Location: Province of Vizcaya
Top Things to do in Province of Vizcaya
What to do and see in Province of Vizcaya, Basque Country: The Best Budget-friendly Things to do
Biscay (Basque: Bizkaia; Spanish: Vizcaya) is a province of Spain located just south of the Bay of Biscay. The name also refers to a historical territory of the Basque Country, heir of the ancient Lordship of Biscay. Its capital city is Bilbao. It is one of the most prosperous and important provinces of Spain as a result of the massive industrialization in the last years of the 19th century and first half of the 20th century. Since the deep deindustrialization of the 1970s, the economy has come to rely more on the services sector.
Restaurants in Province of Vizcaya
1. San Juan de Gaztelugatxe
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 2,994 reviews
Reviewed By O4063DJbenjaminh - Southport, United Kingdom
To get to Gaztelugatxe we drove up a steep winding road away from the town of Bakio where surfers were testing their grit and showing off their skills on towering formidable waves which crash on to the golden sand. At the top of the inclined road there is a large car park where you start you walk back through time. After reaching the starting arch you meander and descend down twisting pathways were you fight the urge to run as your feet carry you away. There are stunning views of the hermitage as your path winds down the hill. At the bottom you come across a bridge and cobbled steps that sweep up towards the mount that makes you feel like you are travelling back through time. The waves crash and smash against the ancient stones and bring a serene feel after a cautious descent. After taking in the beautiful views, start your ascent of the 241 steps to the summit where a real treat greets you. There you will find stunning panoramic views over the bay of Biscay and make sure to ring the bell three times on the restored chapel and make a wish. Make sure you take a rest to soak in the atmosphere as the walk back is arduous and will take your breath away.
2. Guggenheim Museum Bilbao
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 17,393 reviews
American architect Frank Gehry is responsible for this architectural masterpiece: this fantastic chrome and metal creation houses a large collection of modern and contemporary art, a continuation of the Guggenheim legacy.
Reviewed By RicherTrips - Monterrey, Mexico
Even if you don´t like museums, even if you don´t like modern art, this place is a must. Forget about the art display, the building is the main attraction. If you´re lucky you may actually enjoy the collections and exhibitions (I enjoy immersing in "The matter of Time" by Richard Serra, and watching Kiefer´s "Sunflowers" and Jenny Holzer´s digital poetry). Before or after visiting the museum, take a slow walk around the building, since every spot gives a completely different view. And my favorite works of art are in the outside: "Tall Tree & the eye", by Anish Kapoor (the same that made the Bean for Chicago), Koon´s "Tulips", Buren´s "Red arches" on the bridge, Bourgeois´ spider: If your wander around long enough, you may catch the Fire Fountain and the Fog Sculpture. On the main entrance, Koof´s flowered Puppy isn´t my favorite.
3. Casco Viejo
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 5,236 reviews
An old, pleasant neighborhood best known for its open-air food markets, where shoppers can buy some of the freshest and best-tasting fruit and vegetables in Europe.
Reviewed By sladar
What a treat it was to explore the old part of Bilbao. In particular, Las Siete Calles was a maze of fun.
4. Estadio de San Mames
5. Bilbao subway system (Metro Bilbao)
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 149 reviews
Reviewed By 227ianc - London, United Kingdom
Over 20 years after it opened, people have probably forgotten a time before the metro, one of Bilbao's major regeneration projects, opening in 1995. Norman Foster was in charge of the architecture, design and signage - not many architects have designed signage about a 6000 euro fine if you trespass on the lines - in two languages. It does mean that there is a consistent high design standard throughout. Most famous are probably his worm-like structures emerging from the ststions, now known as “Fosteritos”. Staying in Getxo, we use the efficient, clean, spacious modern metro to reach Bilboa. If you want to forget the architecture, the service and the trains are pretty good also - and a lot cheaper than London....
6. Bilbao Fine Arts Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,492 reviews
The Bilbao Fine Arts Museum is an art museum located in the city of Bilbao, Spain. It is the second largest and most visited museum in the Basque Country and one of the richest Spanish museums outside Madrid. It houses a valuable and quite comprehensive collection of Basque, Spanish and European art from the Middle Ages to contemporary.
Reviewed By 855ninac - Hampshire, United Kingdom
Interesting way to organise art - alphabetically. A wonderful collection of a wide range of art, old and new, side by side. The Zuloaga exhibition was an added bonus. Just a short walk from the Guggenheim & definitely worth including in your itinerary.
7. Museo de la Paz de Guernica
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 272 reviews
El Museo de la Paz de Gernika nos invita a recordar, reflexionar y perdonar. Además, pretende acercar al visitante la historia del bombardeo de Gernika, la Guerra Civil y el exilio, 3 acontecimientos dramáticos que forman parte de la historia del pueblo vasco.
Reviewed By bockscar1 - Los Angeles, United States
Well worth the visit. Basque and Spanish; beginning placards are clearly numbered and have translations in a book they hand you English. Later texts are not numbered and become difficult to follow. Five QR codes I tried presumably to get more detailed info all had failing URLs. Artifact and photo captions are not translated, and I'd really love to know what I’m looking at. Much of museum feels like an extended poem on peace, anti-pollution, etc. The historical meat is the smaller section and made my visit by contextualizing the city and displaying insightful artifacts. Clearly much love was put into the presentations, but I'm surprised if the aspiration is to be a modern museum attracting foreigners why English wouldn't be baked in everywhere. Temporary exhibition of cartoons from 1936-7 really well-curated, all with English captions, definitely worth checking out. Bummer all museums in city seem to close 2-4pm. That makes it awfully tough on a day trip. Still, worth the stop for the historical section if not the rhetoric.
8. Azkuna Zentroa
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,443 reviews
Azkuna Zentroa is the centre for art and culture located right in the heart of Bilbao and is housed in one of the most emblematic buildings of the city, the former municipal wine exchange market. Refurbished and restored by Philippe Starck, Azkuna Zentroa has a diverse cultural programme where art, knowledge, design, science, new technologies and literature converge, as well as a varied physical activity offering. A multipurpose and contemporary centre where disciplines, contents and the general public are interrelated, which increases the cultural level of the general public and contributes to the enrichment of Bilbao and its internationalisation.
Reviewed By radub - Cluj-Napoca, Romania
It's a modern structure inside a monumental old front walls, with a large public area with modern art, coffee bar, cinema, a municipality cultural center, and an amazing terrace restaurant on top east floor.
9. Sopelana Beach
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 220 reviews
Reviewed By sugerglider - London, United Kingdom
Easily reached by the Metro from the centre of Bilbao. Get off at Larrabasterra and walk 15 minutes (bus available in summer). There are interesting rock formations at the north end of the beach. The sand is very fine.
10. Plaza Nueva
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 3,704 reviews
Reviewed By mjwe
Really lovely vibrant square in the old town of Bilbao, great choice of bars and restaurants with a good variety of pinxtos, really reasonably priced, would recommend the local wine, which is lovely and so cheap. A nice mix of locals, families and tourists all relaxing and enjoying the food and drink. They had a little market on Sunday, selling books, records and other bits. Great place to go day and night, to eat, drink and people watch.
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