1, 2 & 3 Day Bilbao Itineraries

1

Day 1: Casco Viejo & Bilbao Cathedral

Morning (10:00 - 10:45)

Bilbao Cathedral, Plaza Santiago, 48005 Bilbao, Spain

Start at the Gothic Santiago Cathedral, the church that gave Bilbao its name, including its 14th-century cloister.

Tickets: €10 general admission (18-64) at the door, no reservation needed; free for several categories including ages 12-18 and university students under 25. Not confirmed on any city pass.

Duration: ~20 - 40 min

Late morning (11:00 - 13:00)

Plaza Nueva, 48005 Bilbao, Spain

Walk a few minutes into the arcaded 19th-century square at the heart of the Casco Viejo, ringed with pintxo bars and cafes.

Tickets: Free to walk and browse; individual bars and cafes are pay-as-you-go.

Duration: ~1.5 - 2 h

Travel: ~5 min walk from the Cathedral

Route Map — Day 1

📍 Pinned landmarks on map:

1. Bilbao Cathedral 2. Plaza Nueva

💡 Practical Tips & Recommendations

• Bilbao Cathedral is not confirmed included on the Bilbao Bizkaia Card — budget for the standard ticket.
• Plaza Nueva is busiest for pintxos (Basque tapas) around midday and early evening — a Sunday morning flea market also runs here.
• The Casco Viejo is fully walkable and needs no transport ticket or pass for this day.

2

Day 2: Guggenheim & the Riverside

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Morning (10:00 - 12:30)

Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, Abandoibarra Etorbidea, 2, 48009 Bilbao, Spain

Spend the morning in Frank Gehry's titanium landmark, covering the permanent collection and current temporary exhibitions.

Tickets: €18 adult ticket online or on-site, audio guide included; the Bilbao Bizkaia Card's Fastpass only skips the ticket queue, it does not reduce the price.

Duration: ~2 - 3 h

Afternoon (13:00 - 14:30)

Puente de la Salve, 48009 Bilbao, Spain

Walk along the riverside promenade past Jeff Koons's Puppy and Louise Bourgeois's Maman spider sculpture, finishing at the red-arched bridge beside the museum.

Tickets: Free to walk; the outdoor sculptures need no ticket.

Duration: ~1 - 1.5 h

Travel: ~10 min walk from the Guggenheim

Route Map — Day 2

📍 Pinned landmarks on map:

1. Guggenheim Museum Bilbao 2. Puente de la Salve

💡 Practical Tips & Recommendations

• The Guggenheim is not included on the Bilbao Bizkaia Card — its Fastpass benefit only saves queue time, not money.
• Maman and Puppy are visible from outside the museum at any time, with no ticket needed.
• Book Guggenheim tickets online in advance in high season to avoid lines, especially if not using the card's Fastpass.

3

Day 3: Artxanda Viewpoint & San Mamés

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Morning (09:30 - 11:30)

Funicular de Artxanda, Plaza del Funicular, 48007 Bilbao, Spain

Ride the roughly three-minute funicular up Mount Artxanda for a panoramic viewpoint over the city, then walk the summit park before heading back down.

Tickets: €3.50 one-way / €6 round trip, pay-as-you-board, no reservation; confirmed free and unlimited with the Bilbao Bizkaia Card.

Duration: ~1.5 - 2 h including the ride

Travel: ~3 min funicular ride each way

Afternoon (13:00 - 14:30)

San Mamés Stadium, Rafael Moreno Pitxitxi Kalea, 48013 Bilbao, Spain

Head across the city to Athletic Club's stadium for the Museum + Tour, walking the pitch-side areas and players' tunnel.

Tickets: €15 adult (Museum + Tour with audio guide) online or at the box office; not confirmed on any city pass. Hours and availability change on match/training days.

Duration: ~1.5 h

Travel: ~20 - 25 min by tram or bus from the Artxanda funicular's lower station

Route Map — Day 3

📍 Pinned landmarks on map:

1. Funicular de Artxanda 2. San Mamés Stadium

💡 Practical Tips & Recommendations

• The Artxanda funicular is confirmed free and unlimited with the Bilbao Bizkaia Card — worth timing this day around if you're carrying the card.
• The San Mamés tour is bought separately regardless of any pass; check the stadium's own calendar before visiting, as match and training days change hours.
• Consider the Bilbao Bizkaia Card for this day specifically if you're also using public transport to reach San Mamés, since the card's transport (not any attraction discount) is where it earns its price back.

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1, 2 & 3 Day Bilbao Itineraries

Day 1: Casco Viejo & Bilbao Cathedral

Bilbao Cathedral, Plaza Santiago, 48005 Bilbao, Spain

Plaza Nueva, 48005 Bilbao, Spain

💡 Practical Tips & Recommendations

Day 2: Guggenheim & the Riverside

Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, Abandoibarra Etorbidea, 2, 48009 Bilbao, Spain

Puente de la Salve, 48009 Bilbao, Spain

💡 Practical Tips & Recommendations

Day 3: Artxanda Viewpoint & San Mamés

Funicular de Artxanda, Plaza del Funicular, 48007 Bilbao, Spain

San Mamés Stadium, Rafael Moreno Pitxitxi Kalea, 48013 Bilbao, Spain

💡 Practical Tips & Recommendations

Things to do in Bilbao

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