The first day, we suggest you discover one of the city's most traditional areas. Start with a guided tour of the Casco Viejo (Old Town), among its many sites, particularly noteworthy are the Catedral de Santiago, Teatro Arriaga, Mercado de la Ribera, Iglesia de San Antón, la Plaza Nueva or the stairway that is used as the Way of the Cross to the Basílica de Begoña.

• The Virgin of Begoña is the patron saint of Bilbao, but the Basilica is only visible from one point throughout the Old Town. We challenge you to find it and immortalize it!

Make the most of this opportunity to make your first foray into the world of Basque pintxos. As soon as you have recharged your batteries, continue along the river and enjoy the beautiful promenade that takes you from the Ayuntamiento (City Hall) to the Museo Marítimo, via the Torres Isozaki, Puente Zubizuri, Universidad de Deusto, Torre Iberdrola and, of course, the Guggenheim Museum.

• You will encounter an enormous selection of pintxos in Bilbao’s Old Town. We recommend you start off by focusing on Plaza Nueva. When in doubt, here are three must-see places: Taberna Plaza Nueva, Víctor Montes and Café Bar Bilbao.

During the afternoon you will also have the opportunity to enjoy an unhurried visit to the museum designed by Frank Gehry.

Although you might not believe us, this second day shows us mementos of the most representative aspects of the Bilbao metropolitan area’s industrial past. We will start at La Arboleda, a tiny mining village that is little more than a square with several white houses. This will be the starting point for a three-hour hiking route to the Argalario antenna. The circular route crosses the cemetery to reach the well-marked trails that lead to the “pirulí”. It then returns through Barrionuevo.

• You cannot visit La Arboleda and not eat at Casa Sabina. Their beans are legendary. 

The afternoon takes you to Portugalete. The “Noble Villa” had an ostentatious past, good examples of which are the Basílica de Santa María and the Torre de Salazar. But the most important feature is the Puente Colgante (suspension bridge). In spite of being known by this name, it is not a suspension bridge, but a transporter bridge. It is a World Heritage Site. It was first to be built worldwide and the only bridge that continues to operate exactly as it did on the day it first opened.

• The Puente Colgante (or Puente de Bizkaia, its current name) can be used for less than half a euro. More expensive, but definitely spectacular, is crossing the river along the upper walkway.

End the afternoon at Playa de Barinatxe, better known as La Salvaje. Surrounded by cliffs and facing northwest, it is the perfect place to watch the sunset while swimming among the waves.

Find yourself in the middle of nature without leaving Bilbao. Get up a little earlier than usual and begin the climb up to the Pagassarri, a tradition among the people of Bilbao. It takes less than three hours to reach the top and the same time to get back, so it is a good idea to carry some snacks for the journey and plenty of water.

• The uphill route is full of places where you can enjoy fantastic views of Bilbao, some of which even offer views of the sea.

  
  

Now that you’re back, if there’s a soccer game scheduled during your Bilbao getaway, you can enjoy the city as it celebrates game day (and no, you don't have to like soccer to enjoy the atmosphere). Game time is the least important thing because the plan is usually the same, just adapted to soccer. That is: pintxos, pots and goals. The path to the stadium is almost a street fair that starts with well-watered pinxtos in the Casco Viejo. The next stage will take you to the area of Ledesma. The third mandatory stop is at García Rivero and from there you will take Licenciado Poza to the stadium. If the game is played early in the afternoon, the tour will be the same, but in reverse order.

• Three locations that cannot be missed on this route: Café Iruña, Gaztandegi and the Berria Huevo.