CONNECTED WITH THE REST OF THE WORLD
VENUES WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE
GASTRONOMY IN OUR DNA
Bilbao is in a privileged location, just over an hour from France and several medium and large Spanish cities by car. It is also well connected by sea and air. Our iconic airport is twenty minutes from the city centre by public transport. It connects us to all major Spanish and European cities, including the main European hubs.
The Academy of Urbanism voted us Best European City, just one of the many awards our urban development has received. You won’t believe it until you experience it: you can enjoy the highest technical demands of our Euskalduna Conference Centre and return to the hotel walking through the city centre. Or in a ten-minute tube ride from the Bilbao Exhibition Centre.
Our passion for choosing the best local products, getting together with friends to lovingly cook them, and then enjoying them sitting at the table must be experienced to understand (and you should). But if you just want to sit down and take pleasure, this deep-rooted Basque custom has made us one of the world’s gastronomic capitals, with 14 Michelin stars and options for all tastes (and pockets).
GUGGENHEIM AND MUCH MORE
NATURAL AND SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT
INNOVATION AND INTERNATIONALISATION
We are the capital of the Pritzker Prizes, an open-air museum that allows you to explore the architecture of the 20th century simply… on foot. And among other recognitions, we are part of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network, with more than 200 entities working daily in a vibrant artistic, cultural and creative offer. Among them Azkuna Zentroa, ABAO Bilbao Opera, the Arriaga Theatre… and of course Guggenheim Bilbao, our most international museum.
Thanks to intense extractive and productive activity, Bilbao grew and developed, but we have come a long way. We started with a thorough urban and environmental regeneration and a determined investment in infrastructure, such as our excellent sustainable public transport. Our aim is still to become a City of Values, which grows without turning our back on our identity, people’s well-being, and the natural environment.
As a financial hub, Bilbao has a thriving business ecosystem with a solid industrial base and strong international alliances. The Financial Times has voted us the eighth-best medium-sized European city to attract foreign direct investment. We are determined to continue climbing up the rankings with innovative research and innovation ecosystems and a clear focus on technological development.
Excellent public transport
Its size encourages people to move around on foot, by bike or by public transport, enjoying the views of different buildings and the city’s landscape. Furthermore, the public transport network offers the possibility of travelling around the city with the Bilbao Bizkaia Card (on sale at Bilbao Turismo offices), which can be used on the Metro, Tram, Funicular and city buses.
Metro
Inaugurated in 1995 and designed by the architect Norman Foster, it has become a symbol of the city because of its accessibility, effectiveness, impeccable design and its characteristic ‘fosteritos’, the glass canopies over station entrances.
Its three lines are not only the fastest way of getting around the city, but they also extend to the beaches and charming towns in the metropolitan area.
Further information
Tram
This means of transport, which connects Bolueta station to La Casilla, is not only a sustainable and punctual option, but it also provides a pleasant journey bordering the medieval streets of the Old Quarter (Casco Viejo), passing through the Ensanche area of the city and running parallel to the river, from where some of the most representative buildings of Bilbao can be seen.
Further information
City buses
Bilbobus, the central city’s bus network, reaches all the neighbourhoods and most of its buses are adapted for people with reduced mobility.
It consists of 35 lines, which run from 6am until 11pm. The frequency of services varies between 10 and 30 minutes.
There are also eight night buses which run every half-hour from 11pm until 2.30am on Fridays and all night on Saturdays.
Further information
Bicycle
Bilbao has a network of cycleways that facilitate moving around in the city with the main objective of developing a sustainable, practical, and rapid transport system for everyday use.
It is also very easy to get hold of a bicycle as Bilbao has many bike rental companies as well as a municipal bike lending service, “Bilbaobizi”.
Taxi
