Currency
Euro (EUR)
Language
Spanish (Castilian), Basque (Euskera)
Time Zone
CET (UTC+1)
Best Time to Visit
Apr–Oct
Typical Duration
7-21 nights
Price Range
$633.50–$91,949 per person
Port Type
Departure & Port of Call
Tender Port
No
Gateway to Spain's Basque Country and home to the iconic Guggenheim Museum, Bilbao offers a perfect blend of modern architecture, cultural attractions, and access to northern Spanish coastal destinations.
Cruises that visit Bilbao
- cruises to Bilbao
- Bilbao sailings
- Bilbao cruises
- 6-night MSC Cruises cruise
- 7-night MSC Cruises cruise
- 7-night Royal Caribbean International cruise
- 7-night Atlas Ocean Voyages cruise
- 7-night The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection cruise
- 7-night MSC Cruises cruise
- 7-night Oceania Cruises cruise
- 7-night Explora Journeys cruise
- 7-night Royal Caribbean International cruise
- 7-night Explora Journeys cruise
- 7-night Oceania Cruises cruise
- 8-night Royal Caribbean International cruise
- 8-night Oceania Cruises cruise
- 8-night Royal Caribbean International cruise
- 8-night Seabourn cruise
- 9-night PONANT EXPLORATIONS cruise
- 9-night Royal Caribbean International cruise
- 9-night Carnival Cruise Line cruise
- 9-night Royal Caribbean International cruise
- 9-night Oceania Cruises cruise
- 9-night Holland America Line cruise
- 9-night MSC Cruises cruise
- 9-night PONANT EXPLORATIONS cruise
- 9-night Norwegian Cruise Line cruise
- 10-night Atlas Ocean Voyages cruise
- 10-night Holland America Line cruise
- 10-night Oceania Cruises cruise
Build Your Day in Bilbao
Cruise calls are short. Set your ship's arrival time, pick the stops you care about, and we'll show whether they realistically fit before departure.
Ships typically depart around 6:00 PM
Usually about 10 hours ashore
Embarkation port — worth arriving early
Embarkation port — worth arriving early
Getting around:
Guggenheim Museum Bilbao
An incredible art museum filled with pop-modern art and innovative crafts.
Closed · Opens 10 AM Tue
Bizkaia Bridge
cool experience and very cheap to cross as a pedestrian.
Erriberako Merkatua
There are some cool cultural projects in the space like cooking classes
Azkuna Zentroa-Alhóndiga Bilbao
Great exhibition space, with great views of the city from the rooftop space.
Closes soon · 9 PM
Café Iruña
Great interior, tasty food and drinks, helpful and friendly staff
Artxanda viewpoint
A joyful ride all the way up to the Artxanda viewport.
El Globo
must visit, super accommodating, super friendly, great food, great drinks.
HDH - IMPRESCINDIBLE RESERVAR
We had the greatest service and most delicious food at HDH in Bilbao.
Zubizuri
Lots of activities and buskers.
Urdaibai Biosferaren Erreserba
This is a hidden gem.
Open now
Doña Casilda Iturrizar parkea
Great fountain light show at dusk.
Museum of Fine Arts of Bilbao
Bite-sized fine arts museum with interesting pairings of artists.
Closed · Opens 10 AM Wed
Etxebarri Parkea
With water fountains and elevators to facilitate access,as it is on a hill.
Bilboko Donejakue Katedrala
This is definitely an experience not to be missed
Puppy
Amazing sculpture, dog with a garden!
Artxanda Funicular
The fact that you get there via the furnicular Railway is a novelty bonus.
Gure Toki
... food, great service and most of all the athmosphere is the best.
Restaurante Viña del Ensanche
Amazing food with great service and outdoor seating options.
Closed · Opens 1 PM Tue
Víctor Montes
The food was delicious, amazing ambience, and outstanding service.
La Olla de la Plaza Nueva
Every dish we tried was beautifully presented and bursting with flavor.
Rio-Oja
Real local restourant, with delicious food and excellent service.
Albiako Lorategiak
Nice green area, really good cover from the hot days.
Sorgínzulo
Complete bar full variety of drinks , beers, wine and spirits.
Gorlizeko hondartza
Nice beach, but overcrowded on weekends.
