{"id":630440,"date":"2025-12-13T16:33:39","date_gmt":"2025-12-13T16:33:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/630440\/"},"modified":"2025-12-13T16:33:39","modified_gmt":"2025-12-13T16:33:39","slug":"the-quirky-manchester-of-spain-with-trendy-bars-decadent-food-and-a-garden-city","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/630440\/","title":{"rendered":"The quirky ‘Manchester of Spain’ with trendy bars, decadent food and a ‘garden city’"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\"Bilbao,
\n\t\tThere is more to this city than its Casco Viejo (Picture: Getty Images)<\/p>\n

Bilbao<\/a>, city of pintxos, art and eye-popping architecture.<\/p>\n

But if you look beyond the Guggenheim (an iconic modern art museum like no other) <\/strong>and the plethora of food tours on offer, you will find a remarkable place shaped by grit, creative spirit, and proud traditions.<\/p>\n

When I visit in October, I discover it is that increasing rarity in Europe<\/a>: laidback and genuinely affordable.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s lively, but not crowded, and I always manage to find a seat on public transport. On a colder day, I notice the caf\u00e9s are bustling with chattering locals \u2013 no wonder, when an espresso and a glass of wine each cost around \u00a32.<\/p>\n

To dig deeper, I explored the city with local guide Miriam Ruiz L\u00f3pez from Basque Bound<\/a>, following her insider suggestions to experience its overlooked corners.<\/p>\n

This is the Bilbao you should see, beyond the tourist traps.<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Bilbao
\n\t\tBilbao is the largest city in northern Spain, close to the border with France (Picture: Metro)
\nThe \u2018Manchester of Spain\u2019<\/p>\n

Working-class pride, industrial heritage and bold modern architecture bond Bilbao with Manchester<\/a>, its northern English cousin.<\/p>\n

Both cities have reinvented themselves through culture and design. On one side, the Guggenheim and a regenerated riverside; on the other, a vibrant music scene and new waterside communities. <\/p>\n

And we can\u2019t forget football. \u2018Here, it\u2019s like a religion. I\u2019m not joking,\u2019 Miriam tells me. Bilba\u00ednos\u2019 pride for their team is fierce, another thing they share with Mancunians.<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Bilbao,
\n\t\tDue to its devout fans, San Mam\u00e9s is known as the \u2018Cathedral of Football\u2019 (Picture: Getty Images)<\/p>\n

The Athletic Club\u2019s flags hang everywhere around the city, from balconies to boats. The team is owned by its members and recruits only players born or trained in the Basque region. <\/p>\n

If you want to find out more, a tour of San Mam\u00e9s Stadium is a must<\/a> (\u00a319 for adults, \u00a37 for children, free for under 6).<\/p>\n

Whilst exploring the city, you may come across the district of Iralabarri. At first glance, its colourful terraced houses and tidy streets might remind you of British housing estates \u2013 and you wouldn\u2019t be far off. <\/p>\n

Built around 1916, the neighbourhood is inspired by Victorian England<\/a> and nicknamed \u2018the Notting Hill of Bilbao\u2019. The entrepreneur, Juan Jos\u00e9 Irala, owner of a legendary bakery, built it to provide quality housing for his employees.<\/p>\n

\t\t\"A
\n\t\tIralabarri was Bilbao\u2019s attempt at creating a \u2018garden city\u2019 (Picture: Shutterstock\/Alberto Loyo)<\/p>\n

Some even say that the Ikurri\u00f1a \u2013 the red, green, and white Basque flag \u2013 was inspired by the Union Jack.<\/p>\n

However, don\u2019t be swayed by these comparisons. Locals are extremely proud of their Basque heritage.<\/p>\n

If you like context when you travel, you should make time for a visit to the Museum of Basque Nationalism<\/a>. <\/p>\n

This small collection features a mix of archaeology<\/a>, anthropology, folklore and history, explaining how Basque traditions have mutated and survived into the present. You can visit it for free on Wednesdays, or get in with an audioguide for \u00a34.50 on other weekdays.<\/p>\n

A creative spirit<\/p>\n

In recent years, Bilbao has transformed into a modern, creative hub. Recent cultural policies have helped, with grants and bespoke spaces to give local talent room to experiment.<\/p>\n

Zorrotzaurre \u2013 a long artificial peninsula in the Nervi\u00f3n river \u2013 is a clear expression of this shift. <\/p>\n

Though still in development, this once-industrial area now proudly displays murals on abandoned factories, cultural centres (such as ZAWP Bilbao<\/a>), workshops and coffee grinders. On Sundays, locals flock here to hang out at the vintage market<\/a> in the old biscuit factory, a jumble of vinyls, retro furniture and curious relics.<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Zorrotzaurre
\n\t\tZorrotzaurre is expected to change massively over the next few years (Picture: Xiquinho Silva)<\/p>\n

Cross the river, and you\u2019ll find Bilbao La Vieja (or Bilbi for those in-the-know), one of the city\u2019s most eclectic districts.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a patchwork of graffiti, tattoo studios, trendy bars (check out Bihotz Caf\u00e9) and clothes shops that haven\u2019t surrendered to chains. Grab a coffee at Bar Marzana 16 and sit outside, watching the world go by, or walk around some architectural gems, such as Casa Cuna and Atxuri Station.<\/p>\n

Then there\u2019s Azkuna Zentroa, my favourite place in Bilbao, confirmed after repeat visits. <\/p>\n

