5 reasons for a trip to the Basque Country

From nice villages and modern architectural monuments, a beautiful green environment to world-class food and wine. In this article you will find 5 reasons why you should add a trip to the Basque country to your must-visit list.

The capital of culture – San Sebastián

To visit San Sebastián you do not need any extra motivation from us but this beautiful coastal metropolis is generally regarded as one of the best places to eat in the world and in 2016 year the city was awarded the coveted title of Capital of Culture Europe (together with Wroclaw, Poland). This name brought with it an extensive calendar of events and activities that kept the city alive throughout the year, from concerts and film festivals to art exhibitions, live performances of opera and theater, creative workshops and courses, and special programs for children.

Wine region

You can see the names of the wine growing centers of the Basque Country such as Samaniego, Laguardia, Elciego, Labastida in bars and cafes everywhere. A delicious Tempranillo tasting to go after the wine region Rioja Alavesa and see how the wines are made. Of particular interest are the beautiful medieval town of Laguardia and the wineries surrounding it, including Bodegas Ysios and the futuristic ‘temple dedicated to wine’ of Santiago Calatrava. Don’t miss the Bodegas Marqués de Riscal in Elciego, specializing in very tasteful red wines from the old vines and the whimsical hotel designed by Frank Gehry.

San Juan de Gaztelugatxe

It’s kind of a trip to the ninth-century religious site of San Juan de Gaztelugatxe. After a walk on a steep hill, a passage over the Bay of Biscay via a picturesque stone walking path and a walk of 241 steps you are there. But the views from the top of the island make it absolutely worthwhile. Gaztelugatxe is derived from the Basque gaztelu (castle) and aitz (rock or rock). Enjoy breathtaking views of the coastline and the waves beneath it and keep an eye on the Basque fishermen who make pilgrimages with tourists: it is a local tradition to walk to the church and ask the saint for a blessing rich season.

Roadtrip

With the car you can drive along the beautiful Basque coastline and admire the cliff landscape. Here the Basque country is perfect for. For example, the route from Bilbao to San Sebastián. This is an unforgettable road trip that leads you through a series of traditional fishing villages with names that you can hardly pronounce, from small Elantxobe to the beautiful Lekeitio to Getaria, the birthplace of the fashion designer Cristobal Balenciaga (there is a great museum dedicated to his oeuvre) All cities along this road have nice pintxo bars and nice streets that invite you to take a relaxing walk. For more activities you can also check this website.

Unique identity

If you follow the news, you know that Basque nationalism is a controversial issue in Spain. But that regional pride could be read as an expression of cultural independence. Although the mystery surrounds the subject Basque people are supposed to be descendants of the original human inhabitants of the European continent. Their culture is characterized by thoroughly unique traditions, including Euskara, the Basque language.

In the popular city of Bilbao you will also find the world famous Guggenheim museum. Read our article about the Guggenheim Bilbao. A trip to the Basque Country can not be missed as a fan of the Spanish country, culture and traditions.

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The historic center of Benidorm is located on a promontory that separates the two large beaches. These are the Levante beach (the ‘new’ Benidorm) and the Poniente beach (the ‘old’ Benidorm). The historic center is the old fishing village. Benidorm also has a third (smaller) beach, this is Mas Pal. Discover Benidorm already by reading this article and we know that you will soon plan a trip to Benidorm.

Discover Benidorm; old town, beaches and beautiful nature

Benidorm is the most popular tourist attraction in Spain after Madrid and Barcelona. In Belgium and the Netherlands, Benidorm is mainly known as a place to spend the winter for the elderly. Especially Dutch, Belgian and British pensioners spend the winter here. When the summer begins, this place is filled with families and young people who are doing enjoying the nightlife. Benidorm has the largest number of hotel beds in Europe after Paris. Due to the large number of hotels and apartments Benidorm has the largest number of high buildings (35m and higher). Because of these tall buildings and the fact that in Benidorm the summers are filled with people and nightlife and Benidorm ‘doesn’t sleep’ just like Ney York, the city is also called Beniyork sometimes.

Beaches

For almost every visitor, Benidorm’s most striking attraction is the two extensive city beaches, Levante and Poniente. It’s always busy at Levante, but if you go to Benidorm a little earlier or later in the season and travel to the far west, you can enjoy the beach of Poniente. It’s a lot less crowded there and the view you can enjoy is a reward, golden sand and a breathtaking blue sea. There is a super relaxed atmosphere and the place is surrounded by restaurants where you can enjoy delicious Spanish dishes such as Paella.

