The largest city in the Basque country, Bilbao has emerged over the past few years as a major tourist and business destination.
Though its industrial past and present is only too apparent,
Bilbao hotels are also located in the midst of a fascinating old town and some of the finest culture in all of Europe.
Zenit Bilbao
Proving that booking a central hotel in Bilbao needn't cost the Earth, the Hotel Zenit is just 500 metres from the Guggenheim Museum and 200 metres from the San Mames football stadium.
However, business travellers will be more concerned with the fact it is also well-placed for the city's central business district and the Euskalduna hall and congress centre, in addition to boasting its own conference and meeting facilities.
The four-star hotel only opened in 2004, meaning its rooms and public areas are all fitted with modern decor, while its restaurant offers contemporary cuisine and its two patios the chance to take the air without having to head to one of Bilbao's many parks or squares.
Barcelo Avenida Hotel and Spa
Arguably the best-located hotel in Bilbao for history lovers, the Barcelo Avenida is situated right by the famous Basilica of Begona, as well as the Basque Museum and the Santiago Cathedral.
In addition, it is just a short walk from the Old Town and right next to the lively Etxebarria Park, making it ideal for holidaymakers keen to take a break from the bustling heart of the city once in a while.
Designed in an avant-garde style, the Barcelo Avenida boasts four-star accommodation, an in-house restaurant serving the best of Basque cuisine, a spa, fitness and Turkish bath centre, and its own beauty salon.
In addition, guests booking into one of the hotel's innovative Superior rooms are able to enjoy their own natural aromatic areas and hydromassage showers.
Hotel Ercilla Lopez de Haro
Nothing encapsulates Bilbao's recent transformation from a relatively unpopular industrial hub into a major tourist destination quite like the Guggenheim Museum, now one of the main tourist attractions in the whole
of Spain.
And those culture-lovers keen to immerse themselves in modern art could do worse than booking into the Hotel Ercilla Lopez de Haro, where Guggenheim architect Frank Gehry famously drew the first sketches of his
iconic design, while its five-star rooms have also played host to the likes of the Dalai Lama and Gwyneth Paltrow over the years.
Widely-regarded for its friendly, English-speaking and knowledgeable staff, it also boasts one of the best locations in the whole of any hotel in Bilbao, with the Guggenheim just a five minute stroll along the banks of the Nervion River and the medieval neighbourhood of Casco Viejo, which is home to some of northern Spain's most colourful shops and taverns, also just on the doorstep.
Hotel Carlton
One of the oldest top-tier hotels in Bilbao, the Hotel Carlton has been offering guests, including the likes of Albert Einstein, Frederico Garcia Lorca and Maria Callas, the chance to stay in the heart of the city in style since 1926.
Located on the Plaza de Federico Moyua in the bustling heart of the city, the five-star hotel boasts top-of-the-range, tastefully-furnished and decorated rooms, its own gym and fitness centre, massage and Turkish steam bath facilities, as well as all the amenities a high-flying business traveller could need.
Though it may be tempting to stay inside the historic hotel and enjoy a pampered stay in Bilbao, those guests that do use it as a central base from which to explore the vibrant Basque city will find themselves just
a few minutes' walk from the Fine Arts Museum, the Zubizuri Bridge and the central business and shopping districts.
