Bilbao

Spain

Things to do in Bilbao:

View the Gallery Square in old town

Bilbao Restaurants

Affordable (33)

Ortua

A simple restaurant with no elaborate trimmings, just tasty, freshly cooked vegetarian lunches. read more
Fine dining (21)

Zero

This exclusive restaurant, serving the best-quality Basque cuisine, only opens on Sundays. Book a table to avoid disappointment. read more

Bilbao Nightlife

Chilled (24)

Gambrinus

An English-style pub for those who prefer a pint of beer to a glass of Rioja. Plenty of good wines, too, not to mention a friendly atmosphere and convenient central location. read more
Clubbing (28)

K2

A big pub in the old part of the city. Open almost around the clock with a sandwich menu of more than 90 combinations. K2 is popular with young people -�and anyone interested in mountains! read more

This Month in Bilbao:

By Katherine Bilsborough

Shopping: Calle Somera, in the Old Quarter, is a bustling pedestrianised street lined with traditional Basque taverns (where you'll hear Basque being spoken) and some of the oldest shops in the city selling authentic Basque products, as well as shops selling locally designed clothes, jewellery and accessories.

Sightseeing: a "fast-paced adaptation" of Rossini's great opera William Tell is showing for two days only (12-13 May) at the emblematic Arriaga Theatre. Tickets �13 for adults (teatroarriaga.com).

Bilbao News & Gossip

Where are the best routes for cycling holidays?

FOR POOTLERS

LYON

The ride Paved and blessedly flat, the easy-going Voie Verte cycle path running through Burgundy from Givry to M�con - 117km in total - forms the backbone of a pleasant glide through prime wine country. Detours down minor roads and farm tracks, plus the Canal du Centre for waterside cruising, make for a family- friendly ride. Keep it gentle on the valley floor and among the lakes of La Dombes region or climb up into the vineyards.

The sights Cycling gives you a great opportunity for communing with nature that you simply don't get with faster means of travel. You'll pass through one of the most beautiful parts of central France. Refreshment and refuelling-wise, it's impossible not to dine (and drink) well here, on any budget.

Book with The Chain Gang (thechaingang. co.uk) to explore the region's gastro reputation or take the kids on a customised itinerary from Cycling for Softies (cycling-for-softies.co.uk).

Fly to Lyon from 29 destinations.

FOR KEEN RIDERS

BILBAO

The ride Competent cyclists will find a reasonable challenge for legs and a feast for the senses along the coastal hills of Spanish Basque country. At the highest points, there are precipitous cliffs just off the roadside, while idyllic, sandy bays await you at sea level. If you have the muscle, it's possible to cross over the border into the French Pyr�n�es.

The sights Coastal vistas backed by a high country of baked earth provide a perfectly beautiful rural backdrop to your ride. When you're in Bilbao, however, you'll want to be sure to visit the Guggenheim modern-art museum, as well as experiencing the city's nightlife and cuisine, while Basque food and drink counts as an attraction in its own right.

Book with Hooked on Cycling (hookedoncycling.co.uk), which offers a 12-day, self-guided holiday, or brush up on your skills with a week-long mountain- biking adventure run by experts Basque MTB (basquemtb.com).

Fly to Bilbao from six destinations.

FOR SERIOUS WHEEL NUTS

TENERIFE

The ride For one of the world's greatest climbs, leave the built-up hustle and bustle of the coast and glide away on immaculate tarmac up El Teide to an altitude of 2,350m. Starting from sea level, the tough 45km ride never seems to level out, but experienced riders will love the challenge and drivers are, helpfully, very respectful of your efforts.

The sights Away from the coast, the island offers an unusual mix of volcanic rockiness and lush, fertile landscapes, and cycling enables you to see all the lesser-visited spots. From El Teide to Esperanza, you'll pass the Teide astronomical observatory and the delicious-smelling pine woodland of Corona Forestal Nature Park.

Book with Simple to navigate, most hardcorers do this one on their own, but Lavatrax (lavatrax.com) and Mountainbike Active (mtb-active.com) can rent you bikes or host tours.

Fly to Tenerife South from six destinations.

Bilbao Trivia

May: The latest gourmet addition to Basque cuisine is the tiny teardrop pea, sometimes called "vegetable caviar" and famous for being the most expensive pea in the world (selling at around �200 a kilo). The peas are grown in a few select areas along the Basque coast. They have a distinctive sea flavour and are, apparently, exquisite.
April: The streets of Bilbao are paved with unique flower-shaped tiles that are as much a symbol of the city as the Guggenheim or the Athletic Club football team. There are more than 66 million tiles with 650,000 being changed each year. A popular local singer has composed a song in their honour and tourists can buy tile motif chocolates, key rings, T-shirts and postcards.
March: The recently inaugurated Torre Iberdrola is Bilbao's latest architectural controversy. The 165m glass construction, with its 41 floors of office space, towers above the city. Some applaud its innovative design, technology and sustainability. Others claim it should never have been built.