Bilbao, the Guggenheim, in less than 12 hours.
 

Would like visit the Guggenheim in Bilbao. Have flights that allow a stopover in Madrid and I have no desire to ever return to Madrid. Is this itinerary possible.

Dept AM on flight arrive from Madrid to Bilbao, arrive 9.30 am. Travel to Guggenheim, visit, sightsee have lunch, depart on flight from Bilbao to Madrid at 9.00 pm the same day.

Any advice will be appreciated.

Thanks.

If anything, it's too long in Bilbao.

Were it me, I would fly to San Sebastian, stay through lunch, take the bus to Bilbao, taxi to the museum, see the Serra and leave for the airport.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/2005/jun/22/art

zeepole, I have been to San Sebastian. To be honest, Spain is not one of my favourite destinations. My only incentive for making this stopover is to visit Bilbao and see the Guggenheim.

Is this doable in day?

Thanks.

Yes, it's quick but doable. You're shortchanging this beautiful city but if your focus is to see the Guggenheim it's possible.

If you are making a detour into Spain to see the Guggenheim, I suggest you reconsider. If you are stuck with very long layover in Madrid and don't want to study the architecture of Terminal 4 in Barajas (arguably better architecture), then why not, I guess.

No layover in Madrid. Here's the plan

Day 1

Arrive Madrid 4 pm (on an intra Europe flight so jet lag is not an issue). Stay at airport hotel.

Day 2

Day trip to Bilabo. Return to same airport hotel in Madrid for overnight.

Day 3

Dept Madrid.

Only if you fly Madrid to Bilbao (and return) would this be feasible.

If not, then I wouldn't do it.

Sorry, trying to do too much at the same time.

Day 2 should read:-

Day trip to Bilbao, flight MAD - BIO and BIO - MAD. Return to MAD airpot hotel for overnight.

Would this work?

Not a problem. you have more than enough time .

I honestly think there is not anything in Bilbao that is going to make you like Spain anymore than you do. It's a bit of an exaggeration to call the Guggenheim there the toniest tourist trap in the world (there are others), but unless you are a museum or Gehry completist, there are far greater architectural sites in Europe, and far greater museums, and even more glam destinations if that's the project.

Have you seen the Mosque in Cordoba? You could get off the plane in Madrid, take the fast train there, and go back again. It's 1,000 times the artistic achievement of Gehry's titanium totem, and the carbon footprint is more planet-friendly.

Yes, u could do it. Bilbao is a great city with lots to offer. The architecture of the Guggenheim is wonderous, but I thought the art inside not much.

As noted, you want to see the museum itself, the collection is not worth the effort.

I agree with Zeppole - it's really not worth going so far out of your way, just to see the Guggenheim. While the building is beautiful, the collection isn't really up to much. Bilbao is a nice city, but nothing out of the ordinary. If you're based in Madrid, why not consider Toledo, Segovia or Avila instead - much less hassle in terms of travelling to and from and a lot more to see.

A few years ago I spent less hrs than you would in Bilbao and was able to do what you propose . I had arrived there late morning for an overnight to take a 7 AM flight next day to Madrid. I enjoyed my visit to the Guggenheim, admiring the building also from the outside, also from the vantage point of opposite sidee of the river. As others have mentioned, the collection was not that impressive.
I also had time to walk though a lovely park (can't remember the name) and the old town (casco viejo). Because it was a Sunday many things we closed . I was still able to find some tapas places open on Plaza Nueva and enjoyed some delicious rabas (fried calamari).

Thanks for the suggestions and reassurance that my plan is doable.

zeppole, I have been to the destinations you suggest.

I will be going to Bilbao.

Zep & ter - It would appear based on other posts that the OP is a 'check list' traveler. Just needs to check it off her list. Is it doable yes, is there a good reason to do it, no.

I am in agreement with the "check list" comment.

I am one of those who thinks Bilbao has gotten a bad rap over the years. Downtown is cosmopolitan, neat, and a bit edgy [that's a good thing]. Yet one block off the main steet are many very upscale restaurants and many wonderful, relaxed, restaurants and bars. Old Town speaks for itself. Wonderful.

Mikelg, you may recall the welcome I got in "Bar Lekeitio" when I mentioned that I had spent the previous weekend in Lekeitio. [Lekeitio is my kind town and I would not have found it but for you].

There is a rather interesting thread on the boards mow "Traveler or Tourist" . I will not promote myself to traveler but I do think we have found a tourist.

Don't have any first-hand experience, but I do want to recommend some documentaries for people interested in architecture:

http://www.storefrontnews.org/exhibi...ns?c=&p=&e=226

I'm not sure how easy it is to get the DVDs. The most interesting is arguably the short film on the Koolhaas house, but all four are worth seeing, including the one Bilbao.

I think there's actually a Wallpaper City Guide on Bilbao, but I am not sure what's in it.

The OP came here asking a very straight forward question. Why do we have to get into defining him/her as a "check list" traveler or not? Totally irrelevant.

I think it has something to do with the OP's other threads that have been active recently.