With its fountains and spinning traffic, Plaza de Federico Moyúa is the heart of the Ensanche. It's home to the regal Hotel Carlton, once the hotel of choice for Einstein, Hemmingway and other such luminaries.
Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
Museo Guggenheim Bilbao
0.4 MILES
Shimmering titanium Museo Guggenheim Bilbao is one of modern architecture's most iconic buildings. It played a major role in helping to lift Bilbao out of…
Itsasmuseum
0.62 MILES
On the waterfront, this interactive maritime museum brings the watery depths of Bilbao and Basque maritime history to life. Start with a 10-minute video…
Museo de Bellas Artes
0.23 MILES
The Museo de Bellas Artes houses a compelling collection that includes everything from Gothic sculptures to 20th-century pop art. There are three main…
Cueva de Covalanas
26.11 MILES
Discovered in 1903 (second only to Altamira among Cantabrian caves with prehistoric artwork), the World Heritage–listed Covalanas cave is home to several…
Casco Viejo
0.66 MILES
The compact Casco Viejo, Bilbao’s atmospheric old quarter, is full of charming streets, boisterous bars and plenty of quirky and independent shops. At the…
Funicular de Artxanda
0.62 MILES
Bilbao is a city hemmed in by hills and mountains, resting in a tight valley. For a breathtaking view over the city and the wild Basque mountains beyond,…
Nearby Bilbao attractions
1. Azkuna Zentroa
0.22 MILES
Take a neglected wine storage warehouse, convert it into a leisure and cultural centre, add a shot of Bilbao style and the result is the Azkuna Zentroa …
2. Museo de Bellas Artes
0.23 MILES
The Museo de Bellas Artes houses a compelling collection that includes everything from Gothic sculptures to 20th-century pop art. There are three main…
3. Parque de Doña Casilda de Iturrizar
0.36 MILES
Planted with maples, lindens, cedars, palms and 70 other species of trees, the Parque de Doña Casilda de Iturrizar was completed in 1920. The centrepiece…
4. Museo Guggenheim Bilbao
0.4 MILES
Shimmering titanium Museo Guggenheim Bilbao is one of modern architecture's most iconic buildings. It played a major role in helping to lift Bilbao out of…
5. Zubizuri
0.44 MILES
The most striking of the modern bridges that span the Ría del Nervión, the Zubizuri (Basque for 'White Bridge') has become an iconic feature of Bilbao's…
6. Concordia Train Station
0.49 MILES
The Concordia train station, with its art nouveau facade of wrought iron and tiles, was built in 1902 and for many years provided colour and interest in a…
7. Museo Taurino de Bilbao
0.51 MILES
Although Bilbao isn’t a bullfighting city in the manner of the towns of Andalucía, the audiences here are considered by matadors to be among the most…
8. Universidad de Deusto
0.52 MILES
On the banks of the Ría del Nervión, and accessible via the Pedro Arrupe footbridge, the Universidad de Deusto dominates the waterfront. This landmark…