Top 5 Things to Do in Bilbao

Bilbao is the capital of the Vizcaya province in Spain’s Basque Country and is full of colorful architecture, bustling avenues, and delicious food, making it one of the top vacation destinations in the country. If you’re planning a holiday to this city, you’ll need a way to get around safely and comfortably, and one of the best ways to do so is to hire a Bilbao airport transfer.

Bilbao is known for everything from world-class museums and beautiful old towns to sprawling parks, stunning bridges, and delicious pintxos (Basque tapas). With the number of things available for you to do in this city, there’s truly something here for everyone, no matter what they like. And if you’re looking to explore the city easily and in a stress-free manner, hiring a Bilbao limousine service vehicle is what you need to do.

Once you hire your Bilbao chauffeur service, the next step you should do is to hand over your itinerary. This will help your chauffeur ensure you reach your destinations on time. That said, given the number of things to do in the city, it can be a challenge to curate an itinerary. To make things easier for you, here are some of the top things to do in Bilbao.

Guggenheim Museum

As your Bilbao car service chauffeur will let you know, the Guggenheim Museum is perhaps the top tourist attraction in Bilbao. This gorgeous museum was designed by architect Frank Gehry and opened n 1997.

Once your airport transfer Bilbao drops you off, you can explore this museum's more than 24,000 artworks. Works on display include pieces by Mark Rothko, Jeff Koons, Louise Bourgeois, Willem de Kooning, José Manuel Ballester, Anselm Kiefer, and more. 

Because of the popularity of the museum, consider buying skip-the-line tickets so you don’t have to wait in line when you arrive. Also, keep in mind that the museum is closed most Mondays. If you’re a fan of architecture, you can also marvel at the building itself by taking a walk along the riverfront promenade. 

Museo de Bellas Artes de Bilbao

If you’re a fan of art, the next stop you should ask your airport Bilbao transfer to take you to after the Guggenheim is the Museo de Bellas Artes de Bilbao. Where the Guggenheim focuses primarily on modern art, the Museo de Bellas Artes is home to some gorgeous works of fine art and has been open since 1914.

Once your car service Bilbao drops you off, you can enjoy works of art by famed painters such as Francisco de Goya, El Greco, Gauguin, Bacon, and Chillida. Some of the highlights of the museum include paintings such as:

• Money Changers by Quentin Matsys

• Virgin and Child by Dirk Bouts

• The Annunciation by El Greco

• Fernández de Moratín by Francisco de Goya

• Laveuses à Arles (Washerwomen in Arles) by Gaugin

• And more

Casco Viejo

Also known as the Old Town of Bilbao, Casco Viejo is made up of seven streets and has also been given the nickname Siete Calles. Get your chauffeur service Bilbao to drop you off here and stroll through the streets enjoying the colorful architecture.

This area is filled to the brim with boutiques, shops, bars, and restaurants. You can ask your limousine service Bilbao chauffeur about his recommendations for the best places to go or explore on your own.

Aside from being full of local eateries and shops, the area is also filled to the brim with culture and history. You’ll encounter local tourist destinations during your exploration, including the Bilbao Cathedral, Plaza Nueva (Plaza Barria), and the Archaeological Museum. Other stops include the church Iglesia de San Nicolás de Bari, the theatre Teatro Arriaga Antzokia, and more.

Catedral de Santiago

You can get to the Catedral de Santiago by getting your transfer Bilbao airport to drop you off at Casco Viejo and walking to the cathedral. It is also known as the Bilbao Cathedral, Santiago Cathedral, and St. James Cathedral.

As your Bilbao chauffeur will let you know, this cathedral is perhaps the oldest monument in Bilbao and was built during the 14th and 15th centuries. The façade and the tower were rebuilt in the 19th century in the Gothic Revival architecture style.

The main nave of the cathedral goes up to a height of 22 meters, and the interior features an ornate Gothic cloister and choir stalls. This cathedral is also a stop for pilgrims on the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage.

Try Pintxos

As your airport transfer chauffeur Bilbao will let you know, pintxos are essentially the Basque version of tapas. They are traditionally served on a toothpick or a skewer, and Bilbao is the best place in all of Spain to try them.

You can ask your chauffeur for recommendations about the best local dining spots or try one of the eateries at Plaza Nueva, located in Casco Viejo. There are several pintxos bars at this spot, and you can even go pintxos-hopping, jumping from pintxos bar to pintxos bar to try all the local delicacies!