Bilbao wears its industrial past proudly, but this Basque city is the textbook example of reinvention. When the Guggenheim opened in 1997, outsiders flocked to see it, and in the process discovered a fanatical football culture and a picturesque medieval old town. What followed was a flurry of activity that revitalised the entire city and its art scene.
The hotels of the city reflect that same evolution. Design-led properties cluster around the Guggenheim, offering front-row views of Gehry’s titanium curves, while the Casco Viejo hides characterful guesthouses tucked above cobbled streets, steps from the city’s best bars.
Bilbao is compact and a joy to walk, especially through the Ensanche, a 19th-century boulevard grid that holds many of the best restaurants and a strong cluster of mid-range hotels. Prices remain reasonable by European city-break standards, making it a great city to splurge on five-star rooftop terraces.
How we review
All our reviewers are either resident destination experts or travel writers that specialise in hotels. Often they will have stayed at a hotel many times and so can see how it has changed for better or worse over the years. They know what makes a great hotel in that particular destination and will compare it contextually against local competition. When our reviewers first visit a hotel, they stay for at least one night, eat one meal in addition to breakfast and will experience all of the facilities on offer. Whichever category of room they stay in, they will see the entry-level rooms in order to assess them.
After their stay, our reviewers then give the hotel six scores out of 10, rating its location, style and character, service and facilities, rooms, food and drink, and value for money. The average of these scores then determines the overall score. Our experts then select reviews for curated lists like this – the best hotels in a particular destination for families, for instance – together with the Telegraph Hotels team.
At a glance: the best hotels in Bilbao
Best hotel for location in Bilbao: Hotel Tayko Bilbao
Best hotel views in Bilbao: Palacio Arriluce
Best family hotel in Bilbao: Meliá Bilbao
Palacio Arriluce
9/10
A dreamy medieval revival-style palace perched on the Bay of Abra makes for the most memorable spot to stay in Basque Country. This getaway has got it all – a spa, a gorgeous pool with a view and even a croquet lawn. It’s high-end down to the plush downy beds, with a corresponding hush-hush sense of privacy.
Hotel Tayko Bilbao
9/10
A 52-room boutique hotel in a 1924 building, whose original bones have been preserved, exuding a gritty industrial design true to the character of the surrounding Casco Viejo streets. The elegantly minimal rooms, excellent restaurant and reasonable price make this one of Bilbao’s best stays.
NYX Hotel Bilbao
9/10
A high-rise hotel topped by the city’s most happening rooftop bar. NYX Bilbao has 108 colourful, modern rooms, many of which boast gorgeous city views. Both the bar and the clubby lobby are places to see and be seen, but don’t miss the murals from local street artists hanging on every floor.
Hotel Miró
8/10
This artsy boutique hotel, the creation of fashion designer Antonio Miró, has simple design-driven rooms that serve as a blank canvas for the real asset: the up-close view of Bilbao’s main attraction, the Guggenheim. It’s a four-star hotel, but with five-star guest service and a relaxing private wellness area.
Caravan Cinema
8/10
This cosy and family-owned 12-room spot in old Bilbao stands out for its central location and tastefully quirky design. A Fifties vintage trip inspired by the film industry; this boutique guest house makes up for lack of frills with an emphasis on design.
Hotel Carlton
8/10
Five-star Hotel Carlton was built in the Twenties and is the grand dame of Bilbao. It’s situated prominently on busy Plaza Moyúa. Inside, time has stopped, and the décor and service epitomise a distinctly old-school luxury – think grand halls featuring stained glass, lush red carpets with fleurs-de-lis and crystal chandeliers.
The Artist Grand Hotel of Art
8/10
Luxury is synonymous with design in Bilbao, and the renamed five-star property “The Artist” impresses with its high-brow cultural offering. The art collection and sweeping installations are befitting a hotel that boasts the best view of the city’s prime attraction: the Guggenheim.
Pensión Basque Boutique
8/10
The name says it all – eight rooms with furniture and décor inspired by the local folklore of the Basque Country. Unconventional materials make for an utterly charming guesthouse, tucked up an unassuming staircase in the middle of Bilbao’s Old Town.
Cosmov Bilbao Hotel
8/10
This 28-room modern hotel has a self-proclaimed “just-sleep” philosophy. The basics (comfortable beds, clean rooms, just enough designer detail) get attention and care, but guests shouldn’t come expecting frills. It’s located next to the Guggenheim, and is a spot for matter-of-fact travellers who know what they want.
Barceló Bilbao Nervión
8/10
This seven-floor hotel towers over the Nervión River and some of its 350 rooms, that feel airy and spacious, have views of Bilbao’s Guggenheim. This four-star member of the Barceló group avoids chain anonymity by giving winks to local landmarks.
Meliá Bilbao
8/10
The Meliá Bilbao’s 209 spacious rooms tower over the city. A curious design by brand-name architect Ricardo Legorreta gives this hotel real character, and the list of services and facilities is top – sometimes literally, as in the case of the sixth floor’s open-air heated pool.
Hesperia Bilbao
8/10
This 151-room hotel has a playful exterior, with attention-grabbing, brightly coloured glass windows, that competes with the rich architecture along Bilbao’s river promenade. The interior is comfortably contemporary, for a very reasonable price. Superior rooms have views of Bilbao’s landmarks.