Barcelo Nervion Hotel, Spain

A nice hotel, clean, and good breakfast. You can also rent bikes directly at the hotel for about 6 EUR per day. It's located near the Old Town of Bilbao and near the Guggenheim Museum.

Downsides: Internet costs extra and is expensive, room rates also expensive (if not special meeting rate). The rooms are not very well sound-isolated. Not all personnel speaks English.

User attached a link to barcelo.com

The Guggenheim Museum is something you don't want to miss, even if you're disinterested in museums in general. It's unique architecture makes it something phenomenal, and most of the exhibitions are of modern art (thus, strange but interesting).

A great view over the city of Bilbao. Come here using the funicular and go for a walk. Also the view to the other side of the hill, away from the city, is worth visiting. There's a small church about a 10min walk away to the North from the funicular, from where you can see some beautiful landscape (and the airport of Bilbao).

You'll need at least half a day, better more, to go through all the exhibitions and the building itself. The audio guide that is included with the admission fee is a great enhancement of the experience.

User attached a link to guggenheim-bilbao.es

Cheap Hostel located at the edge of the city, but still in walking distance. If you stay longer, you might want to get used to the local public transport systems (yes, there multiple, virtually independent of each other).

The pension itself is clean, but you clearly can hear your neighbors. Restrooms are on the floor but also clean. The personnel only speaks Spanish, so no way to communicate in English, French or German. A dictionary should be sufficient, though.

User attached a link to hostalarias.es

It's a nice city where you can easily spend a week without getting bored (even if you don't visit the numerous museums). If you stay longer there, make sure to visit the surroundings by bike, motorbike, or car. Have visit of the Guggenheim Museum and try the Tapas Bars in the evenings. Don't try to go early to restaurants - Spanish don't eat early...

Part of trip "fun times in Portugal"