Bilbao Cruise Holidays
For far too long, the beautiful city of Bilbao was a relatively unknown secret of the Basque region but that changed with the Frank Gehry’s Guggenheim Museum which put the city firmly on the tourist map.
Even if the iconic Guggenheim Museum isn’t to your taste, there is lot son offer to visitors as Bilbao is a thriving city set along the banks of the Nervion River that features a good mix of historical sites and architecture coupled with stunning scenery and modern attractions.
The Gran Via and Alamadea Mazarredo show of the wealth off the city along long and wide boulevards whilst the city old town is the place to sit, have a bite to eat and watch the world go by.
From a cruising point of view, Bilbao is one of the most popular destinations for cruises lines operating out of the UK with many lines offering calls to the port on itineraries to the Canaries, to the Western Med and of the Iberian Peninsula whilst there are also numerous cruises offered where Bilbao is the stand out and key port for an itinerary of France and Spain.
Cruises To Bilbao
Bilbao Cruise Guide
Here are CruiseHols we love to cruise and we love explore new places, so we know just what you are looking for in a guide to visiting Bilbao on a cruise and we bring you all of the information that you need.
If you are at the planning stage of your next cruise and you are trying to decide whether an itinerary calling into the popular Basque tourist destination is for you, our guide will help make that decision easier.
On the other hand, if you have already booked a cruise that features a stop at the port and are looking to make the most of your time onshore, our guide will help you to do just that.
Type of Cruises Available
When it comes to visiting the port on a cruise from the United Kingdom, there is lots of choice as the majority of cruise lines that operate out of these shores will offer itineraries that call into Bilbao.
There are also opportunities to visit the port on longer cruises heading across the Atlantic as a number of transatlantic cruises use the ports positions in the Bay of Biscay as a great stopping off point on either before or after the long days at sea.
Another option is visit the port on a cruise out of one of the major European cruise ports, such as Barcelona, Warnemunde or Copenhagen but thanks to the great options on No Fly cruises, that is the type of cruise the majority of Brits will choose.
The majority of itineraries calling into the port are for holidays heading further south to the Canary Islands, the Western Mediterranean or for cruises to the Iberian Peninsula although there are a number of lines that also offer cruises where Bilbao is the main reason for heading there with other stops been across the border in France.
Bilbao Cruise Port Location
Although the port is located at Biscay Bay, around 10 miles from the city centre of Bilbao, there is a small beach with walking distance whilst there is also a small funicular for hill top views over the ort and coast in the nearby district of Gexto.
If you want to visit and explore Bilbao on your own, there are a couple of underground stations (Aiboa and Gobela) that are around a 25 minute walk from the Termianl de Cruceros (Cruise Terminal) but most will use shuttle buses offered by the cruise lines to head into the centre and explore all that Bilbao has to offer.
Bilbao Attractions
Bilbao is a fantastic place for tourists to visit as not only does it offer everything you expect from a Spanish city, but lots you may not.
A lot of that is down to its location in the Basque region, which draws from Spanish and French cultures to create one of its own and the fact that the city has grown incredibly quickly over the past few decades.
The main headline making attraction for the city is the Guggenheim Museum which features some of the world’s greatest pieces of classic and modern art. Away from the queues of the Guggenheim, the cities Fine Arts Museum is a great place to head for arts lovers.
The Plaza Neuvo is the vibrant hear of the city’s old town which is also where the cities cathedral (the Basilica of Begona) and Bilbao Basque Museum can be found.
The beautiful Casilda Iturrizar is a traditional city park features monuments, a lake, fountains and lots of open space to enjoy time relaxing.
If it is mouth watering food and drink that in Spain that is one of the key attractions for you the Casco Viejo district is a great place to find independent bars, restaurant, and cafes or if you just want to grab quick and cheap eat, the La Ribera Market is the place to head.
Bilbao Shorex
Although Bilbao is a great place to spend time, the fact that it appears on so many itineraries can mean that cruisers visit the port time after time, so if you find that you would like to head further afield on your shore day, the great news is that there are also a number of top day out available to book.
Arguably the most popular destination for a shore excursion is to nearby city of San Sebastian on the Spanish/France border whilst Pamplona, home of the Bull run, can also be reached on a coach trip.
Another top trip is to the port city of Santander although it should also be said that for many, simply visiting Bilbao is an excursion as a shuttle is needed for those not wanting to use public transport.
Best Time To Visit
The main cruising season for Bilbao is March to November and whilst it is a great place to visit at any time, we would recommend the early summer months of May/June or September as there are still warm and relatively dry enough to enjoy walking around the city and taking in all that it has to offer but without the need to get out of the sun and head in doors that you feel if you visit in August.
The city is also popular for local visitors to enjoy the beaches and attraction and that makes it crowded during school holidays and at big festival days, so we would recommend avoiding the port in August, if possible.
Transport
Transport in the city is simple to use, clean and safe but best of all it ranks right up there as one of the most expansive- especially for a city the size of Bilbao.
The Bilbao Metro offers regular services from the port area to the city centre whilst a modern tram system links the centre with many to attractions including the Guggenheim Museum and the Sam Mames Stadium.
The city also offers the chance to take a Funicular to the top of the one of the hills surrounding the city for the chance to take in the views, enjoy a walk and even visit a hilltop restaurant.
Bilbao Cruises From UK
If you are wanting to visit the Basque city of Bilbao on a direct cruise from the United Kingdom, the great news is that there are lots of options to do just that.
A number of lines visit the port on cruises of the Canary Islands, the Western Mediterranean, the Iberian Peninsula and just cruises to the north of Spain and France.
That means there is likely to be a line you like, a ship you want to sail on and an itinerary that interests you that call into Bilbao on a cruise from the UK.
Bilbao Cruise From Southampton
If you would like to cruise to Bilbao from the UK, we would recommend starting your holiday search for ships leaving the port of Southampton as you will have the widest range of ships, lines, and itineraries to choose from.
