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Bilbao grew along its estuary, in a narrow valley surrounded by green hills. Within a few kilometres, it brings together a medieval old town with narrow streets, an elegant 19th-century expansion and the waterfront transformed around the Guggenheim Museum, which changed the city’s image when it opened in 1997.
The city’s elongated layout makes it easy to decide where to stay in Bilbao: almost everything you’ll want to see is a short walk from the estuary. We explain how the neighbourhoods are laid out and suggest places to stay that we choose one by one, without relying on reputation alone.
How to choose an area
The centre is compact and flat, and each neighbourhood has its own character:
- Old Town: the Seven Streets, Santiago Cathedral, La Ribera Market and Plaza Nueva. Traditional bars and shops, with pedestrianised streets.
- Abando and the Ensanche: Gran Vía, Albia Gardens and the railway station. Shopping, good transport links and the Old Town just across the bridge.
- Abandoibarra: the waterfront promenade between the Guggenheim and Euskalduna Palace. Modern, open and very quiet at night.
- Indautxu and San Mamés: a residential neighbourhood beside Doña Casilda Park and Athletic Club’s stadium.
- The right bank: Uribarri and Deusto, across the estuary, with a quieter feel and the metro nearby.
For a first visit, the Old Town and Abando are the most convenient bases. If you’re driving, bear in mind that none of the places we recommend has free parking: the city centre is best enjoyed without a car.
Where to stay in Bilbao: our picks
These nine places cover the central neighbourhoods, from a historic hotel to a family-friendly apartment with a kitchen. Find more options on our page of places to stay in Bilbao. We start in the Old Town, where the city comes alive at street level.
GOIEN BOUTIQUE HOTEL
A small hotel in the heart of the Old Town, with San Antón Church and La Ribera Market almost on its doorstep. It has a bar and buffet breakfast, plus a room with a terrace and a two-bedroom penthouse for families. There’s no parking, and check-in closes at nine in the evening, so it’s not a good fit for late-arriving flights.
Hotel Tayko Bilbao
Set in a 1924 building just steps from Santiago Cathedral, with some rooms overlooking the estuary and suites for those looking for more space. Inside, you’ll find Ola, Martín Berasategui’s Michelin-starred restaurant, alongside a more informal wine bar. Pets are allowed on request; the paid garage is nearby.
Cross Arenal Bridge and you’ll reach Abando, the Ensanche neighbourhood. Here, apartments with kitchens are a good option for longer stays or family trips.
Batimont Suites & Apartments
Studios and apartments with kitchens beside Albia Gardens, steps from the metro and Abando railway station. There are units for four people and a two-bedroom apartment for six, which is especially handy for families. Cleaning is weekly, quiet hours are from ten at night to eight in the morning, and the private garage is paid.
Copla Bilbao
Studios and apartments with kitchens in an area that’s within walking distance of both the Guggenheim and the Fine Arts Museum. There’s a gym, a welcome perk for anyone who doesn’t want to break their routine, and two-bedroom units for groups of up to six. There’s no parking, and breakfast isn’t included.
If art is the focus of your trip, staying near the Guggenheim lets you get in first thing and stroll along the estuary at sunset.
The Artist Grand Hotel of Art
A five-star hotel 100 metres from the Guggenheim, for anyone who wants the museum as a neighbour. It has two restaurants, a bar, a rooftop terrace where breakfast is served with views over the city, and a wellness area with a sauna and hammam. Breakfast costs extra, and accessibility for guests with reduced mobility is only partial.
Vincci Consulado de Bilbao
By the estuary and a couple of minutes’ walk from the Guggenheim, with soundproofed rooms, some overlooking the river or the museum itself. Connecting rooms work well for groups of three or four adults, and the buffet breakfast includes vegetarian and gluten-free options. The garage is paid and must be booked in advance.
A little farther west, Indautxu offers residential streets, Doña Casilda Park and a more leisurely pace.
Catalonia Gran Vía Bilbao
Beside Doña Casilda Park, with the Fine Arts Museum a few minutes away and San Mamés and Indautxu metro stations nearby. Its standout feature is the rooftop pool, an unusual find in the city centre; there’s also a gym and soundproofed rooms. One dog or cat weighing less than 20 kilos is welcome for an extra charge; parking is paid.
Across the estuary and a little farther from the bustle, these two places complete our selection.
Mood Bilbao Apartamentos - New & Special
One-bedroom apartments with a living room, full kitchen and washing machine, near the Zubizuri footbridge. Uribarri and Matiko metro stations are about 250 metres away, and each unit sleeps four. Pets are allowed only with prior approval, and there’s no parking.
Spirit Hotel Gran Bilbao
A design hotel about a ten-minute walk from the cathedral and the Seven Streets, with buses to the centre stopping outside. Families can book a two-room suite for four; the buffet breakfast includes live cooking, and there’s also a gym. Pets are welcome for an extra charge but aren’t allowed in some rooms; parking is paid.
