Bilbao

[Floofydawg]

We're heading to Bilbao for a long weekend and looking for recommendations on what to see. In addition to checking out the pinxtos bars, the following is on the list:

Guggenheim
Indoor food market
Old town
Day trip to San Sebastian (doable in a day??)

Just wander around and find things, if you do the things you mention in your OP you will enjoy it and have a great time.

I preferred San Sebastian (Donostia). It is easily reachable for a day. If you were able, would you consider staying in Donostia instead and going to Bilbao for the day you are coming home?

San Sebastian is just wow. The whole vibe is great and the pinxtos and bars in the Old Town (packed and buzzing till all hours) are unreal. It is a little over an hour or so from Bilbao to San Sebastian depending on what bus you take. All very easy to do. But I don't want to put you off Bilbao, it is a good spot in its own right!

@halava thanks for your reply. We've already paid for a hotel in Bilbao. I just wanted to see if we could see San Sebastian as well while we were in the part of the country, or if we'd be too rushed trying to do it in a day.

We did a wine tour. We want to two wineries and an old village. It was good fun.

There's a funicular up a hill and you get a good view of the whole place.

The indoor market is very busy.

I lived in Bilbao for a while, before it was all trendy...

Get the metro out to Getxo or Algorta and wander along the beach. Plentzia is the end of the line and is nice for a wander round too.

The absolutely most specatular place is https://tourism.euskadi.eus/en/top10/cultural-heritage/hermitage-of-san-juan-de-gaztelugatxe/aa30-12376/en/, not easy to get to, you'd need to take the bus to Bermeo (which is also very pretty) and then a taxi but it is so worth it

Thanks all, very helpful.