Where to Stay

Bilbao has changed, that cannot be denied. What used to be a gray, industrial city is making way for a modern and cosmopolitan metropolis with numerous cultural attractions. The Guggenheim Museum has been responsible for a good deal of the new attractiveness of the city, but we mustn't forget that Bilbao is the financial nucleus of the north of Spain and has always brought in many visitors to the trade fairs that take place all year long.

A city that receives so many visitors, both those who come looking for culture and those who come looking to do business, should be able to receive and house them properly. Bilbao is up to that task. Traditionally, as far as hotels in Bilbao go, quality has always been more important than quantity; but as tourism is on the rise, more and more hotels are springing up and the old-established places are improving their services.

Bilbao has got one five-star hotel, the López de Haro, and various four-star hotels, such as the Carlton, situated in a historical building which housed the first Basque government, and has had among its guest such luminaries as Einstein and King Alfonso XIII. Another four-star hotel is the Hotel Ercilla, where the stars and bullfighters like to stay. Other hotels worth mentioning are the Indautxu, the Abando and the Villa de Bilbao.

But obviously not everyone who comes to the Biscayan capital will be looking for such luxury. There are quite a few places to stay in the city that, although not in quite the same category, nevertheless offer excellent service and can assure you a comfortable stay without the exorbitant prices. There are various of these two and three-star hotels located throughout the city, among which we could mention the Barcelón Nervión, the Conde Duque, the Deusto and the Barceló Avenida, also recently renovated. All of these hotels are located right in the center of the city, making getting around and shopping an easy task. Also in the center, in the Casco Viejo, is where we'll find all of the hotels, hostels and pensions for budget travelers, and keep in mind that in Bilbao, low prices is by no means the same as bad service.

But Bilbao would be nothing without its environs, the area known as Gran Bilbao, or "Greater Bilbao", made up of the towns that have sprung up along both banks of the Nervión Estuary. The coast with its beaches and spectacular cliffs has its own special charm and some very attractive hotels, such as the Igeretxe, Los Chopos or the Neguri in Getxo. There's also the possibility of looking for a place to stay in an area of historical importance such as Gernika (Guernica) or in typical coastal towns like Mundaka, Lekeitio or Bermeo.

One should not forget the inland possibilities as well. The area known as the Duranguesado, located between the Gorbea, Urkiola and Urdaibai natural parks, is easily accessible by highway to both Bilbao and the airport and provides an excellent opportunity to enjoy nature while staying in luxury surroundings such as the Gran Hotel de Durango, or in more modest but equally interesting places such as the Kurutziaga or the Villa de Elorrio.

This diverse and beautiful city will have something for everyone. All the hotels, in any case, have only one objective—to make their guests feel at home.