Outside the Guggenheim and the pintxo bars of the Old Town, Bilbao has many hidden corners that showcase the city’s creativity, industrial heritage, and local character. These are the places that locals know best, from quiet riverside neighborhoods to hidden art spaces, traditional markets to hilltop viewpoints few tourists reach. This list of hidden gems in Bilbao reveals a side of the city that is not often seen by visitors. These lesser-known areas provide a more authentic look at the heart of the Basque city, whether you’re visiting for a weekend or want to venture beyond the usual tourist attractions.
Chill out at the locals’ favorite beach
Located at the far northern tip of the Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve, Laga Beach stretches for almost one kilometer, providing more than enough room to accommodate all the people who know about it. It’s not visited by many tourists, probably because the beach is hidden by the rolling green hills that surround it, and most tourists don’t know there’s a beach behind them.
This makes Laga one of the most tranquil beaches in the Basque Country and locals’ favorite place in the summer. The beach isn’t very touristy and doesn’t have a lot of facilities, but it’s the perfect place to visit if you’re looking for some peace after a long day of exploring Bilbao’s busy streets, surf in peace, or relax on a SUP. If you want to reach Playa de Laga, plan enough time for it, as it takes roughly 2 hours to reach from Bilbao, but the beach is reachable via public transport.
Stay in the charming fishing village of Bermeo to be within easy driving distance of both Laga Beach and the spectacular viewpoints of the Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve.
Relax at the Basque’s most peaceful beach
Azkorri Beach is one of those places that feel remote without being hard to get to. The beach is pretty remote and secluded, but easily reachable via public transport for those who know where to find it. The coast looks different from most other beaches in Spain- it’s rocky, the beach is surrounded by cliffs, and you have to take a quick 10-minute hike to reach it.
While you’re climbing up the hills, you’ll discover one of the most spectacular views of the Basque Coast– a row of cliffs, a row of greenery, a row of sand, and the endless ocean on the horizon…The best part is that Azkorri is a wild beach without many tourist facilities and remains relatively unfrequented even during the summer months. To reach Azkorri Playa, get on the A3411 bus, get off at Azkorri station, and follow the signs pointing towards Azkorri beach.
Base yourself in Getxo if you want quick access to Azkorri Beach while still being only a short metro ride from central Bilbao.
Learn about Bilbao’s Easter traditions
Opened at the beginning of the 21st century, the Museum of the Holy Week is one of the newest hidden gems in Bilbao. It displays some very old statues and artifacts, as well as rare photographs and paintings related to the Easter tradition in the Basque, including an exhibition of Jesus’s Nativity scenes, and very interesting Easter-themed dioramas. This is the most important holiday for the Basques, and the Museum of the Holy Week is the only one of its kind in the whole region.
It isn’t visited by a lot of tourists, probably because most of them don’t even know it exists. Whatever the case, if you want to add a unique cultural experience to your trip and learn more about the rich Basque Traditions, you should definitely check out the Museum of the Holy Week. The museum is located in an old Neoclassical building in the Old Town.
Choose accommodation in Bilbao’s historic Casco Viejo to stay close to hidden museums like the Museum of the Holy Week and the Archaeology Museum.
Experience the Basque’s untouched nature
If you’re a nature lover, you’ll surely love the Balcon de Bizkaia! It’s a viewpoint tucked away in the Urdaibai estuary where you can get an amazing view of the lush forests of the Biosphere Reserve of Biscay, the mountains towering over the surrounding villages. The viewpoint is located approximately 40 kilometers away from Bilbao, can be reached by road, and driving through the lush pine tree forests is surely one of the most scenic drives in the Basque.
If you’re feeling adventurous, you can even try to reach it by bicycle and see what it feels like to ride the 17th stage of the Vuelta a España. Most tourists don’t know about this beautiful, secret viewpoint, and many superstitious locals avoid it because, according to local legends, it used to be a place where witches used to gather. So, don’t expect to meet a lot of people along the way…
Stay near Abando for a central location with excellent transport connections for day trips to Bilbao’s lesser-known natural attractions.
