Bilbao Walking Tour – Beautiful City of Northern Spain
As beautiful as the south of Spain is, the northern part is getting more and more attention nowadays. People are curious about exploring the “less known” places in Spain such as the northern Basque country. Bilbao is the largest industrial city here and it is considered to be the capital.
For those of you who are not that familiar with this city, we have some exciting tips for you of what you should visit while here. Bilbao is a spectacular city full of modern and contemporary architecture, yet still capturing the history of the city too.
City Centre
As all tourists know, every walking tour starts in the city center. You can get a local guide that will show you around or you can undertake a free tour and manage it the way you want.
To start off with some historical buildings in the city center, on the other side of the river opposite to the train station, you can find Arriaga Antzokia Theater, which is an opera house built by a “Spanish Mozart” Juan Arriaga.
Right next to the theater you can walk on to the Plaza Nueva, which is a monumental neoclassical square. And when you go south you will get to the Bilbao Cathedral of Santiago (Cathedral of Saint James).
Apart from the cathedral, there is also a gothic church on the hill, where tourists tend to go called Basilica of Begona and on the other side of the town you can go to see the magnificent Biscay Foral delegation palace.
Coming back to the city center, this place is also known for its number of markets. Almost all the time, you will find clothes and food markets somewhere in the city. Most typically it will be on Sunday at the Plaza Nueva. The most known market in Bilbao is Mercado de La Ribera. You can find the best fish, meat and drinks at this place.
Famous Bilbao Bridges
Since Bilbao is a city through which runs the Nervion river, there is obviously a lot of bridges that connect one side of the city with the other one. The reason for mentioning this is that some of these bridges are very well known and considered landmarks worth visiting.
First, probably the most famous bridge in Bilbao is the White Bridge, also known as Zubizuri or Puente del Campo Volantin.
Another popular bridge here is the Vizcaya Bridge, which locals call the Puente Colgante de Bilbao, which means the hanging bridge. The construction of this bridge is different from most suspension bridges, which is why you should go and see it for yourself.
Guggenheim Museum
In Bilbao, there is one place that draws the attention of every tourist and local who is nearby. It is the spectacular Guggenheim Museum Bilbao. It is a magnificent building featuring modern and contemporary architecture. There are only four Guggenheim museums in the world and this specific one in Bilbao is known to be one of the best and most interesting buildings in the 20th century.
Its structure resembles a huge metal boat and inside you can find some unique pieces of art, different exhibitions and an entertaining program. This museum is located right by the La Salve Zubia bridge and the tickets cost appx. 10euro.
When you decide to go to visit this place, don’t forget to also take a walk around the museum, because some of the best artworks are situated outside of the building. You will certainly notice the big puppy made out of plants, which is the work of Jeff Koons.
Another interesting sculpture, made by Maman, is a huge 9 meters tall spider with long legs that will for sure not be overlooked.
Food
Bilbao as the prior representative of Basque country carries the legacy of being known for the country’s delicious cuisine. It is a place where every foodie can find more than enough high-quality restaurants and eateries.
One of the best places to eat is undoubtedly the Zortziko restaurant. It is a Michelline starred restaurant with mostly local delicatessens such as Roast Baby Squid with Peppers or Scallops on a bed of Tomato Carpaccio.
Next to the Guggenheim museum lays another favorite restaurant Bermeo. It is considered the hottest place in Bilbao right now and it offers a variety of different dishes.
If you want to enjoy the view and atmosphere while eating, we recommend you visit the Andra Mari restaurant near the river.
For those of you who just want to try something typical bud do not want to spend too much time dining, you should visit Irrintzi and ask for pintxos. It is similar to tapas but has something extra to it.
The last place we want to mention is Bilborock. You can go here merely for drinks, but it is worth visiting since it is situated in a church that has been recreated into this very popular bar.
We believe, our tips will help you make your walking tour of Bilbao exceptional. At the moment we are not offering any guided tours here, but if you are interested and would like to join our team by starting your own tour, you are more than welcome to visit our “become a guide section”.
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