Yes — the center is compact, and the riverside walk between the Guggenheim and the Old Town covers most of the city's highlights in one go.
Discover Authentic Bilbao: A Local Travel Guide by Mercure
At Mercure, we believe you shouldn't need a guidebook to feel like you belong somewhere. That's the idea behind Discover Local: since 1973, every Mercure hotel has been built around its neighbourhood, not just dropped into it — from the décor on the walls to the flavours on the menu. Step into any Mercure and our teams are on hand with the kind of tips you won't find in a guidebook: the market stall locals queue for, the bar where nobody speaks English, the walk that skips the crowds. They live here. They know. Discover Local isn't a generic city guide — it's a short, honest list of the restaurants, markets and neighbourhoods our own hotel teams actually recommend to guests, updated as the city changes around us. Below, you'll find our picks for Bilbao, an interactive map to help you find your way, and answers to the questions travellers ask us most. So — where will Discover Local take you?
Our map pins local favourites such as the Vizcaya Bridge, the Artxanda funicular and the Plaza Nueva Sunday market, alongside our Mercure hotel.
Top 5 Things to Do in Bilbao
Guggenheim Museum Bilbao
Frank Gehry's titanium-clad building is a sculpture before you even get to the art inside, changing color as the light shifts through the day. It's the single reason many visitors first came to Bilbao — give it at least half a day.
Casco Viejo (Las Siete Calles)
The Old Town's original seven streets date back to the 14th century, now packed with bars, small shops and squares that fill up in the evening. It's compact enough to wander without a map and still find something new.
Mercado de la Ribera
One of Europe's largest covered markets, overlooking the Nervión river with colorful buildings opposite. Come for a picnic's worth of ingredients or a few lunchtime pintxos from the café stalls inside.
Plaza Nueva
A grand, arcaded square inside Casco Viejo where the pintxo bars spill out into the open air by evening — Gure Toki is one of the better-regarded stops if you only try one.
The riverside walk
Follow the Nervión from the Guggenheim down to the Old Town and you pass Bilbao's best bridges and architecture along the way — a genuinely good way to link the modern city with the historic one on foot.
Explore Bilbao's Best Local Spots with Our Interactive Map
What's on the map in Bilbao
We've mapped local spots around Bilbao, from a World Heritage bridge to an underwater winery.
Views & landmarks
Vizcaya Bridge
Inaugurated in 1893, the world's first transporter bridge: 61 metres high, 160 metres long, linking Portugalete and Las Arenas – and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2006. Ride the gondola across.
Portugalete – Getxo · Transporter bridge · Perfect for industrial heritage
Artxanda funicular
Running since 1915, the funicular climbs from near the Guggenheim to the top of Mount Artxanda: a park, restaurants and the whole city below. A single trip costs just over two euros.
City centre to Artxanda · Funicular · Made for views
Artxanda–Enekuri walkway
A lit wooden walkway on Bilbao's green ring, linking the Artxanda and Enekuri viewpoints, with two glass-fronted lookouts along the way.
Artxanda · Walking trail · Great for an easy walk
Food & markets
Epelde & Mardaras
In a 19th-century palace on Calle Jardines, Emilia serves homemade stews and walks you through her gallery of Basque artists. Menus average 55 euros.
Old town, Calle Jardines · Gallery-restaurant · Perfect for a memorable lunch
Crusoe Treasure underwater winery
In the Bay of Plentzia, wine ages on the seabed in the world's first underwater winery. From May to September, 40-minute boat trips include tastings.
Plentzia · Winery and boat tasting · Made for wine lovers
Plaza Nueva Sunday market
Every Sunday and public holiday from 10am to 2pm, Plaza Nueva fills with stamps, coins, books and curiosities. Stay for pintxos – the square's bars are some of the best.
Old town · Collectors' market · Ideal for Sunday mornings
Arenal flower market
Every Sunday, hundreds of stalls of flowers and plants grown around the city. A colourful stroll.
El Arenal · Sunday market · Perfect for a Sunday stroll
Mercado de la Ribera
Bilbao's riverside market of seasonal produce and local specialities – liveliest in the morning.
Casco Viejo · Market · Great for food shopping
Bolueta market
One of the city's largest street markets: more than 200 stalls of food, clothes and more.
Bolueta · Market · Made for bargains
Gure Lurreko Merkatua
Only organic, local produce, straight from Bizkaia's farms.
Market · Perfect for organic food
Zorrotza market
A neighbourhood street market by the Nervión, where industrial buildings meet traditional architecture.
Zorrotza · Market · Ideal for local life
Otxarkoaga Market
The Otxarkoaga neighbourhood market, where locals come almost daily for fresh, top-quality produce and a chat with stallholders who know them by name.
Otxarkoaga · Food market · Great for local life
FAQ
Pintxos, ideally with a glass of txakoli, eaten bar-hopping style through Casco Viejo or Plaza Nueva.
About 1.2 miles — a walkable distance, or a short tram ride if you'd rather save your legs for later.
The world's first transporter bridge, opened in 1893 between Portugalete and Las Arenas, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2006.
Take the funicular from its station near the Guggenheim Museum; a trip costs just over two euros.
Yes. Plaza Nueva hosts a collectors' market every Sunday and public holiday from 10am to 2pm.
Where to Sleep in Bilbao
This Mercure hotel appears on our map:
- Mercure Bilbao Jardines De Albia