Walking, culture and food in Bilbao, Spain including the Guggenheim Museum

The bilbao bus station is next to the San Mames football stadium (home to Athletic Bilbao), from here I began a pleasant walk to the Guggenheim

This is a safer more enjoyable way to access the riverfront walk

The Bilbao riverfront that leads you to the museum used to be a post-industrial wasteland now its a very green space to walk through and enjoy. The Guggenheim Effect refers to the transformation that the Frank Gehry designed building had on Bilbao from 1997 until now. Evaristo Churruca (the Count of Motrico) was a Basque engineer in charge of making the Port of Bilbao one of the most important in Spain.

I recommend walking around the exterior of the building, and climbing up the bridge tower to appreciate the architecture before entering.

After visiting the museum I recommend a break to enjoy the terrace and people watching. The beer, wine and food selection of Basque nouvelle cuisine is exquisite but affordable .

*Free entry on Wednesdays* No slouch of a museum the collection includes works from the 12th century to the contemporary. With an emphasis on Spanish and Dutch masters as well as modern Spanish and Basque artists such as Oteiza, Chillida, Caro, Millares, Tàpies, Saura, Regoyos, Zuloaga, Echevarría, Iturrino, Arteta...

Walk down the main avenue of Bilbao, home to some of the most exclusive shops in Spain to Plaza Mouyua, often known locally as the Plaza Eliptica, Bilbao's Plaza Moyua offers a range of fashion boutiques, landscaped French-style gardens and a central fountain.

A must see cafe/bar/restaurant founded in 1903. Known for its stunning interior design (i would say its a mix of Moorish and Modernist)and murals as well as its famous patrons, Cafe Iruna was voted the best cafe in Spain in 2000.

A lovely steel drawbridge originally built in 1934 which offers great views of the Casco Viejo (Old town) of Bilbao

Its time for lunch and although Bilbao´s Casco Viejo is to be seen you can get a bit lost, so continue along the river to the next bridge

Known as Bilbo Zarra in Basque this is the oldest neighborhood in Bilbao, founded in 1300 its now a hip multicultural example of urban renewal. Wikipedia says its main economical activity is "probably taverns" which is a good thing.

A hip restaurant which caters to a younger professional public but offers excellent food within a traditional Basque cuisine format. Can be quite busy so you might want to call ahead

Anti is a great little "book" store dedicated to the more underground aspects of literature, music, art, comics, and general pop culture. Anti is trying to fight the decline of the brick and mortar bookshop due to the internet, so support the cause if you can and buy something! (ironically you can buy books from their website as well)

As a bookend to a full day head into the Casco Viejo, for some window shopping, people watching and a beer, plenty of hidden squares and cool places to find in this pedestrian medieval neighborhood.