Bilbao attractions

At the entrance to the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, a colorful floral puppy sits in perennial bloom. Designed by American artist Jeff Koons, this 43-foot-high (13-meter-high) sculpture—known simply asPuppy—features more than 70,000 live flowers. View it for free before heading inside to explore the permanent collection.

The Basque Country’s Salt Valley of Añana is an inland saltworks with thousands of years of history. Derived from natural spring water that seeps through the region’s stones, the coveted Añana salt is prized by chefs. Today, the site also hosts a seasonal salt spa where visitors can immerse their hands and feet in the mineral-rich water.

In 1937, at the behest of Spanish dictator Francisco Franco, German Nazi and Italian Fascist air forces bombed the Basque town and its inhabitants. Years later, Pablo Picassoxa0 immortalized the suffering in his masterpiece of the same name, and now, with an excellent Peace Museum, the revitalized town is a symbol for global peace.

Consecrated in 1890, the Church of the Sacred Heart (Iglesia del Sagrado Corazón) is one of Bilbao’s most striking churches, and one of its newest, as well. Designed by architect José María de Basterra, this place of worship is instantly recognizable for its red-brick, neo-Gothic exterior and its rose window.

A small fishing village on the Basque coast west of San Sebastián, Getaria has history, cuisine, and culture beyond what its size suggests. The birthplace of explorer Juan Sebastián Elcano and fashion designer Cristóbal Balenciaga, Getaria is also known for its beaches and trails; its grilled fish and pintxos; and its sparkling white wine, txakoli.

For some of the best panoramic views over Bilbao, ride the century-old Artxanda Funicular (Funicular de Artxanda) to the summit of Mount Artxanda. There, from the mountaintop viewpoint, you can admire the valley-circled city from above, try to spot the emblematic Guggenheim building, and dine at one of the many nearby restaurants.

Travel back in time at the Basque Museum (Museo Vasco de Bilbao), where photographic exhibits and cultural artefacts—from textiles to ceramics—bring Basque culture and history to life. Housed in an understated 17th-century convent at the heart of Bilbao’s Old Town, don’t miss the regularly rotated temporary exhibits and topographical map of Bilbao and beyond.

A small gem of a museum in Bilbao’s Old Town, the Bizkaia Museum of Archaeology chronicles the region’s past, from murky prehistory to the modern day. Housed in a former train station, the museum’s collection consists of thousands of ancient artifacts, ranging from household items to the 15th-century Urbieta wreck.

Behind an understated Renaissance facade and triumphal arch entrance, Bilbao’s 16th-century San Vicente Mártir de Abando Church (Parroquia de San Vicente Mártir de Abando) hides a surprisingly ornate baroque altar. Other highlights of this Basque Gothic building include the whitewashed vaulted ceilings, gilded detailing, and carved statue of the crucifixion.