the Mercado de la Ribera is the perfect place to stop for lunch between excursions or to buy local products in the same place where the locals go shopping.

Interesting details

• Market location... Erribera Kalea s/n, Bilbao.
• Market opening hours... Every day from 8.00 am to 0.00 am.
• How to get to the market... Take the Bilbao Metro to Zazpi Kaleak station.

Bilbao is a city split in the middle by the estuary, which gives each place its own identity and served an industrial function. Moreover, it also provides space for one of the best activities to do in the Basque Country: a boat trip on the estuary to discover all the facets of the city, from the medieval streets to the technological buildings of the modern area.

During the trip you will be able to see the seven streets of the Old Town, the tower of the Cathedral of Santiago and the intense commercial and port activity that pulls the strings of the city from the estuary. You will also pass by the new buildings, from the Guggenheim Museum to the New San Mamés

On this relaxing walk you will also learn, through the assistance of the expert local guide, the history of the evolution of the city and the Basque Country and you will get to know a little better the idiosyncrasy and culture of the Basques.

Interesting details

• Price of the excursion... It costs approximately 76 euros, including the assistance of the local expert guide and the boat trip on the Bilbao estuary.
• Duration of the excursion... Approximately 2 hours.

A large part of the attraction of Bilbao is that it is located in a strategic area for using the city as a base for visiting other nearby sites. One such place, perhaps the most prominent, is San Juan de Gaztelugatxe, the stone castle on the Basque coast that has become world famous since it was part of the film set for the popular Game of Thrones series.

Located just 35 kilometres from Bilbao, San Juan de Gaztelugatxe is an islet crowned by the hermitage of John the Baptist, which can be reached by a stone bridge with 241 steps. The best options for getting to Gaztelugatxe from Bilbao are organised half-day excursions.

Also, bear in mind that if you want to discover San Juan de Gaztelugatxe in perspective, you can go a little further afield and walk to the Matxitxako lighthouse, from where you can see the footbridge that links the hermitage to the mainland from a place that is not frequented by tourists.

Details of interest

• Price of these excursions... The initial cost of these excursions is approximately 67 euros per person, including return transfers and hotel pick-up and the assistance of an expert local guide.
• Duration of these excursions... Approximately 6 hours.
• How to get to San Juan de Gaztelugatxe... The excursions include return transfers from Bilbao with hotel pick-up.

Bilbao has changed its industrial profile dramatically over the last 25 years and has become a place that combines traditional and modern sectors, so one of the best options to get a comprehensive understanding of the city is to take a half-day bike tour that takes you around the main sites.

On these locally guided tours you can discover Bilbao's main attractions, cycle along the estuary and learn about local history. You'll also be assured of a quiet and safe ride, as the city has many bike lanes away from traffic and these tours usually include all the safety features.

Bike tours are also ideal if you plan to visit Bilbao with children, as they usually include child seats and several stops for visitors to hydrate and eat food, making these tours a relaxed experience.

Interesting details

• Price of these tours... They cost approximately 31 euros, including the assistance of a local guide and safety equipment.
• Duration of these tours... Approximately 4 hours.

Do you want to know the history of the railway tragedy in Plaza Circular, the legend of the Fish Man, the exemplary punishments applied to the condemned in the Church of San Antón? You can discover all these mysteries on these guided night-time excursions through the historic city of Bilbao, which hides intrigues, catastrophes, enigmas and legends.

On these tours you can enter the Seven Streets with the assistance of an expert local guide and, as well as discovering the mysteries of Bilbao, visit the most emblematic monuments and see the cobbled streets of the old town illuminated by moonlight, especially in the Plaza Miguel de Unamuno, one of the city's central points.

These excursions are ideal if you are one of those who, when visiting a city, also want to know the alternative histories of each place and discover the mysteries of the most emblematic places of each place.

Details of interest

• Price of these excursions... They have an approximate cost of 12 euros per person.
• Duration of these tours... Approximately 1 hour and a half.

Gastronomy is one of the strong points of the Basque Country and in Bilbao you can take a gastronomic tour to taste the best local flavours. On these tours, which include a walking tour of the best restaurants and tapas bars in the Old Town, you'll try more than 10 different foods and drinks in a variety of tastings.

This gastronomic tour of Bilbao also includes dessert and free time within the 3-hour tour to enjoy the food shops located around Plaza Nueva at your own pace.

These gastronomic tours also include Bilbao wine tasting and the assistance of an expert local guide who will take you to the best corners of the city to taste the real Basque flavours.

Interesting details

• Price of these excursions... They have an initial cost of approximately 97 euros per person, including wine tasting and the assistance of a local guide.
• Duration of these tours... Approximately 3 hours.
• How to get to Plaza Nueva... By Bilbao Metro to Zazpi Kaleak station.

You can book tours online in advance or book them once you arrive in the city. If you are planning to visit the Basque Country in summer or during the high season months I recommend that you book in advance to avoid last minute price increases.

Please also note that some excursions, such as boat tours, night tours or food tastings that include a walk through the Old Town, may be cancelled due to rain, so I advise you to check what the weather will be like during your visit at the time of booking.

The answer depends on the tour chosen. Those that consist of visiting sites close to Bilbao are usually a full or half day tour, while those that include tours of the Old Town, the funicular railway or the Guggenheim Museum last on average between 2 and 3 hours.

Consider the length of the tours before booking, especially if you are planning a short stay in the city. If this is your case, here is a guide to get to know Bilbao in 3 days.

On this tour you will see the main sights of Bilbao that should not be left out of any tour of the city, such as the Casco Viejo, the funicular to the Artxanda viewpoint, the Guggenheim Museum and the Ribera Market, as well as other sites on the outskirts of the city that are central attractions of the Basque Country.

Among the attractions near Bilbao you can visit the Basque-French coast, the stone castle of San Juan de Gaztelugatxe and the Rioja wine route that starts in Vitoria, the capital of the Basque Country.

You can do the excursions on your own, but on a guided tour you will learn about other aspects of the attractions, as in the case of the Guggenheim Museum, where the local guide will not only tell you about the exhibits inside, but also about the architecture of the building and how its inauguration changed the skyline of the city.

Also, on excursions to nearby sites, booking a guided tour will save you time and money, as most of them include round-trip transfers and hotel pick-up.