Bilbao, Bilbo in Basque, grew rich on iron, steel and shipbuilding, then reinvented itself when the industry faded. Today a titanium museum shines where shipyards and docks once stood, while the old town still has seven medieval streets and some of the best pintxo bars in Spain. Here are the facts and stories that make the city special.
10 fun facts about Bilbao
- Founded in 1300: Bilbao received its town charter in 1300 from Diego López de Haro, Lord of Biscay. His statue stands on Plaza Circular, at the start of the city's main avenue, the Gran Vía.
- Seven streets to start with: the medieval town consisted of just seven parallel streets by the river, and the old town is still called Siete Calles, or Zazpi Kaleak in Basque.
- A museum clad in titanium: the Guggenheim Museum, designed by Frank Gehry, opened in 1997. Its curving titanium panels change colour with the light and the weather.
- A dog made of flowers: Jeff Koons's Puppy, a West Highland terrier about 12 metres tall, guards the museum entrance. It is covered with some 38,000 plants, which are replaced twice a year.
- A giant spider by the river: behind the Guggenheim, Louise Bourgeois's bronze and steel spider Maman stands on long thin legs, carrying a sac of marble eggs.
- A bridge you might slip on: the Zubizuri footbridge by Santiago Calatrava, also from 1997, has a curved deck of glass bricks. They became so slippery in the rain that non-slip strips had to be laid over them.
- Metro by Norman Foster: the metro, opened in 1995, was designed by the British architect Norman Foster. Its curved glass station entrances are nicknamed 'fosteritos' by locals.
- The oldest transporter bridge in the world: the Vizcaya Bridge, opened in 1893 at the mouth of the estuary, carries people and cars across in a gondola hanging from the deck. It has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2006.
- A football club with its own rules: Athletic Club only fields players born or trained in the Basque Country, and it has never been relegated from Spain's top division. Its stadium, San Mamés, is known as La Catedral.
- A park full of ducks: Doña Casilda Iturrizar Park, created in 1907 on land donated by the philanthropist Casilda Iturrizar, is known locally as the duck park because of its pond.
How the Guggenheim changed Bilbao
For more than a century Bilbao lived from its estuary, the Ría, lined with steelworks, shipyards and docks. In the 1980s heavy industry went into steep decline, and in August 1983 a disastrous flood filled the streets of the old town with mud. The city decided to bet on culture and design. On the site of old docks at Abandoibarra, the Basque government and the Guggenheim Foundation built Frank Gehry's museum, which opened in October 1997. Visitors came from all over the world, and planners began to talk about the 'Bilbao effect', the idea that one bold building can transform a city. In truth the change came from many projects together: the metro, new bridges, riverside walks and the cleaning of the Ría.
The Casco Viejo, explained
The Casco Viejo, the old town, sits on the right bank of the river, across from the modern Ensanche district. Its heart is the Siete Calles, the seven original streets, and the Gothic Cathedral of Santiago, a stop for pilgrims on the northern route of the Camino de Santiago. Next to it lies the Plaza Nueva, a 19th-century arcaded square lined with pintxo bars. On the riverbank stands the Mercado de la Ribera, opened in 1929 and one of the largest covered markets in Europe.
What to eat in Bilbao
- Pintxos: small bites on bread, often held together with a stick, lined up along the bar. Order a few at each bar and move on.
- Bacalao al pil-pil: salt cod cooked slowly in olive oil and garlic until the gelatine from the fish turns the oil into a creamy sauce.
- Txakoli: a light, slightly sparkling white wine from the Basque coast, poured from a height to bring out its bubbles.
- Idiazabal: a firm sheep's milk cheese from the Basque Country and Navarre, often lightly smoked.
- Bollo de mantequilla: Bilbao's soft sweet bun filled with butter cream, the classic thing to have with a coffee.
Good to know before you go
- Pack an umbrella: Bilbao is a green city because it rains often, and locals have a word for the fine drizzle, sirimiri.
- For the best view of the city and the Guggenheim, take the Artxanda funicular, running since 1915, up the hill on the right bank.
- Take the metro towards the coast to ride the gondola of the Vizcaya Bridge between Portugalete and Getxo, or walk across its top deck for the view.
- San Juan de Gaztelugatxe, the hermitage on a rocky islet that played Dragonstone in Game of Thrones, makes a good day trip. Check before you go whether you need to reserve a free time slot.
Explore Bilbao with World City Trail
Our Bilbao scavenger hunt turns these sights into a game you play on your phone. The route links 10 stops and takes around three hours, with about 52 minutes of walking, and includes Doña Casilda Iturrizar Park, the Guggenheim Museum and the Zubizuri bridge.
At each stop you solve a puzzle and hear a short story, at your own pace. You can start whenever you like and play in English, German, French, Italian, Spanish or Dutch.
Play the Bilbao scavenger hunt →
Facts checked in October 2026.