What to skip in Bilbao
Built from every Bilbao verdict we publish. Each links to the full reasoning and what to do instead.
We have no Skip pages on file for Bilbao yet; the verdicts so far all earn their keep.
Only if it fits your trip
- Is a San Juan de Gaztelugatxe day trip from Bilbao worth it?: Yes for travelers who can manage a steep one-kilometer path and 241 unshaded steps, and who can plan around it: the islet, the staircase and the hermitage draw near-universal praise. The free timed ticket, hourly buses and long approach decide who should go.
- Is a pintxos tour in Bilbao worth it?: Yes if you want a guide's ordering help and the stories behind the bars: official operator prices run about 89 to 150 EUR per person for a three-hour crawl. Confident travelers get the same pintxos for roughly a third of that on a self-guided txikiteo through the Casco Viejo.
- Is the Artxanda funicular worth it?: It depends on the weather: the official fare is EUR 6 return for a 3-minute ride to the Artxanda lookout, and the view is the point. One traveler found visibility poor on an overcast evening, so check the ridge before you pay.
- Is the Azkuna Zentroa worth it?: Yes, if you are nearby or the program interests you: the building is free, the 43-column atrium is a genuine sight, and the rooftop pool with a glass floor costs EUR 8.25. Skip a special trip unless an exhibition or film makes it a destination.