Things to Do in Bilbao with Kids: Guggenheim, Old Town & More

Bilbao was our first stop on a four-day Basque Country road trip at the end of December 2019. We landed after a 5 am start from Barcelona with Damian (6) and Marc (3), and we had half a day, so this is a guide to doing Bilbao with kids the way we did: on foot, slowly, one pintxo at a time.

Bilbao was also one of the destinations I managed during my 14 years on the hotel side of the travel industry. So along with the family view, you get the “where to sleep” view from someone who spent years looking at its hotels from the inside.

Is Bilbao in the Basque Country?

Yes. Bilbao is the largest city of the Basque Country (Euskadi), an autonomous community in northern Spain, and the capital of the province of Bizkaia. The country is Spain; the region is the Basque Country. You’ll see Euskara, the Basque language, first on almost every sign, with Spanish underneath. That surprised me more than anything on day one.

Quick answers

• Time needed: half a day for the old town and river. One full day with the Guggenheim and Artxanda.
• Guggenheim: €18 adults; under-18s free (2026). Closed most Mondays.
• Getting around: on foot. The old town, the river and the Guggenheim are all walkable, and there’s a metro if little legs give up.
• Weather: bring a raincoat whatever the forecast says.

Things to do in Bilbao with kids

1. The Casco Viejo (old town) and its seven streets

This is where Bilbao started. It’s a small grid of narrow streets full of shops, bars and houses where every façade is different. Plaza Nueva, the arcaded square, was packed with locals having a Sunday drink when we arrived. Kids can run under the arches while you order. It’s flat and fine with a pushchair.

2. Pintxos for lunch

Pintxos are the Basque version of tapas, built on slices of bread and lined up on the bar. In 2019 we paid about €2–2.50 each. They were so pretty I photographed them before we ate. For kids, it’s the perfect format: they point, they choose, nobody waits for a kitchen. Go at 1 pm to get space at the counter.

3. The Guggenheim Museum (even just from outside)

Frank Gehry’s titanium building is the symbol of Bilbao, and the outside alone is worth the walk. There’s Puppy, the giant flower dog by the entrance, and Maman, the huge bronze spider on the river side. Both are free and both are great with kids.

Inside: we didn’t go in. The boys (6 and 3) flatly refused, and after a 5 am start I didn’t fight it. The good news is that under-18s now enter free and the adult ticket (€18 in 2026) includes an audio guide. So with school-age kids, the only thing you risk is your own ticket. Admissions close 30 minutes before closing time.

4. Walk the river and cross the Zubizuri

The riverside promenade links the old town to the Guggenheim, and it’s the walk I’d recommend in both directions. On the way you cross the Zubizuri, Santiago Calatrava’s white curved footbridge from 1997 (“white bridge” in Euskara). Kids love the glass floor. It’s slippery in the rain, so hold hands.

5. Artxanda funicular (the one we missed)

A three-minute funicular ride from near the river takes you up Mount Artxanda, where there’s the view over the whole city and green space to run around. We didn’t make it on this trip, and the photos I’ve seen since tell me we should have. Under-6s ride free. Check the current fare on Bilbao’s transport site before you go, as fares were raised in 2026.

6. San Mamés stadium (for football fans)

Athletic Club’s rebuilt stadium is a short walk from the centre. If your kids play football, the stadium tour is the thing they’ll remember, not the art museum.

A half-day Bilbao itinerary with kids (what we did)

1. Landed, picked up the 9-seater at the airport and drove into the centre.
2. Casco Viejo on foot, then Plaza Nueva.
3. Pintxos at open-air bars.
4. River walk, and the Guggenheim from outside (we drove past it).
5. Rain arrived after lunch, as it does here. We checked in at 8 pm and were asleep by nine.

With a full day, add the Guggenheim inside in the morning, the river walk and Zubizuri at midday, and Artxanda for the late-afternoon view.

Where to stay in Bilbao with kids

On a road trip with a car (like us): stay outside the centre where parking is free. We slept at the ibis Bilbao Barakaldo, 12 km out, with a free car park and standard rooms. Rooms take a maximum of three (18 m² with the extra bed), so a family of four needs two.

More about in Where to Stay with kids in Bilbao

Day trips from Bilbao with kids

• San Juan de Gaztelugatxe: 35–45 minutes. The Game of Thrones steps, and our day 2.
• Getxo: breakfast by the marina and the UNESCO-listed Vizcaya transporter bridge.
• Santander: about 1 h 15 west.

The whole four-day route, with San Sebastián, Zumaia and Hondarribia, is in our Basque Country with kids guide.

Bilbao with kids: FAQ

Is Bilbao in the Basque Country?

Yes. Bilbao is the largest city of the Basque Country, an autonomous community in northern Spain, and the capital of the province of Bizkaia.

Is Bilbao good for kids?

Yes. The old town and riverside are flat and walkable, pintxo bars make meals easy, the Guggenheim is free for under-18s, and the Artxanda funicular gives children a short ride to a park with a view.

How much is the Guggenheim Bilbao for children?

Children and young people under 18 enter free. An adult ticket costs €18 in 2026 and includes an audio guide.

How many days do you need in Bilbao with kids?

Half a day covers the old town, pintxos and a river walk. One full day adds the Guggenheim and Artxanda. Use extra days for trips to San Juan de Gaztelugatxe and the coast.

Where should families stay in Bilbao?

Without a car, stay central near the river so you can walk to the old town and the Guggenheim. With a car, a hotel outside the centre with free parking, such as the ibis in Barakaldo where we stayed, is cheaper and easier.