Where to stay in Bilbao
Bilbao is a river city, long rather than wide, and the useful middle is small: the Casco Viejo, Abando and the Guggenheim side are each within about thirty minutes' walk of the others. Stay in the Casco Viejo to be among the pintxo bars, in Abando for the station, the shops and quieter streets, and beside the Guggenheim for calm and views. Indautxu suits local bars and a residential feel, Deusto and San Mamés are cheaper and plainer, and Bilbao La Vieja is close to the old town but rougher round the edges.
The short answer
- First trip
- The Casco Viejo for the bars, or Abando if you want to sleep.
- Couples
- Abando or Abandoibarra, near the river path.
- Families
- Abando: flat, central and close to the metro and the park.
- Tight budget
- San Mamés or Deusto, a metro or tram ride from the center.
- Museums
- Abandoibarra, a short walk from the Guggenheim and the Fine Arts Museum.
How we judge an area of Bilbao: walking time to the sights, noise at night, transport, and price. Nothing on this page is paid for, and the hotels we choose will say who chose them and when they last stayed.
Bilbao's neighborhoods, side by side
| Area | Best for | At night | Guggenheim Museum | Plaza Nueva, Casco Viejo | Abando station | Getting around | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Casco Viejo | Bars, sights, first visits | Loud, especially at weekends | 25 min | 5 min | 10 min | Metro Casco Viejo; on foot | €€€ |
| Abando | Centre, trains, couples | Moderate | 10 min | 15 min | 10 min | Metro Moyúa; tram; airport bus | €€€€ |
| Abandoibarra | Museums, calm, river views | Quiet | 5 min | 25 min | 20 min | Tram; metro Moyúa nearby | €€€ |
| Indautxu | Local bars, longer stays | Quiet | 20 min | 30 min | 25 min | Metro Indautxu; buses | €€ |
| Deusto | Value, a quiet base | Quiet | 20 min | 45 min | 35 min | Metro and tram | €€ |
| San Mamés | Coaches, budgets | Moderate, loud on match days | 20 min | 35 min | 30 min | Metro San Mamés; Intermodal | €€ |
| Bilbao La Vieja | Budget near the old town | Moderate | 25 min | 10 min | 10 min | Metro San Francisco; on foot | € |
Walking times are the straight line between two points plus a third for real streets, at an easy pace, rounded to five minutes. They are measured from the middle of each area, so a hotel at its edge will be a few minutes either way. The center is flat; the old town sits at the foot of steep hills. Price is our read of a standard double in the same week, from € (cheapest) to €€€€ (dearest), until booking-site prices replace it.
Where the neighborhoods are
The Casco Viejo, for the pintxo bars
The old town of the seven original streets: the Ribera market, Plaza Nueva and most of the best-known bars within a few minutes' walk.
The Casco Viejo is the medieval core on the right bank of the river, a grid of narrow streets around Plaza Nueva, the Santiago cathedral and the Ribera market. It has the densest cluster of bars in the city, small shops and the riverside path. Abando is a ten-minute walk across the Arenal bridge, and the Guggenheim about twenty-five.
It is also the loudest part of town. Weekend nights run late, rooms are small, and many buildings have steep stairs and no lift. Ask for a room at the back or on a high floor, and read recent reviews for the street.
Good for
- Pintxo bars and the market at your door
- A first visit of two nights
- The river path and the metro on the doorstep
Think twice if
- You sleep lightly: weekend nights are loud
- Stairs are hard for you: many buildings have no lift
- You want a big modern room
Staying in Casco Viejo: nearby sights, food and getting around
Abando, for the center and the station
The 19th-century grid around Plaza Moyúa and Gran Vía: shops, the Abando station, the metro and the park, ten minutes from the old town.
Abando is the planned district of wide streets and stone buildings on the left bank, centered on Plaza Moyúa and Gran Vía. It has the Abando train station, the metro, the Bizkaibus airport stop, department stores, sit-down restaurants and old pintxo bars on Calle Diputación. The Casco Viejo is about ten minutes' walk, and the Guggenheim about fifteen.
It is calmer than the old town after dark, though traffic is steady on the main avenues. Rooms are in older buildings with variable standards, and prices are among the highest in the city. It is a sound first choice for someone who wants to be central but sleep.
