The innovative art scene, the creative architecture, and the delectable local cuisine all contribute to Bilbao’s growing hotel sector. There are a lot of accommodation options in this city, from classic five-star hotels to hip new boutique hotels with a focus on art and design.
The city also has some of the best cuisine in Spain, with eateries specializing in pintxos and surf locations like Mundaka attracting visitors from all around the world.
The thriving Bilbao art scene has caused the creation of several one-of-a-kind public places across the city. Medieval alleyways, a Plaza Nueva packed with pintxo cafes, a Gothic cathedral, and the Mercado de la Ribera, built in 1929, are just a few of the attractions in this charming town.
There is also a lot to do just outside your door. There are a ton of great places to stay, but especially noteworthy are the boutique hotels that have been converted from historic buildings. On the western bank of the Nervion River lies the city’s finest hotels, as well as several restaurants, museums, and green spaces. To make the most of your trip, book a stay at one of Bilbao’s many amazing hotels.
Top 12 Hotels in Bilbao
Here is a rundown of the best hotels in Bilbao that will please any tourist.
- Tayko
- Miró Hotel Bilbao
- Radisson Collection Hotel Gran Via Bilbao
- Ercilla de Bilbao
- Barcelo Bilbao Nervion
- NYX Hotel Bilbao
- Hotel Carlton
- Caravan Cinema
- Catalonia Gran Via Bilbao
- Bilder Boutique Hotel
- Melia Bilbao
- Gran Hotel Domine
1. Tayko
Tayko sends a wave of creativity to a chicly redesigned 1924 concrete building on the western edge of the Casco Viejo in a city recognized for its vibrant cultural scene. The style is cutting edge, with open concrete, brick walls, and a dark, simple feel.
Some rooms have free-standing bathtubs, and single travelers should get a room with a patio overlooking the river. The food is also a big draw, with Michelin-starred chef Martin Berasategui running the Michelin-starred restaurant Ola and its sharing-plates offshoot La Bodega.
The hip neighborhood of Bilbao la Vieja is only across the river, the Mercado de la Ribera can be reached in five minutes on foot, and the Guggenheim Museum is just 25 minutes away via a quick jaunt down the Nervion. The perfect location and stunning architecture of Tayko make it one of Bilbao’s best hotels to stay at.
2. Miró Hotel Bilbao
The late Catalan designer Antonio Miró built this ethereal boutique, where guests can see the famous Guggenheim and Jeff Koons’ spectacular floral sculpture Puppy Several of the rooms.
The minimalist white-themed rooms are airy and put the spotlight on the breathtaking cityscapes and modern photography displays. Breakfasts feature regional specialties, including artisanal jams created in Ordua and honey from the Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve, and include the Museo de Bellas Artes, which is right around the corner, and a spa where guests may relax with essential-oil treatments.
Renting bicycles and pedaling along the Nervion is a fantastic way to see the area around this hotel. Miró Hotel Bilbao can be a perfect option to stay at while you’re in the city, as it is one of Bilbao’s top hotels.
3. Radisson Collection Hotel Gran Via Bilbao
This newly opened five-star hotel with a sustainable attitude is a welcome sight behind the majestic columned front of a historic building from the 1950s on the lively Gran Via. This place is another top hotel in Bilbao which creates a relaxing spot for those who are planning a trip to this beautiful city.
The rooftop NKO restaurant and bar is managed by acclaimed chef Eneko Atxa, and it has vertical gardens and views of Bilbao to create a relaxed atmosphere perfect for enjoying drinks and cutting-edge Basque-Japanese fusion food in the open air.
The rooms have a nautical style with flashes of blue and artwork inspired by Bilbao, and the spa includes a beautiful indoor pool. It’s in a great location, with the Casco Viejo just across the river and plenty of pintxo pubs just outside your door.
4. Ercilla de Bilbao
Founded in 1972 and previously linked with old-world Bilbao grandeur, the family-owned Ercilla de Bilbao is another one of Bilbao’s best hotels.
Ercilla is today a delight of a designer getaway and part of Marriott’s Autograph Collection. The London- and Barcelona-based design group Red Deer is responsible for the tasteful makeover, which makes use of unique pieces of furniture and vintage-inspired colors.
The majority of the action takes place atop the building, where guests may have a distinctive strawberry-infused Ercillini cocktail while lounging on candy-striped sun loungers and taking in breathtaking views of the city below. Live DJ sets and biweekly yoga lessons may also be found in this posh neighborhood close to Plaza Moyua.
5. Barcelo Bilbao Nervion
Barcelo, a hotel brand with roots in Mallorca, has opened a hip new branch in the Spanish city of Bilbao, complete with a glistening silver cow sculpture in the foyer. Located on the north side of the Nervion, you’ll be within a 15-minute walk of the Guggenheim Museum and just 10 minutes from the lively pintxo bars of Casco Viejo.
The rooms are tastefully decorated with soft colors and plenty of natural light, making them popular with both vacationers and business travelers. The river, with its well-photographed bridges and walkways, is visible from the top-tier suites, and The connected rooms are a great option for families on vacation. This place will be a perfect residence for a tourist as it is one of Bilbao’s top hotels.
