I’ve had the pleasure of visiting Bilbao two times, and each visit left me more smitten with the city. While my trips were never longer than a couple days, I was amazed by how much I could see and do in a 48-hour span.

You might think a weekend isn’t nearly enough to do justice to this fascinating Basque metropolis – but I’m here to tell you that with a bit of advance planning, you can absolutely have a rich, full experience in just two days. Bilbao is incredibly walkable and well-connected by public transit, so it’s easy to pack a lot in.

From the world-famous Guggenheim Museum to the charming alleys of the Casco Viejo to the best spots for sampling pintxos (Basque tapas), I’ll guide you through exactly how to spend the perfect weekend in Bilbao. But be forewarned – once you get a taste of this city’s magic, you’ll almost certainly be craving a return visit!

Now, without further ado, let’s dive into the ultimate itinerary for 48 amazing hours in Bilbao.

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2 Days in Bilbao The Ultimate Bilbao Weekend Itinerary

No time to read it all? Here are the highlights for spending 2 perfect days in Bilbao:

• Get lost in the atmospheric streets of Casco Viejo, Bilbao’s captivating Old Town
• Marvel at the iconic Guggenheim Museum, a modern architectural masterpiece
• Take in sweeping city views from Mount Artxanda via a vintage funicular
• Savor the flavors of the Basque Country with a pintxos bar crawl
• Stroll or cycle along the revitalized Nervion River that bisects the city

Want more details? Read on for the full scoop on making the most of your short visit to this gem of northern Spain. But first, some essential info on getting there and around:

Getting to Bilbao: How to get to bilbao

By Air

Bilbao Airport (BIO), also known as Loiu Airport, is the largest airport in the Basque Country and is served by several major airlines including Iberia, Vueling, Lufthansa, and British Airways. The airport is located about 9 miles (15 km) north of central Bilbao. Find flights on Skyscanner and compare flights.

By Train

 Bilbao-Abando is the city’s main train station, with regular high-speed Renfe service connecting to major cities like Madrid (4 hours), Barcelona (6.5 hours) and San Sebastian (1 hour). The station is centrally located just across the river from Casco Viejo. Book your train tickets on Omio

By Bus

 The main bus terminal is Bilbao Intermodal, also called Termibus, located just behind Abando train station. Buses run by Alsa, Flixbus and Eurolines connect Bilbao to many Spanish and European cities. Book your Bus tickets on Omio

By Car

 Bilbao is connected to the rest of Spain via the AP-8 and A-8 motorways. Keep in mind that parking in the city center can be challenging and expensive. If you’re coming by car, consider staying at a hotel slightly outside the centro with parking included. Book your rental car ahead from Discover Cars

Getting from Bilbao Airport to the City

There are several convenient and affordable options to travel the 9 miles from Bilbao Airport to downtown:

Private Transfer: For maximum comfort and convenience, consider pre-booking a private transfer from Bilbao Airport to your city hotel. With services like Viator, you can have a professional driver waiting for you at arrivals to whisk you directly to your accommodation in a private vehicle. Prices start around €50 for up to 4 passengers – pricier than a taxi but could be worth the splurge after a long flight. You’ll avoid queues and language barriers, and can even arrange for baby seats or special assistance if needed. Check Prices and availability on Viator

Bizkaibus Airport Bus: Route 3247 runs between the airport and Bilbao’s main bus station (Plaza Moyua) every 30 minutes, stopping at popular landmarks like Gran Via and Guggenheim Museum. The journey takes 15-25 minutes. A single ticket is €3.

Metro: Take the bright green Line 3 from the airport to San Mames station, then transfer to any of the other lines to reach your final destination. The complete journey to the center takes about 25 minutes and costs €1.80.

Taxi: Official taxis wait outside the terminal and charge a flat rate of €25-30 to Bilbao center, depending on traffic and time of day. The journey usually takes 15-25 minutes.

