mikelg

Bilbao, my hometown, often ignored despite its many attractions and frequently oveshadowed by Donostia-San Sebastian, has been awarded by London´s Academy of Urbanism as Best European City 2018, competing against Vienna and Ljubliana. The mayor of Bilbao was declared in 2014 the Best Mayor in the World...and now this. The amazing transformation of this amiable, clean, safe and cultural city deserved a prize of this category. But still some guide books depict it as a grey, industrial, uninteresting place...I wonder if they´ve ever visited us!

ekscrunchy

Those awards are well deserved, from my point of view. I can't think of a better vacation destination than the Basque country. Too many people visit only San Sebastian but there is so much more..

Zorionak!!

bilboburgler

I like Bilbo (as I think it is sometimes spelt) and the industrial bit is outside the city centre when we visited

Southam

Its old industrial history is part of the attraction for me. So are its art museums, even though the beaux-arts museum is unjustly ignored in the shadow of the Guggenheim. It also has a much larger airport than San Sebastian, allowing more international connections. The road from there into town is spectacular, cutting through a cliff and then floating down across the top rim of the Guggenheim.

jelopez33

Mikelg:

You are not the only one who pfers Bilbao over San Sebastian, me too!

May be 2018 is good for a second visit to this beautiful and friendly city.

ekscrunchy

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Robert2016

Yes, received a notice from Miren at Opera of Bilbao (ABAO-OLBE) is morning!

Bedar

I haven't visited Bilbao since 1972 when it was an industrial powerhouse with 20 banks on every block (hyperbole), but a friend was there fairly recently and said that new Bilbao is a lovely city, preferable to SS, the Guggenheim aside. Perhaps we'll attend the August Feria which has very good bulls.

Robert2016

Bedar, this will give you some idea of Bilbao is like today: https://www.flickr.com/photos/iberia...57672824118396

outwest

My SO and I visited Bilbao last year to see the Bacon exhibit at the Guggenheim and were surprised at how much we liked it. We'd definitely love to return.

Bedar

Robert - Safari couldn't load and open that file, but I'll look for more photos. Thanks!

Robert2016

Don't know what the problem is with Safari-Flicker, but you should be able to see some of them at: http://www.pinterest.com/sanfermines...out-in-bilbao/

massimop

Bilbao might get more visitor appreciation if guidebooks and others didn't line up lockstep to declare that Gehry's museum was the top site highlight of the city and best thing to see. People therefore usually head there first, and more than a few end up thinking "If this is the best thing in the city might as well quit while I'm ahead." Serra aside, it's a dispiriting introduction to the city, and fans of Bilbao need to talk up it's other attractions more.

This is much more charitable to the Gehry building than I am but worth consulting if you are otherwise tempted to take a flyer on the rest of Bilbao:

https://www.simonseeks.com/travel-gu...enheim__111482

Ditto this:

http://spanishjourneys.com/olive_me_...genheim-bilbao

People will no doubt want to make up their own minds about the Guggenheim, but maybe they could consider enjoying the rest of the city first, and putting it at the bottom of their list.

mikelg

Massimop, agree with you! I was born in the old quarter of Bilbao and lived there for 22 years. Beautifully kept, wonderful houses, excellent atmosphere, plenty of bars with pintxos (most people think they are only in San Sebastian and the truth is that they are all over the Basque Country), clean, safe...Then we moved in front of the Guggenheim (when the Guggenheim was not even planned) and so I´ve witnessed first hand all the changes in the city...a great place to visit and enjoy, and so conveniently located to visit the rest of the Basque Country.

pariswat

I'll have to go there.

Michael

<i>has been awarded by London´s Academy of Urbanism as Best European City 2018, competing against Vienna and Ljubliana.</i>

How can it be judge the best in 2018 when the year has not gone by yet? Shouldn't a judgement of best for anything be ex post facto?

mikelg

It´s a common thing. I´ve also received an award for 2018, it may be that it´s so close by.

misskdonkey

Bilbao is probably our fav city in Spain, its so friendly and welcoming, the food is fabulous, the people are stylish and the city has a wonderful vibe to it, we totally love it.

KTtravel

We got back two weeks ago from a very enjoyable trip to Spain and loved Bilbao. We enjoyed the Guggenheim even more than we expected but also had fun exploring Bilbao's other charms. We had delicious food, explored the Old Town and hope to return someday.