Restaurante Abando
Best pintxos I’ve had in Bilbao and hands down the best Sangria!!!
Café Bar Bilbao
The bar has outdoor / indoor seating with views to the plaza.
La Olla
The food was incredible in taste and portions for a complete meal as well.
Ereaga Hondartza
Nice wide sandy beach Lots of space for everyone so not too crowded.
Bocadero Bilbao
Very popular, people queueing to get a table .
Bilbao Berria Ledesma - Restaurante Bilbao
Great people, very tasty food and selection of lively wines.
Itsasmuseum Bilbao
Super interesting and interactive exhibits.
Closed · Opens 11 AM Tue
Asador Bilbao Brasan
Superb service with beautiful presentations and 5-star food!
Restaurante Pentxo
Wonderful and warm atmosphere with delicious food and friendly staff.
Closes soon · 9 PM
ETXANOBE
Nice atmosphere and music, great food and excellent service.
Café Lago Bilbao
Great coffees, great prices & excellent service.
Colombo Bilbao
Walked in at 8pm without a reservation and got a table.
La Antigua Cigarrería
Very interesting coctail bar with 100s of different coctails and drinks.
Las Arenas Beach
Lovely spot close to the city for swimming and sunbathing
Peso Neto taberna-jatetxea
Delicious fusion cuisine and outstandingly charming service!
Gure Kabi jatetxea
Best food I’ve had in Bilbao, great Steak and the pimentos were great!
Restaurante PORTUONDO
Sensational Meal + Exceptional Service
La Mula de Moscú
Impeccable cocktails, cozy and swanky atmosphere.
Sir Winston Churchill Pub
The atmosphere, the service, the quality of the cocktails.
Closed · Opens 4 PM Tue
Playa de la Arena
Really beautiful beach, wide, clean, and lifeguards on the coast.
ARVO Specialty Coffee (Guggenheim)
Fantastic food, many plant-based options and excellent coffee
Closed · Opens 8:30 AM Tue
Azurmendi jatetxea
Excellent food, extremely original, and a thoughtful wine pairing.
Closed · Opens 1 PM Tue
Bascook - Restaurante en Bilbao
Super nice staff, carefully presented dishes, 1st class ingredients.
Closed · Opens 1 PM Tue
Restaurante NidoBilbao
A perfect dinner — every dish we ordered was outstanding.
Cokooncafé
Such a beautiful cafe with amazing food coffee and the friendliest staff !!
Closed
La Gavilla
The pork shoulder was so delicious and the ribs were absolutely gorgeous!
Closed · Opens 12 PM Tue
Dando la Brasa
Wonderfully inventive menu items in a low key comfortable space.
Vista Alegre Zezen plaza
Fantastic place,
Singular
Staff beyond friendly, beers excellent and modestly priced.
Los Fueros
Each dish we ordered was perfectly prepared.
Closed · Opens 1 PM Wed
Laga hondartza
What a beautiful sandy beach, with real nice waves
Open now
Restaurante Porrue
Very good food with great service and a very relaxing vibe.
Restaurante Tolón-Tolón Bilbao 🥩 especialidad en chuletón a la brasa.
Very good food, great service, friendly staff.
Residence kafetegia
Great music, great cocktails, great service.
Clandestino
Must order beef nigiri, bacalao, bravas, and grilled squid.
Closed · Opens 12:30 PM Tue
Bihotz
Great tea, wine and beer tasted and a beautiful environment set up.
Café Originale - Specialty Coffee
Chill atmosphere, delicious coffee and tasty food!
Closed · Opens 8:30 AM Tue
Playa De Muriola
The optional-nudist beach is secluded and quiet.
The Beetle Bar
Coffee, wine, beer, olives, and sandwiches for a great price!
Euskal Museoa
Interesting dive into the basque culture, tools, games and language
Closed · Opens 10 AM Wed
Ola Martin Berasategui
Outer world class food and pairing, impeccable and considerate service.
Closed · Opens 1:30 PM Wed
Restaurante Bikandi Etxea
High quality food, super cozy atmosphere and great service.
Closed · Opens 9 AM Tue
Zarate jatetxea
The food was expertly prepared, and the flavors were bold and unforgettable.
Closed · Opens 1:30 PM Wed
Nerua Guggenheim Bilbao
Chef's table was a once in a lifetime experience.
