The largest city in Spain’s Basque Country is Bilbao. It stands near Spain’s north-eastern coast, just eight miles inland from the Bay of Biscay. If you hire a car in Bilbao you’ll soon find that the city lies between two small mountain ranges on both sides of the estuary of the River Nervionm, with the river leading to the busy port of Bilbao. It’s a thriving modern centre for commerce and culture, and its road connections are good. For example, the city of Santander is a 60-mile drive to the west, while San Sebastian is 60 miles east and Madrid is 250 miles to the south.
Bilbao’s number one visitor attraction is the Guggenheim Museum. This futuristic architectural wonder has become a symbol of the city and American Frank Gehry designed this strange curved riverside structure made of glass and titanium. Inside is an acclaimed modern art gallery. If you have a hire car in Bilbao it’s easy to find the Guggenheim and the nearby Old Quarter too. This is where you’ll discover the city’s historic highlights, like the great gothic Cathedral of St James. And don’t miss the chance to take a short drive to Mount Artxanda. You’ll find the best views of Bilbao from the top.