Getting Around Bilbao

Bilbao is a very walkable city, especially in the Casco Viejo/Old Town area. Most of the top sights are within a 30-minute walk of each other. That said, the city is also well-served by clean, efficient, and affordable public transport for when your feet need a break.

Metro Bilbao: The modern metro system has 3 color-coded lines that crisscross the city. Trains run roughly every 4 minutes and single tickets cost €1.50.

Tram: The cute red and white EuskoTran streetcars loop between Atxuri Station in Casco Viejo and La Casilla past the Guggenheim. Single tickets are €1.50.

Bike: Bilbao has a public bike rental scheme called BilbaoRIDE which is a great way to scoot along the riverfront promenades. Register at any of the automated kiosks and then use your credit card to rent a bike for €5 for up to 4 hours.

Bus: Bright red Bilbobus buses spider out across the city, with the main hub on Plaza Moyua. Single tickets are €1.30 and can be purchased directly from the driver. Hold onto your receipt to transfer.

Where to Stay in Bilbao hotels

Bilbao has no shortage of excellent accommodation options, especially when it comes to upscale 4 and 5-star properties in the heart of the city. Here are some of the best central hotels for a luxurious and convenient stay:

Price Guide: $$$$ = Luxury (over $300 per night) $$$ = High-End ($150 to $300 per night) 

All of these hotels put you right in the heart of the action, with the city’s main sights, restaurants, and pintxos bars just steps away. You really can’t go wrong with any of them for a memorable and indulgent stay in Bilbao.

Bilbao 2 day itinerary

Day 1 – Morning

• Ease into your day with a leisurely stroll through Doña Casilda Iturrizar Park, a peaceful oasis in the heart of the city. This English-style park features impeccably landscaped paths, tranquil ponds with ducks gliding by, and a grand central fountain. Budget around an hour to meander through the greenery.

Helpful tip: The park is especially lovely early in the morning before the city fully wakes up. Grab a coffee and a pastry from one of the nearby cafes and enjoy it on a quiet bench surrounded by nature.

• From the park, make your way to the scenic Campo de Volantin Pasealekua, a riverfront promenade along the Nervion. The highlight here is undoubtedly the gleaming white Zubizuri footbridge, designed by renowned architect Santiago Calatrava. The bridge’s graceful curves and soaring arch are meant to evoke a sailing boat, harkening to Bilbao’s maritime past.
• Pop into the Azkuna Zentroa cultural center, housed in what was once the largest wine warehouse in the world. The cavernous industrial space has been brilliantly reimagined with eclectic decor, art installations, a fun rooftop pool, and inviting spaces to grab a drink or a bite. Even if you’re not attending an event, it’s worth visiting just to appreciate the architecture and people-watch.

what to do in bilbao for 2 days

Day 1 of Bilbao Itinerary – Afternoon & Evening

• Dedicate the second half of your day to getting acquainted with Bilbao’s enchanting Casco Viejo (Old Town). This colorful tangle of narrow pedestrianized streets is the beating heart of the city, packed with history, charming architecture, and some of the best pintxos bars around.
• The Casco Viejo’s main artery is Siete Calles or “The Seven Streets”. These original medieval roads still form the core of the old quarter and are a delight to wander aimlessly, popping into whichever shops or bars catch your eye. Some of my favorite spots include:

• Cinco y Medio – Part antique shop, part wine bar, all charm. Rummage for vintage treasures with a glass of Rioja in hand.
• La Ribera Market – The biggest covered food market in all of Europe, this is a browser’s paradise packed with fresh produce, local cheeses and meats, flowers, and specialty goods. Upstairs, the food stalls serve some of the city’s finest pintxos.
• Cafe Bar Bilbao – An institution on pretty Plaza Nueva dating to 1911, this classic bar is the perfect spot for an afternoon vermouth or wine with a side of people-watching.
• For a dose of history and culture, make your way to the Cathedral of Santiago (St. James). Construction on this handsome Gothic church began way back in the 14th century, and it remains the spiritual heart of the Old Town. Touring the cathedral interior and cloister costs €6, worth it to appreciate the soaring ceilings and elaborate altarpieces up close.

