Bilbao Holiday

The Spanish city of Bilbao is a located in the proud Basque region of the country and is home to the vast, iconic Museo Guggenheim.

Bilbao is in the north of Spain, to the south west of France, and has a population of more than 350,000 inhabitants. The city is a major port in the region and is located on the River Nervion and the edge of the Bay of Biscay.

The commercial capital of the semiautonomous region of the Basque Country, Bilbao has become a shrine to modern art since the Guggenheim was built. From the impressive subway system, designed by Norman Foster, to the illusion of walking on water created by Santiago Calatrava's delicate glass Zubi-Zuri footbridge, the city is full of breathtaking sights.

Designed North American architect Frank O Gehry, the Bilbao Guggenheim is a limestone and titanium behemoth built on a 32,500 square metre site in the city centre, on the bank of the Nervion River. Home to the city's fine art collection, the museum is almost as impressive on the inside as it is outside.

Bilbao has a number of interesting places to visit; though its chief joy lies in wandering around, wondering at the architecture and soaking up its unique atmosphere. The world class Maritime Museum, the Gothic Basilica de Begona, the 19th century City Hall and the vast Catedral de Santiago are worth visiting. For sports fans, the city is also home to the San Mames Stadium where football team Athletic Club Bilbao plays.

An increasing number of tourists are visiting Bilbao and the city is growing rapidly, with a new tram system introduced in 2002. There are plans for more cutting edge architecture in the form of a landmark tower and new buildings along the river.

Several low cost airlines are now offering cheap flights to the Basque region and Bilbao's airport is handling more and more passengers each year. There is a rapidly increasing selection of excellent hotels, many of which carry the design ethos of the city through to accommodation.

Restaurants in Bilbao serve a lot of traditional Spanish and Basque dishes, many of which are very heavy on the seafood. The majority provide good, reasonably priced, fresh dishes, with some more upscale, contemporary establishments around. In the evenings, Bilbao has an array of tapas bars, cafes and several dance venues.

Weather in Bilbao is far more changeable than the south of Spain, with days of mist and drizzle each year. The city provides some excellent shopping on rainy days, with best buys including Basque berets, neckerchiefs, wine and leather goods. Bilbao also has several good markets, boutiques, craft shops and gourmet food stores.

Near Bilbao are some excellent beaches, rich landscape and stunning coastline. The Basque region has its own language, culture, independence movement and history. The area runs from the Pyrenees to the Atlantic Ocean and activities such as surfing, sailing, skiing, hiking, climbing and horse riding are all close at hand.