Occidental Hotels & Resorts in Bilbao

If there is a city that stands out as a cultural and urban destination, it is Bilbao. This is why it was named Best European City 2018, and it has been surprising visitors with its Guggenheim museum since 1997. An artistic benchmark that has considerably increased Bilbao’s cultural offerings, transforming the view of the estuary.

It is easy to discover the Basque Country’s most artistic city from Occidental Hotels & Resorts in Bilbao, where the experiences are at your fingertips. As our guest, discover a journey through the avant-garde on the shores of the estuary.

Art lovers can visit the refurbished Fine Arts Museum as well as Azkuna Zentroa, an old wine store converted into a venue that holds concerts, exhibitions, conferences and a selection of the best local cuisine. Also in the centre of the city are the Palacio de Congresos y de la Música with concerts, opera and theatre performances, while the Sala BBK organises exhibitions and film showings.

In Bilbao, the best plans arise simply by strolling through the Casco Viejo and its pintxos bars, from the gardens of Arenal and Plaza Nueva to the Portal de Zamudio, opening up to the seven medieval streets. Take a look at the Mercado de la Ribera (the biggest indoor market in Europe) and visit the Gothic style cathedral after replenishing your energies with some pintxos (tapas) of changurro (spider crab) or bacalao al pil-pil (cod in a garlic sauce) accompanied by txakolí (a local, slightly sparkling dry white wine).

From Occidental Hotels & Resorts in Bilbao, in the very heart of the historical centre, you can reach Mount Artxanda, by bus, funicular or on foot, and be rewarded with the best panoramic views of the city. Here you can appreciate the whole of the estuary and its bridges: San Antón, la Ribera, la Merced and Puente Bizkaia, known as Puente Colgante (hanging bridge), a World Heritage Site.

Discover these places with the peace of mind that you are in good hands at our hotels in Bilbao.