Bilbao

The Guggenheim Museum Bilbao is a landmark of contemporary architecture and a cultural beacon for the city. Designed by Canadian-American architect Frank Gehry, the museum's fluid, sculptural form has been hailed as one of the most significant architectural achievements of the 20th century. Its titanium-clad curves and organic shapes have transformed the Bilbao skyline and are often likened to a ship or flower. Beyond its jaw-dropping exterior, the museum houses a world-class collection of modern and contemporary art, focusing on postwar American and European artists. Notable works include pieces by Mark Rothko, Jeff Koons, and Louise Bourgeois, among others.

Built from the late 14th to the 15th centuries, the Santiago Cathedral is the city’s oldest major church, dedicated to Saint James (Santiago), Bilbao's patron saint. The building features a mix of different styles: its core is Gothic (nave, vault, cloister), a grand Renaissance portico was added in the 1500s, while much of the façade and tower with spire were rebuilt in a neo-Gothic style in the late 1800s by Severino de Achúcarro. Inside, you’ll see three naves, several side chapels, the Gothic cloister accessible via the Door of the Angel ('Puerta del Ángel'), and beyond the main altar, there’s an ambulatory with chapels. Floods in 1983 caused damage, but the cathedral was restored and reopened around 2000.

Artxanda is Bilbao’s hilltop viewpoint, offering wide panoramic views of the city, the Nervión River, and the surrounding mountains. It’s a nice escape from the streets below, with paths to wander and spots to sit and take it all in. You can reach the top via a small funicular railway from the Iralabarri district.

Algorta’s Old Port is a small fishing quarter in Getxo, just 20 minutes from central Bilbao by metro. Whitewashed houses line the narrow streets down to the water. On summer evenings, locals gather outside bars for a beer or cider, often with green olives or fried calamari.

A winding stone bridge links the mainland to this rocky islet, followed by 240 steps up to the small hermitage of San Juan de Gaztelugatxe. The chapel dates back to the 10th century, although it has been rebuilt multiple times following fires and pirate attacks. Even if the chapel is closed (which it often is), the climb is worth it for the stunning sea views, the cliffs carved into arches, and the remote, windswept feeling at the top - Game of Thrones fans will recognise the setting as Dragonstone. It’s about a 45-minute drive from Bilbao. You can also take a bus to Bermeo, a fishing town nearby, and continue by taxi or local bus. The trail is steep and uneven, so good shoes help.

Located at the old Euskalduna shipyard, Itsasmuseum dives into the city’s maritime past. Exhibitions focus on the estuary’s environment, the history of trade, and the development of shipbuilding. Highlights include detailed wooden ship models and outdoor displays of historical vessels, anchors, and the iconic Carola crane.

Inaugurated in 1890, the Arriaga Theatre is a Neo-baroque opera house named after the Bilbao-born composer Juan Crisóstomo de Arriaga, often referred to as the 'Spanish Mozart'. Inspired by the Paris Opera House, it became a key cultural venue in Bilbao. The original theatre burned down in 1914 and was rebuilt, reopening in 1919. Today, it hosts opera, ballet, classical concerts, and theatre productions. Guided tours give a behind-the-scenes look at the staircases, Royal Box, and costume collection.

Just outside Bilbao, in Biscay, the Vizcaya Bridge (Puente Bizkaia) — also called Puente Colgante or the Hanging Bridge — is the world’s oldest transporter bridge, completed in 1893. It connects Portugalete and Las Arenas (Getxo) across the Nervión River and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2006. You can cross either by the gondola, which carries vehicles and passengers in about 90 seconds, or on the pedestrian walkway, accessed via lifts in the towers. The bridge stands 45 m high and 160 m long, and its iron-and-steel design was a milestone of industrial-age engineering.