Things to Do Bilbao: Guggenheim, Old Town and When to Go

Bilbao is a city break first and a beach holiday second. The draw is culture packed into a walkable centre: the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao for modern and contemporary art, the Bilbao Fine Arts Museum, Euskal Museoa for Basque history, the Itsasmuseum on the waterfront and the Alhóndiga Bilbao cultural centre. If you are drawing up a list of what to visit in Bilbao, those five museums alone could fill a long weekend.

Between them sit the Casco Viejo, the protected old quarter around St. James' Cathedral, and a run of fine civic buildings including Chavarri Palace, Ibaigane Palace and the Biscay Foral Delegation Palace, seat of the provincial council. The Plaza de Toros de Bilbao and the bridges over the river complete the picture. For anyone asking what is a must do in Bilbao, the honest answer is the Guggenheim followed by an unhurried wander through the old town.

Bilbao itself is the obvious base, with the main sights about a mile from the centre and the most activities to book. It suits travellers who want museums, the old town and evenings out on foot.

Portugalete, about 6 miles away, is a coastal town of around 46,000 people. It is home to the Basilica of Santa María and to Las Arenas beach, the nearest proper stretch of sand for city visitors. Santurtzi, around 7 miles out and of similar size, is also on the coast and makes a quieter alternative. Both work well as half-day trips if you stay in the city, and the bilbao things to see list grows nicely once you add them.

The best time to visit Bilbao is from June to September. July and August are the warmest and driest months, with highs of 25 to 26°C and around 10 rain days each. June and September are a touch cooler at 23 to 24°C, which many British visitors find ideal for walking the city.

This is green Atlantic Spain, so pack for rain whatever the season. November is the wettest month with 159mm, and from November to March there are 15 to 17 rain days a month, with winter highs of 12 to 14°C in January and February. A winter visit can still work well for museums, but do not expect beach weather. Anyone weighing up the best time to visit Bilbao, Spain, for a mix of sightseeing and the coast should aim for midsummer.

Bilbao airport (BIO) has direct flights from the United Kingdom and is close to everything: about 4 minutes' drive to Bilbao, 8 minutes to Portugalete and 9 minutes to Santurtzi. Santander airport (SDR) also has direct UK flights; from there it is around 57 minutes to Santurtzi, 58 minutes to Portugalete and 66 minutes to Bilbao.

If you would rather bring your own car, Brittany Ferries sails from Portsmouth to Bilbao, a crossing of roughly 28 to 32 hours, landing about a mile from the city. Santander, around 40 miles away, has sailings from Portsmouth (roughly 24 to 32 hours) and Plymouth (about 20 hours).

A package holiday bundles your flight, hotel and usually airport transfers into one booking, and with the airport only minutes from the centre the transfer is barely part of the journey. You can compare package deals from Jet2holidays, TUI, loveholidays and On the Beach on this page. Expect prices to rise during UK school holidays, so travelling in June or September can be worth a look.

If you prefer to arrange things yourself, you can check hotel prices, browse tours and tickets for the museums and sights, and compare car hire for trips to Portugalete, Santurtzi or further along the coast.