Bilbao Areas

Abando

Abando is a centrally located neighborhood of Bilbao full of wide streets and elegant English-style buildings with a plethora of shops.  The heart of this upscale residential neighborhood has always been known to house the most expensive and prestigious homes of the city.  The Arenal bridge, known for its elegant street lights, connects the old city and the new city.
 The center of this district houses the Gardens of Albia which were originally located in the Plaza Mayor.  One of the most famous places of this tree-lined zone is the Café Iruña known for its Mudejar design and literary meetings. The Cafe Iruña and the Café La Granja, in the Plaza Circular, have not lost their charm and class through the years.
 The Gran Via is one of the most emblematic streets of Bilbao extending from the Ensanche to the Sagrado Corazon Square, the financial and shopping district of the city. Here you will find the street full of people, the most important buildings of Bilbao and the best residential apartments of Bilbao.
In this district you can find some of the most emblematic  points of interest of the city such as the Palacio Chavarrí, the Arenal bridge, the Santander station, the Campos Eliseos theatre (an art-Noveau jewel), the city council palace and the Basque Gothic Church of the Martyr San Vicente.
Finally, worth mentioning is the Ensanche market which houses governmental offices, cafes and the best of restaurants where one can enjoy fresh products  such as fruit, vegetables and fish.

Casco Viejo

The Casco Viejo(Old Town) of Bilbao is located on the shore of the Nervion River forming the picturesque “Siete calles”( Seven Streets) full of historical monuments making it one of the most popular destinations of the city. This area boasts a great atmosphere during the day and night thanks to the numerous bars and restaurants that offer all of the culinary delights and nightlife of Bilbao. Here, you can find traditional taverns, trendy bars, pubs and anything you can imagine. Tradition is still present in the small shops that conserve charm and hospitality.
Close to the San Anton church, you will find the largest and the traditional Ribera market known for being the best place to buy fish.
The sixth Century old  Santiago Cathedral is a great surprise with its impressive tower.   Outside you can find traditional  candies that honor it.  The Plaza Nueva, a must see especially on Sundays, is a marketplace with with birds, stamps, coins, antiques  and other fascinating objects  that appeal to all.  The Café Boulevard and the Bar Tilo are two interesting bars that have entertained  patrons for decades that  you will  find on the shore in front of the Arriaga theatre where Basque culture and the Basque Museum, dedicated to Basque ethnicity and anthropology  can be found. 

Deusto

The Deusto neighborhood is one of the largest and most populated neighborhoods of the city.  It is a neighborhood  that maintains its strong personality and identity. In fact, it is not uncommon to the people from the diditrict say “We are going to Bilbao” when crossing the bridge that connects to the Ensanche neighborhood.
The Deusto University, the neighboring colleges and the language school make Deusto a university neighborhood that welcomes thousands of students on a daily basis.  The student atmosphere gives a lot of life to the area with it Gyms, Sports facilities, cinemas, etc.
The businesses of Deusto are mostly small traditional businesses. The main streets are Lehendakari Aguirre, Avenida Madriaga and Blas Otero. The Deusto neighborhood is  also well known for the poteo ( going out for beer and wine) with the numerous amounts of bars and restaurants that serve exquisite pintxos and boast a great atmosphere.
 There is a beautiful walk that goes through the Botica Vieja Park, next to the Bilbao River that leads to the Old Town of Bilbao.  Furthermore, the neighborhood  has good public transportation with the metro and several bus lines.  Deusto is a neighborhood that never disappoints thanks to the energy, the student life and quality of life it has to offer.

Indautxu

Indautxu, similar to the Ensanche district, has wide streets and borders the Gran Via and Sabino Arana streets which surround the Plaza Indatxu Square making it an important meeting point of the city.  The circular gardens and numerous infamous lamp posts are the new landmark of Bilbao.
 Indautxu is an excellent neighborhood for Shopping with its trendy boutiques on the Iparraguirre, Ercilla, Rodriguez Arias and Maximo Aguirre streets. Furthermore, you will find traditional bars and taverns that host some of the best pintxos of the city.
 Here, you will encounter some of the most representative buildings of Bilbao.  The Alhóndiga, ancient winery, is one of the trendiest places full of activity and culture.  Knowledge, culture and fun can all be found in this innovative space. This is the perfect place to share, learn and enjoy the company of friends and family.

Uribarri

Campo Volantín is possibly the most well known street in the Uribarri district.  It is a beautiful promenade along the Bilbao River that starts at the City Hall and ends at the Plaza Salve, one of the city´s recreation areas. Close by, you can find the street Calle Castaños which has the Plaza Funicular. Here you will see the modernist Castaños market which is now used for art exhibits, art courses, a library and ludotecas.
One can take the Artxanda funicular which will take you up the mountain offering views of the “garden city”. At the top, there is lookout point giving a beautiful perspective of the city.  This area known as Artxanda is an extensive urban zone with plenty of greenery, txakolis, picnic areas and top quality restaurants that attract many people from Bilbao on weekends.