Things to do in
Plaza Nueva, Bilbao

Plaza Nueva, Bilbao: Our most recommended tours and activities

Bilbao: Guided Highlights Small Group E-Bike Tour

Bilbao: Guided Highlights Small Group E-Bike Tour

Explore Bilbao by bike like a local on a guided tour past all the city’s main sights like the magnificent Guggenheim Museum. Uncover the history of this fascinating city and learn about its stunning old and new attractions. Departing from the central Calle de Villarias, follow your guide along bike lanes and pedestrianized streets to avoid the busy traffic. Follow the course of the river to learn why it was essential to the development of the city. Peddle by contemporary and historic sites and stop at the dramatic Guggenheim Museum, which opened on the banks of the Nervión River and was designed by the architect Frank Gehry in the 1990s.  Marvel at the Euskalduna Conference Centre, built on the site of the old shipyards, and see the new San Mamés football stadium. Explore historic Bilbao at sites such as the Neo-baroque Teatro Arriaga.  Learn the history of the narrow streets and wide plazas of the Casco Viejo (Old Town), and discover how the old city walls by the San Antón Bridge link Bilbao La Vieja and Casco Viejo.

Bilbao: Pintxos and Wine Tasting Tour with Local Guide

Bilbao: Pintxos and Wine Tasting Tour with Local Guide

Our pintxo discovery experience begins with a briefing at our shop @TourneBilbao. We want you to understand the importance of food in how we relate to each other and the special little tricks to doing it like a local. The Ribera Market, the largest covered food market in Europe and where Michelin star bosses and ordinary citizens stock up on some of the best food the city has to offer Then it's time to dive into the old town and its hidden secrets, so our first stop would be one of the classic bars where the "txikiteros", the local wine drinkers, sing songs as they drink. If we are lucky, we have the option to share with them a wine and a classic aperitif discussing the traditions and symbols of the Basque Country. Next, we will go to the emblematic Plaza Nueva, to taste 2 pintxos and learn about the local Basque wine: Txakoli in one of its local bars. Once we have visited the old town, we will cross the river to enter the Ensanche, the economic center of the city. We will visit a very historic bar and we will have the opportunity to taste Rioja wines, as well as pintxos that mix the most advanced cuisine with the most traditional flavors of local products. Your tour ends here, where you will not only be filled with delicious pintxos, but also gain a new insight into the local culture and traditions. And most importantly, you will feel like an authentic Bilbaíno.

Bilbao: City Highlights Guided Bike Tour

Bilbao: City Highlights Guided Bike Tour

Discover Bilbao by bike on this guided tour. Peddle along this vibrant city, and see the iconic sites such as the Guggenheim, parks, government buildings, the Maritime Museum, City Hall, and the La Ribera Market. Meet your guide at the activity provider's office to begin your cycle. Get a quick introduction to using your bike and wear your helmet before you whizz off to explore this city. Cycle through this beautiful city, marvel at the architecture and immerse yourself in this fascinating history and culture. See the iconic Guggenheim Museum. Pedal through the industrial past of Bilbao and listen as your guide tells you about this city's history, industry, and trade. See the towering bridges and historic warehouses that once defined the city's landscape, which are now beautifully restored and transformed into cultural landmarks. See another side to Bilbao as you explore it by bike and get your daily dose of exercise in. Immerse yourself in the local culture and history as you enjoy an adventurous day out with your friends or family that you won't forget. 

Walking tour of Bilbao with pintxo and drink

Walking tour of Bilbao with pintxo and drink

This tour, which begins at the gates of Bilbao's Old Town, will take us through the history of the old part of the city, the area around which the city as we know it today expanded. We will see the Plaza Circular and the Estación de la Concordia, from Bilbao's Belle Époque, before heading to the Arenal Bridge to cross the Nervión estuary. This important bridge is the access point to the most authentic part of the city. But before entering the 'Seven Streets', we will learn about the history of the church of San Nicolás de Bari, a monument that houses one of the most outstanding rococo sculptures in the Basque Country. We will walk through the streets of the Old Town until we reach the Plaza Miguel Unamuno, a lively square that connects with many other streets and has numerous bars. Among the narrow cobbled streets, where local shops populate the ground floor of the buildings, we arrive at the Mercado de la Ribera, the city's traditional shopping centre, today a reference point for those who want to enjoy all kinds of pintxos in the same place. However, we will try this delicacy a little further on, as the route continues. We will see the Merced Bridge, designed by the engineer Hoffmeyer, which had to be rebuilt after the Civil War. Again between streets, we will stop in front of the Palace of Yohn or La Bolsa, the common point of three streets of the Old Quarter, which today is a cultural centre. This building has no author, a fact that gives it a unique aura of mystery. Our last and long-awaited stop will be Bilbao's mythical Plaza Nueva, the meeting place par excellence for the locals of the botxo. In one of its most renowned bars, La Olla, we will enjoy a pintxo with a drink of your choice to close this walking tour of Bilbao in the best possible way. Book and live it!

Bilbao: Old Quarter Walking Guided Tour

Bilbao: Old Quarter Walking Guided Tour

Over 500 years of history will be explored on this walking tour. From the Cathedral of Santiago, Plaza Nueva, the Church of St. Anton and the ruins on which it stands, to the Mercado de la Ribera. This is where the town was born, this is where the port was, and from where the city opened to the world - serving as a bridge between northern Europe and the Hispanic kingdoms. You'll be guided by your professional tour guide in a small group. Learn the history that took place in the streets that Miguel de Unamuno once walked through. Your guide will also take you on a traditional “txikiteo” or “poteo” (bar crawl) to the area's most iconic bars.

