30 Bilbao Facts: Facts About The Spanish City That Kids Will Love

Bilbao is a famous tourist city in the Basque country known for its old town, architecture, beaches, wonderful food, nightlife, and much more.

One of the reasons Bilbao became a famous tourist spot is because of the plenty of museums that supplement its rich history.

Bilbao is a great spot for tourists to get a glimpse of Basque culture. Part of Biscay province, Bilbao is one of the largest cities in northern Spain, not only in area and population(which is roughly around 350,000) but, also because of its cultural and economic growth.

Today, it is emerging as a new-age city that has become successful in attracting the attention of tourists from around the world!

Facts About Bilbao

Though it is located around Spain, Bilbao doesn't have a similar culture to many other cities in Spain, the culture here is altogether different. Locally, it is called basque culture. Here are some interesting facts about Bilbao.

• Bilbao is a beautiful city. Apart from the amazing buildings as well as architecture, its beautiful clean beaches, blue seawater, mountains, and pleasant climate make Bilbao an ideal vacation spot for families and individuals alike. From hiking to eating to swimming in the ocean, there is always something to do!
• The people of Bilbao enjoy a coastal type of climate throughout the year, the summers are not too hot and the temperature stays somewhere around 55.4-77 F(13-25 C).
• One of the most famous tourist attractions is the Guggenheim Museum which is a modern-day marvel in terms of its architecture.
• There are several places to visit here such as the Bellas Artes museum, the Fine Art Museum, the old city of Casco Viejo, the Arriaga Theater, the University of Deusto, San Mame's stadium, and many more interesting places.
• This city is famous for its cuisines. Such unique items include sandwiches made in baguette bread, locally known as 'bocadillos', and omelets with potatoes that are locally known as 'tortilla Espanola.
• Various music festivals are also organized here in the summer such as jazz festivals, and San Sebastian festivals. The party ambiance makes nightlife very attractive in Bilbao.
• The bank of Bilbao was established in 1857.
• Its city hall is known for its baroque-style architecture. It was built in 1892 and is widely known for its reception area called the Arab Salon.
• The first stock trading took place in the year 1891, at the Bilbao Stock Exchange.
• The official languages of the Basque country are Basque and Castilian.

The History Of Bilbao

Let's take a tour of the history of Bilbao and try to understand how this traditional city rose to such a level of excellence and became a leading industrial city of Spain.

• Bilbao is about 722 years old.
• Its history dates back to the 16th century with the establishment of a quasi-judicial body known as 'The Consulate of the Sea' of Bilbao. This institution helped in maintaining order over the city and helped in building a strong empire. Bilbao's history began as a community of sea-faring people.
• The first printing press was started in the year 1577. The first printed book was 'Doctrina Christiana En Romance y Bascuence,' in 1596.
• Around 1602, Bilbao become the capital of Biscay province.
• The city became wealthier after the discovery of huge iron deposits in its mountains and became a popular trade center among European countries.
• After surviving three attacks during the 19th century, Basque country stood strong against all odds. The city continued to work in the direction of building infrastructures such as railway stations, city hall, bank of Bilbao, and the stock exchange.
• Bilbao launched its first commercial flights in the year of 1948.
• During the '90s, the city took a completely different turn from its traditional manufacturing sector and became a tertiary sector that provided services.
• Finally, the city gained its fame with the opening of the great Guggenheim Museum in the year 1997, situated along the Nervion River.
• The political background of the Basque country is an autonomous one. The country is governed by the Basque Autonomous Community of Spain. The community enjoys a high degree of self-governance from the Basque government.

Food In Bilbao

Unlike other cities in the Basque Country, Bilbao has its uniquely delicious and vibrant food culture. The food here in Bilbao is a true representation of the local food culture and is known by different names.

• One can order pintxos, which is a small piece of bread, with local flavors. It is known as 'tapas' in Spanish.
• It is easy to have delicious seafood such as bacalao pil-pil, which is codfish grilled with olive oil and garlic. Txipirones, which is a variety of squid prepared in a gravy that resembles ink, and other dishes make up a small fraction of the wonderful world of Basque cuisines.
• If you want to head for the delicious local food of Bilbao Spain, many restaurants offer daily specials which in the local language is known as 'Menu Del Dia'. This is a great option if you are not sure which cuisine to pick as there are so many options! These options are also cheap and cost-effective.

Things To Do In Bilbao

Until now, you might be aware of the culture of this city but, there is still so much more to learn. There are so many places that you must visit, if you are planning a vacation to Bilbao, Spain. What can you do and what can you explore in this wonderful country? Keep reading to find out.

• The Guggenheim Museum is a modern-day architectural marvel. It helps this city attract a large number of visitors every year. The Guggenheim Museum Bilbao is a contemporary art museum designed by Frank Gehry. It is located near the Nervion River, to the north of Bilbao. It is one of the largest museums in Spain and holds rank in the top 100 most visited art museums in the year 2020.
• There are other fine arts museums as well such as the Archeological Museum, Bellas Fine Art Museum, Museum of Fine Arts of Bilbao, the Bullfighting Museum in Bilbao, and the Bilbao Maritime Museum. One can visit these fine art museums to learn more about the history of Bilbao, Spain.
• The Elliptic square, which is locally known as Plaza de Federico Moyua Square, is a famous meeting spot for people in the city and connects to eight streets.
• For people who love to shop, El Ensanche is a place to go. Developments were made to expand the old town of Bilbao. Thus El Ensanche was created. It is located near Casco Viejo. It has many showrooms and department stores to enhance your shopping experience.
• To see Bilbao's panoramic view, you must go and visit the top of Mount Artxanda. The mountain is located in the old town and offers a spectacular view of the whole area of Bilbao city. In the center of the old town of Bilbao, situated at 38750 sq ft(3600 sq m), is a public square is known as Plaza Nueva. It is accessible via 64 arcades and has four-story buildings.
• The tourist journey isn't completed until one goes for a walk in Casco Viejo. Casa Viejo is an old town and a historical city in Bilbao. Here, you will find old streets, houses, Bilbao Cathedral, and a Basque History Museum.
• There are many beaches in Bilbao city. Some are good surfing spots while others are good for swimming. Some good surf beaches are Ereaga beach and Sopelana beach, while the best beach to swim in is Plentzia beach.
• Apart from the place mentioned above, there are some other places to visit as well such as the City Hall of Bilbao, the Virgin Begonia's Basilica, the Great Avenue, Christ Holy Heart Square, and many other attractions.

Article image credit: Rudy Mareel / Shutterstock.com