In the Céramique district, you still feel the industrial past, even though you’re standing in the newest and most modern part of the city. It’s the kind of place where you look up and keep looking, to take in the impressive architecture, even as the ground around you buzzes with culture and activity. Céramique arose in the early 1990s on the site of ‘Société Céramique,’ a ceramics factory that operated from 1850 to 1985, best known for its tableware. When the factory was offered for sale to the municipality in the late 1980s, the idea to redevelop the area as a quality residential and commercial district quickly emerged, and Government Architect Jo Coenen was engaged to develop a master plan. One of his fundamental premises was to bring something of a Mediterranean feel to this part of the city. To achieve this, he brought in luminary architects from southern Europe for the design of the various residential and business complexes. The result is a total package of architectural high point after high point, like Mario Botta’s ‘La Fortezza,’ Alvaro Siza’s ‘Tower of Siza,’ and perhaps the crowning glory, Aldo Rossi’s Bonnefanten Museum. But despite all the forward-looking architecture, the connection to the past remains, in the street names, remnants of older buildings and tableware that turn up unexpectedly, and the exhibitions in the Bonnefanten Museum and Centre Céramique. Each and every one is a golden thread of history interwoven into the fabric of today.

The Santiago Cathedral is a Roman Catholic church in Bilbao. The temple is consecrated in honour of the apostle Saint James the Great–Santiago in Spanish–the patron of Bilbao. The Gothic architecture dates back to the 15th century, which makes it the oldest church in Bilbao. It has been renewed several times throughout the years. There are several reasons why this is such a peculiar church. For instance, it's not built in one style, but a combination of three. There is a Gothic cloister, a Renaissance portico, and a neo-Gothic spire.

The lighthouse of Biarritz, le Phare de Biarritz, is another location where you can enjoy views of the city. Climb the small hill and, if you dare, take a look into the lighthouse on top. Also, take a look around and experience that great atmosphere.

Plentzia is a happening resort just outside Bilbao, in the province of Biscay. Located atop a hill, its streets pour down the hillside leading to lovely sandy beaches. Plentzia is a popular weekend destination from Bilbao, as it takes a short 30 minutes to get there on the overground metro service from the centre of Bilbao. In the town of Plentzia, there are plenty of bars and cafés which serve locally caught fresh seafood. The town also has an indoor court for the sport of Basque pelota. Here you can watch this traditional game, which involves two teams of players who hurl a small hard white ball at a wall swinging at it with the full force of the palms of their bare hands.