Start: Carola craneFinish: Bilbao la Vieja
We start out stroll at the Carola Crane, on show outside the Itsasmuseum, (featuring maritime heritage) which reminds us of the city’s shipbuilding past. We soon bump into the striking façade of the Euskalduna Congress Centre, made from oxidised steel plates and inspired by the hull of a ship under construction. We continue our stroll along the riverbank (be careful if your dog likes swimming, don’t let him/her jump in) and we find ourselves outside the Iberdrola Tower, surrounded by green gardens and lawns which will delight your best friend.
On the other riverbank we find the stately buildings of the University of Deusto campus, declared a Historic Monument in 2002. And we immediately arrive at one of the most spectacular views of the stroll: the Guggenheim Museum.
DOGGY TIP: Visiting Bilbao with a dog is no excuse not to go into the Guggenheim Museum. Your dog cannot accompany you inside the museum, but there are trustworthy kennels in the area who will look after him/her for a few hours. You can see them here: The Basque Country with a dog.
If your dog is scared of spiders or eats them, we hope he/she doesn’t run away or try to get his/her teeth stuck into “Maman”, a bronze sculpture more than 9 metres high by the French-American artist Louise Bourgeois.
We continue on our way and soon find the Zubizuri Bridge (White Bridge in Basque), by Santiago Calatrava. It’s a good chance to cross it and carry on walking on the other side of the river.
Little by little we’ll notice more hustle and bustle on our walk: we’re getting close to the Bilbao City Hall and the Arriaga Theatre, built at the end of the 19th century by the architect Joaquín Rucoba.
Halfway between both buildings are the Arenal Gardens, a space where you can see children playing, dogs walking and locals enjoying their free time. If you’re lucky, you can enjoy one of the open-air fairs held in this space, or even some live music.
The hustle and bustle is undeniable: we’ve reached the entrance to the Old Part of Bilbao, whose original core is known as “The Seven Streets”. A large part of the shopping, catering and gastronomic activity of the town is concentrated on these cobbled streets, and hundreds of shops and bars will welcome you and your dog.
A typical plan to enjoy Bilbao with a dog is to enjoy a pintxos route through the Old Part. But bear in mind that on holidays, at lunch and dinner times, many people crowd into this area, there are toothpicks and food remains on the floor… and maybe it’s not the best plan to enjoy with a dog. Try to schedule this typical Bilbao plan with your dog when it is less busy, or in more open spaces or terraces, etc. Nobody knows your dog better than you, never lose sight of his/her wellbeing.
After having walked the streets as much as you want, look for one of the streets that lead back to the river. DOGTASTIC! You’ll find yourself face-to-face with the façade of the famous La Ribera Market (remodelled in 2013). You can cross one of the bridges and finish the excursion in Bilbao La Vieja (known as Bilbi), one of the most alternative cultural, musical, gastronomical spaces in the city. An ideal place to rest your feet, have a drink in the Marzana Wharf or eat in one of the many dog-friendly bars.
DOGSTATIC TIP!: We recommend doing this route on foot, but if you’re in a hurry or get caught in a shower, you may be interested to know that the whole route is dotted with Bilbao Tram stops, urban transport in which you are welcome with your dog.
Bon appetit, you and your dog deserve it! We hope these tips help you maximise your enjoyment of Bilbao with a dog.
Estimated time: 2 hours (although we recommend wandering around the Old Part and let your dog stop and say hello to other dogs without any hurry). You’ll find several drinking fountains and green areas throughout the walk.
Perfect plan for: dogs and humans who like walking and want to enjoy the open spaces in the city centre.