Bilbao - Mount Artxanda and first day suggestions
 

My sister and I will be arriving in Bilbao on May 7 from NYC, and staying overnight. We'll then travel to San Sebastian for four nights before returning to Bilbao May 12 for the day and an overnight before our trip home on the 13th.

Since our time in Bilbao is limited, I want to make the most of it. My initial thought was to go to the Guggenheim on Day 1, but I'm now thinking that it's perhaps best to plan for as much outdoor exploration on that day as possible, to help combat jetlag. It might be nicer (read: less crowded) to go to the museum on Thursday when we return, anyway.

I thought a trip on the funicular up Mount Artxanda for a walk, views and some lunch would be a good idea (weather permitting, of course), but am having difficulty finding much information about it. Are there restaurants and/or cafes at the top? if so, any recommended ones? and would we need reservations on a Saturday?

If not too tired, I thought we could then take the tram to the Euskalduna stop and walk down the Gran Via back to our hotel.

Do you think this is good use of our time?

Thanks in advance for any feedback and suggestions you may have!

if you take a look at my blog on the Basque Country, you may find useful info on what to do in Bilbao for the time you´re staying, www.blogseitb.us/basquetourism. The funicular train runs every 15 minutes each way, and once on the top go left for outstanding and unique views of the city and the mountains surrounding it. There are plenty of restaurants on top, if you are going walking the Antón is a good option, the other one is the Txakoli Artxanda, but any will do. You may need reservations, but for two people it´ll be fine. Remember our eating schedules, before 2pm on a Saturday it may be complicated to find the kitchen open...

Thanks Mikelg! I've actually spent a lot of time on your blog and reading your other posts as I've been doing my trip research. In fact, I think I read about the funicular and Artxanda on your '2 days in Bilbao without a car' post.

Thanks again!

Mikelg (or anyone) - trying to find more info about where we might be able to see pelota or jai alai (same thing?). Can you point me in the right direction?

Also, wondering if you gamble on jai alai there? I used to live in Hartford,CT where we had a fronton (many years ago), and they had 'official' wagering there, like at a racetrack. Just curious.

Thanks!

They just opened a brand new frontón in Bilbao, so you won´t have problems in watching a good match...usually on weekends, though. Yes, they still gamble, the Basque way...

No, pelota or jai alai is not the same thing. Basque pelota has many variants, mano, pala, mano parejas, pala parejas, sare, cesta punta, short frontón, long frontón,...,(in Hartford they played Jai Alai, Merry Game, in BAsque), the most popular is played with bare hands. In www.manista.com you have a lot of useful info on this game, in Spanish.

Once again, thanks for all of the helpful info, Mikel!