When the Guggenheim opened its doors in 1997, Bilbao was a former industrial powerhouse in the throes of an economic crisis. But the opening of the iconic Frank Gehry-designed art museum kickstarted a huge urban renewal programme, and today the northern Spanish port city is a vibrant cultural hub, with an ever-growing collection of galleries, music venues and restaurants.
Bilbao is famed for its delicious Basque cuisine. Alongside several Michelin-starred eateries, the city is home to the riverside Mercado de la Ribera – one of the largest covered food markets in Europe – and an assortment of laid-back bars serving tasty bite-sized morsels (pintxos).
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