If boundlessly treating yourself to Bilbao’s food scene begins to have you feeling guilty, drive over to the enchanting San Juan de Gaztelugatxe for a short scenic trek, just over 30 km from Bilbao. Picture a lone chapel perched atop an ascending islet, all linked to the mainland by a serpentine stone bridge — it’s a sight to behold. Offering the only contrast against the infinite blue sea and sky, Gaztelugatxe looks like an image straight out of fantasy. And in a way it quite is, having been featured in Season 7 of the acclaimed series, Game of Thrones. So if you’re a fan of the show, this real-life Dragonstone is a must-see.
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La Rioja
Wine enthusiasts, rejoice, as the famed wine region of La Rioja sits just over an hour’s drive from Bilbao. Spend the day visiting as many bodegas as you can squeeze in, wine tasting, and learning all about how your favorite ones come to be — from vineyard to bottle. Try to come in the fall, when the warm colors and views of robust vineyards are as spellbinding as the wine.
La Rioja
San Juan
de Gaztelugatxe
Bilbao is a city with many faces — some treasured from the past, and others enkindled today. But it’s a city continuously evolving, full of life and spirit. For a long time, under the industrial grime, only Bilbainos really saw the city’s charm. But today, as it continues to open itself up to the world, many more people are coming, and they leave the city enchanted.
Mercado de la Ribera
Sitting on the banks
of the river that runs through the city is the Mercado de la Ribera. On one end are stalls of produce where locals do their shopping, while on the other is a stylish scaled-down food hall dominated by pintxo bars. And right below is a restaurant and jazz bar that makes for a great stop from brunch to late night cocktails.
Gran Vía
If you want to inject a bit of retail therapy into your trip, stroll down the lively Gran Vía where you will find massive shops of some of the most popular Spanish brands like Zara, Mango, and Massimo Dutti. And just off Gran Vía are more gastronomic hotspots like Moyua with famous pintxo bars El Globo and La Viña, and Abando with busy Ledesma Street and the classic Cafe Iruña, swarmed for their special pintxos morunos.
Zorrotzaurre
Here is a glimpse of old Bilbao. If you’re curious to see what ‘Industrial Bilbao’ might have looked like, the Bilbao before the Guggenheim, then take the path less travelled over to the ‘island’ of Zorrotzaurre where many remnants of the city’s rugged past still stand. An interesting art scene also flourishes in the neighborhood, breathing new life and culture into an often-overlooked part of the city. Street art, artisanal products, flea markets, and various art workshops are all tucked into Zorrotzaurre’s warehouses and behind its unassuming facade.
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