What to do in Bilbao in 2 days

In Bilbao everything seems to be within reach and made on a human scale.

Bilbao is a city with a strong personality.

One of the most pleasant experiences of visiting Bilbao is the opportunity to stroll peacefully through its intricate alleys, admiring its architectural mix and views of the riverside: Bilbao, in fact, is a perfect city to visit by foot and with a baby stroller!

This is our two-day itinerary exploring the basque capital.

DAY 1

On the first day we discover the main and iconic areas of Bilbao.

• Stop n.1: Funicular de Artxanda

We leave our small van in the parking located near the Funicular de Artxanda park.

Here, you can admire a spectacular view of the city, framed by the rugged basque hills.

We buy the ticket for just over 1.50 euros and with a squeaky background we slide down the slope, arriving in a few minutes in the beating heart of the city.

View from the Funicular de Artxanda

• Stop n.2: Zubizuri bridge

At the end of the ride on the funicular, you arrive near the riverside. Here you can see the extraordinary modern Zubizuri bridge (in basque “White Bridge”), the work of Santiago Calatrava.

The bridge is formed by a curved pedestrian walkway suspended under a white arch and joined by steel beams.

• Stop n.3: Guggenheim museum

We cross the bridge and arrive at the building that marked the turning point of the city, transforming its appearance from the basque port capital to a vital hub of new ideas and architecture.

It’s the Guggenheim Museum: a sparkling titanium construction that stands on the banks of the river.

In front of the symbol of the city stands the Maman, the famous long-line sculpture in the shape of a spider and, a little further away, Puppy, a soft puppy dog made of plants and flowers.

• Stop n.4: Parque de Dona Casilda

We leave the Guggenheim Museum behind us and continue along the river, pushing towards the Parque de Dona Casilda, the lung of the city. It’s pleasant to relax by walking along the paths of this huge green oasis. The destination is ideal for a walk with children.

• Stop n.5: Plaza de Federico Moyua

We head towards Plaza de Federico Moyua, the nerve center of Bilbao where the main arteries of the city converge.

• Stop n.6: the Casco Viejo

We leave the new area of the city behind us and we walk through the historic center of Bilbao, called Casco Viejo.

The historic center of the city is an agglomeration of suggestive alleys, rowdy bars serving tasty pinxtos and independent shops with an original style.

The centerpiece of the Casco Viejo is the square in which the Catedral de Santiago stands, from which the seven original streets of the city branch off (Las Siete Calles).

In the maze of narrow streets that branch off from the main square of the historic center we find a small pastry shop where numerous specialties of the city are displayed.

Here we taste the Pastel Vasco, the typical dessert of the Basque Country.

It’s a delicious shortcrust pastry pie filled with custard.

Delicious!

• Stop n.7: Plaza Nueva

Not far from the historic center is Plaza Nueva, a porticoed square, an unmissable destination to taste the pinxtos. A flea market is held on Sundays with numerous book stalls, used records.

We go up the river along Paseo Campo Volantin, overlooked by buildings with colorful styles, until we get to the Zubizuri Bridge and resume the funicular.

DAY 2

On the second day we eplore the Bilbao surroundings.

• Stop n.1: Puente de Vizcaya

We go on the north of the city towards Getxo to see the Vizcaya Bridge (otherwise known as “Puente Colgante”).

It’s the first and oldest bridge in the world to have provided for the transport of people and vehicles.

What makes the bridge special is the platform suspended with steel cables that loads cars and passengers (the price per passenger is 90 cents) and slides in a few minutes on the Nervión river.

It’s possible to go up to the top of the bridge with an elevator and walk it at a height of 50 meters above the river (the cost is around 8 Euros per person. The climb is allowed at set times and reservations are required.

• Stop n.2: Portugalete

We get off the platform and arrive in Portugalete, across the bridge.

It’s a pretty town full of pastel-colored buildings.

We walk along the riverside and run into a fair full of people who rush to the stalls tasting local products.

• Stop n.3: Algorta

We cross the bridge again climbing the platform and we head north, where we find expanses of beaches and sails spread out on the horizon.

We arrive in Algorta, a small fishing village.

The village seems to have stood still over time: small colored lanes where cars do not pass, white and low houses with green window frames, flowered balconies, a small square shaded by trees that teems with patrons intent on tasting pintxos and drinking wine.