6. NYX Hotel Bilbao
This fun, daringly designed bar is located across the street from the Teatro Arriaga, and it’s all about celebrating local street art and having a good time. Cool grays, glassed-in bathrooms, and Guggenheim-inspired bed heads adorn the modern, pet-friendly rooms that feature murals by artists including Raquel Meyers, Fermin Moreno, and Reskate.
The rooftop bar on the floor is a hotspot because of the breathtaking views of the city, and there are also DJ nights and craft cocktail parties in the neon-lit hallway. You’re right in the middle of Bilbao here, with the streets of Casco Viejo all around and the Guggenheim just 20 minutes away on foot. NYX Hotel is, without a doubt, one of the best hotels in Bilbao.
7. Hotel Carlton
This luxury hotel in Bilbao towers over the busy Plaza Moyua, and it is one of Bilbao’s top hotels. Ernest Hemingway, Ava Gardner, and Paris Hilton have all stayed there in the past. Beaux-Arts in style, this 1926 structure was the brainchild of Basque-British architect Manuel Maria Smith Ibarra and had a magnificent atrium capped by a stained-glass dome.
There are carpeted hallways, glittering chandeliers, and touches of Bilbao history throughout the hotel, including a Civil War-era bunker that was found during renovation and is now a private-hire bar. The rooms are tastefully upscale, decorated in tones of taupe, gold, and gray, and have a little more of a modern vibe.
8. Caravan Cinema
One of Bilbao’s most creative boutique hotels can be found in a weird location: a two-hundred-year-old building with a characteristic northern Spanish glass gallery in the heart of the old town.
The style is vintage 1950s, and all five rooms and three apartments are named after famous film directors. There are open-stone walls, tiled floors, Marshall speakers with a retro look, and toiletries made from Hierbas de Ibiza.
The Pedro Almodóvar room (with a balcony) is decorated with posters from his iconic films like Volver and All About My Mother. The unique design and perfect location have made this place a top hotel in the city of Bilbao.
9. Catalonia Gran Via Bilbao
This four-star gem is located only a block south of the Parque de Doa Casilda de Iturrizar, and it is one of Bilbao’s best hotels. It is the newest addition to the hip Barcelona-born business Catalonia Hotels & Resorts.
The spa has a steam room, sauna, and heated pool with pressure jets, while the rooftop features an open-air pool with dove-gray sunbeds and an informal terrace lounge with terracotta pot plants.
Most of the 106 rooms have balconies or patios, and all are decorated in a soothing chocolate brown to provide an escape from the city. In ten minutes, you can walk through the park to get to the Museo de Bellas Artes and the Guggenheim.
10. Bilder Boutique Hotel
Bilder Boutique Hotel is another one of Bilbao’s top hotels to stay at. This casual boutique-style address in the heart of the Casco Viejo is as classic as it gets in Bilbao, with historic homes, neighborhood stores, the riverside Arenal Park, the Teatro Arriaga, and the pintxo taverns of the Plaza Nueva all only steps away.
The building was a shoe store for almost a century, and its original sign now hangs in the hotel’s creative Basque restaurant, La Palma, which serves Cantabrian anchovies, cod with creamy leek sauce, and Idiazabal cheesecake.
The hotel’s 39 cozy rooms are light and airy, thanks to the use of neutral colors, high ceilings, and rust-red furnishings. Some rooms even feature views of the city or an inner terrace.
11. Melia Bilbao
The five-star Melia Bilbao, conceived by Mexican architect Ricardo Legorreta, is a cube-shaped, earth-red designer environment influenced by the work of the renowned Basque sculptor Eduardo Chillida. This place, with its eye-catching beauty, is one of the best hotels in all of Bilbao.
The heated pool is a rarity in Bilbao, and it offers spectacular views of the Nervion and the city’s rooftops. There is a plethora of suites and premium doubles with patios and interconnecting rooms for families. The classic-style rooms all have marble baths and river views.
The Basque fine-dining restaurant Aizian, which is run by chef José Miguel Olazabalaga, is another perk. Located just 10 minutes west of the Guggenheim, this riverside spot is surrounded by trees and is close to the Palacio Euskalduna concert theater and the Museo de Bellas Artes.
12. Gran Hotel Domine
If you want to stay in Bilbao so you can get a close look at Frank Gehry’s titanium-and-glass riverside wonder, book a room in the five-star, design-chic Gran Hotel Domine with a view of Jeff Koons’ Puppy. The many amenities make this place one of Bilbao’s top hotels.
All guests can have breakfast on the rooftop while taking in the view of the Guggenheim. Idiazabal cheese, Spanish tortillas, and other treats are served there.
The original interiors were designed by the Spanish architect Javier Mariscal. The local architecture firm Foraster Arquitectos gave them a fresh look by putting together warm-colored rooms, an impressive art collection, and statement pieces like the stone-built “cypress” in the lobby. The spa is made of wood and has a sauna, a Turkish bath, and massages with rosemary oil; such a fantastic place.
Conclusion
An attempt was made in this article to introduce the top popular hotels in Bilbao. Of course, there are so many more hotels in Bilbao than what we listed. But the focus was on finding the top hotels for each service category and location.
You can look into Bilbao hotels and pick one that meets your needs if you plan on visiting this beautiful and artistic city. You may find additional visual information on our social media platforms. Be sure to check them out as well.
