Discover how to get around Bilbao without a car, which areas to explore on foot and where to stay to enjoy the city comfortably from a central location.

If you’re spending two or three days in Bilbao, here’s something worth knowing: you’ll probably need a car far less than you think.

The city is easy to explore on foot and, above all, it has one major advantage when you’re visiting for the first time: the river helps you find your way around. Choose the right place to stay and you can leave the hotel, start walking along the water and find yourself within minutes of the Zubizuri, the Guggenheim, Bilbao City Hall, El Arenal or the Old Town.

We know this well. We’re based on Campo Volantín, right beside the river, and every day we see our guests step outside ready to discover Bilbao without a car.

So, if you’re planning a short break and wondering how best to organise it, here’s how we would do it.

Do you need a car to visit Bilbao?

To explore Bilbao itself, generally speaking, no.

Many of the places you’re likely to have on your list are within very manageable walking distance of one another. And when your legs decide they’ve done enough for the day — it happens — you can always use the metro, tram or Bilbobus.

A car can be useful if you want to make certain day trips from Bilbao and explore other parts of Bizkaia. But if your plan is simply to spend a few days getting to know the city, we wouldn’t organise the whole trip around having one.

You can start the morning near the Guggenheim, continue walking along the river, head towards El Arenal and finish with a few pintxos in the Old Town without needing any transport at all.

And when you’re on holiday, that makes a real difference.

Bilbao on foot: let the river be your map

If it’s your first time here and you’re not quite sure which way to head, we have an easy tip: find the river.

We won’t tell you it’s impossible to get lost — a few Old Town streets may make you question your sense of direction — but following the water is one of the easiest ways to start understanding Bilbao.

From our location on Campo Volantín, you can follow a very natural route connecting several of the city’s best-known landmarks.

No complicated itinerary. No rushing. And, most importantly, no wondering where you left the car.

From the Guggenheim to the Zubizuri

The area around the Guggenheim is one of those places worth exploring slowly.

Alongside the museum itself, you’ll find Puppy by the entrance, the Maman sculpture beside the river, La Salve Bridge and the whole Abandoibarra promenade.

Continue along the water towards Campo Volantín and the Isozaki Towers will soon appear, followed by the Zubizuri.

Designed by Santiago Calatrava, the bridge is one of Bilbao’s most recognisable sights and directly connects this part of the city with Campo Volantín.

If you’re planning to visit the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, remember to ask us at reception. We can help you arrange your tickets, subject to availability.

From the Zubizuri to City Hall and El Arenal

Once you reach the Zubizuri, carrying on through Bilbao is very straightforward.

Follow Campo Volantín along the river. You’ll pass almost directly in front of City Hall and, a few minutes later, you’ll notice the atmosphere beginning to change as you approach El Arenal.

It doesn’t really feel as though you’re following a tourist route. And that’s exactly the point.

You’re simply walking through Bilbao.

El Arenal is one of those places we all seem to pass through sooner or later. From here you’ll see the Arriaga Theatre and, just behind it, the Old Town begins.

And from El Arenal into the Old Town

At this point, our advice changes: stop thinking about the map.

Head into the streets of the Old Town, make your way towards Plaza Nueva and wander around the Seven Streets.

You might come across a shop you hadn’t planned to visit. You may end up walking into a bar because the pintxos on the counter look far too good to ignore.

That’s part of discovering Bilbao too.

And if you enjoy these little detours, you can continue exploring some of Bilbao’s hidden gems that are easy to miss on a first visit.

Can you really explore Bilbao on foot?

Yes, although we’re not going to pretend absolutely everything is five minutes away.

The city centre, the riverside area, Abando, the Guggenheim and the Old Town are particularly easy to explore on foot. The distances make it possible to organise much of your day around walking and move naturally from one plan to the next.

That said, Bilbao also has neighbourhoods further from the centre and, yes, we have hills. Some of them are quite serious.

That’s where public transport comes in.

In our view, the best way to get around Bilbao is to combine both: walk whenever the route makes sense and use the metro, tram or bus when it genuinely makes things easier.

You can even swap four wheels for two. If you fancy something different, you can also explore Bilbao by bike, following much of the river route.

How to get around Bilbao when you don’t fancy walking any further

At some point in the day, your feet may decide they’ve contributed quite enough.

That’s fine.

Bilbao’s public transport lets you keep exploring without needing your own vehicle.

The metro: useful when you want to go a little further

Metro Bilbao is quite easy to understand, even on your first visit.

If your break is focused mainly on the city centre, you may not need to use it very often, but it’s particularly handy for reaching neighbourhoods further out, connecting with other towns in the metropolitan area or heading towards the coast.

