Bilbao?

[Steven Light]

What's Bilbao like? Is it worth a side trip from the CF? I've heard great things about the museum... Thanks.

 

[Peter Fransiscus]

In Bilbao you have several musea .
It's a nice town to visit.
Wish you well,Peter.

 

[nycwalking]

Go: try to see Bilbao before or after walk. Puppy is adorable, museum sits next to a river not to mention exhibits within, and city is quite nice.

 

[Deleted member 3000]

Bilbao is a great city, but the Guggenheim Museum was a disappointment to me.

 

[C clearly]

I flew into Bilbao, spent a night and part of the next day there, visited the Guggenheim (the outside was more interesting than the inside), admired the scenic city, got a bus to Pamplona, and then made my way to start at SJPP. That was just right for me. Bilbao is a nice city to visit, but I wouldn't detour from the Camino.

 

[caminka]

I very much liked bilbao and took an extra day there. (also because I had a really sore neck.) it felt easy-going and friendly. I toured several museums (museo vasco, archaeological museum, diocesan museum), the cathedral, and strolled around some modern architecture (guggen, of course, but also an odd glassy bank, a few modernist houses, and palacio alhondiga).
it helps if you stay in one of the albergues or hostels in the centre. albergue claret enea was very nicely positioned, and very friendly.

 

[jsalt]

I've heard great things about the museum...

I had also heard that the outside is more impressive than what is inside . . . . so I didn't go inside (mainly because the entrance fee is not cheap) . . . . apparently I didn't miss anything, as my camino buddies later told me, it was nothing special. I guess if there is an exhibition on at the time that you would be interested in seeing, then it would be worth it. I don't remember anything else about Bilbao that is worth a detour.
Jill

 

[Ahhhs]

As always to each their own, but I loved Bilbao.
I enjoyed the museum inside and out and it was lovely at night. A beautiful spot to walk around.
Had a glass of wine at the outside cafe there and listened to some nice live music with the locals.
Great photo opps. Wouldn't miss it.
YMMV.

 

[julia-t]

Fantastic pinxtos in the old town of Bilbao. Every time I visit Bilbao I make sure to do a bar crawl and gobble all these amazing things and eat myself silly! With several glasses of delicious Txacoli wine as well.

The Gugenheim is OK if you enjoy stuff like 'art is the spinach that transforms life' (jeff Koons).

The Zubizuri bridge is spectacular and beautiful. The exterior of the football stadium is mesmerising.

I like Bilbao a lot.

 

[stevov]

I understand they have an amazing week long fiesta in August

http://www.cuandopasa.com/index.php?v=v14002j

 

[Stivandrer]

I used Bilbao as a de-compressing stage before getting home.
It´s vibrant, it´s colourful.
Had 5 days left and had a ticket on a fixed date to fly out out Bilbao, stayed in ther old part of the city, which I did not regret.
What a life, and what good grub !
I had spent the entire Camino not understanding evrything in Spanish and not being understood either, but here the city is updated every young person speaks multiple languages and, like I said the colours are great...
Don´t miss...

 

[TangoBravo]

What's Bilbao like? Is it worth a side trip from the CF? I've heard great things about the museum... Thanks.

Hey Steven, my thoughts are a bit skewed. I agree with what most are telling you, go there before or after your Camino. You might enjoy it more. I was in total solitude for like 8 or 9 days on Camino Norte, when I arrived in Bilbao. After eating lunch across the river from the Guggenheim, the amount of people bustling around me got to be a bit overwhelming. I continued my Camino and walked on out of there.

 

[Camino Chrissy]

I really enjoyed Bilbao, but I was walking the Norte, so it was a no brainer to spend a little extra time there. I was blown away by the exterior of the Guggenheim and got some awesome photos in the morning when the sun peered out right after raining, making the lighting stunning. I also chose to visit the interior of the museum and although impressed by a few artistic displays, I was overall slightly disappointed.

 

[Kanga]

I think it is the luck of the draw as to whether there is a good exhibition on at the Guggenheim. The first time I visited there was one I loved, a large collection of exquisite haute couture. But nothing since then that has tempted me. My daughter - with a fine arts masters - would probably disagree.

 

[tpmchugh]

What's Bilbao like? Is it worth a side trip from the CF? I've heard great things about the museum... Thanks.

Bilbao is beautiful but by bus, it is quite a few hours from Pamplona/Logrono/Burgos. Have flown in there twice then took the bus to both Burgos and Pamplona. If you get there, ignore that flowery dog, walk on down the road by the river and you will come to a floral elephant. No-one ever talks about that but it is there

 

[Fred Bovenkamp]

Bilbao is definitely worth a visit, but San Sebastian is a must!!!!!

 

[julia-t]

<<Bilbao is beautiful but by bus, it is quite a few hours from Pamplona/Logrono/Burgos>>

Not much more than 2 hours from any of these cities. I've taken the bus to or from all. The train takes longer.