CityBasque Country699 km to Santiago de Compostela

Bilbao

The largest city in the Basque Country, transformed by the iconic Guggenheim Museum. A vibrant industrial city reinvented as a cultural capital, with world-class architecture, pintxos, and full services.

View accommodation Plan your arrival Start my Camino here

About Where to stay Explore Things to do Getting here Arrival day Practical info Find a bed

Services available

AccommodationRestaurantCafeGroceryPharmacyATMTrainPost OfficeAirportBusClinicWaterTobacconistPilgrim Office

About Bilbao

Bilbao is the largest city in the Basque Country, famously transformed from an industrial port into a world-class cultural destination by the construction of Frank Gehry's titanium-clad Guggenheim Museum in 1997.

Beyond the Guggenheim, the city offers the Casco Viejo (old town) with its Seven Streets, the Azkuna Zentroa cultural centre (designed by Philippe Starck), Santiago Cathedral, the Fine Arts Museum, and exceptional pintxos bars. The city straddles the Nervion River and has a distinctive urban energy.

Pilgrims will find every service, from albergues and hotels to supermarkets, pharmacies, and hospitals. Bilbao has an international airport and excellent bus and train connections. A rest day is highly recommended.

Where to stay

Beds in Bilbao, night by night

Every kind of bed in one place: online booking, direct-contact albergues, walk-ins and donativos. Live prices for your night.

October 14 to October 27Each night shows how many places you can book online and the lowest price. Select a night to see the detail.From

Swipe for more nights

Wednesday, October 14Albergue dorms and private rooms both count. Walk-in and donativo albergues never sell out online: arrive early in the day instead.

Prices come live from our booking partners and change with demand. Walk-in and donativo albergues are not counted here: they are in the full list at the bottom of the page.

Explore

Explore Bilbao

The Camino through town, with prices where the beds are. Amber is the route; each pin is a place to stay.

Select a pin to highlight the property.

Things to do

Things to do in Bilbao

5 things

SightVisit the Guggenheim MuseumFrank Gehry's titanium-clad building is one of the most important works of contemporary architecture in the world. The building itself is the primary exhibit, with its flowing curves, reflective surfaces, and dramatic scale. Inside, the galleries host rotating exhibitions of modern and contemporary art. Jeff Koons' Puppy, a giant flower-covered sculpture, guards the entrance. Even if modern art is not your interest, the building alone is worth the visit. It changed the…

FoodEat Pintxos in the Casco ViejoThe old town's seven original streets (the Siete Calles) are lined with pintxos bars that serve elaborate bite-sized creations on their counters. The tradition is the same as in San Sebastian: move from bar to bar, eating one or two pintxos at each, with a glass of txakoli or a zurito. Bilbao's pintxos are arguably less famous than San Sebastian's but equally good, and the prices are lower. The atmosphere in the narrow streets on a Friday evening, with locals and pilgrims…

RelaxationWalk Along the Rio NervionThe riverfront promenade connects the old town to the Guggenheim and beyond, passing through the regenerated areas that define modern Bilbao. The walk is flat, pleasant, and full of architectural interest. The Zubizuri (White Bridge) by Santiago Calatrava, the Iberdrola Tower, and the Guggenheim itself all sit on the river. The transformation from industrial waterway to cultural corridor is visible with every step.

FoodVisit the Mercado de la RiberaOne of the largest covered markets in Europe, the Mercado de la Ribera sits on the riverbank in the old town. The ground floor sells fresh fish, meat, cheese, fruit, and vegetables. The upper floors have been converted into a food hall with pintxos bars and restaurants. The market is an excellent place to see the raw ingredients that fuel the Basque food culture, and to eat a leisurely lunch surrounded by locals.

Camino MomentTake a Rest DayBilbao is the best rest day opportunity on the Camino del Norte between San Sebastian and Santander. You have walked through the Basque mountains for a week. Your body is tired. The Guggenheim, the food, the old town, and the general energy of the city make it a place worth lingering. A day off in Bilbao is not wasted. It is invested.

Getting here

Getting to Bilbao

How to reach your starting point from major cities and airports.

By train

By Train

Renfe trains connect Bilbao from Madrid (5 hours via Alvia), Barcelona (6.5 hours), and Burgos (3 hours). Euskotren regional trains run to San Sebastian (2.5 hours). Bilbao Abando station is in the city centre, near the Casco Viejo.

By trainBy Train

By airBy Air

Bilbao Airport (Loiu) is 12 km from the centre with flights to most major European cities. The Bizkaibus A3247 runs from the airport to the city centre (Termibus bus station and Gran Via) in approximately 20 minutes.

By busBy Bus

Alsa operates buses from Madrid (4.5 hours), Barcelona (7 hours), San Sebastian (1.5 hours), and Santander (1.5 hours). The main bus station (Termibus) is in the San Mamés area, connected by metro.

By taxi or transferBy Taxi

Taxis from the airport to the centre cost around 25 to 30 euros. Uber and ride-hailing are also available.

Arrival day

What to do on arrival

Your checklist for arrival day in Bilbao.

Visit the Cathedral of Santiago in the Casco Viejo (Old Town) or the Albergue de Bilbao. The Bilbao pilgrim community is welcoming and well organised.

All accommodation

Places to stay in Bilbao

Our Koala Picks first, then donativos, albergues and hostels, hotels, and everything else. Within each group the best-reviewed places lead.

Prices for the night of

Loading places to stay…

Practical info

Practical information

Everything you need to know for your time in Bilbao.

Pilgrim Office / Credential

Cathedral of Santiago in the Casco Viejo (Old Town) or the Albergue de Bilbao.

Additional Notes

Bilbao has excellent public transport (metro, tram). The Guggenheim is a must-see. Casco Viejo is the best area for pintxos and pilgrim supplies.