Hotels in Bilbao

Hotels in Bilbao: prices, timing and areas

When to book a stay in Bilbao for less

It is cheapest in January, out of season, when rates fall by about two fifths against the yearly average. May is the priciest, at the start of the high season, when prices can rise by more than half. This is a weekend and gastronomy city, so Sunday tends to be the cheapest day and Friday the most expensive, when the weekend begins. Here, unlike in smaller cities, it pays to book really early, as the lowest rates show up about three months before arrival. Spring and autumn have the mildest weather, while summer draws the most guests.

What a stay costs by property type

Bilbao runs from a hostel bed to five stars on the Gran Vía. The cheapest sleep is in hostels and family pensiones, of which the Casco Viejo has plenty, while the gap up to four and five stars in the Ensanche is large. Apartments can cost more than a regular hotel because you rent a whole place. Below are indicative nightly rates from July.

Indicative rates for a double room, from July. Out of season, especially in January, the same property is often noticeably cheaper, while May and weekends run dearer, so check the real price for your dates in the search above.

Where a stay is cheaper and where it costs more

The priciest is the Ensanche, the elegant district around the Gran Vía and Abando, close to the Guggenheim Museum and the main shops. The Old Town, the Casco Viejo with its Siete Calles, is atmospheric and full of pintxos bars, at a mid price. The cheapest is Deusto across the river, still close to the centre thanks to the metro. Bilbao is compact, so even a base outside the very centre is convenient. Below are indicative nightly prices in a few districts.

The gaps between districts are small, as the centre of Bilbao is compact. In the Casco Viejo you pay for the atmosphere and the bars nearby, in the Ensanche for being near the Guggenheim and the Gran Vía.

Which stay in Bilbao suits whom

• First time in Bilbao. The Casco Viejo or the centre by Abando is the easiest base. From here it is a walk to the Guggenheim, the Arriaga theatre and the pintxos bars.
• For art lovers. The Ensanche near the Guggenheim Museum and the Museum of Fine Arts. In the evening the riverside by the Zubizuri bridge is at its nicest.
• For couples. Boutique hotels in the Casco Viejo and elegant addresses in the Ensanche. An evening pintxos crawl around Plaza Nueva is a Bilbao classic.
• Budget. Family pensiones in the Casco Viejo and hostels, with a good vibe and close to everything. Good for a shorter, more budget-minded stay.
• Quieter and cheaper. Deusto across the river, a few minutes in by metro. Good for a longer stay.
• With breakfast. Some hotels include breakfast in the rate, though in Bilbao it is worth heading out for morning pintxos or a coffee in town anyway.

Example hotels in Bilbao with prices

From a hostel bed to five stars in the Ensanche, a few Bilbao names with a from price. Just a starting point, as rates can climb noticeably in May and on weekends.

From prices for a double room, from July. The same hotel can differ a lot between January and May, so check your exact dates in the search.