Bilbao has undergone massive amounts of urban regeneration in recent years with a palpable focus on tourism and services. The developments can be mostly seen in the new metro system designed by Sir Norman Foster and the Guggenheim Bilbao Museum by Frank Gehry.

Situated in the north of Spain, Bilbao is the largest city in the Basque Country and the capital of the province of Biscay. The city's inhabitants are sprawled along the Nervion River, the banks of which are also home to plenty of businesses and factories.

The city's urban centre is enclosed by two small mountain ranges - the Pagasarri to the south and the Artxanda to the north - which provide a strikingly beautiful juxtaposition of city and country.

Bilbao is the perfect European getaway so what are you waiting for? There are many flight offers around, so find flights online and book a last minute holiday to this wonderful Spanish destination. You won't regret it.

Traditions and culture in Bilbao

The culture and traditions of Bilbao are that of the Basque people, an ethnic group who inhabit parts of north-central Spain and south-western France.

Basques have a close attachment to their home, especially when this consists of the traditional self-sufficient, family-run farm or baserri(a). In this context, home is synonymous with family roots.

Old baserri names, which typically express short-range geographical areas or other locally meaningful identifying features, have evoloved into modern Basque surnames, thereby giving Basques whose families may have left the land generations ago with an important link to their rural family origins.

Basque cuisine is at the centre of Basque culure. It has influences from neighbouring communities and heavily features produce from both the sea and land.

Typical culinary delights include meats and fish grilled over hot coals, marmitako and lamb stews, cod, bean dishes, paprikas, sheep's milk cheeses and pintxos (the Basque equivalent of the Spanish tapas).

Recommended in Bilbao

The Getxo Blues Festival is a lively fiesta that takes place in the town of Segura in June. Festivities include lighting bonfires, which echoes pre-Christian summer solstice celebrations.

The Virgen del Carmen festival in July sees effigies of the Lady carried out to sea in a beautiful procession of fishing boats, particularly at Plentzia and Santurtzi on either side of the Bilbao estuary.

A series of nautical events and races also take place in and around Bermeo as part of the La Magdalena festival.

Weather in Bilbao

Bilbao has an oceanic climate - generally mild without extreme temperatures. However, extreme heat can be common for a few days in summer when strong winds from the south blow through the mountains and temperatures rise because of the foehn wind.

Destination checklist for Bilbao

As of 2006, Bilbao has a population of around 354,145.

The city is two hours ahead of GMT during summer.

The Basque language is widely spoken, so a holiday guide with language pointers would be a good idea.

When dialling from abroad, the city's code is +34 for Spain and +94 for Biscay.