15 Unmissable Things To Do In Bilbao At Night
If you have headed to Bilbao for a vacation, you might be thinking that you will spend a lot of your time visiting fine arts museum locations, enjoying delicious street food, and staying in a lovely hotel. While there are many things of this nature to enjoy while you are in this lovely city, there is also a really enjoyable nightlife to partake of while you are in town. When you are in Bilbao, you will have access to some of the best modern art collections, amazing UNESCO World Heritage Site opportunities, and places like Old Town to visit.
Whether you have come into Bilbao Spain through the Bilbao Airport or not, you will need to make sure that you place your luggage in secure storage as soon as you arrive. Having your hands free can make your time spent in the city much more enjoyable and immediate. Making sure that your luggage is in safe storage in Bilbao is easy and should be at the top of your list.
Once your bags are secure and tucked away, you can head out to enjoy what Bilbao Spain has to offer!
The Guggenheim Museum
This lovely location is the home to all kinds of wonderful art, and you will want to make sure to spend some time here during the day. However, the Guggenheim Museum is also one of the most iconic buildings in the world. You will want to take the time to come to see the Guggenheim Museum at night, just to see what this lovely and impressive building looks like lit up.
The Guggenheim Museum is like a piece of art all by itself, and this is one of the most unique things to see when you are in the Basque country. Make sure that a stop by this location is on your list of nighttime adventures.
Puppy
Located just outside the Guggenheim Museum, this flowery and fun work of art offers you the chance to take selfies and make memories. This is a huge sculpture of a dog that is one of the most unusual fine arts in the city. Puppy is a simple piece of art but very effective and something about it just gives you a nice and happy feeling when you see it.
Old Town
Old Town is a lovely place that is full of fun things to do and see in the evening. Head to the Casco Viejo offers you access to bars, restaurants, and some fun street musicians and pop-up shows. This area is full of fun nooks and crannies like the Plaza Nueva where it is easy to people watch and to linger and enjoy the night. It's also an excellent place to try the best street food in Bilbao.
This Basque City is one of the most beautiful in the world and the center of the city is one of the most impressive parts of the city centre. Casco Viejo is one of the best places to visit if you want to see the oldest parts of the city at their finest.
The Seven Streets
This part of Casco Viejo is one of the oldest places in the town and it is home to lots of shopping, restaurants, and history. This part of the town was closely connected with the shipping and maritime history of the city and the narrow streets and idyllic buildings are like something out of a fairytale.
Visiting both parts of Old Town is a great plan and you will love that Casco Viejo maintains so much old world charm. The Basque country is full of beauty and Bilbao Spain will not let you down if you have come to this part of the world for this experience. This is also one of the best neighborhoods in Bilbao to stay in if you love historic charm.
Teatro Arriaga
This is one of the best nightlife spots in all of Bilbao. When you visit Bilbao, you need to head here to enjoy a building that was built to match the Paris Opera House. There are many kinds of performances that might be put on here during your stay in town and you could enjoy work from a local composer as well as classical plays and performances.
The building itself is historic, dating back to the late 1800s and then having to be rebuilt after a flood in 1985. Take a break from your plans to explore Bilbao and sit down to watch live music and enjoy Basque culture.
La Cathedral de Bilbao
This lovely building is one of the most incredible places in all of the Basque country. The lovely stained glass here glows with sunshine during the day and sparkles with reflected light at night. Coming here at any time of the day is impressive, but nighttime somehow feels more moving and special. Any art lover will be impressed with the sweeping buttresses and the amazing grounds here.
This is the Basque country's take on a Catholic cathedral and this building occupies the former local parish church. This site was converted into a cathedral in the late 1500s and still provides a memorial to this time period. The Santiago Cathedral is special and worth a visit when you are in the Basque region.
Visit Pintxo Bars
Bilbao's residents know how to have fun at night. Each evening in the pintxo bars, people drink, snack, mingle, and then move on. The whole evening is like a big pub crawl through the city. Pinxto is the Basque version of tapas, small plates designed to be shared socially while you eat, and Northern Spain is a place where culture and food go together.
When you head out to enjoy the many pintxo bars in the city, you will have lots of fun, enjoy all kinds of mingling and fun, and great libations, not to mention excellent food. This experience is just as quintessentially Basque country as the Casco Viejo and you will love that you can become part of the evening fun here with such ease.
