Bilbao is a city in Spain, and the largest city in the province of Biscay and in the Basque Country as a whole. It is one of the most populated metropolitan areas in northern Spain. This city was founded in 1300. It became an important port and commercial centre starting with the export of wool to Flanders. This city is divided into two parts by the Nervion River. The part is dedicated to the industry and the other part is dedicated to commerce. Most of the factories and working class neighbourhoods are found in the first part of the city. On the other side, you can find commercial, historic and residential areas. There are a total nine bridges that connect the old and new parts of the city to one another. The historic part of this city is very beautiful and full of wonders. It is a very famous tourist city, very well known for its old town, beaches, architecture, nightlife, wonderful food, historical places and much more. The plenty of museums present in the city are one of the main reasons behind the city turning into a tourist spot as they supplement its rich history. It is emerging as a new age city and is successfully attracting the attention of people from around the world.

When to visit Bilbao, Spain

June till September is the best time to visit Bilbao. It is the warmest part of the year and the weather remains well balanced throughout this period. It is the perfect time for enjoying the city and outdoor exploration. You can enjoy the variety of festivals offered by the city during these months. The weather around the city makes it easier to explore the unique and beautiful places. Apart from these months, you can travel to this city anytime in the year. It will always have something to offer to its visitors.

What to know about Bilbao, Spain

Climate

Bilbao has a temperate oceanic type of climate which features rainy and mild winters and pleasantly warm summers. During winters, the Atlantic disturbances regularly pass over northern Spain that bring rain and cloudy skies. Cold spells and snowfall can be observed in the city but are very rare. The temperature can go around 5 if it’s cold outside. -8.5 is the coldest recorded temperature for February 1963. On the other hand, the Atlantic disturbances bring rainy and cool weather during summers with the temperature around 20. On very hot days the temperature can exceed 30. The highest recorded temperature is 42, which was recorded in July 1947 and in August 2003. November tops the wettest month of the year list with 145mm of rainfall, while July is the driest month of the year with 52mm of precipitation. July is the sunniest month which receives an average of 188 hours of sunshine.

Currency

Euro is the currency which is used in this city. If you are travelling to this city then you can use your credit cards as they are widely accepted throughout the country. ATM’s are also available throughout the city where you can use your cards. However, it is advisable to exchange your currency at the exchange currency office or airport when visiting the city.

Languages

Spanish and Basque are the two official languages of the country. Approximately 27% of the population speaks English, so you will not find any kind of difficulty in the city. Some foreign languages are also spoken by the people in the city including French, German, Portuguese and many more.

Transportation

Bilbao is a wonderful city to visit and to witness its beauty there are many public transport services you can use.

Metro

Car hiring

Trams

Buses

Taxi

Bicycle

E-scooters 

Rail

Places of attraction in Bilbao, Spain

The Guggenheim Museum

The Guggenheim Museum is a modern and contemporary art museum designed by Canadian-American architect Frank Gehry.  It is one of the largest museums of the country. It was established on 18 October 1997 by King Juan Carlos I of Spain with an exhibition of 250 contemporary works of art. This museum is built alongside the Nervion River, which runs through this city to the Cantabrian Sea. The metallic form of the exterior of this museum looks almost floral from above and from the ground, the building looks exactly like a boat. For the exhibition of the artworks, 24,000 square metre of space is used inside the building. Many paintings are displayed in the Atrium along the walls of the curved walkway in a three-level staircase. There are giant windows present in the building that allows the natural light which shows the art to the best advantage. The nine metre tall spider sculpture which is called as Maman by Louise Bourgeois and the gigantic topiary dog full of flower blossoms which is called as puppy are the major sculpture installations of the museum. The building is a spectacular work of art and a groundbreaking example of 20th century architecture. In 2020, this museum ranked 73rd on the list of most visited art museums. The museum is an iconic structure of the modern world renowned for its complexity and form. 

The Museum of Fine Arts (Museo de Bellas Artes de Bilbao)

The Museum of Fine Arts is an art museum in the city of Bilbao. It was established in 1914. It is the second largest and most visited museum in the Basque Country, after the Bilbao Guggenheim Museum. It is located inside the Dona Casilda Iturrizar Park and is one of the richest Spanish museums outside Madrid. This museum offers an outstanding collection housed in two separate buildings. The paintings of Dutch and Flemish from the 15th to 17th centuries are very well represented with masterpieces such as Money Changers by Quentin Matsys and Virgin and Child by Dirk Bouts. From the 14th and 15th centuries, the Spanish paintings by Jaime Huguet, Bartolome Bermejo and Pedro Serra are also inside the museum. It is totally worth your visit.