bilbao

Hello, bilbao

One of the jewels of northern Spain, Bilbao is a city full of surprises and delights. It boasts a unique blend of tradition and modernity, which is reflected in its stunning architecture, rich cultural heritage, and outstanding cuisine. At its heart lies the magnificent Guggenheim Museum, one of the most impressive structures in the world. Its streets are alive with the sound of Euskara, Europe's oldest and most enigmatic language while the Casco Viejo (Old Town) is full of traditional bars for sampling pintxos.

Shopping

The Shopping to Visit

Mercado de la Ribera

Mercado de la Ribera (Erribera merkatua)

Located in the centre of the Old Town are the impressive halls of Mercado de la Ribera. Dating back to the 1930s, this building is a meeting point for food lovers. The area is buzzing during the mornings, and you can get nearly any local product you can think of. It was distinguished by the Guinness Book of Records in 1990 as being the largest food market in all of Europe. It may not be the largest in Europe anymore, but it's still an extremely impressive building.

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woman in a shopping mall with colorful bags

Zubiarte

This is an upmarket shopping mall where you will find exclusive designers such as Tommy Hilfiger, Massimo Dutti, and Antonio Miró. There are currently more than 50 shops, a cinema, a supermarket, and restaurants. Zubiarte is located near the Guggenheim and the Iberdrola Tower, which is right in the city centre. Here you can shop for everything from clothing to accessories, electronics and interior design items.

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friends shopping

La Casa del Libro

La Casa del Libro is a bookshop with an extensive range of books and maps, including English language books. The shop has been celebrated for providing books that are otherwise difficult to obtain, and because of the enormous variety of genres they have in stock. So, if you are in need of a book which explains the gardening techniques of the 15th century during the Tudor period, look no further.

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friends trying hats

Sombreros Gorostiaga

Many visitors like to return from Bilbao with a chic beret, which locals call txapelas. The txapelas look a bit like a mix of a fedora and a cowboy hat. But it's probably best to check it out yourself! Sombreros Gorostiaga is a family-owned business est. 1857, which makes it one of the oldest businesses of Bilbao, and has an extensive selection. The shop is so popular and known for its quality that even TV shows and film directors have requested hats from the shop.

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women with shopping bag

El Corte Inglés

You are guaranteed to find what you’re looking for at this Spanish institution, as it's the biggest department store group in Europe. From luxury to everyday items, El Corte Inglés is likely to have it. A couple of the many designers that display their collections at El Corte Inglés are Calvin Klein, Dior, and Ralph Lauren.

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Beautiful friends window shopping at the mall

Gran Via

Framed by modernist buildings and lime trees, the main street and the adjoining streets of the El Ensanche neighbourhood hold a great variety of classy boutiques. There are three main areas of this neighbourhood: the lower area surrounding Plaza Circular, the mid-zone between Plaza Circular and Plaza Moyúa, and the upper zone between Plaza Moyúa and Plaza del Sagrado Corazón.

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