Bilbao day trip from San Sebastián: Guggenheim & old quarter

Casco Viejo's Seven Streets, a cathedral, Europe's biggest market, and two hours in the Guggenheim

A full-day guided tour from San Sebastián to Bilbao covers the medieval Casco Viejo quarter, the Santiago Cathedral, the Arriaga Theatre, and the Guggenheim Museum. You walk the historic Siete Calles (Seven Streets), taste pintxos and wine in the old town, tour the indoor Ribera Market, and spend two hours inside the Guggenheim's titanium galleries if you book the private option. Transport, a qualified guide in English, Spanish or Portuguese, and hotel pickup are included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Santiago Cathedralpassing by
2. Arriaga Theatrepassing by
3. Guggenheim Museum2h · entry included

Explore Bilbao's history and art

• Tour old and new Bilbao
• Visit Ribera Market
• Guided visit Santiago Cathedral
• Walk by Arriaga Theatre
• Pintxos lunch in old quarter
• Two-hour Guggenheim Museum visit

The experience

The day starts in Bilbao's Casco Viejo, the medieval heart where the Siete Calles (Seven Streets) still follow their 14th-century grid. Your guide walks you through the quarter, pointing out the San Antón Church and Bridge, then stops at the Ribera Market, Europe's largest indoor market, where you'll see the scale of what feeds the city. The Santiago Cathedral and the Arriaga Theatre anchor the next stretch, each one a landmark the guide explains as you pass.

Pintxos and a glass of wine come next in the old town, a pause built into the itinerary so you taste how locals eat. If you choose the Menú del día option at checkout, a three-course meal replaces this stop. The Guggenheim Museum takes up the final two hours: private tour guests enter with skip-the-line tickets and spend that time inside the galleries. Shared tour guests see the titanium exterior and climb to the bridge viewpoint for photographs, but do not enter the building.

Transport is air-conditioned and departs from your hotel. The guide drives and narrates the route, and bottled water is on board throughout. The whole day runs eight to ten hours from pickup to return.

What’s included

• Fully qualified guide and driver.
• hotel pickup and air-conditioned transport.
• WiFi on board.
• bottled water.
• pintxos and a drink in the old town (or a three-course Menú del día meal if you choose that option at checkout).
• skip-the-line Guggenheim entry tickets for private tours only.

Options for this experience

3 options

Private tourGuide in English, Spanish or Portuguese · 09:00Pickup is included.

Shared tourGuide in English, Spanish or Portuguese · 09:00Shared tour with the Guggenheim, pickup included.

Lunch from the menú del día is included.Guide in English, Spanish or Portuguese · 09:00Private option with a duration extended by about one hour, available only as a private tour. It includes an amazing three-course gourmet lunch and pickup.

You pick the guide language when booking.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesTuesday to SundayDeparts at 09:00

Book up toStart time

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish and Portuguese

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by The good tour company

Is this one for you?Book the private tour if you want to spend two hours inside the Guggenheim's galleries. The shared option lets you see the building's architecture and get the best photo angle from the bridge viewpoint without the museum entry cost.

Traveler reviews

4.50★★★★★★★★★★

8 verified traveler reviews

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish and Portuguese.

What is the Ribera Market like when we visit it?

The Ribera Market is Europe's largest indoor market, a working space where vendors sell fish, produce and prepared foods. Your guide shows you around the market floor as part of the walking tour of the old quarter.

Do I get to go inside the Guggenheim Museum?

It depends on which option you choose at checkout. Private tour guests receive skip-the-line entry tickets and spend two hours inside the galleries. Shared tour guests visit the exterior and the viewpoint on the bridge above it, but do not enter the museum.

Is lunch included, or do we stop to eat on our own?

Pintxos and a drink in the old town are included in the standard itinerary. At checkout you can choose the Menú del día option instead, which replaces the pintxo stop with a three-course meal.

How long does the tour take from start to finish?

The full day runs eight to ten hours, including hotel pickup and return. That time covers the Casco Viejo walk, the market, the cathedral and theatre, the pintxo or meal stop, and two hours at the Guggenheim.