Where to stay

The Guggenheim Museum, with its Frank Gehry-designed building, is one of Bilbao's major landmarks. If the museum is the main priority for your trip, book accommodations in Indautxu, the formerly industrial neighborhood next door. This spot is a worthy destination in its own right and offers easy access to Bilbao's Old Town. Book accommodations near more grassroots activity taking place in trendy Bilbao la Vieja, known for its artistic graffiti. Select an elegant hotel in cen-tral Abando and browse a range of nearby galleries. Just a bit outside the city, Getxo is a great place to stay for a visit combining art galleries and museums with beach activities. Tour castles all day from a hotel in Mungia.

Bilbao has a long culinary tradition with a mix of Spanish, French, and unique Basque dishes. Stay in Bilbao Old Town for pintxos, Basque tapas, and San Miguel beer in the laid-back bars or pick up ingredients from the area's large covered market to cook at the hotel. Go across the river to Por-tugalete, whose medieval village has charming boutique hotels and famous restaurants. A little less touristy, the student neighborhood of Deusto has reasonably priced accommodations and equally affordable food and drink. If an evening of cocktails and music is on the agenda, book a room in San Frantzisko, known for its LGBTQ-friendly nightlife.

Bilbao's green countryside is a treat for every visitor. Because of the region's great public trans-portation, outlying areas can provide a good home base for exploring the countryside as well as the city. Right next door, get accommodations in Santutxu, a residential neighborhood that offers op-portunities for hiking to vistas across Bilbao. For more active mountaineering get a hotel in Alonsotegi, where a rugged landscape means hikers really earn their glass of txakoli after long walks. Stay near the Atlantic seaboard by booking a room in Santurtzi, where brisk seaside walks are rewarded by some of Europe's best seafood, caught straight out of the local waters.