Bilbao Historical Tour

Bilbao Historical Tour

Travel back in time and explore the fascinating stories of Bilbao's past on our exclusive historical tour. Stroll through the charming streets of the old town, uncover the secrets of famous landmarks and immerse yourself in the vibrant culture that has shaped this remarkable city. Start at the old theater and pass various churches such as San Nicolás and the city's main cathedral. We will also stop at the local fresh produce market Ribera and the Municipal Library, not forgetting the main gastronomic spots such as the large Plaza Nueva square and Dog Street. We will end the tour at the same meeting point.

Bilbao: First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour

Bilbao: First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour

Walk through a beautiful route of the city, discover hidden gems and visit 10+ of the most important attractions and spots. Learn some introductory information about each place and interesting stories about the city in general. Download the ‘World City Trail ‘app from the store and login. Read the instructions and head to the starting location. Unlock photos of the exterior and the interior of the location. Read some information regarding the attraction and continue walking to the next checkpoint. Note what you liked and did not like and create your bucket list for the next days! Start your walk any time, without a schedule. Pause it for lunch, have a drink, visit an attraction of your choice, and continue later or even another day. With the maps feature, you will never get lost. Start the activity whenever you like and enjoy the flexibility to pause your game at any time to take a break, snap the perfect photos, stop for lunch, or visit a museum. Choose to continue the tour later or save the rest for another day. In the history-filled city of Bilbao you will first visit the beautiful Doña Casilda Iturrizar Park. Then the unique Guggenheim Museum Bilbao and then the irreplaceable Zubizuri. This wonderful route continues to the Bilbao City Hall. As a fifth stop you will find the Teatro Arriaga. As you continue your walk through the city you will find the interesting Plaza Nueva. Of course, the Unamuno Miguel Plaza could not be missing from this tour. In addition, you will also admire the Bilboko Donejakue Katedrala. The penultimate destination is the enviable Erriberako merkatua. While the icing on the cake of this unique tour could not be other than the San Anton eliza.

Bilbao: Classic & Modern Guided Walking Tour with Pintxos

Bilbao: Classic & Modern Guided Walking Tour with Pintxos

In a 3-hour guided tour, discover medieval Bilbao’s charming streets and squares along with the intense commercial and port activity that made this city into what it is today. Start by meeting your guide and delving into the city’s ancient past: see the city’s outer walls, the Gothic Cathedral of Santiago, the Plaza Nueva, and the emblematic Church of San Antón, totaling more than 500 years of history that seems to transcend time.   Then, continue your tour to the well-known Ensanche, a key sign of the progress of this city. See the urban development of Bilbao and its architectural wonders from the 19th through to the 21st century. It will be here that you’ll witness the pulsating heart of a city that exudes both tradition and avant-garde style.   Your visit ends with the opportunity to sample one of the most iconic Bilbao foods: pintxos. These are small snacks skewered with a toothpick, usually eaten socially in bars, which makes them the perfect way to end this small group tour with your new friends.

Bilbao Gourmet Pintxos Tour

Bilbao Gourmet Pintxos Tour

Dive into a world of culinary experiences on this 3.5-hour gourmet walking tour of downtown Bilbao. Visit at least 4 different restaurants or locations to taste the best dishes at each place, with wine, sangria, beer, and soft drinks included. Meet your guide at Church of San Nikolas Eliza to start your fantastic experience. Enjoy tastings original Pintxos such as croquetas, anchovies, codfish and more. Other specialties such as a tasting of Basque typical cheese paired with a glass of Basque sweet wine is included. Tastings may vary depending on the available locations. Top off your experience with the famous Basque dessert, pastelito vasco.

From San Sebastian: Bilbao & Guggenheim Museum Private Tour

From San Sebastian: Bilbao & Guggenheim Museum Private Tour

Discover the highlights of Bilbao on a private tour of major attractions such as the Guggenheim Museum and Ribera Market. Explore the Old Town quarter to see beautiful architecture and charming streets, and get a sense of how the locals live. Admire monuments such as City Hall and Santiago Cathedral, consecrated in honor of the apostle Saint James the Great. Look at the Gothic façade of the Church of San Antón, and discover off-the-beaten-path locations known only to the locals. Stroll through an old train station and window shop the fancy stores of the Gran Vía de Don Diego López de Haro avenue. Reach the magnificent Guggenheim Museum on the banks of the Nervion River, and take a fully guided tour outside to see the permanent collections of contemporary art. Take your time inside to enjoy the temporary exhibits.

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What people are saying about Plaza Nueva, Bilbao

Overall rating

4.7
(263 reviews)

In other cities, I had booked similar bar-hopping tours, but they were all canceled due to not meeting the minimum number of participants. However, this tour in Bilbao was conducted even though I was the only participant, for which I am very grateful. I joined this tour right after arriving in Bilbao, and I really appreciated the introduction to the city's history and main spots, as well as the guide’s personalized selection of bars and pintxos.

The guide, along with delicious pintxos, showed us many interesting places. We were very pleased with the trip. I recommend Milan (his name) to anyone who comes to learn about Basque specialties and hear interesting stories about this beautiful region.

It was perfect! Oscar was a great guide who really made sure that all participants were happy with the experience. He made recommendations which were spot on but also was considerate and flexible with other people’s food and drink choices.

Very informative and engaging tour around Bilbao old town. Lots of interesting facts and locations as well as decent recommendations for places to eat or drink.

A top evening. Oscar is the best tourguide in town.