travelguide195DEENES

Tour · Old town on foot · Bilbao

Bilbao on Foot: From the Seven Streets to the Ensanche

A day-long walk that starts in the narrow streets of the Casco Viejo, briefly touches the riverbank, and crosses the bridge into the elegant Abando district. The focus is on architecture and cityscape, complemented by lunch, a short museum visit, and a cocktail to finish.

Stops
13
Time
10:00–19:00
On foot
approx. 4.7 km
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This tour shows you Bilbao in short, easy stretches, entirely without transportation. You'll see how the city has grown: from the dense medieval core along the river to the generously planned 19th-century expansion, where trade and industry left their mark in the form of palaces and commercial buildings.

The day begins at the top of the Calzadas de Mallona, from where you descend into the Seven Streets. Among narrow houses, wooden balconies, and the Baroque Palacio Yohn, you'll get a feel for old Bilbao. A short detour to the Muelle Martzana opens up views of the river before you stroll across to the Abando district. There, along the Gran Vía and around Plaza Moyúa, you'll find a string of stately buildings such as the Diputación Foral and the Palacio Chávarri. At midday you'll stop for lunch nearby, and in the late afternoon there's time for a compact visit to the Museo de Bellas Artes before the day winds down over a cocktail.

The tour is a good fit if you enjoy exploring on foot, like architecture and cityscapes, and prefer to get to know a city at your own pace rather than in a rush. The distances between stops are short, and the pace stays comfortable.

Old Town Streets and Ensanche Palaces

  1. Visit · Historic sites · Begoña

    1Calzadas de Mallona

    The historic stairway at the edge of the old town offers a great view over the rooftops of the Casco Viejo to start the day; sturdy footwear helps.

  2. on foot 6 min · 500 m
    2
    Visit · Monuments · Casco Viejo

    2Zazpi Kaleak

    Bilbao's medieval core; it's still quieter here in the morning than later in the day.

  3. on foot 2 min · 180 m
    Visit · Historic sites · Casco Viejo

    3Calle de la Torre

    One of the original streets, with narrow houses and wooden balconies. Look for the old façade details.

  4. on foot 1 min · 100 m
    Visit · Monuments · Casco Viejo

    4Palacio Yohn

    A Baroque city palace, now a civic center; the courtyard is usually accessible, but check the hours in advance.

  5. on foot 6 min · 460 m
    Visit · Historic sites

    5Muelle Martzana

    A short detour to the riverbank with a view of the old town side and the San Antón Bridge.

  6. on foot 17 min · 1.3 km
    Visit · Historic sites · Abando

    6Edificio de La Equitativa

    A striking commercial building at the transition between the old town and the Ensanche, best admired from the outside.

  7. on foot 4 min · 310 m
    Visit · Palaces · Abando

    7Palacio de la Diputación Foral de Vizcaya

    The magnificent seat of the provincial government on the Gran Vía; interior visits are only possible at certain times, so check in advance.

  8. on foot 3 min · 210 m
    8
    Meal · Spanish · Abando

    8Margarito

    Spanish cuisine just a few steps from the Diputación; check opening hours in advance, as lunch in Spain is eaten late.

  9. on foot 3 min · 270 m
    9
    Visit · Monuments · Abando

    9Edificio de la Hacienda Estatal

    A quick stop to admire the façade on the way to Plaza Moyúa.

  10. on foot 1 min · 110 m
    Visit · Historic sites · Abando

    10Palacio Chávarri

    A neo-Flemish palace on Plaza Moyúa, one of the most eye-catching buildings in the Ensanche.

  11. on foot 6 min · 480 m
    Visit · Historic sites · Abando

    11Lezama Leguizamon House

    A grand bourgeois residence from around 1900 and a fine example of the architecture of the city's expansion.

  12. on foot 4 min · 320 m
    Visit · Art museums · Abando

    12Museo de Bellas Artes de Bilbao

    If you only have an hour, a walk through a selection of galleries is enough; check opening hours in advance, as it's often closed on Mondays.

  13. on foot 6 min · 460 m
    13
    Bar · Cocktail bars · Abando

    13La Mula de Moscú

    A relaxed finish just a few minutes' walk from the museum; check opening hours in advance.

Good to know

  • The Calzadas de Mallona are steep. If you'd rather avoid stairs, start directly in the Seven Streets.
  • Check the opening hours of the museum, restaurant, and bar in advance, as they vary by day of the week.
  • Lunch in Bilbao usually starts around 1:30 p.m.; an earlier table is often easier to get.
  • If it rains, the arcades and courtyards of the old town offer good shelter, but pack an umbrella.

Not quite right? Open this tour in the trip planner and set your own interests, times, pace, and must-see places.

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Automatically compiled from travelguide195 places (as of 11/05/2026). Travel times are estimated from distance; please check opening hours in advance.

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