Bilbao

From the ultra-modern Conference Centre and Concert Hall Palacio Euskalduna Jauregia, walk east along the riverbank, which is filled with beautiful sculptures and some very impressive modern architecture. You will pass the Guggenheim Museum and Santiago Calatrava’s stunning Zubi Zuri Footbridge, which spans the Nervión river between the Guggenheim and the Ayuntamiento.

The Museo Arqueológico, Etnográfico e Histórico Vasco, or simply The Basque Museum, is a cosy little museum in Plaza Unamuno, at the heart of the Old Town. This is a great place to visit on a rainy day before or after an aperitif of pintxos and drinks in the nearby bars of Casco Viejo. Learn about the ins and outs of Basque history, culture, and language in this three-storey museum and let yourself in for a journey from the Paleolithic to the present day. Most of the signs are in Basque and Spanish, although rooms have leaflets in English with translations of some of the signage.

Effectively a tiny fishing village in the midst of a city, the Old Port of Algorta in Getxo is made up of a handful of houses by the shore. It is one of the main attractions in the area, only 20 minutes away from the centre of Bilbao by metro. The Old Port makes for a very pretty and charming setting on a summer's day. A stone's throw away from the beach, the charming white houses follow a downward path to the water. Come sunset, the locals gather outside in the gentle summer breeze to enjoy a beer or two, along with a plate of green olives or crispy fried calamari from the nearby bars.

Take a sneak peek at a day in the life of a local by going on one of the most typical and easily accessible hiking routes in the region. Reaching some 673 metres (2,208 feet) in height, Pagasarri is one of the smaller mountains that surround Bilbao and most locals will have tried this hike at least once before. There are buses from the city centre, with a few different routes starting from the area of Zabalburu or from Peñascal, on the outskirts of the city. At the top of the mountain, there is even a bar selling 'bokatas', the typical no-nonsense baguette rolls filled with your local delicacy of choice, from tortilla de patata to txistorra or chorizo. If you've reached the summit of Pagasarri, you're already halfway to Ganekogorta, a summit at 998 metres (3,274 feet) which is a little further away.

The Museo de Bellas Artes has an exceptional collection of traditional works by well-known masters, such as El Greco, Goya, Gauguin, Francis Bacon, Picasso, and Velazquez. The era of the collection begins in the Middle Ages all the way to the contemporary art of today. The museum has been around since 1908 and started as one of the first Fine Art museums in the world. The popularity of the museum caused the extension of the building with another part in which the rest of the art could be displayed.

This museum used to be a former convent, founded in 1515. It contains an intriguing selection of religious art and crafts dating back to the 12th century, including religious silverware, sculptures, paintings, and ceramics by Basque artists. The permanent exhibition is divided into three large sections: sculptures and paintings, gold work, and garments and ornament.

Itsasmuseum is the place to uncover Bilbao's past as a shipbuilding and seafaring hub. Outside there are striking floating exhibits with special exhibitions. The exhibitions are structured around three main themes: the physical environment of the estuary, the evolution of trade in Bilbao, and the development of shipbuilding in the Bilbao estuary. One of the most striking features is the many mini-ships made entirely out of wood, with incredible attention to detail.

The original theatre, created by Joaquin Rucoba (also known as the Spanish Mozart), burned down in 1914 and a second one was built, resembling the Opera House in Paris. Today, it remains the major cultural venue of Bilbao. Beautifully located on the banks of the Nervión river, the theatre is host to world-class opera, classical music concerts, and ballet. Besides shows, you can also take a guided tour behind the scenes and see the opera costume collection and the stunning stalls.

There are 64 arches around this enclosed square, which is the oldest surviving square in town. Built in 1849, it’s a perfect place to stop and sip a cup of coffee while you watch the world go by. This plaza is home to some of the best and most up-market pintxos in the area. One of the cafés that you can try is the famous Café Bar Bilbao. Sure, the name is not very original, but it is known for its finger-licking pintxos. Look out for the squid pintxo, as well as the ham and onion one. These are the two specialities of the house.

If you want to escape the city streets, this is the right place for you to take in a breath of fresh air and look down at Bilbao from above. At the Artxanda viewpoint, you can enjoy a magnificent panoramic view of the city and the beautiful mountains that surround it. There is a small funicular railway that functions as a fast mode of transportation to reach the top of the hill.

This is a city set between two hills around the beautiful bay of La Concha. San Sebastian, or Donosti as it is known by the locals, makes for an unforgettable day trip, where you can take in the glorious Belle Epoque balustrades and visit world-famous restaurants. There are four areas that you should visit. The first one is Parte Vieja, the Old Town, where you can find the popular pintxo bars and eat til you drop. South of Parte Vieja, you'll find the shopping district and heading towards the coast you will come across three beaches: Zurriola, the preferred spot for local surfers, La Concha, and Ondarreta, where the posh neighbourhood is.