Metropolis, coast and mountains

Discover Bilbao

The Old Town, the original Bilbao

Located on the right bank of the estuary is the Old Town. Here you can breathe the history of Bilbao through its narrow streets and emblematic buildings such as the Cathedral of Santiago, the Euskal Museoa, the Bidebarrieta library and the Ribera Market. In the maze of its streets, you will also be able to try an endless number of pintxos and enjoy the close attention of the local shops in Bilbao.

The more avant-garde Bilbao

The next walk goes from the Bilbao Guggenheim Museum to the San Mamés stadium. Design and avant-garde, a fitting description for Abandoibarra, which holds the best of this century's architecture and is considered by many to be an authentic open-air museum. During this tour you can enjoy buildings such as the Guggenheim Museum, the Deusto Library or the Bizkaia Aretoa building.

Thanks to its 165 metres in height, the Iberdrola Tower is one of the most outstanding buildings on this route and very close to it is the Doña Casilda Park, where you can visit the Museum of Fine Arts with more than 7,000 pieces. Next to the museum you will find the Euskalduna Palace. Finally, we arrive at San Mamés, the stadium of Athletic Club de Bilbao, where a unique experience awaits you in the museum.

Experiences on the coast of Biscay

Urdaibai, Biosphere Reserve

Urdaibai is considered a natural treasure. It spans over 22,000 hectares and includes some 22 towns and villages. It was declared a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 1984. And in the heart of Urdaibai we have San Juan de Gaztelugatxe. After crossing the three-arch bridge you will have to climb the 241 steps to visit a unique hermitage in the world.

Experiences with the sea in the background

One of the activities that the kids will enjoy the most is whale watching, a route that can be done from different towns, all of them with a great seafaring tradition, such as Bermeo and Santurtzi. Canoeing is also a good way to spend a day with the family, and Urdaibai is ideal for this activity.

Bizkaia has become one of the favourite surfing destinations for national and international surfers. Among the most popular beaches are Barinatxe, Sopela, Meñakoz in Barrika or La Arena in Muskiz among others. Of course Mundaka and its left wave is a must for any surfer, and as a matter of fact several editions of the world surfing championship have been held here.

Natural Parks

Urkiola Natural Park

Throughout its 5,768 hectares we can find wonders of nature such as Mount Anboto and the Cave of Mari. This rugged, rocky landscape is also home to the Urkiola Sanctuary and the Presazelai Beech Forest: here you can witness the beech trees that once supplied the area's charcoal burners.

Armañón Natural Park and Pozalagua Cave

This park has more than 200 caves and chasms, with the Pozalagua cave standing out for its eccentric stalactites. Here you can enjoy underground trails, as well as breathtaking views from its viewpoints, making it the ideal place for family hiking.