As well as being a fab city break destination, Bilbao is also a great base for exploring more of the Basque Country with a Bilbao car hire. If you’re looking for some inspiration, here’s a few ideas for day trips from Bilbao.
Closer to town
Stock up on yummy food from Mercado de la Ribera and drive out to nearby beaches such as Las Arenas and Algorta. Both are less than 20kms away.
13kms north of Bilbao, Vizcaya bridge is an engineering wonder. Also known as Puente Colgante, which means hanging bridge, it connects the towns of Portugalete and Las Arenas, which lie either side of the Nervion river. You can cross the bridge via a hanging gondola or take a lift up 50 metres to the walkway.
Vizcaya Bridge near Bilbao
San Sebastian
A little further away but well worth a visit in its own right, is the beautiful coastal town of San Sebastian (pictured at the top of this post). It has more Michelin-starred restaurants per square mile than anywhere else in the world and is just 100kms away from Bilbao. Lively and rich in culture, the city also boasts a couple of damn fine beaches.
Take in a wine tour
Marques de Riscal in La Rioja | Image: igorre1969/Flickr
The Rioja Alavesa region is probably Spain’s most famous wine region. So if you like your riojas, it’s well worth exploring. The region is around 100kms away from Bilbao. And if you’re a fan of the Guggenheim, visit the Marques de Riscal, City of Wine. Frank Gehry designed both.
For something a little different, you can also visit the world’s first underwater wine cellar! Crusoe Treasure is a boutique winery inspired by the discovery of a sunken ship with a cargo of champagne, that had been fantastically preserved by the underwater conditions. Crusoe Treasure do wine tastings and several tours. They’re located in Plentzia, 30kms north of Bilbao.
More on Bilbao
- Bilbao Guide: Beyond the Guggenheim
- Eating Bilbao: Pintxos
Bilbao car hire guides
- Collecting a Bilbao Airport car hire
- Returning a car hire to Bilbao Airport