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Spain : Bilbao - October 2008 Country Code: Dial ++34 for Spain
October sees sunny days and crisp
evenings in the Basque country’s
most dynamic city. By day, you can
linger over a hot chocolate before
exploring the museums and
enticing shops, while evenings are
best spent trying the delicious
tapas in Bilbao’s bars. Thomas
Brisbane tucks in
Getting around
Bilbao Airport, designed by Santiago Calatrava, is worth visiting for its architecture alone, and is situated 10km from the city centre.
Bus: The yellow
BizkaiBus runs every
30 minutes from
arrivals between
5.25am and 9.55pm.
The trip into town
takes 20 minutes
and costs €1,10. Taxi: Expect to pay
about €18 for the
journey to the city
centre, which takes
15 minutes. Tourist information: Tourist information:
The main office is
at 11 Plaza Ensanche
(tel. 94 479 5760,
bilbao.net).
CASCO VIEJO
Lose yourself in the tangle of medieval
streets that wind their way around the
Plaza Mayor, and discover great tapas,
bars and shops
Sleep soundly – Sleek and modern,
the Petite Palace Arana offers excellent
value for money right in the epicentre of
Bilbao. Rent a bicycle at reception to
discover the city on two wheels.
Culture vultures – Learn more about
the region’s history at the Basque
Museum (Plaza Unamuno).
Must eat – Full of old world charm,
Amaya Restaurant (4 Calle Ribera, tel.
944 152819) has a cosy bar that serves
gourmet tapas downstairs and a formal
restaurant on the upper level.
Must drink – Perfect for a quick bite
while out shopping, Gure Bar (28 Calle
Ercilla) does delicious tapas, plus beers
and local wines served by the glass.
Dance the night away – Sala Fever
(Poligono Santa Ana, Calle Tellería)
offers four pulsating floors of house,
rock and electronica.
Shop til you drop – Find handmade
leather belts, shoes and sandals at
Bizkarguenaga (15 Calle Somera)
THE RIVER
Perfect for afternoon strolls or cycling,
the tree-lined Nervion enjoys great
views of Bilbao’s spectacular buildings,
including the Guggenheim Museum.
Sleep soundly – A short walk from the
museums, the avant-garde Hesperia
Hotel has some spectacular
views of the Calatrava-designed bridge.
Culture vultures – The iconic
Guggenheim Museum (2 Avenida
Abandoibarra) has a fascinating
permanent collection, and two special
exhibitions running throughout October:
‘Installations: Selections from the
Guggenheim Collections’ and ‘Cy
Twombly’, the first retrospective of the
artist’s work to be held in 20 years.
Must eat – Enjoy regional ‘slow food’ at
Abaroa (13 Paseo Campo Volantin, tel.
944 132051). Specialities include cod,
stuffed red peppers and chicken cooked
Basque style.
Must drink – Set in a park near the
Congress building, and looking out
over the river, the
Ibaiberri Bar (Paseo
Abandoibarra s/n) is
the perfect place to
chill out and watch
the world go by.
PLAZA ENSANCHE
With a distinctive village atmosphere,
this quiet area off the bustling Gran
Vía has plenty of bars and shopping.
Sleep soundly – The beautiful
Lopez de Haro Hotel offers comfortable rooms with
classic décor and modern amenities.
Must drink – Check out the theatre
costumes that adorn the walls at Amor
de Madre (1 Calle Obispo Orueta).
Shop til you drop – Osorio (7 Plaza
del Ensanche) is good for unusual gifts.
Pick up a perfect Italian-made umbrella
or a hand-painted Spanish fan here.
ABANDO
The busy area around the Abando
Station is teeming with life and is just
over the river from the historic centre.
Sleep soundly – A good option for the
budget traveller, Hotel Ripa (3 Calle
Ripa, tel. 944 239677, hotel-ripa.com,
doubles from €60) has pleasant rooms
close to the Metro, and the shops.
Culture vultures – Between shopping
and eating, take a minute to pop up into
the Abando Station to see the massive
stained-glass window showing scenes of
traditional Basque life.
Must eat – Feast on seafood and fish
alongside a well-dressed local crowd at
Serantes (16 Calle Licenciado Poza, tel.
944 212129). Try the lobster salad
followed by hake with clams. The
restaurant also has a good wine list.
Must drink – Oozing old-world Moorish
charm, the bar/nightclub Irugia (13 Calle
Colon de Larreategui) has a long list of
beers and cocktails to choose from.
Dance the night away – Rockstar (Plaza
Sagrada Corazón)
pulls in a cooler-thanthou
crowd and is
always packed.
Compiled by Thomas Brisbane
Previous issues for Bilbao
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