Helpful tip: If you’re interested in diving deeper into Bilbao’s history and architecture, this highly rated “Bilbao Historical Walking Tour” is a great way to hit the highlights with a knowledgeable local guide. The 2-hour tour includes stops at all the Casco Viejo’s main sights, with plenty of entertaining stories and context along the way.

• As evening falls, it’s time for a proper pintxos crawl. Pintxos are the Basque Country’s take on tapas – bite-sized bar snacks that are usually skewered atop a piece of bread. They range from simple combos like Spanish ham and cheese to more elaborate creations involving seafood, stuffed peppers, croquettes, and more. The best way to sample widely is to go from bar to bar, grabbing one or two pintxos and a small drink at each spot.

Some of my go-to bars for a great introduction to pintxos culture include:

• Gure Toki – Consistently ranked one of the best places for modern, creative pintxos using seasonal ingredients. Their foie gras is legendary.
• El Globo – A no-frills, family-run spot that’s an enduring favorite for its classic ham croquettes, gildas (spicy skewered olive, anchovy and pepper bites), and braised beef cheeks.
• Berton – The new kid on the block making waves for its innovative nibbles like baby squid on black ink rice, oxtail ravioli, and suckling pig sliders.
• Arbolagaña – Go here for seafood-centric pintxos like octopus or cod croquettes, txangurro (spider crab tartlet), and anchovies prepared every which way.

As you hop between bars, keep in mind that the local tradition is to toss your used napkins on the floor. It can be alarming for newbies, but rest assured, it’s totally expected! Most bars provide little waste baskets for skewers and other debris.

Restaurants in Bilbao

If you want to experience a sit down fabulous steak dinner, I highly recommend making reservations at :

Restaurant Ameren

Restaurant Ameren a 5-star Basque Steakhouse. The unique Basque beef cooked on a small grill at your table is an incredible experience. Dubbed “The Temple of Authentic Beef,” Amaren prides itself on serving some of the finest cuts of meat in the world.

The restaurant has garnered international acclaim, being named one of the “World’s 101 Best Steak Restaurants.” Amaren’s menu showcases their commitment to quality gastronomy, featuring expertly prepared steaks and other mouthwatering dishes.

You can expect an upscale yet welcoming atmosphere, with attentive service and a focus on letting the exceptional ingredients shine.

ortziko

Consistently ranked one of Bilbao’s very best restaurants, this Michelin-starred gem is a must for serious foodies. Chef Daniel García takes Basque cuisine to new creative heights with his artfully crafted tasting menus. The minimalist dining room is a serene backdrop for exquisite dishes like oyster with kiwi and seaweed, squid ribbons with chestnuts, and venison loin with red mole. Expect to pay handsomely for the experience, but it’s worth every penny.

Nerua

Housed inside the Guggenheim Museum, this avant-garde restaurant is almost as much of a draw as the artwork. Nerua boasts a Michelin star for chef Josean Alija’s boundary-pushing Basque haute cuisine. The funky all-white space sets the stage for intricate seasonal tasting menus built around native ingredients like red tuna, baby squid, suckling lamb, and wild mushrooms. Splurge on the wine pairings to sample the best local txakolis, Riojas, and more.

La Viña del Ensanche

For a more casual but no less delicious sampling of Basque cooking, head to this stalwart in the Abando. La Viña has been going strong since the 1920s and still packs in a lively mix of locals and tourists. The sprawling menu runs the gamut from traditional pintxos and raciones (larger sharing plates) to giant T-bone steaks and whole roasted fish. Don’t miss signatures like the gilda (a pintxo skewer of anchovy, olive, and pickled pepper), bacalao al pil pil (salt cod in garlic-chili sauce), and cheesecake for dessert. Pair it all with a bottle of Rioja from the well-stocked cellar.

Day 2 – Morning

• Resist the temptation to sleep in and get an early start today – you’ll want plenty of time at Bilbao’s star attraction, the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao. Designed by “starchitect” Frank Gehry and opened in 1997, this swooping titanium-clad building is credited with kicking off Bilbao’s transformation from gritty industrial city to art and culture hub.

