Should I go to Bilbao?
 

Hi Everyone, I have the following itinery for a trip in Sept/Oct:
Madrid (5 days including Toledo day trip)
Seville (3 days including Cordoba day trip)
Granada (2 days)
Barcelona (4 days - fly Granada-Barcelona)
Bilbao (1 or 2 days - fly Barcelona-Bilbao)

My question is: If I am not overly enthusiastic about contemporary art, will I still enjoy Bilbao? What is there to do apart from the Guggenheim? It seems quite expensive to me - accommodation I mean.

Any suggestions or comments about Bilbao - or the itinery - most appreciated. I also have to ask the customary question about Maribel's files. Given the huge number of requests and equally large (and generous) number of replies from Maribel - I feel like I'm the only traveller without these little gems. Would love any files regarding any of the cities listed above.

Please email me at [email protected]
Thank you everyone from your help!

Grayden,
We love the energetic, "on the move" and very prosperous city of Bilbao even though we're not great contemporary art enthusiasts. The Guggenheim is to me more spectacular as an architectural masterpiece, a true marvel of engineering and design, than its collection is within, which is in the growing stage.
But Bilbao also has an unsung gem in its lovely Museum of Fine Arts facing an equally lovely park, with a fine Baroque collection plus El Grecos, even Gaugin (some call it a "mini Prado"). And the semi-pedestrianized Gran Vía, the main drag, is both pretty and filled with great places to shop, the very attractive Jardines de Albia square and its pseudo Moorish style Café Iruña are a great place to sit and observe the scene, and Basandere, near the Guggen, is a delightful shop to get to know Basque handicrafts, art and music.

Bilbao's Old Quarter (Casco Viejo) is a great area for a "pintxos" (tapas) tour in the streets called the "7 Calles" and just wandering about or sitting and people watching on one of the terraces of its Plaza Nueva, like the old European style Víctor Montes or Café Bilbao. Plus the Old Quarter has a huge and impressive central market, the Mercado de la Ribera and an interesting Basque Etnographic museum to give you an insight into Basque history and culture. From the Old Quarter you can take an elevator to the Basílica of Begoña. You can also take the funicular up to the hills at Artxanda for great views.

Plus, more importantly, the natives, like our own Fodorite cova, are very friendly and helpful, and the city just has a nice buzz to it.
Cova can give you far more detail about her native city than I. I'm just a big fan who has learned a great deal from her here about her city.

I just sent two friends to Bilbao who loved their stay at the reasonably priced, newish and stylish High Tech Petit Palace Arana right at the edge of the Old Quarter at the river facing the Arriage Theater and next to stop for the new Euskotran, a tram that speeds you from the Old Quarter to the Guggenheim.
www.hthotels.com
For even less money there's the cute little B&B style, 21 room "Iturrienea" in the Old Quarter above some nice pintxos bars (like Bar Gatz) on Santa Maria.

I've sent you some notes on Bilbao in hopes they can help you decide.

Jus wish to second Maribel's note about Bilbao.

I visited Bilbao last month, stayed at Petit Palace Arana for 4 nights(got a good deal,64 Euro per night inc.tax from www.laterooms.com).
Enjoyed the visit and the hotel very much.

I thought the exterior of the museum magnificent but not thrilled about the rest of Bilbao However St. Sebastion is just to the east and is Fabulous. It adjoins the French Basque country.
If flights are better you can also fly to Biaritz/Bayonne France and drive to St. Sebastian with incredible sights in the area.

Even though I'm not the OP, thank you for answering (and asking) that question. I haven't made it to Bilbao yet but I've always been intrigued by Frank Ghery's awesome building.
I'm glad there's more to do there than that though.

Maribel,
Thanks so much for file -also received Barcelona/Madrid/Seville. After reading reply on Bilbao I am now most inspired!