Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
Central Asia yurt night stars
Uzbekistan • 15 days, 14 nights
Central Asia Road Trip: Backroads & Bazaars
from
A view of Brașov’s Old Town.
Romania • 12 days, 11 nights
Legends of Romania: Castles, Ruins & Culinary Delights
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
Side profile of the bomb prototype.
Petwood Hotel Bouncing Bomb
RAF Harrington
RAF Harrington
The Beaux-arts interior with Pool layout still visible.
Écomusée du fier monde
Village du Livre de Fontenoy-la-Joûte
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
Cacio e pepe lasagna combines two classics.
C'è pasta... E pasta!
Spaghetto taratatà is named for the sound of rattling sabers.
Giano Restaurant
The gnocchi here get blanketed in a sugo with braised oxtail.
Cesare al Pellegrino
Romans insist you should feel the cracked peppercorns and cheese grains on your tongue.
Flavio al Velavevodetto
Tripe is fried to a crisp.
L’Osteria della Trippa
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
People paddling in their wooden canoes on one of the lakes near the Allagash Waterway in the north woods in Maine
The Allagash Abductions: This State Park’s Most Famous Visitors ... Are Aliens?
about 7 hours ago
The rocky Revere Beach coast in Revere, Massachusetts, just outside Boston.
Which Places With Bad Raps Are Actually Worth Visiting?
1 day ago
A dugong displays the telltale “smile.”
Saving the Sea Cows of Vanuatu
1 day ago
The first photo of the “woolly devil” made a stir among botanists when Deb Manley uploaded it to iNaturalist in March 2024.
How the Woolly Devil, Member of a New Plant Genus, Was Discovered on a Hike in Big Bend
2 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
All Spain Bilbao

The Atlas Obscura Guide To Bilbao

3 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in Bilbao, Spain

Updated January 24, 2024

Email
Attractions
Map
Leaderboards
Stories
Hotel Deals

Unusual Attractions in Bilbao

Puppy at its permanent location in Aguirre plaza outside the Guggenheim Bilbao Museum.

Bilbao, Spain

Jeff Koons' Puppy

Giant topiary dog once played a role in a terrorist bomb plot.
Fuente del Perro.

Bilbao, Spain

Fountain of Dogs

This 19th-century fountain's namesake animal isn't what you think it is.
This stained glass window celebrates Basque culture.

Bilbao, Spain

Stained Glass Window at Bilbao Abando Indalecio Prieto Station

Marvel at this immense work of art that greets arrivals to the city.
Are we missing something unusual?
Add it!
Just your average rowing practice beneath dangling cars

Portugalete, Spain

Vizcaya Bridge

Two towns are linked by an engineering marvel masquerading as a boring suspension bridge.
5 miles from Bilbao
Gaztelugatxe

San Juan de Gaztelugatxe, Spain

Gaztelugatxe

Hundreds of stone stairs and a winding medieval bridge connect this haunting Spanish island to the mainland.
14 miles from Bilbao
The gate of Santimamiñe Cave

Kortezubi, Spain

Cueva de Santimamiñe (Santimamiñe Cave)

An archeological treasure trove stumbled upon by a couple of children.
16 miles from Bilbao
Permanently Closed

Kortezubi, Spain

Bosque Animado de Oma

A living art gallery painted on a canvas of Monterey pine trees.
16 miles from Bilbao
In partnership with KAYAK

Plan Your Trip

In partnership with GetYourGuide

Unforgettable Experiences Nearby

Explore Bilbao, Spain

Animals 2
Dogs 2

Bilbao Leaderboard

Places Added

  1. littlebrumble
    1
  2. leylairoyale
    1
  3. Dr Alan P Newman
    1
Join the Ranks!
Add an unusual place to Bilbao.

Places Edited

  1. Dr Alan P Newman
    2
  2. philoursmars
    2
  3. thegenxjourney
    1
  4. leylairoyale
    1
  5. scottzimmerman
    1
Join the Ranks!
Improve the Atlas with edits and photos.

Places Visited

  1. blestmoon
    3
  2. frenezaviva
    3
  3. juandelacuadra
    3
  4. toryface
    3
  5. sharoneldertravels
    3
Join the Ranks!
Visit a place in Bilbao.

Recent Bilbao Activity

  • indirakleen

    wants to go to Fountain of Dogs

    4 days ago
  • indirakleen

    wants to go to Jeff Koons' Puppy

    4 days ago
  • shibumy

    wants to go to Stained Glass Window at Bilbao Abando Indalecio Prieto Station

    4 days ago
  • enekolobatoizarra

    has been to Jeff Koons' Puppy

    3 days ago
  • enekolobatoizarra

    has been to Fountain of Dogs

    3 days ago

Stories About Bilbao

Enjoying a meal and drinks together at a txoko.

Step Inside These Members-Only Temples of Basque Gastronomy

For centuries, txokos have been crucial to shaping culinary traditions.
by Elizabeth Hlavinka
June 21, 2018

Become an Atlas Obscura Member

Join our community of curious explorers.

Learn More

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.