Mercado de la Ribera
The market here at Mercado de la Ribera is a fun place to stop in for snacks, bakery goods, and drinks. You can head to the Mercado de la Ribera to see enjoy a pleasant evening or to get a late-night snack. Just like the Plaza Nueva, this spot is a great place to people-watch and the take a rest when you have been busy walking and checking out the city.
Pacha Lounge
This swanky spot is a great place to enjoy the nightlife in the city. The famous sister of this bar is located in Ibiza and can lay claim to visits from all kinds of famous people. When you head to this lounge, you will enjoy a laid-back experience as well as delightful drinks and lots of fun.
This is a great place to head for dancing, drinks, and libations that are offered well into the night. This is a great place to finish your evening if you have made other plans for the early part of your night.
Calle Ledesma
This lovely street in Biscay is home to bars and more and you can have a lot of fun enjoying the nightlife here. This is a walkable area that is perfect for an evening out on the town and the balance of small meals and delicious drinks makes each stop special and fun.
This is a very enjoyable place to head for an evening on the town and the Pintxo Bar scene here is really enjoyable. This part of Basque country is something that you must experience when you are in the city or you will have missed out.
Take a Leisurely Stroll
If you want to really enjoy the city of Bilbao, you will benefit from taking a casual stroll through the city in the evening. There are so many things to see and enjoy in this city and you can sign up for some free guided tour options as well if you want to learn about the city as you wander.
You will also have a good time when you choose to simple walk through Old Town or the Seven Streets without much of a destination in mind. There is so much to see and do here that you will not need to have a set destination in mind to have fun at night.
The Funicular to Mount Artxanda
While not truly a nighttime activity, you can ride the funicular up to the top of Mount Artxanda late in the day before evening falls. The views from the top of the mountain are spectacular and the ride to the top is just as enjoyable.
This is a very enjoyable experience and one that you should have on your list to start your evening. While a simple experience in some ways, it offers you a unique look at the city and the evening is a great time to take part in this experience.
Get a Drink at Plaza Nueva
The Plaza Nueva is one of the nicest places in the city to enjoy a drink and a small meal. This is one of the most memorable spaces in the city and you will love that you have your choice of delightful restaurants and little bars to enjoy in this area.
Visiting this spot in the day time will give you access to pop-up markets and surprise entertainment in some cases. You will have a different experience at night when you head here, but it is not less special than your trip during the daytime. This small spot is a lovely place that will remind you of the squares in Venice.
The El Ensanche Neighbourhood
This delightful place is a great location to head for a bar, a snack, or a meal. You will be able to access this lovely spot in the middle of the city and it is a great place to start your evening with a meal if you wish. You can then wander and bar hop in this part of town, enjoying all there is to see and do in this part of Casco Viejo.
This neighborhood is a great starting point for your evening in the Old Town area. There are few places in the city that are this enjoyable and it is a great choice for your evening plans. This is one of the most essentially Basque places in Bilbao Spain and a good place to have a lot of fun during your stay.
The White Bridge
This beautiful bridge is a great place to head to when evening is falling. This lovely new suspension bridge is beautiful at night and it a great place to cross to the other side of the city. It is great fun to walk around the city and this is one of the best places to pass over when you are walking through the cultural center of this city.
This spot might be included in a walking tour but you can also head across this walking bridge if you wish in the evening. The lights from the city and the beauty of the reflection on the water is lovely when evening has fallen. While not old like Casco Viejo, this is a beautiful landmark in the city and one that you should visit during your stay.
Bilbao is a Wonderful Place for Nightlife
This lovely Basque city is one of the best places to visit in Spain. You will have so much fun here and there are amazing things to do at night in this beautiful place. You can experience outdoor activities, visit museums like the Guggenheim Museum, and enjoy the fine arts that are shared and displayed in various cultural locations throughout the city.
Bilbao Spain is one of the most lovely parts of the Basque country and you will not be disappointed in your trip to this impressive place. You will find that there are few places as memorable and special as Bilbao Spain for a vacation and you can come here with your family or travel with friends and have a great time.
If you have placed your bags in secure storage, you will be ready for a night on the town in this beautiful place.
