Visiting museums, soaking up the culture of the city, doing some shopping in either modern or traditional shops, taking a walk in small inland villages steeped in old customs, feeling the salty air on your face in fishing villages, getting lost in natural parks, tasting the famed pintxos in bars and pubs, falling in love with a unique cuisine and, weather permitting, organising short trips to explore some of the most magical corners in the region–these are but a few of the things you can do in Bilbao Biscay when days are shorter.

Here are our suggestions so that you can make the most of Bilbao Biscay:

A bridge without parallel. The Vizcaya Bridge, the first transporter bridge in the world, spans the Estuary of Bilbao, connecting the towns of Portugalete and Getxo. This giant 61-metre-tall steel structure has been a World Heritage Site since 2006. Views of the bridge, popularly known as Puente Colgante, can be admired from both of its banks, but the experience is not complete unless you cross the Estuary on its gondola–just as people have been doing since 1893–, or take the scenic lift to get the best panoramic views over the Estuary and its mouth.

Bilbao’s Cathedrals. The Biscayan capital boasts two cathedrals. One of them is Santiago Cathedral, which can be found in the heart of Casco Viejo together with the seven earliest medieval streets of the city–and a World Heritage Site since 2015 as part of the Way of St James. The other one is the home of Athletic Club, San Mamés, a modern stadium that is also an object of pilgrimage for those sports fans from all over the globe who want to feel the passions aroused by football in Bilbao.

A futuristic museum. The lines of the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao in Abandoibarra are jealously guarded by Puppy–a flower-covered sculpture of a dog, who has already become the mascot of the city–, the staggering giant spider designed by Louise Bourgeois, and many other pieces of art. The spectacle continues beneath the museum’s titanium plates. This trailblazing building that redefined architecture accommodates a complete collection of modern artwork as well as different temporary exhibitions that cover every facet of human creativity in the last century.

Our roots. If anything represents the essence of the Basque liberties it is the Tree of Gernika. It is under the shade of this oak tree–and previously of its ancestors–that the representatives of the towns and villages of Biscay had their meetings for hundreds of years. Meanwhile, the Casa de Juntas next to it continues to be the assembly place for the Provincial Council of Biscay. Gernika is also unfortunately known for being the target of the bombings that took place during the Spanish Civil War and, as a consequence, this historical city has now turned into a universal symbol of peace.

Underground palaces. Some works carried out in a nearby quarry revealed the existence of Pozalagua Cave in Armañón Natural Park. This breathtaking wonder, with its countless stalactites and stalagmites, has been formed inside the mountain as a result of over 50 million years of the natural action of the water. Especially outstanding are its eccentric stalactites, which interlace with one another creating stunning decorative patterns in the main hall.

An unending waterfall. Right at the border between Bizkaia, Araba and Burgos, just a few kilometres away from Orduña, the River Nervión has the most dramatic of the beginnings as it drops more than 270 metres over the valley at its feet. The views from the waterfall viewpoint are definitely not for people who are afraid of heights. Besides, when rains are heavy, the water makes an amazing deafening sound as it falls.

A light in the sea. Even in the darkest stormy nights the Santa Catalina Lighthouse continues guiding the boats that look for shelter at the surrounding harbours with its light. This is the only lighthouse open to visitors in the Basque Country and the perfect place to learn about the importance of lighthouses and methods of navigation. You can even take a virtual tour of the coast between Lekeitio and Elantxobe there.

An island steeped in legend. Resisting the assaults of the raging Cantabrian Sea, San Juan de Gaztelugatxe stands proud just a few metres off the coast. This islet, connected to mainland by a 241-step bridge, has always been surrounded by myths. Legend has it, for example, that St John left his footprint at the top of its stairs, after having covered the distance from Bermeo to the islet by taking only three steps. It is also said that once you reach the summit, you must sound the chapel’s bell three times to drive away bad spirits.

Wildlife and dinosaurs. Situated in the region of Enkarterri, Karpin Abentura is a wildlife recovery centre where all types of animals are admitted. There is currently a total of 55 species, among which we can find wolves, bears, lynxes, panthers, owls, falcons, or deer. Apart from that, Terrasauro Karpin Abentura transports us to Jurassic times to meet the most popular dinosaurs–such a great place to go with the whole family!

Birds of passage. Nestled in the Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve, the Urdaibai Bird Centre is like a living museum in which you can plenty of things about the birds that land on the Biscayan coast at one point or another during their migrations. Whether from the bird centre or from any of the viewpoints in its vicinity, you can watch how these birds nest and breed at the lagoons in the area–a true haven for sea hawks, wild ducks, black-winged stilts, herons, Eurasian spoonbills, swallows, and hundreds of other bird species.