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Ever since the Guggenheim reinvented Bilbao as a design darling, the city’s hotel fleet has expanded and reflected (in the case of the Gran Hotel Domine, literally) the glitter and panache of Gehry's museum. Boutique hotels, high-design hotels, and high-rise mammoths have made the older hotels look small and quaint by comparison. Despite new developments, the López de Haro remains one of the city's best lodging options, and many longtime Bilbao visitors prefer the storied halls of the Hotel Carlton to the glass-and-steel labyrinths overlooking Abandoibarra and the Nervión estuary.
With its stone floors and rough-hewn ceiling beams, this 17th-century palace hotel transports you back in time, but it features thoroughly modern comforts: a terrific on-site tavern and winery, cushy beds, framed prints, and flower-fringed wrought-iron balconies.
Welcoming hosts run this no-nonsense, budget-friendly inn in a 13th-century family farmhouse overlooking the Bidasoa estuary. Beneath its quintessentially Basque low, wide roofline, rooms are simply appointed with old-fashioned wooden furniture and patterned linens. The property is situated 5 km (3 miles) away from Hondarribia's tourist fray, west of the hermitage of Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe.
On a mountaintop in the heart of Basque country’s “little Switzerland,” 20 minutes north of Vitoria-Gasteiz and 40 minutes south of Bilbao, this relaxing retreat features breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains and an excellent restaurant and spa. Etxegana is an ideal base from which to enjoy the region's natural splendor: hiking, fishing, cycling, and more. Rooms are adorned with rustic woodcarvings and furniture imported from Thailand; numbers 25 and 26 are particularly spectacular.
With rooms overlooking Bilbao from the heights of Artxanda, this Basque farmhouse with cheery interiors and eager young owners offers excellent value. It's surrounded by the green hills and meadows you see from the Guggenheim Museum, so what you lose here in big-city ambience you gain in fresh air and solitude. Nearby asadores—including one next door—are good dining options. You'll need a car to get to downtown Bilbao.
A prim business crowd fills this modern, centrally located hotel under the Marriott umbrella that's known for streamlined digs and professional service. The Guggenheim is a 10-minute walk away, and there's a busy cocktail bar and well-outfitted gym on the premises.
The Bilbao outpost of this trusted chain is a good value and offers choice extras—morning newspapers at your door, tasty breakfast, comfortable rooms, and professional service—all in a central location within walking distance of all the main attractions. The adjacent Doña Casilda park becomes part of your day as you set out for sightseeing.