Visit Bilbao’s most overlooked museum
One could say that Bilbao’s Museum of Reproductions is probably the most overlooked museum in Bilbao. It’s mostly ignored by both locals and visitors, despite the fact that the museum is located in an impressive Neogothic building that stands out from the surrounding buildings. The Museum was opened in 1927, and over the years, it gathered one of the most impressive collections of copies of classic sculptures in Europe.
Here, you can find incredibly good copies of masterpieces such as the Parthenon Frieze, Michelangelo’s Moses, the Altar of Zeus, the Aphrodite of Milos, etc. If you’re an art lover, you will surely appreciate the opportunity to enjoy some (rare replicas of) interesting classical sculptures without having to visit a crowded museum.
Book a countryside stay near Gernika-Lumo to explore the Balcon de Bizkaia viewpoint and the peaceful landscapes of the Urdaibai Reserve.
See Bilbao’s majestic ancient artifacts
The Bizkaia Museum of Archaeology is another new museum in Bilbao that still doesn’t attract a lot of tourists because most people aren’t informed that it exists. This museum was opened in 2008 and gives visitors the unique opportunity to learn more about Bizkaia’s rich history through the most fascinating archaeological artifacts, ranging from prehistoric to recent times. Some of the most interesting sights in the museum feature stone carvings dating back to Roman days, remnants from the first settlers of what today is known as the Basque, and other prehistoric artifacts.
The museum looks rather small from the outside, but it’s not- it has five floors and a rather impressive exhibition area. If you’re a history lover, you definitely wouldn’t like to miss this place. Just don’t forget to ask the receptionist for an English catalog, which explains all the exhibits, because most of the descriptions in the museum are in Spanish and Basque.
Stay in Mundaka for a laid-back coastal atmosphere, easy beach access, and proximity to scenic hiking trails and hidden viewpoints.
Stop by the house of a famous writer
Miguel de Unamuno is one of the most important philosophers and intellectuals not only in the Basque but in Spain as well. He was one of the most important intellectuals during the country’s roughest period of the 20th century. He was a passionate advocate of Spanish liberalism and a vociferous critic of General Miguel Primo de Rivera’s regime, which eventually not only got him removed from his university but also eventually led to his exile.
He was born in Bilbao, and the city devoted many tributes to him, but very few people know that the house in which he was born is open for visitors. The house isn’t properly marked on Google Maps, and there aren’t any signs leading to it, so be careful not to miss it. The exact address is 16 Calle de Ronda Street, and there’s a small black plaque on the entrance of the house.
Pick a rural guesthouse around Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve if you want to fully immerse yourself in the Basque Country’s untouched nature and quiet villages.
If you like hiking along some scenic, unfrequented paths that not a lot of people know about, you will definitely enjoy the trek up to the San Pedro de Axtarre Baseliza hermitage. A starting point for the trek is Akorda, located around 50 kilometers away from Bilbao. The trek is not difficult, and the total height of the viewpoint is only 300 meters, but it’s one of the most spectacular viewpoints in the Basque.
From here, you can get a 360 panoramic view of the Urdaibai Reserve stretching from the edge of Cape Matxitxako looking west to the town of Guernica in the east, all the way to the coastline and the Izaro island in the north. The trek isn’t difficult- it might take you an hour or two to complete it, but once you get to the top, the stunning view will instantly make you forget about everything. If you’re searching for hidden gems in Bilbao and want to get away from the crowds, definitely consider making a day trip to El San Pedro de Atxarre Baseliza.
Stay near Ensanche for stylish hotels, local restaurants, and convenient access to both Bilbao’s cultural gems and public transport for day trips.
How did you like this list of hidden gems in Bilbao? Do you know of any other places that deserve a mention on this list? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below.
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