Good for
- Station, metro and the airport bus close by
- Shops and sit-down restaurants
- A mix of quiet streets and a ten-minute walk to the bars
Think twice if
- You want the old town's bars at the door
- You want a low price: this is among the dearest districts
Abandoibarra, for the Guggenheim side
The redeveloped riverside beside the Guggenheim and the park: modern towers, wide paths and a calm evening, with fewer bars at the door.
Abandoibarra is the former dockland that now holds the Guggenheim, the Euskalduna conference center, the Paseo de Abandoibarra and the Doña Casilda park. It has modern hotels, offices, the Fine Arts Museum a short walk away and a flat riverside path. The Casco Viejo is about twenty-five minutes on foot along the river.
It is calm at night and feels designed rather than lived in, with fewer bars and local shops than the older districts. It suits museum visitors, runners and anyone who wants a quiet room with a view of the ría.
Good for
- The Guggenheim and the park on foot
- A flat river path for walks and runs
- Quiet nights
Think twice if
- You want bars within five minutes
- You want local character at the door
Staying in Abandoibarra: nearby sights, food and getting around
Indautxu, for local bars and calm
A residential district south-west of Abando with neighborhood pintxo bars and a quieter feel, fifteen to twenty minutes from the old town.
Indautxu is a dense residential district with a central square, a metro station and a number of well-regarded pintxo bars. It is where many local people eat out on a weeknight. The Casco Viejo is about twenty minutes' walk, and Abando about ten.
It is not pretty in the way the old town is, and there are fewer hotels. Prices are lower than in Abando, and the streets are calm. It is a good choice for a longer stay or a second visit.
Good for
- Neighborhood pintxo bars
- Quieter nights
- Lower prices than Abando
Think twice if
- You want the old town on the doorstep
- You want a big choice of hotels
Deusto, for value across the river
The district on the right bank by the University of Deusto: residential, lower prices and a short tram or metro ride from the center.
Deusto lies across the river from Abandoibarra, around the University of Deusto and the San Mamés side of the ría. It is a mix of apartment blocks, student cafés and quiet streets, with the metro and the tram close by. The Guggenheim is about fifteen minutes' walk over the Deusto bridge.
It has little visitor life and few hotels. It is plainer and cheaper than the center, and an easy base for someone who is out all day. The old town is thirty minutes on foot, so plan to use the tram or the metro in the evenings.
Good for
- Lower prices
- The Guggenheim within fifteen minutes' walk
- Quiet nights
Think twice if
- You want to walk to the bars
- You want charm at the door
San Mamés, for the bus station and a tight budget
The district around the Athletic Club stadium and the Intermodal bus and train hub: practical and cheaper, with a plain, local feel.
San Mamés is the area around the football stadium and the Intermodal station, where the long-distance coaches and the airport bus finish. It is a busy residential area with supermarkets, ordinary bars and a metro stop. The center of Abando is about twenty minutes on foot.
It is practical rather than pretty, and the stadium makes match days loud and crowded. It is a sensible choice for an early coach, a tighter budget or a stay that is mostly out of town.
Good for
- Coaches and the airport bus end here
- Lower prices
- Supermarkets and ordinary bars
Think twice if
- You want charm at the door
- You arrive on a match day: noise and crowds
Staying in San Mamés: nearby sights, food and getting around
Bilbao La Vieja, close to the old town and cheaper
The old working district on the left bank, across the river from the Casco Viejo: lower prices and short walks, with a rougher, mixed feel.
Bilbao La Vieja is the district around Calle San Francisco and Calle Dos de Mayo, facing the old town across the ría. It has a high proportion of immigrant-run shops and restaurants, some artist spaces and murals, and cheaper rooms. The Casco Viejo is five to ten minutes on foot over the bridge.
The streets are lived-in and uneven, with some run-down blocks, and some visitors find them less comfortable after dark. As anywhere in a city, keep to busy streets at night and check recent reviews for the street. It is a fair choice for a short budget stay if you accept a plainer area.
Good for
- Cheaper rooms a short walk from the old town
- A mixed, local feel
- Close to the Ribera market
Think twice if
- You want a polished area
- You will be walking home alone late at night
Staying in Bilbao La Vieja: nearby sights, food and getting around
Where not to stay in Bilbao, and what to do instead
Every booking site lists these places to stay in Bilbao. We would skip them, or at least choose with care. Nobody pays a commission on a warning.
- A cheap room above a bar in the Casco Viejo at a weekend
The lanes are narrow and the noise stays until late. Ask for a room at the back, or stay in Abando.