Closes soon · 9:30 PM
Restaurante Aura
Incredible food, excellent service, in my all time top 10 meals eaten.
RESTAURANTE LASAI
The food was impeccably delicious and the service was prompt and polite.
Pérgola
Nice pavillion building, nice vibe.
Restaurante Mina
The food was excellent and the wine pairing genuinely impressive.
Closed · Opens 2 PM Wed
Nokora Specialty Coffee
Rich, flavourful coffee with friendly and attentive service.
Closed · Opens 10 AM Tue
Txabarri Jauregia
Beautiful rooms with different styles.
El Puente Cocktail Bar
Incredible cocktails, creative and amazing hospitality.
La Biscay cocktail room
We tried many different cocktails and they just got better and better.
Closed · Opens 5 PM Tue
Bilbao
Opening hours are indicative — always confirm before you go. Travel times are estimates from Google Maps.
Bilbao
is an embarkation port. Many cruises start or end here —
it's worth arriving a day early or extending your stay to explore beyond a single port day.
About Bilbao
Bilbao has emerged as one of Northern Europe's most compelling cruise destinations, drawing travelers eager to experience the Basque Country's distinctive culture, world-class art, and vibrant culinary scene. Served by an impressive roster of 16 cruise lines—from premium operators like Oceania Cruises and Silversea to mainstream favorites such as Royal Caribbean and Disney Cruise Line—this Spanish port welcomes over 155 cruises annually, making it an increasingly popular stop on European itineraries.
As a primarily port-of-call destination, Bilbao typically features on seven-night cruises that explore the Atlantic coast, often paired with ports like Lisbon, Southampton, La Coruña, Bordeaux, and Porto. This positioning makes it an ideal introduction to the region for cruisers seeking a taste of authentic Spanish culture without committing to an extended stay. The port's modern facilities and proximity to the city center mean you're never far from Bilbao's most iconic attractions, including the stunning Guggenheim Museum and the charming Old Town with its pintxo bars and historic plazas.
Peak season runs from April through October, with May and September offering particularly pleasant weather for exploring. Whether you're an art enthusiast, food lover, or cultural explorer, Bilbao delivers an unforgettable experience that captures the essence of Spain's proudly independent Basque region—all within easy reach of your ship.
As a primarily port-of-call destination, Bilbao typically features on seven-night cruises that explore the Atlantic coast, often paired with ports like Lisbon, Southampton, La Coruña, Bordeaux, and Porto. This positioning makes it an ideal introduction to the region for cruisers seeking a taste of authentic Spanish culture without committing to an extended stay. The port's modern facilities and proximity to the city center mean you're never far from Bilbao's most iconic attractions, including the stunning Guggenheim Museum and the charming Old Town with its pintxo bars and historic plazas.
Peak season runs from April through October, with May and September offering particularly pleasant weather for exploring. Whether you're an art enthusiast, food lover, or cultural explorer, Bilbao delivers an unforgettable experience that captures the essence of Spain's proudly independent Basque region—all within easy reach of your ship.
Cruise Lines at Bilbao
- Oceania Cruises (39 cruises)
- MSC Cruises (34 cruises)
- Royal Caribbean International (25 cruises)
- Viking Ocean Cruises (24 cruises)
- Holland America Line (23 cruises)
- Silversea (8 cruises)
- Norwegian Cruise Line (6 cruises)
- PONANT EXPLORATIONS (5 cruises)
- Carnival Cruise Line (3 cruises)
- Explora Journeys (3 cruises)
- Seabourn (3 cruises)
- Atlas Ocean Voyages (2 cruises)
- Disney Cruise Line (2 cruises)
- The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection (2 cruises)
- Swan Hellenic (1 cruise)
Cruises Departing From Bilbao
Cruises Visiting Bilbao
Ship Schedule at Bilbao
Bilbao Location
Other Cruise Ports in Spain
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Bilbao best known for?
The Guggenheim Bilbao Museum and vibrant Basque culture.
Where is Bilbao located?
Northern Spain in the Basque Country, along the Nervion River.
What are must-see sights?
Guggenheim Bilbao, Casco Viejo, Abandoibarra, and the Nervion riverside.
What does ESBIO mean?
ESBIO is Bilbao's UN/LOCODE identifying it as an official port in Spain.