Picture-perfect Bilbao is the cultural epicenter of Spain's Basque Country. It is the largest city and metropolitan area in northern Spain, and it is also one of the most heavily-industrialized cities in the country. Founded in the fourteenth century, Bilbao became one of the Kingdom of Castile's most important ports by the late Renaissance period. Situated between the Cantabrian Mountains and the Pyrenees, Bilbao is well-known for its temperate climate, as the city experiences cooler and wetter summers compared to other cities in Spain. In the early 1990s, the city government, inspired by the budding urbanist movement, green-lit the development of the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, which revitalized the entire port area and the downtown area called Abando.
Spain is recognized throughout Europe for its distinctive style and contribution to art. With this vacation package you will visit Spanish cities known for their artistic flair or heritage: Madrid (with its diverse Spanish museums: the Museo del Prado, Reina Sofia and the Thyssen-Bornemisza); then continue to Bilbao (a city that is experiencing an ongoing social, economic, and aesthetic revitalization process started by the iconic Bilbao Guggenheim Museum); and finally Barcelona (featuring the quirky and inspiring architectural masterpieces of Gaudi and the dramatic Gothic Quarter).
Fully Flexible Itinerary: Personalize your hotels, transportation, and length of stay in each city. Easily add curated experiences to complete your journey.