10 Things to Do in Bilbao in Summer

If you are one of those who prefer to escape to cooler places during the summer, this is the ideal getaway for you. The pleasant temperatures Bilbao enjoys during these months make it the perfect destination for those who want to immerse themselves in its wide range of cultural activities without being too hot.

Bilbao is a perfect combination of modernity and traditional Basque culture. It is also a lively city with an exquisite gastronomy where there is no shortage of things to do. So, if you're thinking of visiting this lively capital, read on and I'll tell you the best things to see and do in Bilbao so you can make the most of your trip.

Every year during the month of July one of the most important festivals in the country takes place in Bilbao, the Bilbao BBK Live.

This rock and pop music festival is one of the best known and most popular in Spain. Inside the venue there are up to 12 stages where every summer the most influential national and international artists of the current scene perform.

Green Day, Coldplay, The Killers, Radiohead... are just some of the big names who have performed on its stages, attracting more than 100,000 people.

At night, you can sleep in the rest area, which is divided into two parts. In the first, camping, you can pitch your own tent in a green area where you will have access to some facilities such as a supermarket, toilets and a bar. The second option, glamping, is perfect if you don't want to give up either the fun of camping or the comforts of a hotel. However, the price of your ticket will increase considerably.

Practical information

• Where it is held: in the city of Bilbao. The concerts take place in the Kobetamendi area, on Mount Cobetas.
• When: during the month of July.
• Price: the starting price for a 3-day ticket with camping is usually around €180. The price for a single day would be from €65.

An ideal plan to make the most of the good weather in the summer months is to take a trip to one of the places of interest along the coast of the Basque Country.

One of the main tourist attractions in this area is the islet of San Juan de Gaztelugatxe, and it's not hard to see why. The island of San Juan de Gaztelugatxe is located off the coast of Bizkaia and is an imposing rock formation that rises out of the sea and is connected to the mainland only by a narrow path that crosses the waters to reach it.

It is also considered one of the most beautiful landscapes in the country, and in fact it has been used as the setting for the filming of Game of Thrones, one of the most successful series of the last decade.

Although, since you are leaving Bilbao to explore the surrounding area, I encourage you to take the opportunity to take a tour that includes other nearby places of interest such as the Vizcaya Suspension Bridge, Bermeo or Guernica. To get to these places, you can hire a car in Bilbao, although the most comfortable and recommendable option is to book a guided tour of the coast.

Every August in Bilbao, one of the most important celebrations in the Basque Country takes place, La Semana Grande, a nine-day festival that starts with the mythical chupinazo and the reading of the proclamation.

After both rituals, the mascot of the festivities , Marijaia, appears on the balcony of the Arriaga Theatre and the week of festivities begins. During this celebration, the streets are filled with thousands of people, music is everywhere, shops are open and a series of shows such as parades, fireworks competitions and troupe performances take place.

In addition, stages are also set up in the streets where different well-known artists sing, Basque music concerts are held, and competitions and exhibitions of rural sports are held. On the last day, the mascot Marijaia is burnt as a symbol of the end of the festivities.

Practical information

• Where: in the streets and squares of the centre of Bilbao.
• When: the dates change every year, but the first day is usually around the middle of August.
• Price: only what you spend on food and drink.

During the month of August in Etxebarria Park, every year the barracas are set up, a fairground that is filled with attractions and other facilities for the enjoyment of the visitors.

Etxebarria Park is located next to the historic centre of the city and is the largest park in Bilbao. As it is located on the side of a hill, you will have extraordinary views of the city, and more specifically, of the Arriaga Theatre.

In addition to the attractions, you will also find bars with terraces, churro bars, stalls with games of skill, ice-cream parlours and of course, places for the shows that take place there. All these activities are accompanied by the star of the barracas: the circus, which you can attend to see its magical shows.

A perfect summer plan to relax while taking in the city would be to book a boat tour of the Bilbao estuary. It is becoming more and more common for boats from different companies to take boat tours so that tourists can see Bilbao while taking a pleasant stroll. This way, you can explore the city's architecture as you cruise the calm waters that run through Bilbao.

Generally, the tour starts at the pier in Plaza Pío Baroja and from there you will begin an excursion in which you will see both the buildings and the different bridges that span the river connecting the two parts of the city.

One of the most popular local companies to book your boat trip with is Bilboats, where for an affordable price you can buy a ticket for a ride, hire a private boat for groups and even attend a party on board.

One option if you miss a good swim at the beach is to take a day trip to the beaches of La Salvaje or Plentzia, which are located less than 30 kilometres from Bilbao and offer beautiful scenery and a fantastic place to relax in the sun or try your hand at surfing.

Barinatxe Beach - La Salvaje is just 20 minutes by car from Bilbao and has an extension of up to 750 metres of fine golden sand. One of the peculiarities that make this beach so beautiful is that it is surrounded by high cliffs with vegetation. It also has a nudist area and its waves make it one of the best places for surfing in the area.

From Bilbao, there is a metro line that takes you to Barinatxe beach just over 15 minutes on foot, so it is possible to get there if you do not have your own vehicle.

An alternative to the latter is Plentzia Beach. The easiest way to get there by public transport from Bilbao is to take the metro directly to Plentzia and from there there is a bus that drops you off at the beach itself. With golden sand, calm waters and surrounded by a pleasant promenade, this beach located in a bay is ideal for relaxing and also offers a fantastic plan to do in Bilbao with children.

When summer arrives, the rise in temperature invites us to do refreshing activities, whether in the swimming pool, a river or the sea. In this case, I am going to propose you a very original plan along the Bilbao estuary and that is to rent a jet ski.

