RunCity

Bilbao on foot: a self-guided walking route

This route takes you past 10 of Bilbao's best-known sights, including Zubizuri Bridge, Guggenheim Museum, Plaza Moyúa and more. It is about 6.5 km on foot, roughly 2.5 hours at an easy pace with short stops. Follow the list on your own, or play it as a free GPS checkpoint game with RunCity and race the clock on the Bilbao leaderboard.

  • 10Stops
  • about 6.5 kmDistance
  • 2.5 hoursWalking
  • about 59 minRunning
Play Bilbao in RunCity

Free during launch. Runs in your phone's browser; the app is in English, German and Hungarian.

Bilbao
Photo: Unknown author · CC BY-SA 4.0

Bilbao's route follows the river Nervión from the Guggenheim into the old town, about 6.5 km, with a hill at each end. It starts at the bonus stop, the Artxanda viewpoint, reached by a funicular from the city, with the whole river bend below. Down at the water, Calatrava's white Zubizuri footbridge leads to the titanium curves of the Guggenheim Museum, then into the Ensanche to Plaza Moyúa and Azkuna Zentroa, an old wine warehouse with a forest of coloured columns.

The Arriaga Theatre marks the edge of the Casco Viejo, the old town, where Plaza Nueva is lined with pintxo bars. The Gothic Santiago Cathedral and the ship-shaped Ribera Market follow, and the route ends with the stairs up to the Begoña Basilica above the old town. The Mallona stairs are steep; the Begoña lift from the old town is the easy way up.

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Download the route as GPX (for Komoot, Strava or a watch)

The stops

A suggested order. In the game you can visit them in any order.

  1. Artxanda Viewpoint

    Artxanda Viewpoint Bonus Photo

    The whole city and the river bend seen from the hill.

    Photo: Unknown author · CC BY-SA 3.0

  2. Zubizuri Bridge

    Zubizuri Bridge Photo

    The white arched footbridge with its glass deck.

    Photo: Didier Descouens · CC BY-SA 3.0

  3. Guggenheim Museum

    Guggenheim Museum Photo

    The titanium curves of the museum seen from the riverside.

    Photo: Naotake Murayama · CC BY 2.0

  4. Plaza Moyúa

    Plaza Moyúa

    The oval garden square with the grand buildings around it.

    Photo: _ion from Donostia, Euskal Herria · CC BY 2.0

  5. Azkuna Zentroa

    Azkuna Zentroa Photo

    The old wine warehouse with its forest of coloured columns.

    Photo: Tomas Fano · CC BY-SA 2.0

  6. Arriaga Theatre

    Arriaga Theatre Photo

    The neo-Baroque theatre front beside the river.

    Photo: Pedro J Pacheco · CC BY-SA 3.0 es

  7. Plaza Nueva

    Plaza Nueva

    The arcaded square of the old town, full of pintxo bars.

    Photo: Unknown author · Public domain

  8. Santiago Cathedral

    Santiago Cathedral Photo

    The Gothic cathedral with its tall spire.

    Photo: José Luis Filpo Cabana · CC BY 3.0

  9. Ribera Market

    Ribera Market Photo

    The long market building, shaped like a ship along the river.

    Photo: PA · CC BY-SA 4.0

  10. Begoña Basilica

    Begoña Basilica Photo

    The hilltop basilica above the old town, after the stairs.

    Photo: Zarateman · CC0

Play Bilbao in RunCity

Leaderboard

    Questions

    Can you see Bilbao on foot in one day?

    Yes. The 10 stops on this route add up to about 6.5 km, roughly 2.5 hours at an easy pace with short stops.

    Is this self-guided walking tour free?

    Yes. The route and map on this page are free, and the RunCity game for Bilbao is free during launch.

    How does the RunCity game work in Bilbao?

    Open Bilbao in RunCity, walk to a stop and tap Validate: your phone's GPS confirms you are there. Some stops also ask for a photo. Timed runs go on the Bilbao leaderboard.

    Where does the route start?

    This page suggests starting at Artxanda Viewpoint and finishing at Begoña Basilica. In the game you can take the stops in any order.

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