Attractions in Bilbao

The Cathedral of Santiago is a 14th-century Gothic church in the heart of the Casco Viejo, dedicated to Saint James the Apostle. It marks a stop on the Northern Way of St James (Camino del Norte) and is Bilbao's oldest and most important place of worship.

The Bilbao Metro, designed by Sir Norman Foster, is widely considered one of the world's most beautiful subway systems. Its signature glass-and-steel canopy entrances — affectionately nicknamed 'Fosteritos' by locals — have become icons of modern Bilbao.

*Maman* is a 9.27-metre-tall bronze, stainless steel, and marble spider sculpture by Louise Bourgeois, installed on the waterside terrace of the Guggenheim Museum. One of six casts worldwide, it is a tribute to the artist's mother and her work as a weaver.

The Vizcaya Bridge (Puente Bizkaia) is the world's oldest transporter bridge still in operation, connecting the towns of Portugalete and Getxo across the Nervión estuary. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2006, this engineering marvel from 1893 ferries passengers and vehicles in a suspended gondola.

The Zubizuri ('White Bridge' in Basque) is a pedestrian bridge designed by Santiago Calatrava, spanning the Nervión River with a dramatic curved deck of translucent glass blocks. Completed in 1997, it has become one of Bilbao's most photographed modern landmarks.

The Teatro Arriaga is Bilbao's principal theatre, a neo-baroque opera house that dominates the entrance to the Casco Viejo at the edge of the Arenal. Named after Juan Crisóstomo de Arriaga, the Bilbao-born composer known as 'the Spanish Mozart', it hosts opera, ballet, theatre, and concerts.

Originally a 1909 wine warehouse, Azkuna Zentroa (formerly Alhóndiga Bilbao) was redesigned by Philippe Starck and reopened in 2010 as a multidisciplinary cultural and leisure centre. Its interior features 43 columns, each with a unique design spanning different civilizations and styles.

Perched on a hill above the Casco Viejo, the Basilica of Begoña houses the Virgin of Begoña, the patron saint of Bizkaia. The fortified Renaissance church is a major pilgrimage site and offers commanding views over the old town from its elevated terrace.

The Paseo del Arenal is a tree-lined riverside promenade at the gateway between the Casco Viejo and the Ensanche, connecting the Teatro Arriaga to the main bridges over the Nervión. It's a natural starting point for exploring both sides of the city.

The Palacio Euskalduna is Bilbao's premier conference and performing arts venue, built on the site of the last shipyard on the Nervión. Its angular, rust-coloured Corten steel exterior deliberately evokes the hull of a ship under construction.

Plaza Nueva is a neoclassical arcaded square completed in 1851 in the heart of the Casco Viejo. Surrounded by 64 arches, it serves as the social epicentre of Bilbao's pintxos culture and hosts a popular Sunday flea market.

The Church of San Antón, together with its adjoining medieval bridge, forms one of Bilbao's most iconic images — so much so that both appear on the city's coat of arms. This 15th-century Gothic church sits at the edge of the Casco Viejo overlooking the Nervión.

Standing guard at the entrance to the Guggenheim Museum, *Puppy* is a 12.4-metre-tall West Highland White Terrier sculpture by Jeff Koons, covered in over 70,000 living flowering plants. Originally created for a 1992 exhibition in Germany, it was permanently installed in Bilbao in 1997.