We already know that the most typical place to ride this type of motorbike is the beach, but surely you had not imagined that you could see the iconic Guggenheim Museum from the water while you live an exciting adventure.

The rental of the motorbike always includes safety equipment with life jackets and you can take a maximum of two people on it. The most common routes to take while doing this sport are two: the first one crosses the Bilbao estuary, letting you admire the capital from its waters, and the second one would be an excursion between the towns of Getxo and Plentzia.

The average price per hour to rent a jet ski is 120€ per vehicle, that is, 60€ per person if you are two people who are going to ride. In addition, most companies offer guided routes with an instructor, so you won't have to worry about not following the route correctly, as you'll do it with the help of an expert.

Taking advantage of the good weather in the capital of the Basque Country at this time of year, it would be a good idea to take the opportunity to climb up to one of its many viewpoints. What's more, the clear skies at this time of year will allow you to admire the city from the heights with total clarity.

One of the best-known viewpoints is Artxanda, which is located on a hill next to the city. This is also a double viewpoint, as if you look in one direction you can see Bilbao, while from the other side of the mountain you can see the Txorierri Valley.

The most comfortable and fun way to get to the top is to take the Artxanda funicular, which will take you up effortlessly while you enjoy the wonderful views.

Artxanda has become one of the liveliest leisure areas in the city and is also home to some of the most prestigious restaurants in Bilbao. Although if you are a true lover of good gastronomy, I advise you to book a high-level gastronomic tour of Bilbao, where you will have the opportunity to sample Basque cuisine in an exquisite way.

Other viewpoints you can also climb are the Mount Cobetas Viewpoint, the Etxebarria Park Viewpoint or the Solokoetxe Stairs, from where you will have fantastic views of the historic centre of the city.

It's well known that temperatures are cooler in the north of the country than in other parts of Spain, but summer is summer and on the hottest days a visit to the museum could be the perfect way to cool off for a few hours.

Besides, you won't want to leave Bilbao without a visit to the famous Guggenheim Museum, which has become the symbol of the city. After buying your tickets for the museum, you can enjoy the works of the most prestigious artists of the last decades, as well as the impressive architecture of Frank Gehry's building.

The Guggenheim Museum also has its own collection that complements the rest of the collections of Guggenheim institutions and in which some of the most important works of contemporary Basque art are represented.

A highly recommended option is to book a guided tour of the museum, as you will have the opportunity to visit all its rooms accompanied by an expert who will help you understand the meaning of the most important works of this magnificent artistic and cultural universe.

What better plan for a sunny summer morning than a stroll surrounded by beautiful roses, orchids and carnations? If you are lucky enough to be travelling on a Sunday, a stroll through the Flower Market is a fantastic way to enjoy the good weather and the smell of the colourful vegetation.

This market is set up every Sunday morning in the Arenal Park and there you can buy freshly picked flowers and plants from local growers at very good prices. Alternatively, you can simply take a pleasant stroll in a wonderful, lively atmosphere.

After your stroll, I encourage you to continue your tour of the centre while you go on a pintxo tour of Bilbao. Pintxos are the most typical snacks of the Basque Country and consist of small tapas usually served on a piece of bread and come in the size of a bite.

The custom in Bilbao is to take a tour of different bars where you drink**"txikitos**" of wine accompanied by a pintxo. Some of the best pintxo bars in Bilbao are Gure Toki, El Globo or Sorginzulo. Although if you want to sample Bilbao's gastronomy without missing out on anything, the best thing to do is to book a pintxo tour where you will be guided through the best places and told about the history of the city.

Bilbao has a temperature similar to the rest of northern Spain, with a fairly humid climate and rainfall during most of the year, and the skies are usually cloudy for most of the time. In addition, the sky tends to remain cloudy most of the time.

However, temperatures in summer rise slightly, reaching a pleasant average maximum of 24ºC and a minimum of 18ºC, which makes these months the perfect time to visit Bilbao without getting too cold.

Another characteristic of Bilbao's climate in summer is that it is at its driest, which begins approximately in mid-May and ends at the end of September. However, it would be wise to be cautious and pack an umbrella in your suitcase if you are planning a trip to this grey-sky city.

Despite being only a few kilometres from the coast, Bilbao is not known for being a popular destination for those in search of a beach holiday. However, this time of year is considered to be the peak tourist season in the Biscayan capital. Every summer, a wave of tourists travel to Bilbao in search of its many fiestas and festivals, or to escape the high temperatures in other parts of the country.

The city is particularly lively during these months, so it is not surprising that they are also the busiest months for tourism. Inevitably, this means that prices go up. So, if you decide to visit Bilbao during the summer months, I strongly recommend that you book your trip in advance, to avoid running out of options and also to get a cheaper price.

The most important thing to know about what to pack before you go on a trip is to take into account both the weather and the kind of plans you have in mind. To help you with this task, here is a list of the essentials for this trip:

• Comfortable shoes: the best way to get to know a city well is to walk around it and for that it is essential to wear comfortable shoes that can easily withstand a whole day of long walks.
• Light clothing: to visit Bilbao in summer, you should bring light clothing such as short-sleeved shirts. However, don't forget that temperatures in this part of the country do not rise excessively during these months, so it is a good idea to take some trousers and long-sleeved shirts, although not too thick.
• Warm clothes: nights in Bilbao tend to be cool, even in summer. Therefore, you should take some warm clothes to keep warm.
• Sun cream: although the sun remains hidden most of the time, a cloudy sky does not guarantee the safety of our skin, especially if we plan to spend the whole day outdoors. That's why I recommend that you always take sunscreen on your travels, regardless of the weather forecast.