City in Basque Country, Spain
Bilbao for solo travelers
Is Bilbao good for solo travel?
Basque city reinvented around the Guggenheim, with fine pintxos, a clean metro and green hills close by. Rainy, a bit reserved, and less beachy than San Sebastián; very safe and good value.
Solo travel at a glance
| Solo travel | 4/5 · Very good for solo travel |
|---|---|
| Locals | Friendly |
| English | Common in tourist areas |
| Safety | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Solo women | Very comfortable for solo women, including at night. Normal care with drinks in crowded bars. |
How to meet people in Bilbao
Pintxo crawls in the Casco Viejo, language exchanges and Basque classes, social hostels, hiking and running clubs along the Nervión.
Good things to do alone
- Visit the Guggenheim on a weekday morning
- Pintxo-hop the Siete Calles
- Ride the Artxanda funicular for views
- Walk the riverside promenade to Deusto
- Day trip to Gaztelugatxe or Getxo
Where to stay in Bilbao
| Area | Good for |
|---|---|
| Casco Viejo (Siete Calles) | Pintxo bars, nightlife and central; busy on weekends |
| Abando | Business district, hotels, shops, walk to the Guggenheim |
| Indautxu | Residential, cafés and restaurants, calm long stays |
| Bilbao La Vieja and San Francisco | Cheaper, multicultural, edgier at night |
| Deusto | Student area near the university, cheaper rents |
Solo travel across Spain
| Place | Solo | English |
|---|---|---|
| Barcelona | 5/5 | Widely spoken |
| Madrid | 5/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Valencia | 5/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Málaga | 5/5 | Widely spoken |
| Gran Canaria | 5/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Costa del Sol | 5/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Palma | 5/5 | Widely spoken |
| Las Palmas | 5/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| San Sebastián | 5/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Seville | 4/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Mallorca | 4/5 | Widely spoken |
| Ibiza | 4/5 | Widely spoken |
| Tenerife | 4/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Granada | 4/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Lanzarote | 4/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Bilbao | 4/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Alicante | 4/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Fuerteventura | 4/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Cádiz | 4/5 | Limited |
| Santiago de Compostela | 4/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Costa Blanca | 4/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Costa Brava | 4/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Maspalomas | 4/5 | Widely spoken |
| Sitges | 4/5 | Widely spoken |
| Salamanca | 4/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Córdoba | 3/5 | Limited |
| Marbella | 3/5 | Widely spoken |
| Menorca | 3/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Toledo | 3/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Benidorm | 3/5 | Widely spoken |
Quick answers
Is Bilbao good for solo travelers?
Very good for solo travel (4/5). Basque city reinvented around the Guggenheim, with fine pintxos, a clean metro and green hills close by.
How do you meet people in Bilbao?
Pintxo crawls in the Casco Viejo, language exchanges and Basque classes, social hostels, hiking and running clubs along the Nervión. On SoloSquare you can also join small plans with other travelers who are there now.
Do people speak English in Bilbao?
Common in tourist areas.
Is Bilbao safe for solo female travelers?
Very comfortable for solo women, including at night. Normal care with drinks in crowded bars.
More about Bilbao
Going to Bilbao solo?
SoloSquare is where travelers, nomads and locals in Bilbao meet up for small plans: coffee, dinners, walks and day trips. Join one, or start your own in a minute.
Sources
Ratings are SoloSquare's editorial judgment. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.