Bilbao - what's to see and do?

[Sgeir]

I have a few free days there in April. Apart from the Guggenheim, what's to see and do, and are there any recommendations about picturesque coastal villages that might be nice to stay in for a couple of nights?

With Shard in Scotland, I shall be boatless.

 

[jakeroyd]

Plan your mealtimes.
Restaurants start taking orders for food at about 9:30pm and not before.
It seems to be the way to go to habe tapas at 5 or so.
Otherwise you will starve to death.

 

[Mistroma]

Might be worth asking Plomong via pm as he lives there (or did when I spoke to him last year). Pity you aren't arriving by boat as I can't help much with Bilbao itself, just the area around the marinas. Hope you get better advice elsewhere.

Never did get used to eating out at night. We'd have drinks with friends, spend more time chatting than intended and arrive at restaurant later than planned (around 10pm) to find that we were the only people in the place. Spanish don't seem to start eating until after 10 and I'm gnawiing my own wrist off by then.

In case anyone else is headed that direction:
Good anchorage in the bay but nowhere to get ashore by dinghy (there are stairs but rough rocks and often surge). I think that Getxo marina is more expensive than smaller one at South of the bay. Only disadvantage is that it gets some surge inside. We were in the smaller marina and it was close to the suspended car transporter which takes you to the railway station. The transporter is worth trying and you can walk back via the upper walkway to enjoy the view (actually more expensive than the trip inside the transporter.

We spent a few pleasant days there last year but didn't do much in the city. Pleasant walk along house around the bay and little plaques in front of each explaining the history. Worth doing that if you have time to spare before heading to Bilbao.

 

[DownWest]

Agree about up to date info. I had a great time on that coast a few years ago. But the villages bit would need to be further west. Loved Ribadeslla, might have been about the company I was keeping at the time... and her sister was renting a place on the hill that looked over the whole port/beach area.
Bilboa is pretty industrialised, along with the area around. Santander has a wonderful coast, but the same problems with finding nice places to stay.

 

[trapezeartist]

I used to go to Bilbao fairly frequently on business (in a previous life). The old town (Casco Viejo) is good for an evening stroll. If you go down to the Getxo marina, walk the length of the beach at Las Arenas and then go up into the old fishing village at the far end (Algorta). There was a good restaurant about halfway up the hill.

Outside of Bilbao, just about anywhere along the coast in either direction in nice. Going east, Lekeitio and Zumaia would probably be my favourites. Also it can be interesting to visit Guernika, not just for the museum and the reproduction of Picasso's famous painting, but also for a visit to La Casa de Juntas (ancient Basque parliament).

On the other side of Bilbao, you could take the funicular railway up to La Reineta. It's an old iron mining area, interesting to people like me who spent a childhood scrambling around the old tin mines of Cornwall.

If I can take the liberty of mentioning my own website, you can find several places to stay on www.littlehotels.co.uk/spain/basque.php. All the hotels are recommended, because they are all carefully chosen, not just added willy-nilly.

 

[PlanB]

The old town is definitely worth a stroll (interesting Sunday morning market), and the bars and restaurants are terrific. Pinxtos have elevated bar snacks to an art form. We stayed in a hotel near the Guggenheim, and ate out round there most evenings. We didn´t have a problem getting fed at around 8.30, and were never alone! The Museo de Bellas Artes (fine art) was also worth a visit, and along the river to the west from the Guggenheim (20 mins walk) is a rather nice little maritime museum.
Trams are good and easy to work out - you buy a ticket valid for so many trips at a machine at any stop, and punch it before you get on - they are strict about this.
Our hotel window looked out onto a park which was the only place to walk dogs off the lead. This was the best entertainment of the lot! The dogs were so socialised it was almost unbelievable.
If you are flying, don´t check in hours in advance - there is very little at the airport, and only one small bar airside.
Have fun.

 

[Plomong]

Sgeir,

Will you have wheels or be limited to shank's mare or public transport ??

Plomong

 

[Plomong]

Might be worth asking Plomong via pm as he lives there

Not quite true -- I live near Bilbo, about 30 kms north of the city.