Even if you’re not big on museums, the Guggenheim is a must for its stunning exterior alone. The sinuous curves and scale-like titanium tiles shimmer in the sun, evoking a futuristic ship or sea creature rising from the riverbank. Snap some pics of yourself reflected in the building’s cool surfaces, then take a lap around the perimeter to admire the larger-than-life outdoor installations like Jeff Koons’ towering floral “Puppy” and Louise Bourgeois’ creepy-cool spider sculpture “Maman”.

Museum info: Address: Abandoibarra Etorb., 2 Hours: Tuesday-Sunday 11am-7pm in summer, 11am-5pm in winter. Closed Mondays. Tickets: €16 adults, €9 students/seniors, free for kids under 12 Website: Book tickets in Advance

Helpful tip: I recommend budgeting at least 2-3 hours to tour the galleries housing the museum’s collection of modern and contemporary art. Highlights include works by heavy-hitters like Andy Warhol, Yves Klein, Eduardo Chillida, and Basque masters like Ignacio Zuloaga and Jorge Oteiza. If you’re tight on time or find yourself suffering from art fatigue, do a quick circuit then adjourn to the lovely sculpture garden out back.

Personal take: The Guggenheim remains utterly dazzling no matter how many times I see it. That said, I find the interior gallery spaces somewhat overshadowed by Gehry’s architecture – I’m often so absorbed in admiring the soaring atrium and intricate details that it’s hard to focus on the actual art! For this reason, I prefer spending more time on the exterior and had my most memorable museum experience watching the sunset reflected on the building’s fluid metal surfaces. Pure magic.

• After filling up on art and architecture, take a restorative walk along the Nervion River promenade. If the weather is nice, this is a lovely place to spread out a picnic of provisions gathered at La Ribera Market the previous day. Find a grassy spot with a view of the Guggenheim and watch the world go by for a spell.
• For a bit of adventure, head to the nearby Zubizuri Bridge and ride the Artxanda Funicular to the summit of Mount Artxanda. This cute red cable car has been ferrying visitors up the steep slopes since 1915 and offers an unbeatable panorama over the city and surrounding hills.

Rack railway info: Lower station: Plaza del Funicular, behind Zubizuri Bridge Hours: Varies by season, but generally every 15 minutes from 7:15am to 10pm Tickets: €3.50 round-trip for adults

At the top viewing platform nearly 800 feet above sea level, take in the sweeping views and use the map to orient yourself and pick out Bilbao’s landmarks. On clear days, you can even glimpse the Bay of Biscay sparkling in the distance.

Day 2 – Afternoon & Evening

• For your final afternoon, venture a bit outside the tourist heart of the city with a visit to Bilbao La Vieja. Long the scruffy sibling to the more polished Casco Viejo, this neighborhood has become a haven for artists, immigrants, and anyone seeking a grittier, less manicured slice of local life.

The main artery is Calle San Francisco, lined with Moroccan tea shops, Indian thali joints, halal butchers, and Senegalese hair braiding salons. For lunch, try one of the many hole-in-the-wall places specializing in cuisine from far-flung corners of the globe. I’m partial to Restaurante Shanghai for huge platters of Chinese dumplings and stir-fried noodles that arrive in minutes.

From there, wander down to Bilbao’s erstwhile train station, La Concordia. The grand Art Nouveau building now houses a cultural center with revolving art exhibits and events. Check to see if anything fun is on while you’re in town.

As late afternoon rolls around, amble back across the river via the Puente de Deusto footbridge, admiring the University of Deusto campus as you go. If you’re traveling with kids or are a kid at heart yourself, the Parque de Doña Casilda has a big playground, a duck pond you can row around in, and plenty of shady paths for letting little ones blow off some steam.

• When hunger starts to kick in again, beeline for the lively Boulevard area near the Abando train station. While architecturally less charming than the Casco Viejo, this central district really comes alive in the evening with locals crowding into the pintxos bars that line pedestrian-only Calle Ledesma and surrounding streets.