It\u2019s one of those buildings that has to be seen to be fully appreciated \u2013 a \u2018multi-purpose venue\u2019 that\u2019s actually a utopic urban ecosystem. This former wine warehouse brings together a cinema, library, gym, pool, event spaces, restaurants and one of the best design shops in the city under one roof. All of it rests on 43 surreal columns, in different shapes, colours and materials \u2013 a celebration of our shared history and diversity.<\/p>\n

\t\t\"\"
\n\t\tAzkuna Zentroa never ceases to amaze me (Pictures: Martina Andretta)<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\tGet ready for your next adventure\t\t\t<\/p>\n

Hi, I\u2019m Alice Murphy, Metro\u2019s consultant travel editor.<\/strong><\/p>\n

If you love reading about new travel routes, lesser-known destinations and how travel changes us for the better, you\u2019re in the right place.<\/p>\n

\t\t\"A
\n\t\tI have visited over 50 countries (Picture: Alice Murphy)<\/p>\n

Our\u00a0weekly newsletter<\/a>\u00a0brings you everything from holiday inspiration to the latest travel news and hot takes.<\/p>\n

Sign up now<\/a>\u00a0\u2013 and get in touch if you have a story. I want to hear it!<\/p>\n

An industrial heart<\/p>\n

For decades, Bilbao was a place of hard labour: busy, polluted and coated in industrial grime. By the 1980s, the city had fallen into deep decline.<\/p>\n

A sweeping regeneration plan \u2013 and the arrival of the Guggenheim Museum in 1997 \u2013 triggered a turnaround now studied worldwide as the \u2018Bilbao Effect\u2019. The transformation was so dramatic that in 2010 the city was awarded the Lee Kuan Yew World City Prize, often called the Nobel Prize of urbanism.<\/p>\n

But, whilst maybe not obvious at first, Bilbao\u2019s industrial past still trickles through every corner. For more than a century, the city was a powerhouse in iron, shipbuilding, and trade, and a place where people came seeking work. Back then, the Nervi\u00f3n was lined with factories, cranes and docks.<\/p>\n

One of the most significant sites was the Euskalduna shipyard \u2013 now transformed into a beautiful conference centre and concert hall resembling a vessel under construction. Go for a stroll along the river to admire this huge building, or join one of their free guided tours<\/a> on Saturdays to learn more.<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Bilbao,
\n\t\tIts 360-degree panoramic terrace is another hidden gem (Picture: Getty Images)<\/p>\n

Just outside, the bright-red Carola crane stands as a lone survivor. Legend says it was named after a woman so beautiful that her daily walks across the yard enraptured workers and slowed down production. <\/p>\n

The nearby Bilbao Maritime Museum (strangely camouflaged both in location and name as Itsasmuseum Bilbao<\/a>) fills in the rest of the story, delving into the city\u2019s nautical evolution.<\/p>\n

Further along the river but reachable by metro, the Vizcaya Bridge offers a glimpse of Bilbao at its industrial peak. Completed in 1893, it\u2019s the world\u2019s oldest transporter bridge, and it\u2019s still functional to this day.<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Bizkaia
\n\t\tThe Vizcaya Bridge is now a UNESCO World Heritage site (Picture: Getty Images)<\/p>\n

Mining played a crucial role in shaping the city and the region. Just steps from the Michelin-starred restaurant Mina, you\u2019ll find the old access gallery to the San Luis mine. <\/p>\n

This is now closed, but local groups are campaigning<\/a> to reopen it and organising small tours upon request. If you are near plaza Saralegi, in the Miribilla neighbourhood, make sure to check out the old calcination furnace \u2013 a striking structure that dominates the square. Once used to process ore, it stands as a powerful reminder of Bilbao\u2019s past, and is free to visit.<\/p>\n

Bilbao\u2019s metro system (below) is another symbol of this reinvention. <\/p>\n

The sleek glass entrances \u2013 known locally as Fosteritos after their designer, British architect Norman Foster \u2013 look like something out of a futurist film.<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Bilbao,
\n\t\tOpened in 1995, the metro connects neighbourhoods long divided by industry and geography (Picture: Getty Images)<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\tWhere to stay in Bilbao\t\t\t<\/p>\n

Bilbao has a solid menu of affordable hotels.<\/p>\n

For budget-conscious travellers, BYPILLOW <\/a>B<\/a>ilbo<\/a> is a great choice. Located next to the historic Casco Viejo, the Old Town, rooms here start from \u00a367 for two on a room-only basis.<\/p>\n

For river views and a lively LGBTQIA+ atmosphere, there\u2019s Axel Hotel<\/a>. This adult-only property offers rooms from \u00a389 for two, breakfast not included.<\/p>\n

For a luxury stay overlooking the Guggenheim, book The Artist \u2013 Grand Hotel of Art<\/a>. It feels like sleeping in a gallery, with rooms starting from \u00a3200 for two on a room-only basis.<\/p>\n

The city tour with Basque Bound was organised by Bilbao Turismo<\/a>, but don\u2019t expect us to sugarcoat anything \u2013 our reviews are 100% independent.<\/p>\n

Arrow
\nMORE: Spain and Portugal could soon be connected by 3 new bridges<\/a><\/p>\n

Arrow
\nMORE: The surprisingly festive southern European city where even hotels have Christmas markets<\/a><\/p>\n

Arrow
\nMORE: Europe\u2019s cheapest Christmas markets you can still book for a last-minute getaway<\/a><\/p>\n


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