Bilbao in September...?

[NameForAChange]

I'm a single mum and I really don't get out much, but a friend has offered to have my children in September so I can get away.
I would LOVE to go to Bilbao for the Guggenheim, so what do I need to know?

• Where is good to stay? I may well be going on my own, although another friend may join me. I'd like somewhere clean and comfortable. And somewhere I would feel safe walking back to on my own- hotel/ B&B/ Air bnb I don't mind too much
• What else should I be planning to do?

Any tips and advice gratefully received, as I said, I don't get away often (last city break was 2019!), so I'd love to make the most of it

Dh and I are planning to go in October- bumping for ideas

Ooh, looks like there's going to be a lot of us there in the Autumn!

I'm hoping to do a solo trip in October and will go by ferry as I don't fly. I'll probably go to Santander on the overnight ferry for a few days, take the bus up the coast to Bilbao and then get the ferry back from there. Other than that, I've nothing planned so I'm also looking for recommendations please 😎

I’ve been to Bilbao several times and have always found it a safe, civilised city with a great vibe and an outdoor life.
I’ve even been in January when there were loads of people eating and drinking outside — it was very lively but not at all rowdy. I didn’t feel threatened in the least. Can be a bit noisy though! But that’s Spain.
The Guggenheim is amazing, as is the ‘old town’ (Casco viejo.)
I’ve never stayed in an Air BnB as my favourite hotel, the Abando, is good - modern, comfortable and reasonable with helpful staff. It’s very near some great bars and restaurants and to El Corte Inglés (Spain’s John Lewis equivalent, but a bit cheaper IME) for nice gifts or mementos.
Hope you have a great time!

If you’re near the old town go to Café Lago for breakfast. It s a classic Spanish cafe with lovely food and a good vibe.

We stayed here https://www.basqueboutique.es/en/our-hostel/
It was nice. They don’t do breakfast but see above for that. Best tapas place we found was el Globo but arrive early or book a table, it’s very popular.

The Vizcaya Bridge is accessible by Metro and a different way of crossing a river, for somewhere to go for an afternoon maybe.

Following for tips; we'll be there in July.

September is a great time to visit Bilbao. The weather should be perfect. We stayed at a chain hotel near the station, a Sercotel, I think. It was ideal & sensibly priced.

The Guggenheim was great, but for us the real highlight was the amazing food. The local Basque equivalent of tapas are pintxos. The idea is similar; visit lots of bars, drink lots of wine & sample lots of pintxos. Bars compete to offer the best & most creative pintxos. It’s a while since we went, but when we were there Plaza Nueva was a good place to start. It’s an enclosed square lined with loads of different bars, all specialising in different types of food. Lots of seafood, obv, but also places which do incredible tortilla, the best I have ever tasted. Very popular & not too touristy, or at least it wasn’t back in 2015 or whenever.
Enjoy!

Thanks everyone, getting excited now!

We stayed here, it was brilliant.

www.caravan-cinema.com/

We did a great food and drink tour, early evening, which let us try tonnes of pintzos and different drinks

Also watching as also going this summer!
There is an episode of Travel Man about Bilbao (and San Sebastian?) www.channel4.com/programmes/travel-man-48-hours-in/on-demand/69150-001