- A hotel out near the airport or an industrial zone to save money
The saving is small once you add the transport, and you will spend evenings getting in and out. Bilbao is compact: stay in the middle of it.
- Staying in Getxo or the coast for a city break
Pleasant and cooler in summer, but 30 to 40 minutes by metro from the old town. Stay in the city unless a beach is the priority.
- A room without air conditioning in July or August
Older hotels often have none, and some nights are humid. Check for air conditioning before you book, or choose May, June or September.
- A hotel with no lift if stairs are hard for you
Many buildings in the Casco Viejo and Abando are old. Check the floor and the lift before you book, not when you arrive.
Which neighborhood suits you
First time in Bilbao
The Casco Viejo if noise is fine, Abando if you would rather sleep.
Couples
Abando or Abandoibarra for river walks.
Families with children
Abando: flat, central and close to the park and the metro.
A tight budget
Museums and the river
Abandoibarra, beside the Guggenheim.
Food and pintxos
The Casco Viejo, then Indautxu for local bars.
Nightlife
The Casco Viejo, around Plaza Nueva and the Siete Calles.
Longer stays
Indautxu, with its neighborhood bars and lower prices.
Before you book a room in Bilbao
The practical things that decide whether a good hotel in Bilbao makes a good stay.
- The tourist taxBilbao City Council approved a tourist tax in July 2026 to start in 2027, so it is not in force in October 2026. The planned rates are per person per night: €5 in five-star hotels, €4 in four-star, €2 in three-star, €1.50 in two-star, €1 in one-star hotels, pensions and hostels, and €6.50 in tourist apartments. Check your booking for the rule in force on your dates.
- From Bilbao airportBizkaibus line A3247 runs from the airport terminal to the center, with stops near Plaza Moyúa and a terminus at the Intermodal station in San Mamés, roughly every 15 to 20 minutes from early morning to midnight, in about 25 minutes. A taxi to central Bilbao takes about 15 minutes and costs around €27 to €30. Check the fare and timetable on the day.
- From San Sebastián and other citiesCoaches from San Sebastián and Vitoria stop at the Intermodal station, and trains arrive at Abando. Check the journey time before you book a late arrival.
- WeatherBilbao is wet in any season, and the humid air can feel warm in July and August. Rain is common, so a room with a view matters less than a dry walk to the metro.
- Match daysWhen Athletic Club play at home, the streets around San Mamés and the old town fill with fans and noise. Check the fixture list if you stay in San Mamés.
- Driving and parkingParking in the center is scarce and dear. If you have a car, choose a hotel with its own garage or use a car park at the edge, and use the metro and your feet.
- Lifts and stairsMany hotels are in old buildings with small lifts, or none. If stairs are hard for you, check the floor and the lift before you book, not when you arrive.
Where to stay in Bilbao: questions people ask
What's the best area to stay in Bilbao for a first visit?
The Casco Viejo if you want the pintxo bars at your door and can live with noise, or Abando for something calmer. Both are within fifteen minutes of the Guggenheim.
Is it better to stay in the old town or near the Guggenheim?
The old town for the bars and the evenings, with smaller rooms and more noise. Abandoibarra or Abando for the museum, the river path and quieter streets. They are ten to twenty-five minutes apart on foot.
Is Bilbao La Vieja safe to stay in?
It is a lived-in district close to the old town, with cheaper rooms. Like any city center, keep to busy streets at night and check recent reviews for the exact street.
Should I stay in Getxo instead of Bilbao?
Not for a city break. Getxo has beaches and a calm feel, but it is 30 to 40 minutes by metro from the old town. It suits a quieter stay with a beach, not a visit based on bars and museums.
How do I get from Bilbao airport to the center?
Take Bizkaibus A3247 from outside the terminal to Plaza Moyúa or the Intermodal station in about 25 minutes. A taxi takes about 15 minutes and costs around €27 to €30.
Can you walk everywhere in Bilbao?
In the middle, yes. The old town, Abando and the Guggenheim are within about twenty-five minutes of each other on flat ground. For Deusto, San Mamés and the hills, use the metro or tram.
Which area is the best base for day trips?
Abando or San Mamés, for trains from Abando and coaches from the Intermodal station. The metro to Getxo and Portugalete leaves from several central stations.
Is there a tourist tax in Bilbao?
Not yet. The city council approved one in July 2026, to start in 2027, with rates from €1 to €5 per person per night in hotels and €6.50 in tourist apartments. Check your booking for the rule in force.
