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Bilbao and the Nervión estuary

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  • Bilbao Estuary

    Bilbao Estuary

A tour explore Bilbao and its surroundings, following the course of the estuary. It takes in everything from the avant-garde Guggenheim Bilbao Museum to traditional mining and industrial districts.

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Bilbao and the Nervión estuary

Itinerary 1: Bilbao

  • The historic centre. now converted into a pedestrian shopping and leisure area. It conserves the city's oldest architecture, including San Antón Church, Santiago Cathedral and Plaza Nueva square. You can also visit the Arriaga Theatre and the Basilica of La Virgen de Begoña.
  • The Ensanche District. spreads out from the Gran Vía thoroughfare and includes the Vizcaya Regional Government building and the Campos Elíseos Theatre, in art nouveau style.
  • Modern architecture. the walk along the estuary reveals important examples of the most contemporary in architecture, like the Guggenheim Bilbao Museum, the footbridges designed by Santiago Calatrava, the Palacio Euskalduna conference centre and the towers of the Isozaki Atea complex, designed by Arata Isozaki.
We recommend you to round off your visit with a boat trip on the estuary.

Bilbao and the Nervión estuary

Itinerary 2: The industrial tradition

The cities located on the left bank of the estuary form an urban area of about 15 kilometres.
  • Barakaldo. has the tallest building in the Basque Country, BEC Tower, and the Bilbao Exhibition Center trade fair space.
  • Sestao. you can visit the historic kilns of the Altos Hornos de Vizcaya steelworks. There are several parks to stroll in.
  • Portugalete. see the world's oldest operating ferry and the Vizcaya suspension bridge. It is a World Heritage Site. Its historic centre is also very interesting.
  • Santurtzi. take a look at the fishing port and the Reina Victoria promenade, where you can see the river opening into the sea. It has an open-air Sculpture Museum.

pintando vars:

Bilbao and the Nervión estuary

Practical information

Total distance:
You can explore the area of Bilbao on foot or by taking a boat ride along the estuary. You can visit all other cities by bus or train.
How to complete the route:
Walking, By car
Approximate time:
You can you do it in a day.
Best time of year:
All year round