Topping the list of most underrated getaways in Spain is Bilbao. Lying on the banks of a tidal river, the Nervion. It is a natural beauty, it is surrounded by green hills overlooking the Atlantic coast. With an Architecture allure, Bilbao is one of the greatest treasures of Spain.
Bilbao’s beauty is sufficient to win anyone over.
It is a new modern face of the basque country with a successful mix of traditional Basque culture alongside a new vision for the future. Once a grey and industrial town as Bilbao was, is now a vibrant city with music, festivals and museums and lip-smacking and mouthwatering cuisines, that takes pride in its legendary football team.
We present a list of the top 5 places to visit in Bilbao to get a breath of ancient history.
- Guggenheim Museum
- Museo de Bellas Artes
- Basque Museum
- La Ria Maritime
- Museo Taurino
The Guggenheim Effect
Standing top on the list is the Guggenheim Museum, one can never deny the role Guggenhiem museum has played in bringing Bilbao to the World Map. The most famous structure of the 1990s was probably Frank Gehry’s stunning, titanium-clad, twisting modern art museum, which gave rise to the concept of the “Bilbao effect” in urban planning, which holds that a single, high-quality structure may completely transform the way a city is perceived.
The sensual, flowing curves, reminiscent of the once-commonplace ships along Bilbao’s docks, are covered in titanium squares that resemble fish scales and shine in the sunlight. The main gallery, formerly known as the Fish gallery, has skylights that are shaped like fish fins to fit in with the maritime theme that is fitting for the location. Numerous components of the structure are just ornamental and have no practical use.
Address:
Abandoibarra Et. 2, 48001 Bilbao Spain
How to get there:
Moyua • 9 min walk
Timings:
Tuesday – Sunday: 10 am – 8 pm
Best Time to Visit:
July- August
Tickets:
Adults: €13.00
Students under 26: €7.50
Children under 12: free
Museo de Bellas Artes
In the Spanish city of Bilbao, there is a museum of fine arts called the Bilbao Fine Arts Museum. It is one of the richest Spanish museums outside of Madrid and the second-largest and most popular museum in the Basque Country. It contains a priceless and sizable collection of Basque, Spanish, and European artwork from the Middle Ages to the Present.
More than 6,000 pieces, dating from the 12th century to the present, make up the impressive collection of the Museum of Fine Art, which includes paintings, sculptures, sketches, engravings, and decorative items.
Address:
Museo Plaza, 2, 48009 Bilbao Spain
How to get there:
Moyua • 7 min walk
Indautxu • 8 min walk
Timings:
Tuesday – Saturday: 10 am – 8 pm
Best Time to Visit:
July- August
Tickets:
General: €6.00;
Groups, students, senior citizens and unemployed: €4.50
Basque Museum
Through numerous exhibitions and items, this looks at the ethnography of the Basque people. In addition to the historical significance of the structure and its central cloister, the collections it houses range from the earliest artefacts discovered in the Vizcaya region to representations of Basque peoples’ traditional ways of life. Visitors can learn about ancient skills and crafts as well as the sea, fishing, and sailing industries, the iron and weaponry industries, and commercial and mercantile activities through its exhibits. Additionally, it plans transient monographic exhibitions.
Address:
Plaza Miguel de Unamuno, 4, 48006 Bilbao Spain
How to get there:
Casco Viejo • 3 min walk
Abando • 8 min walk
Timings:
Tuesday – Saturday: 11 am – 5 pm
Best Time to Visit:
June – September
Tickets:
Adults: €3
Students and groups €1.50
Children under 10 and seniors: free
La Ría Maritime Museum
The Bilbao Estuary and Port will take you to the Maritime Museum, a special vantage point from which you may experience the exhilarating adventure of the sea. This area is situated on the left bank of the Bilbao Estuary, where the outbuildings of the Euskalduna shipyard once stood.
The Museum’s objectives include preserving and disseminating the history, culture, and identity of the people who have lived on and from the Bilbao Estuary, which is intimately related to nautical tradition, in addition to being a revitalising aspect of the city and the region.
Address:
Muelle Ramon de la Sota Kaia, 1, 48013 Bilbao Spain
How to get there:
San Mamés • 6 min walk
Deusto • 8 min walk
Timings:
Tuesday – Friday: 10 am – 2 pm
Best Time to Visit:
June – August
Tickets:
Adults: €5
Students, people over 65: €3.50
Children under 6: free of charge
Museo Diocesano de Arte Sacro
A journey through the last 800 years of Biscayan art. An overview from the Romanesque period to the present. The Ara (Altar) de Antealtares, the original altar (a recycled Roman funeral plate) placed over Santiago’s relics, may be found in the Sacred Art Museum, which can be reached through the church of the Mosteiro de San Paio de Antealtares. The church’s interior is fairly plain, with the exception of the great altar, which is a flurry of gilded baroque.
Address:
Plaza de la Encarnacion, 9B, 48006 Bilbao Spain
How to get there:
Santutxu • 9 min walk
Casco Viejo • 9 min walk
Timings:
Monday – Sunday: 11 am – 6 pm
Best Time to Visit:
June – July
Tickets:
General: €2
Students, seniors, and under 18: €1