What to see in Bilbao
Frank Gehry’s Guggenheim is the place to start: its titanium curves, Jeff Koons’s flower-covered Puppy at the entrance and the Maman spider beside the estuary. In 2027, the museum turns 30 and is preparing a new presentation of its permanent collection for the autumn.
A few minutes away, the Fine Arts Museum reopened in October 2026 with Agravitas, its expansion by Norman Foster and Luis María Uriarte. Its new Atrio Arriaga, which is free to enter, connects buildings from different eras and opens the museum up to the city.
The Old Town deserves a whole morning: the Seven Streets, Santiago Cathedral, Arriaga Theatre and La Ribera Market, on the estuary’s banks. In the afternoon, Plaza Nueva and its pintxos bars are a popular meeting place for locals.
For a view from above, the Artxanda Funicular takes just a few minutes to reach a viewpoint overlooking the whole valley. The walk also takes in Calatrava’s Zubizuri Bridge, the former Alhóndiga, now Azkuna Zentroa, and the Basilica of Begoña.
Day trips from Bilbao
The metro takes you to Getxo and the Bizkaia Bridge, the suspended transporter bridge designated a World Heritage Site, and continues to the beaches of Sopelana and Plentzia. By car, the coast around Bermeo leads to San Juan de Gaztelugatxe and the Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve, with Mundaka and its famous surfers’ wave.
When to visit Bilbao
Spring and autumn are good times to explore the city on foot in mild temperatures, though it’s worth bringing an umbrella in any season. Summers are mild and winters are wet but not very cold.
The busiest dates are Aste Nagusia, the nine-day Big Week that begins on the Saturday after 15 August, and Bilbao BBK Live, which returns to Mount Kobetamendi from 8 to 10 July 2027. Book well in advance for these dates.
Also note that from 1 January 2027, Bilbao charges a tourist tax per person per night, which varies according to the type and category of accommodation.
How to get there and get around
Bilbao Airport is in Loiu, about ten kilometres north of the city centre. Bizkaibus A3247 buses leave every 15 minutes for the centre, stopping at Gran Vía, Plaza Moyúa and Alameda Recalde.
Long-distance trains arrive at Abando station in the heart of the city, while nearby La Concordia station connects with Cantabria. Intercity buses stop at the San Mamés Intermodal Station, where you can catch services to San Sebastián and Vitoria.
Once you’re here, the city centre is easy to explore on foot. For longer journeys, there’s the metro, with stations designed by Norman Foster, the tram along the estuary and Bilbobus city buses. A car gives you more freedom to explore the rest of the Basque Country.
Bilbao is one of the destinations in our guide to where to stay in the Basque Country. If you’re heading along the Gipuzkoan coast, also see where to stay in San Sebastián.
Frequently asked questions
Quick answers to the questions we’re most often asked by people planning a trip to Bilbao.
What is the best area to stay in Bilbao?
For a first visit, the Old Town and Abando’s Ensanche are the most convenient bases. The Old Town puts you in the Seven Streets, beside La Ribera Market and the pintxos bars of Plaza Nueva. Across the bridge, Abando has the railway station, the metro and Gran Vía, and is a short walk from the Guggenheim. For quiet evenings, consider Abandoibarra by the estuary or Indautxu.
Is it worth staying near the Guggenheim?
Yes, if art is the main reason for your trip. From Abandoibarra, you can get into the museum first thing, stroll along the estuary at sunset and reach the Fine Arts Museum in a few minutes; it recently reopened in October 2026 after an expansion. The area is modern, open and quiet at night, though it has fewer bars than the Old Town. And in 2027, the Guggenheim celebrates its 30th anniversary.
How do you get from Bilbao Airport to the city centre?
The airport is in Loiu, about ten kilometres north of the city centre. The easiest option is Bizkaibus A3247, which runs every 15 minutes from early morning until close to midnight. In the city, it stops at Gran Vía, Plaza Moyúa and Alameda Recalde, within easy reach of most accommodation in the Ensanche. If you land late, check your accommodation’s check-in hours.
Do you need a car when staying in Bilbao?
No. The city centre is compact and flat, and the metro, tram and city buses take you to every neighbourhood and as far as the coast at Getxo and Sopelana. Parking in the centre is also expensive, and none of the places we recommend offers free parking; several don’t even have a garage. A car is only worthwhile for trips such as San Juan de Gaztelugatxe or Urdaibai; if you do drive, reserve a parking space.
When should you book furthest in advance?
The busiest dates are Aste Nagusia, the nine-day Big Week that begins on the Saturday after 15 August, and Bilbao BBK Live, held at Kobetamendi from 8 to 10 July 2027. Weekends when Athletic Club play at San Mamés and public-holiday weekends also fill up. From 2027, a tourist tax is also charged per person per night.
