Bilbao

Bradt's e-city guide to Bilbao by expert author Murray Stewart covers not only vibrant Bilbao itself but also the surrounding province of which it is capital, Biskaia (Biscay). Hotels, restaurants, nightlife, shopping, walks and transport are all included, as well as the many sights of this recently reinvented urban giant of the Basque territories, from the Casco Viejo (Old Town) to Ensanche and the Guggenheim, plus the adjoining areas of Bilbao la Vieja and San Francisco, ethnically diverse quarters than have a buzz all of their own with just a hint of the Bohemian thrown in for the mix.

Beyond the city, nearby Getxo provides a pleasant seaside distraction with its many beaches, as do Sopelana, Gorliz and Plentzia further east: playgrounds for the city-dwellers and easily accessible by public transport. The Puente Colgante, the UNESCO Heritage Transporter Bridge, joins Getxo to Portugalete across the river estuary.

Bradt's Bilbao and Biskaia caters for all interests, ranging from the quaint villages and lush countryside of the Encartaciones region to coastal fishing villages, birdwatching around the Urdaibai estuary, surfing at Mandaka, and the jagged mountains and dense forests that decorate the natural parks of Gorbea and Urkiola, ideal territory for nature lovers and walkers.

An ever-expanding network of budget airline flights make Bilbao more accessible than ever before, while the Guggenheim Museum has put the city and wider Basque country firmly on the European art trail. Written in an engaging and colourful style that entertains as much as informs, and drawn from the larger Bradt guide to The Basque Country, this guide will help you discover exactly what it is that makes Bilbao and Biskaia tick.