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Cristobal Balenciaga Museoa
Inaugurated in the summer of 2011 by Queen Sofia of Spain, the Balenciaga Museum is a trove for the fashion-obsessed. It shows the work of Balenciaga, a mentor for such greats as Dior, Ungaro and de Givenchy. Displays include some of his most stunning gowns, as well as accessories and sketches from his long and illustrious career (the impressive archive the museum is drawing from has more than 1,000 pieces). Many of the outstanding items are dresses worn by Princess Grace of Monaco. The town of Getaria (Balenciaga’s hometown) is located is about half-an-hour drive from Bilbao.
Guggenheim Bilbao
Time in Bilbao can be measured BG and AG: before the Guggenheim and after its arrival. Frank Gehry’s swooping structure transformed this unremarkable industrial city – the Pittsburg of Spain – into the country’s hotspot for art and design. Other starchitects such as Norman Foster and Santiago Calatrava have also added their touches to Bilbao’s streetscape, but none have had the impact of the Guggenheim. The museum’s permanent collection includes pieces from the mid-century to present, and a range of fascinating exhibits rotates through every few months. Still, the main focus on most visitor’s minds seems to be twofold: take a picture in front of Jeff Koon’s giant flower puppy that stands guard over the museum’s entrance, and enjoy a walk through a building hailed by many as the most important of the 20th century.
Hirutza Bodega
Bodega Hiruzta is winery that primarily produces txakoli, a traditional white wine produced in Basque Country that is known for being slightly sparkling, crisp, refreshing and very easy to drink. The bodega is about 25 minutes from San Sebastian, and offers tours and tastings (we recommend ordering the cheese plate with your wine tasting). While txakoli is the star here, the winery also produces an excellent Brut Nature and has a nice restaurant for lunch. Bodega Hiruzta can be paired with a visit to the traditional Basque town of Hondarrabia.
Indagare Tours: Cooking Class
Few things are more deliciously or quintessentially Basque than pintxos, the tapas-like snacks that are served in the city’s wine and cider bars. If you want to learn to make them back home, Indagare can arrange a cooking class with a star chef. Contact the Bookings Team for more information.
Isla de Santa Clara
This tiny island stands in the center of La Concha Bay. While some athletic types swim to its beach from La Concha’s shores, the more popular way to reach it is by regular ferry service from the harbor. Visitors can explore the island on a series of footpaths or lounge on its small beach.
La Concha Beach
The city’s main beach curves in the shape of a shell around the Bay of La Concha. Wide and sandy, it’s also usually packed with Spanish and French families enjoying the bay’s calm waters. A picturesque promenade traces the edges of the beach and is lined with cafés, making it the perfect place for a stroll or a pre-dinner drink at sunset.
Mercado de la Ribera
Many visitors to Bilbao wrongly tend to see the city as a one-stop wonder (i.e. the Guggenheim Museum). But the bustling Mercado de la Ribera, the city’s main food market, is a delicious antidote to all of that cutting edge architecture and art. Housed in a handsome 1930's building on the edge of the Casco Viejo, or Old City, this covered market is a lively, colorful, fragrant testament to this city’s love of good food. It is a great place to shop for edible souvenirs or grab a snack.
Monte Urgull
Monte Urgull is a large hill/small mountain that occupies the end of the peninsula next to San Sebastián’s old town. For a nice walk, follow the path that winds its way to the summit, where you’ll have breathtaking views of the shoreline and the city. The hill originally served as part of San Sebastián’s defensive fortifications, and the ruins of a fort, as well as a huge statue of Christ, tops Urgull. Bring a picnic and a bottle of wine for a wonderful midday meal.
Museo de Bellas Artes de Bilbao
Though the Guggenheim Museum hogs Bilbao’s cultural limelight, the elegant Museo de Bellas Artes is one of the best museums in Spain, with a spectacular collection that includes works by Goya, Zurbarán and other Spanish painters, plus canvases by international artists ranging from James Ensor to Mary Cassatt.
Zurriola Beach
Located on the opposite side of the Urumea River from La Concha, Zurriola has rougher waters and is popular for surfing rather than swimming.
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