Spanish don't seem to start eating until after 10

Only strictly true in Spain, and up here in the summer months, mostly weekends (Fri and Sat).
Most restaurants will start serving food at about 20:30 around here, and will close for orders around 2300, except Fridays and Saturdays when closing can be quite a bit later, depending on where and weather / time of year.

nowhere to get ashore by dinghy

If you anchor in the area immediately NE of the smaller marina (the oldest one!!! called Real Club Maritima del Abra de Bilbao, or RCMA for short) you'll find the stair access just NE of the northeastern limit of that marina, either over near a small crane, or on the inner side of the concrete pier structure which forms the eastern limit of the marina.

If you anchor too far north, near the new marina (Getxo Kaia), then access can only be as you described, or "bribe" the marina staff to let you use their visitor pontoon. There is another pontoon open to the public (gate not locked) in the innermost reaches of the marina, near the technical area. There does not seem to be any supervision of goins and comings there, and it is too far away to be visible from the marina offices. Don't say I told you so !!!!!

This winter, a new but separate, pontoon has been built just NE of the fuel berth, and not connected to it. I have not seen a locked gate on it. It would appear to be a berth for the Santurce ferry which runs only in the summer, but I'm not sure. Will check asap.

it was close to the suspended car transporter which takes you to the railway station.

No need to cross the river to get the metro -- the underground station is due SE of the RCMA marina, in the heart of Las Arenas (Areeta) about 5 mins from the RCMA marina.

Metro users in Getxo Kaia have two possible stations, one up the hill from the obelisk, the other across the main Bilbao-Algorta road, near the overhead rail bridge. Must produce a map and place it on here. Metro stations are "Neguri" in upper right corner, and "Gobela" in lower right corner, both a 15-min walk from the marina. To get to Gobela station cross the main road running N-S using the pedestrian underpass, or do as most tourist do and cross the traffic when the lights at the junction permit !!!!

Plomong

 

[Plomong]

then go up into the old fishing village at the far end (Algorta).

Village is known as Puerto Viejo de Algorta. On the steps as you go up is the old fisherman's lookout.

The restaurant you refer to was probably "Karola Etxea". Don't know if it still has that name, but the proprietor there some 30 years ago was well worth a "reconnaissance", if you know what I mean !!!

La Casa de Juntas (ancient Basque parliament).

and always the seat of the Juntas Generales de Bizkaia. This is a sort of super county council with legislative, fiscal and economic powers similar to the Lands in Germany. Remember, taxes here are collected not by the Basque Government but by the Juntas Generales of each of the three provinces: Bizkaia, Gipuzkoa and Araba, who then accord what amounts are to be handed over to the Basque Government by convoking a meeting of the corresponding Coordination entity that then invites the Basque Government to attend, which it does if it wants any money !!!!

Plomong

 

[Plomong]

there is very little at the airport

Because it is primarily a businessmans airport, in the heart of the industrialised area which is Euskadi (Basque Country or Pais Vasco).

I've been there at 0515 to check in for an early flight to find the place chock-a-block with grey- and blue-suited gents and a sprinkling of the fairer sex, with a raft of check-in desks running full tilt. And that in an airport that opens officially at 0600 !!!!

Plomong

 

[Neil_Y]

I used to go to Bilbao fairly frequently on business (in a previous life). The old town (Casco Viejo) is good for an evening stroll. If you go down to the Getxo marina, walk the length of the beach at Las Arenas and then go up into the old fishing village at the far end (Algorta). There was a good restaurant about halfway up the hill.

Outside of Bilbao, just about anywhere along the coast in either direction in nice. Going east, Lekeitio and Zumaia would probably be my favourites. Also it can be interesting to visit Guernika, not just for the museum and the reproduction of Picasso's famous painting, but also for a visit to La Casa de Juntas (ancient Basque parliament).

On the other side of Bilbao, you could take the funicular railway up to La Reineta. It's an old iron mining area, interesting to people like me who spent a childhood scrambling around the old tin mines of Cornwall.

If I can take the liberty of mentioning my own website, you can find several places to stay on www.littlehotels.co.uk/spain/basque.php. All the hotels are recommended, because they are all carefully chosen, not just added willy-nilly.

Great, thanks trapeze artist (does that mean you sail a 14 or is it indoors on two ropes like my girl friend?) that information will come in handy as I hae to go there for work soon, apparently there is a large refinery that I simply have to visit nearby!

 

[Sgeir]

Thank you to all who have responded - very helpful indeed! I was out of signal range and unable to respond sooner.

Thanks again.