Bilbao Sightseeing 3 - Stroll Along the River

Another way to see Bilbao is by going along the river. Both sides of the river have long pedestrian walkways which allow you to take in a good part of the city in a healthy and leisurely way.

Starting down at the Puente Arenal you can walk along the old city side through a lovely tree lined promenade. Many fairs and fiestas take place on this stretch known as Arenal. With its mature plane trees and many benches it is also a lovely place to sit and relax. The old, ornate street lamps are beautiful and when lit up give the area a really old feel, especially early in the morning before the city comes alive.

The next bridge is the Puente del Ayuntamiento on the right of which is the Ayuntamiento (town hall) another of Bilbao’s wonderful buildings. Among other things it contains an exotic Arab Lounge glimpses of which you can get when it is lit up at night. If you are in Bilbao when there is a full moon hanging over the hills, stand on the bridge and look up and down the river, it is a most romantic setting. Staying on the right side of the river continue on to the Zubizurri Bridge, a magnificent piece of modern architecture. It’s a pedestrian bridge, sweeping in elegant fashion across the river. Cross over and you are now headed for the Guggenheim.

Just a bit further on down the river on the same side as the Guggenheim itself is the Zubiarte shopping mall. It’s a state of the art modern shopping center on 4 different levels. It’s great for clothes and footwear. It also has a lot of places to eat, ranging from the usual fast food joints to medium range restaurants offering a varied fare of local and international cuisine. At the fast food section you can sit and enjoy stunning views of the river and surrounding hills. The centre also has modern multi screen cinema complex.

On along the spacious river walkways and the next major building you come to is the Palacio Euskaldena. Another amazing piece of modern architecture. It holds a world renowned conference centre and a magnificent auditorium (in fact there are 2, one massive and one smaller, both superb). The building was designed by Frederico Soriano and Dolores Palacio as a tribute to the shipbuilding industry that made Bilbao famous. The interior of the building is almost as interesting as that of the Guggenheim. The massive foyer is marble coated from which shiplike stairways emerge all around. The main auditorium is a grand mixture of opulence and comfort. It can seat up to 2,200 and hosts all types of musical events, from classical to opera. Top international acts and performances can be seen here. Even the smaller auditorium, with its copper clad walls, spacious comfort and perfect acoustics, is the type of venue most cities would love to have. All events are well advertised in the local press and tickets for most events can be purchased at the ticket office located at mid level next to the bar. Brochures can also be obtained giving details of all upcoming events.

On the far side of the Palacio at river level, is the Maritime Museum which always hosts interesting exhibitions. Its recent one of the Titanic drew tens of thousands of visitors.

Bilbao Sightseeing 1 >>  Take a Wander Through the Casco Viejo.

Bilbao Sightseeing 2 >> Stroll Along the Gran Via, the heart of Bilbao.

Bilbao Sightseeing 3 >> Wander Along the River to the Guggenheim (this page).

Bilbao Sightseeing 4  >> Cross the River to the Deusto University District.