Bilbao Travel Forum

Greetings
We are visiting on September arrive in Barcelona- will visit Bilbao to see Guggenheim- should we stay more than one day? What else is there to see/do? Your advice is greatly appreciated,
Gracias,
David

I prefer the Musee de Belles Artes over the road to the Guggenheim. As was suggested in your other post, there's a tourist info office next to the Guggi though, it's worth asking in there. Otherwise there's a much bigger central tourism office in the city, about 5 mins walk from there.

I find it's a great city for walking around, and eating loads of snacks- pintxos and the like. And the beer of course. Cafe Bilbao in Plaza Nueva is a classic.

At least spend a night there to enjoy the life around the old town.

When we went to visit the Guggenheim for the first time we stayed in Bilbao - Hotel Nervion overlooking the river. It was easy walk in one direction to the Museum, and in the other to the old town - merits a visit.
Plenty to see in both directions. The new metro was designed by a famous British architect - very accessible to people with a disability as one of our party was.
We took the train to Gernika one day - fascinating and moving experience.
On the Sunday we took a coach tour westwards along the coast, an area already well known to us, but are travelling companions were very keen to see Santillana del Mar - where we had lunch in the Parador after visiting a church famous for its statuary and iconography, in which our guide was an expert.

Then on to the weirly quaint village of Comillas to see the Gaudi Folly.
The tour included brief stops at at some of the pretty little towns along the coast - so un-Costa-ish.

So, Yes I would say there is plenty to do in Bilbao. Lots of good restaurants too!

I would make a rotten proof reader - when I click the Preview button and edit I seem to end up with more typos than when I don't bother. Apologies for the mistakes -hope the meaning comes across!

A long day and a night with dinner in the old town is about right.

If you have extra time, the hanging bridge downstream is unique.

But then, I'm an engineer and I like the bridge that transects the Gugenheim.

It definetely depends on what you are looking for.
Bilbao needs just one day, if you are going to visit the Guggenheim, I agree with Jem, you should not miss the Museo de Bellas Artes, 5 min walk from the guggenheim, and there is a special ticket to visit both of them.
If you would like to see a little bit of the surroundings I would recomen you to take the tube and go to Plencia (40 minutes from Bilbao) and in your way back you can stop at Getxo (Areeta tube station) see the hanging bridge and walk along the coast to the Getxos old harbour (Puerto Viejo) The walk is around 1 hour and youŽll enjoy, later you can ask for Algorta tube station, and go back to Bilbao. I think that both places can be done in a day, half day for each and have a better idea of what can be found there.
You can have a look in my tips.
http://www.getxo.net/cas/turis/folleto1/pagina2i.asp
http://getxoinfo.com/es/index.php?img=149&pag=1
http://www.plentzia.org/iplentzia.html
A nice place to visit but a little bit further, 40km from Bilbao, you would need a car, is San Juan de Gaztelugatxe, a beautiful spot propably one of the coollest places of the north of Spain.
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a8/mrt262/DSCN1638.jpg
If you need further info just ask! IŽll be glad to help you.

It definetely depends on what you are looking for.
Bilbao needs just one day, if you are going to visit the Guggenheim, I agree with Jem, you should not miss the Museo de Bellas Artes, 5 min walk from the guggenheim, and there is a special ticket to visit both of them.
If you would like to see a little bit of the surroundings I would recomen you to take the tube and go to Plencia (40 minutes from Bilbao) and in your way back you can stop at Getxo (Areeta tube station) see the hanging bridge and walk along the coast to the Getxos old harbour (Puerto Viejo) The walk is around 1 hour and youŽll enjoy, later you can ask for Algorta tube station, and go back to Bilbao. I think that both places can be done in a day, half day for each and have a better idea of what can be found there.
You can have a look in my tips.
http://www.getxo.net/cas/turis/folleto1/pagina2i.asp
http://getxoinfo.com/es/index.php?img=149&pag=1
http://www.plentzia.org/iplentzia.html
A nice place to visit but a little bit further, 40km from Bilbao, you would need a car, is San Juan de Gaztelugatxe, a beautiful spot propably one of the coollest places of the north of Spain.
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a8/mrt262/DSCN1638.jpg
If you need further info just ask! IŽll be glad to help you.