A Complete Guide to Bilbao With Kids

Bilbao was always going to be a meaningful stop for me and coming back with my family was at the top of my list for our summer 2026 travel plans.

I first came here in 2011 when I studied abroad at the University of Deusto, and it was one of the places that really shaped how I view the world. Coming back fifteen years later with my husband and our two boys, I found a completely different version of Bilbao, but in some ways I loved it even more.

What surprised me most was how naturally the city worked with young kids. Bilbao is not a touristy city, by any means. It is rich in culture and food, is filled with passionate and proud locals, and has treasures around every corner. The best part about the city was how genuinely kid-friendly it is. Trust me when I say we ate well, took in all the sights and sounds, and stopped at every playground the city has to offer, and still it never felt like we had to choose between doing something for the boys and seeing the city for ourselves.

Where to Stay in Bilbao

We stayed at The Artist Grand Hotel of Art, directly across from the Guggenheim, and I would absolutely stay in this area again with kids. The hotel itself was beautiful, but the location was what made such a difference. We could walk outside and immediately be along the river, at the Guggenheim, or heading toward the center of Bilbao. With a stroller and two young kids, not having to start every outing with transportation made the whole trip easier.

For families, I’d start around Guggenheim and Abandoibarra. It is spacious, walkable, and a little quieter, yet still very central. Casco Viejo is another great option if you want to be right in the historic center, surrounded by pintxos bars and old streets. I loved spending time there, but with younger kids I preferred staying near the Guggenheim and walking into the busier parts of the city when we wanted them.

What to Do in Bilbao With Kids

Guggenheim Museum Bilbao

I’ve been to the Guggenheim plenty of times over the years, so I already knew I loved it. What I didn’t expect was how much the boys would love it too.

It’s actually such an easy museum to do with kids because there’s so much to see and experience. Before you even walk inside, there’s Puppy, the giant flower-covered dog out front, Maman, the enormous spider along the river, and the building itself, which looks completely different depending on where you’re standing.

Inside, we didn’t worry about following a certain route or trying to see everything. We let the boys lead. If something caught their attention, we went toward it. If they wanted to stop, we stopped. If they were ready to move on, we moved on.

That’s really how we try to approach travel with them in general. It’s very Montessori in that sense: give them the environment, let them explore it, and follow what naturally interests them.

They especially loved Richard Serra’s The Matter of Time, where you can walk through these massive curved steel pieces and see how the space changes as you move through it. They also loved Yayoi Kusama’s Infinity Mirrored Room, with mirrors and lights reflecting all around you, making it feel like the room goes on forever.

There are also huge sculptures, installations, videos and unexpected spaces throughout the museum, so there was always something different to catch their attention.

At three and five, I wasn’t worried about whether they understood contemporary art. I just wanted them to look around, ask questions and be curious. And they were.

The Guggenheim Riverfront + Sprinklers

Almost every day, at some point, we ended up back along the Guggenheim Riverfront and stopped at the sprinklers outside so the boys could cool off. They aren’t part of the museum itself, just part of the outdoor public space around it, but on a hot summer day they were perfect.

It became part of our daily routine while we were in Bilbao. We would grab an iced coffee at the café next to the fountains and the kids would run around before taking a nap.

Funicular de Artxanda

The Funicular de Artxanda is an easy win with kids. The ride is short and fun, and once you’re at the top, there are beautiful views over Bilbao and the surrounding mountains. There is plenty of room for kids to move around too. We even found a soccer field and played for a bit before heading back down.

Casco Viejo

If you’re looking for storybook Spain, you’ll find it in Casco Viejo, the old part of town. It is where most people hang out, grab a bite to eat, and wander around, popping in and out of shops. Here you’ll find the Siete Calles and Plaza Nueva, two popular parts of Casco Viejo. Most of it is pedestrian, making it easy for kids to run around and explore.

Mercado de la Ribera

Mercado de la Ribera is a great place to stop while you’re exploring Casco Viejo. The mercado is one of the largest in the world and spans 3 floors, selling everything from fish and fresh produce to meat, cheese, and more. It’s a must-go, especially with kids. Let them look around and pick something to try.

Parks + Playgrounds

Bilbao has plenty of parks and playgrounds, and we used them a lot.

We didn’t plan an official “park day.” If we passed a playground while walking, we stopped. Twenty minutes of running around usually meant everyone was happier to keep exploring afterward.

Doña Casilda Park is one of the larger green spaces, but many other play areas are scattered throughout the city too.

Catch an Athletic Club Game at San Mamés

If Athletic Club is playing at home while you’re in Bilbao, a match at San Mamés Stadium would be such a fun way for kids to experience Basque culture.

Athletic Club is deeply tied to Bilbao and the Basque Country, so this is more than just a soccer game. If there isn’t a match during your trip, you can also tour the stadium and museum, including areas like the dressing room, pitch, and players’ bench.

University of Deusto

I studied at the University of Deusto in 2011, so bringing my husband and the boys back there was something I really wanted to do. Walking through the university with them was surreal. It represented such a different part of my life, and suddenly I was there with all three of them.

It probably won’t be on everyone else’s Bilbao itinerary, but that’s part of travel, too. Not every meaningful stop needs to be in a guidebook.

Where to Eat in Bilbao

Bilbao is a food city, and I would treat eating as part of the experience rather than something you squeeze in between attractions.

With young kids, pintxos actually work incredibly well. You can order one or two things, eat, have a drink, and move on instead of committing everyone to a long dinner.

Plaza Nueva + Casco Viejo

This is the easiest place to start for a classic Bilbao pintxos crawl.

A few places worth keeping on your list:

• Gure Toki for more creative, modern pintxos
• Sorginzulo for a mix of traditional and contemporary bites
• Café Bar Bilbao for a classic, old-school Plaza Nueva experience
• Víctor Montes for the beautiful historic setting and traditional Basque flavors
• Baster for a more casual, lively stop
• El Globo for creative pintxos and a good variety
• La Viña del Ensanche for jamón, cheese, conservas, and beautifully simple Spanish ingredients.

Don’t try to turn it into a checklist. Pick a couple you want to try, then leave room for the crowded bar you pass where everyone seems to be ordering the same thing.

Mercado de la Ribera

The market is also an easy option for lunch or snacks, especially when everyone wants something different.

For a Sit-Down Meal

If you want a more traditional restaurant meal, Los Fueros, Casa Rufo and Amaren are good names to know.

With little kids, though, we found that casual meals, shared plates and pintxos fit Bilbao particularly well.

What to Eat in Bilbao

One of our family rules when we travel is, “no te tiene que gustar, pero tienes que proarlo” (You don’t have to like it, but you have to try it.)

I don’t expect our kids to love every new thing we put in front of them. The point is simply to try it. Sometimes they surprise us (like when Derek took down 10 fried anchovies and left the bones), and sometimes one bite is enough. Either way, food is such a big part of understanding cultre, especially in a place like the Basque Country.

For kids, tortilla, croquetas, bread, jamón, steak, fish, and potatoes are easy starting points. We usually ordered several dishes for the table and let the boys eat from what we were having, rather than searching for a separate children’s menu.

Beaches Near Bilbao

One of the best things about Bilbao is that you can have a city trip and still get to the beach pretty easily.

You don’t necessarily need a car either. Metro Bilbao connects the city with several coastal towns and beaches around Getxo, Sopela and Plentzia.

These spots are easily reachable by public transportation, with Metro stations nearby.