Housed in the former Convent of La Encarnación, founded in 1514 by Dominican nuns, the Museum of Sacred Art of Bilbao is the first women's convent in the city. It showcases a rich collection of over 2,000 religious artworks dating from the 12th to the 20th century, many originating from local churches and monasteries in Bizkaia. The exhibits are divided into three main sections: sculptures and paintings, gold and silver works, and liturgical garments and ornaments. Highlights include intricate silverware, devotional sculptures, and beautifully embroidered vestments.

Take a walk in the shoes of a local with one of Bilbao’s most popular hikes. Pagasarri, at 673 m, is one of the smaller mountains surrounding the city, and most locals have tackled it at least once. Buses from the city centre take you to starting points around Zabalburu or Peñascal. At the summit, there’s a bar selling bocatas—baguette sandwiches stuffed with tortilla de patata, txistorra, or chorizo. If you’re feeling ambitious, continue on to Ganekogorta at 998 m, just a bit further along the ridge, for more sweeping views of Bilbao and the surrounding hills.

Once a wine warehouse, Azkuna Zentroa is now one of Bilbao’s main cultural spaces. Inside you’ll find cinemas, galleries, a library, a gym, and even a rooftop swimming pool with a glass floor you can look up through from the atrium below. Philippe Starck, a French industrial architect, redesigned the building, adding 43 columns, each with a unique style, and open spaces that make the building an attraction in its own right. The venue’s programme ranges from art exhibitions and talks to film screenings and concerts.