Inventive structures, lush greenery, laidback lifestyle
Iron ore, steelworks, shipbuilding, noise and pollution. Late 19th century Bilbao had it sorted, with all the enviable profit margins and booming employment that comes with burgeoning industrialisation. 100 years on, and the port city on the Bay of Biscay, shared similar tales of decline to those experienced across much of a post-industrial Europe. Not to be defeated, and thanks to some remarkably ambitious interventions from local champions, Bilbao bucked up her ideas and now stands proudly as a symbol of urban renewal and revival. In fact today’s Bilbao feels distinctly inspirational. Huge investments in technology, infrastructure, art and culture, renders a centre well worthy of your exploration. It’s a cosmopolitan core surrounded by the mountains, cliffs and beaches of beautiful Basque Country, a land of great historic importance with its own language, traditions, warm welcomes and delicious cuisine.
For the chance to experience the authenticity and vibrancy of Bilbao daily life, try a low season visit from November through March with numbers increasing again at Easter. During the winter, you may well find a bit of rain, but prices are lower, crowds fewer and temperatures remain wonderfully mild, especially if you are coming from northern Europe. Being a thriving business hub, Bilbao doesn’t shut down once the tourists leave. Instead, restaurants remain open, there’s a dynamic year-round calendar of culture events and it’s the perfect time for that romantic winter walk along the nearby secluded towering Biscay cliffs.
City Living
Life here is good and Bilbao Bizkaia ... Read more
