Bilbao from the UK: what a trip really costs
What a day costs in Bilbao, when to go, the visa for British travellers and the sights not to miss. Every figure comes from Trip720's checked data, with its source. Updated 21 Oct 2026.
Plan my Bilbao tripDay to day in Bilbao, per person
| Style | Food | With transport |
|---|---|---|
| Street food and markets | £22 | £27 |
| A balanced mix | £40 | £45 |
| Mostly restaurants | £48 | £53 |
- Local transport: about £5 a day. Taxi: £3 to start, then £0.80 a km.
- Cooking for yourself: about £14 a day for food.
- Tipping: about 5% where service is good.
Your stay, flights and activities come on top: the planner prices them for your dates. Sources: livingcost.org, en.wikivoyage.org, euskadi.eus; in GBP at today's rate.
When to go
12°F
12°M
13°A
15°M
17°J
20°J
23°A
23°S
22°O
20°N
15°D
13°
The most pleasant months are May to September. July is the driest month (35 mm of rain) and November the wettest (146 mm).
Bars: rain each month; green: the most pleasant months. Numbers: average daytime high. Source: NASA POWER climatology.
Best time to visit Spain, place by placeCompare: Spain or Portugal · Spain or Italy · France or Spain · Spain or Greece
Visa for British travellers
No visa needed for a holiday
Official source: gov.uk, checked 2026-10-01. Rules change: your plan checks your own passport when you build it.
Not to miss in Bilbao
Guggenheim Museum Bilbaomuseum · half a dayGehry's titanium landmark on the river; Jeff Koons' flower Puppy outside and Louise Bourgeois' spider Maman on the riverside
Mercado de la Riberamarket · a couple of hoursRiverside covered market of 1929 with a gastro-bar floor; mornings except Sunday for the produce stalls
Museo de Bellas Artesmuseum · a couple of hoursOld masters to Basque modern art; often rated above the Guggenheim's permanent collection
Azkuna Zentroa (Alhóndiga)landmark · a couple of hoursPhilippe Starck's conversion of a 1909 wine warehouse; 43 different columns in the atrium and a glass-floored rooftop pool
Casco Viejo (Siete Calles old town)old town · half a dayThe seven medieval streets, the cathedral and Plaza Nueva; the densest pintxo bars are here
- Artxanda funicular and viewpointviewpoint · a couple of hours
Three-minute funicular from near the Zubizuri bridge to the hilltop park with the classic panorama over the city and Guggenheim
Vizcaya Bridge (Puente Colgante)bridge · a couple of hoursUNESCO-listed 1893 transporter bridge at the river mouth in Getxo; ride the gondola across or take the lift to the walkway on top
San Juan de Gaztelugatxeisland · half a dayHermitage on a rocky islet reached by a 241-step stone footbridge, 35 km north-east; free timed ticket required in summer; the Dragonstone of Game of Thrones
- Pintxos crawl in Plaza Nuevaexperience · a couple of hours
Guided or self-guided bar hop: one pintxo and a txakoli per bar around the arcaded square; Sunday morning flea market
- Day trip to San Sebastián by busexperience · a full day
One hour by coach from Termibus; La Concha bay and the old-town pintxo bars; guided food tours available
From our research of travel guides; ticket prices from Tiqets when we found them. Photos: Wikimedia Commons, free licences.
Questions travellers ask
How much does a day in Bilbao cost?
Food and getting around come to about £27 a person a day eating street food, £45 with a balanced mix and £53 eating mostly in restaurants, before your stay and activities.
When is the best time to visit Bilbao?
The most pleasant months are May to September. July is the driest month (35 mm of rain) and November the wettest (146 mm); daytime highs run from 12 to 23 °C over the year.
Do British travellers need a visa for Spain?
No visa needed for a holiday. Checked on gov.uk on 2026-10-01; rules change, so check again before you book.
What should I not miss in Bilbao?
Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, Mercado de la Ribera, Museo de Bellas Artes, Azkuna Zentroa (Alhóndiga), Casco Viejo (Siete Calles old town).
Your whole Bilbao trip, priced from your door
Trip720 adds the flights from the UK, the stays, transfers, food, activities and the visa for your dates and budget, home to home.
Plan my Bilbao trip