Do as the bilbaínos do and go bar-hopping between the dozens of standing-room-only spots. Don’t be shy about elbowing up to the bar and pointing to whatever pintxos look tasty. A zurito (small beer), txikito (thimble-sized glass of wine), or mosto (grape juice) make the perfect accompaniment.

Some Abando bars worth adding to your evening crawl:

• Irrintzi – This bar’s specialty is wild mushrooms done a million ways, but they’ve also got a formidable array of classic pintxos.
• Bacaicoa – Cozy and old-school, with an extensive by-the-glass wine list and plenty of tasty nibbles to soak it up with.
• Victor Montes – Another enduring standby that’s particularly popular with the after-work crowd. Zero in on the excellent tortilla (Spanish omelet) and the marinated anchovies.

Cap off your night with a gin-tonic (yes, in Spain it’s an uncountable noun) or a sloe-gin-esque Pacharan digestif at one of the Boulevard area’s slightly more polished cocktail bars like Abadia del Gin or Residence.

If you’re still standing (and not rolling) after all those pintxos and potent beverages, treat yourself to a scoop or three from Nossi Be Gelato, a cute kiosk on the Plaza Circular. The rich flavors and creamy texture are the perfect sweet ending to your 48 hours in Bilbao.

Day-Tripping from Bilbao

Have more than a weekend to play with? Lucky you! Bilbao makes a great base for exploring the beautiful Basque Country. Some of the best day trip options include:

Related:10 Best Day Tours from Bilbao spain

• San Sebastian: An incredible and opulent seaside town with lots of amazing gastronomy and beautiful beach.
• Getxo: Just 30 minutes by metro from central Bilbao, the breezy seaside town of Getxo has a pretty promenade, golden sand beaches, and the Vizcaya Bridge, the world’s oldest hanging bridge shuttling passengers high over the Nervion.
• Guernica: A quick bus ride from Bilbao brings you to Guernica (or Gernika in Basque), a town made infamous by the devastating 1937 bombing immortalized in Picasso’s searing painting. Visit the stirring Peace Museum and the Guernica Tree, an oak that has symbolized Basque freedom for centuries.

FAQs about Visiting Bilbao:

1. How do I get to Bilbao? Bilbao Airport (BIO), 9 miles north of the city, is served by many major European airlines. From the airport, airport buses (€3) depart every 30 minutes for the center, or a taxi will run you €25-30. You can also reach Bilbao easily by bus or train from elsewhere in Spain – it’s about 4 hours from Madrid and 6.5 hours from Barcelona.
2. When is the best time to visit?
   Summer (June to August) is peak season, when Bilbao’s weather is at its finest but tourist crowds and accommodation prices are also at their highest. For great sightseeing weather and thinner crowds, consider a shoulder season trip in May or September. Winters are cool and rainy but still doable if you pack the right layers (and an umbrella!).
3. What’s a reasonable budget for a weekend trip? While Basque Country prices are on the higher side compared to southern Spain, it’s still possible to do Bilbao on a modest budget. Backpacker hostels start around €25/night for a dorm, while a mid-range hotel room will run €75-150. Museum admissions range from €5-16. Plan on spending around €20-30 per person per day on pintxos and drinks. City transport is cheap, with most buses and metros costing €1.50 per ride. Overall, budget a minimum of €75-100 per person per day to cover the basics.
4. Is Bilbao a safe city for travelers? Extremely! Violent crime is very rare and the Basque separatist movement is firmly in the past. As in any city, pickpocketing and petty theft can occur in crowded tourist hotspots so keep a close eye on valuables, but overall you’re more likely to be killed with kindness by the locals than threatened.
5. What should I pack for a weekend in Bilbao? Layers are your friend in this region where the weather can change on a dime. Even in summer, pack a light jacket for breezy evenings and occasional showers. Comfy walking shoes are a must on Bilbao’s cobblestone streets. A small daypack is handy

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