What To Do In Bilbao In December 2025 of Conde Duque Bilbao in Bilbao. Official Website.
What to do in Bilbao in December 2025
December is a special month in Bilbao: the city lights up, the River estuary becomes more photogenic than ever, and the cultural calendar fills with exhibitions, concerts and urban routes that invite you to enjoy the city at a different pace. If you are wondering what to do in Bilbao in December, here you will find a complete, up-to-date and genuinely useful guide, whether you are planning a cultural getaway or travelling with family.
Hotel Conde Duque, located opposite the Zubizuri bridge and just a few minutes from the Guggenheim Museum, is the ideal base for exploring the city on foot and experiencing wintertime Bilbao without relying on public transport.
The atmosphere in Bilbao in December
Bilbao in December sits between 8 and 12 degrees, with crisp mornings and sunsets that catch the light over the estuary. Rain tends to arrive as passing showers, but it rarely spoils the day. Instead, it simply nudges you towards a museum, a café break or an impromptu pintxos route.
The liveliest areas include the Ensanche, the Casco Viejo and Abandoibarra, where Christmas shopping, cafés, markets and culture blend into a constant flow of movement.
Christmas lights in Bilbao: where to see them and when they are switched on
The official switch-on usually takes place at the end of November, with an event in Doña Casilda Park, now one of the city’s main hubs for festive lighting. From that moment, Bilbao remains lit every day until 6 January.
The best places to stroll beneath the lights include Gran Vía Don Diego López de Haro, Plaza Moyúa, the area around the Town Hall, the Casco Viejo and the Paseo de Uribitarte, where the estuary reflects each installation and creates a scene that feels unmistakably Bilbaíno: urban, refined and instantly recognisable.
Christmas markets in Bilbao
December brings together several Christmas markets that blend local commerce, Basque crafts and gastronomic treats.
Christmas Market in Doña Casilda Park (2025–2026)
From 2025 onwards, the traditional market on Muelle de Ripa will be relocated to Doña Casilda Park, with wooden stalls, local products, handmade gifts and family activities. It is the perfect setting for an unhurried stroll.
Gabonart in El Arenal
The Gabonart Craft Fair takes over the Paseo del Arenal from mid-December to 5 January. Here you will find ceramics, textiles, jewellery, leatherwork, illustration and a wide range of Basque artisans. With the river on one side and the Casco Viejo on the other, it is an ideal spot to combine browsing with a visit to the Arriaga Theatre or a pintxos break.
Santo Tomás Day (21 December)
On 21 December, Bilbao celebrates Santo Tomás, one of its most popular festivals. El Arenal and Plaza Nueva fill with stalls selling farm produce, cider, honey, cheese, Basque pastries and, above all, the famous talo con txistorra.
It is a lively, noisy and thoroughly local day. The best plan is to arrive early and wander through the market on foot from Hotel Conde Duque, following the estuary towards the Town Hall and reaching the Casco Viejo in just twelve minutes.
Cultural plans in December
Bilbao’s cultural programme in December easily rivals that of much larger cities.
Guggenheim Museum Bilbao
A ten-minute walk from the hotel, the Guggenheim hosts several winter exhibitions well worth seeing whatever the weather. Between Gehry’s architecture, the permanent collection and the seasonal shows, it is unmissable in December.
Museum of Fine Arts
Next to Doña Casilda Park, the Museum of Fine Arts offers a strong permanent collection alongside major temporary exhibitions. Its proximity to the Christmas market makes it ideal for a morning that combines art and shopping.
Azkuna Zentroa
This Philippe Starck–designed building hosts film, exhibitions, talks and family activities within the municipal Kultur Gabonak programme, which brings free performances to different neighbourhoods throughout December.
Arriaga Theatre and Euskalduna Palace
The festive programme features classical ballet, choral concerts, family theatre and special end-of-year performances. It is worth checking listings and booking ahead.
Urban routes: Bilbao on foot
Bilbao is best explored on foot, especially in December. From the hotel, the city unfolds easily.
Walk along the estuary and Zubizuri bridge
Stepping out of the hotel puts you right beside the water. In a matter of minutes you will reach the Guggenheim; walking in the opposite direction takes you to the Town Hall and, shortly afterwards, El Arenal and the Casco Viejo.
Ensanche and bourgeois architecture
From Moyúa towards Abando, rationalist architecture mixes with cafés, bookshops and local shops—perfect for an afternoon of Christmas browsing.
Casco Viejo
Seven narrow streets, arcaded squares and small shops that reveal Bilbao’s most historic and local side.
Basque gastronomy in December
Food is one of Bilbao’s greatest attractions at any time of year, but December gives it an extra touch.
Pintxos remain the perfect introduction: Pozas (Indautxu), Plaza Nueva and the streets of the Casco Viejo are packed with bars capable of solving any craving.
Winter dishes come into their own: bacalao al pil-pil, beans with all the trimmings, porrusalda, squid in their ink and slow-cooked stews that feel particularly comforting after a day exploring the city.
Why choose Hotel Conde Duque for your December stay
Hotel Conde Duque sits in one of the most convenient areas for visiting Bilbao:
Three minutes from the Guggenheim.
A 10–12 minute walk from the Casco Viejo, following the estuary.
Surrounded by pedestrian paths, urban art and night-time views.
With quick access to the tram for effortless travel across the centre.
After a day of markets, museums and sightseeing, a quiet, well-connected hotel with attentive service and knowledge of the city’s cultural agenda is a welcome luxury.
Book your December getaway to Bilbao
December is one of Bilbao’s busiest months: the long bank holiday, Santo Tomás, the markets, school holidays and the cultural programme attract thousands of visitors.
If you already know
what to do in Bilbao in December
, the only thing left is to secure the right place to stay. Check availability at
Hotel Conde Duque
and
to enjoy a festive, cultural and gastronomic Bilbao from a truly strategic location.