Bilbao: My Guggenheim Dream
We walked off straight to the Guggenheim – the building looks different from every angle, like a metallic flower opening to the Nervión River. Puppy the flower-dog greeted us with 40,000 real pansies. Inside, Richard Serra's massive steel spirals made us dizzy in the best way – walking through them feels like being inside a hurricane made of rust.
We went to Casco Viejo for lunch – pintxos heaven at Víctor Montes: foie gras with apple, txangurro spider crab, and cold txakoli poured from height. In the afternoon we took the funicular up Mount Artxanda for the panoramic view – the entire titanium museum gleaming below like a spaceship. The pros: world-class art in a genuinely lived-in city. The cons: Basque rain is real, but the museum is perfect for wet days.
Getting Around Bilbao
Ship docks 15-minute tram from Guggenheim and old town.
Positively Worded Word of Warning
The Guggenheim's curves are designed to be walked around – comfortable shoes make discovering every new angle pure joy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is Bilbao worth it?
A: The coolest city transformation in Europe.
Q: Best thing?
A: Guggenheim exterior + interior + pintxos crawl.
Q: How long for Guggenheim?
A: 3–4 hours minimum.
Q: Walk from port?
A: Easy tram ride.