Our advice is simple: don’t build the entire trip around the metro. Keep it as an ally for when you want to extend your plans a little further.

The tram: practical for following the city’s main axis

The tram is also very convenient for certain urban journeys and links different points of interest without requiring long transfers.

It can be particularly useful after you’ve already spent several hours walking and would rather save your legs on the way back.

Bilbobus, for places the metro doesn’t reach

Then there’s Bilbobus.

The city’s bus network complements the metro and tram very well, particularly when you want to reach areas that aren’t directly served by either.

You don’t need to learn the network before you arrive. If you’re unsure how to get somewhere, ask us at reception. That’s what we’re here for.

How do you get from Bilbao Airport to the city centre without a car?

Your Bilbao without a car experience can begin as soon as you land.

There is a bus service connecting the airport with the city, so there’s no need to hire a vehicle when you arrive.

Once you reach the centre, you can complete the final part of the journey on foot or use public transport depending on where you’re staying.

If you’re heading towards our area, for example, you can walk down towards the river from Moyúa and cross the Zubizuri to reach Campo Volantín.

Before travelling, we always recommend checking the latest airport bus times and stops, as these can change.

You can also check how to get to Hotel Conde Duque before you leave and choose the route that best suits your arrival.

What if you arrive in Bilbao by train?

If you arrive at Abando Station, you already have a head start.

You step out practically in the heart of Bilbao. Gran Vía is right there, and from the station you can walk towards El Arenal, continue to the river or connect with other areas by public transport.

Depending on your luggage and where you’re staying, you can either walk or use transport for that first journey.

Then it’s bags down and off you go.

Where to stay in Bilbao if you don’t want to depend on a car

Here we do have a fairly clear recommendation.

If you’re planning to go without a car, pay close attention to location before booking your hotel.

Being close to the river, having a nearby bridge to move easily between both banks and being able to walk towards both the Guggenheim and the Old Town can make a significant difference to your stay.

And that’s where Campo Volantín comes in.

We’re right here, opposite the river and next to the Zubizuri. From Hotel Conde Duque Bilbao, you can organise much of your stay on foot and use public transport only when you genuinely need it.

If you’re looking for a hotel in central Bilbao, our location lets you stay close to the city’s activity while returning to a pleasant riverside area at the end of the day.

Then all that remains is choosing your room in Bilbao, dropping off your luggage and heading out.

Is it worth bringing a car to Bilbao?

It depends on the type of trip you have in mind.

If you’re mainly coming to discover Bilbao, you can easily organise a short break without your own vehicle.

If you want to spend several days exploring the coast, visiting towns around Bizkaia or heading to certain natural areas, having a car may give you greater freedom.

In that case, we would recommend using it for those excursions and leaving it parked while you explore Bilbao itself.

That way, you get the best of both options.

If you do come by car, park it and forget about it

Visiting Bilbao without depending on a car doesn’t necessarily mean arriving without one.

You can drive here, park and spend the rest of your stay walking.

At Hotel Conde Duque we have hotel parking in the adjoining building. It is underground and monitored by CCTV. Spaces are subject to availability on arrival, and our reception team will explain how to access the car park and where to leave your vehicle.

After that, you can put the keys away.

Bilbao is waiting outside.

An ordinary morning in Bilbao without a car

Imagine waking up on Campo Volantín.

You step outside the hotel and the river is right in front of you.

Cross the Zubizuri and continue towards the Guggenheim. Walk around Abandoibarra, then follow the water back towards City Hall before carrying on to El Arenal.

Since you’re already there, head into the Old Town.

Plaza Nueva is just around the corner, and suddenly you’re faced with a decision far more important than choosing between the metro and the bus: which pintxos bar to start with.

You haven’t searched for parking.

You haven’t checked where you’re allowed to drive.

You haven’t even had to think too much about the route.

That’s exactly what we like about exploring Bilbao on foot: one place often leads naturally to the next.

So, what is the best area to stay in Bilbao without a car?

If it’s your first visit and you want to walk as much as possible, we would look for somewhere close to the river, well connected to the centre and within a reasonable walking distance of both the Old Town and the Guggenheim.

It’s also useful to have public transport nearby for those moments when you want to venture a little further.

Campo Volantín offers precisely that.

From here, you can start the morning beside the river, cross the Zubizuri, walk towards the Guggenheim or head in the opposite direction towards City Hall and the Old Town.

And that is probably the best answer we can give if you’re thinking about visiting Bilbao without a car.

You don’t need to plan every journey before you arrive.

Choose a good location, pack comfortable shoes and allow yourself to wander a little.

Bilbao begins the moment you step outside the door.