The old town

Discover Benidorm in the right way by visiting the most beautiful part of Benidorm. You have to love this, the old city. On a spot on a hill between the two beautiful beaches. In the evening it’s wonderful to stroll around in the evening through the narrow streets and the charming buildings or sit on a terrace with a glass of wine. You can admire the sunset from the Mirador where the castle once stood. Street vendors and musicians will fill the squares with entertainment in the evening.

Natural sights

Are you a lover of picturesque architecture? You can fully enjoy that in Benidorm. The city is surrounded on all sides by a beautiful landscape. Benidorm is a compact city designed to spur upwards instead of out, making it quick and easy to escape from all those tall buildings and immerse yourself in the natural beauty that is characteristic of this part from Spain. Walk to the Sierra Helada Natural Park in the east of the city, here you will once again be rewarded by the most fantastic views. Here you have the chance to go to the beautiful, secluded coves in Cala Almadrada and Cala Tio Ximo for a dive in a relaxed and peaceful atmosphere. It’s also very nice to rent an electric bike (at Tao Bike) and to explore the beautiful surroundings. The cross of Benidorm is also worth a visit (this can still be done on foot). From here you have a truly breathtaking view over the coast, the mountains and a beautiful skyline. At sunset you almost feel like you’re in Rio instead of Benidorm.

Benidorm is a versatile place where you will have plenty to do and therefore you won’t get bored. Discover Benidorm on foot, by bike or in the car. Are you looking for more beautiful places in Spain? We have a top 5 of the most beautiful undiscovered Spanish places for you to read and perhaps to plan your next trip to Spain to.

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Bilbao beaches; recreation, peace and relaxation

Bilbao is a city that is becoming increasingly popular and that’s well deserved. It’s a very beautiful city. Bilbao is not so massive and has a feeling of a big cozy, charming village. In addition to having a very nice center in Bilbao, this city also has wonderful beaches. The Bilbao beaches are also suitable for several purposes. You can practice different water sports, play volleyball, tan and enjoy the peace and relaxation. We can definitely recommend the following Bilbao beaches:

Playa de Ereaga

In the exclusive Getxo, Playa de Ereaga is located at metro stop Neguri, about 20 minutes from the center of Bilbao. This beach is located on a pleasant boulevard with a few cafes and restaurants. On this beach you can actively participate in various activities both on the water and on the beach. Depending on the weather you can go, (kite) surfing, sailing, hire a canoe and play a game of volleyball. You can also choose to take a nice walk along the boulevard and admire the impressive villas from the last century. After the marina you will reach the river mouth and the world famous gliding bridge Puente Colgante, which itself is already worth a visit to Getxo. If you walk the other way from the beach you will end up in the picturesque Puerto Viejo, this is the old port of Algorta. At this place you can eat delicious food while you’re in the middle of the old white fisherman’s houses.

Playa de Arrigunaga

From Puerto Viejo you can follow a nice walking path along the sea and the cliffs to this beach. You can also just take the metro, then get off at Bidezabal and you have to walk for 10 minutes. This is a slightly smaller beach than Playa de Ereaga and this is also the beach where most locals go. You have a fantastic view over the cliffs and the old mill. At the beach is a skate park and a playground with a large lawn and plenty of terraces to once again have some nice food and drinks. Above the cliffs is a beautifully landscaped walking and cycling path that passes an old fort and runs all the way to the town of Sopelana, one of the most famous surf spots in Spain, where you can also learn to surf as a beginner.

Playa de Gorliz

Playa de Gorliz lends itself as the perfect beach where you can make wonderful beach walks. You can also go cycling, windsurfing and horse riding. The beach consists mainly of fine sand and there are several bars and terraces where you can sit in the sun while enjoying a snack and a drink. On the website of Metro Bilbao you will find more information about the beaches of Bilbao and the metro which of course comes in handy when you travel by metro to the beach.

Playa de Plentzia

Are you someone who goes to the beach for the beautiful sun-kissed skin? Then choose Playa de Plentzia. There is a beautiful large sandy beach here which is also very crowded during the summer months. Again you have several bars and terraces here for the delicious appetite and a refreshing drink. There are also picnic tables, showers and toilets on this beach. That is why it is also a nice idea to bring all your own tasty snacks and to enjoy them on one of the picnic tables. Picnicking on the beach, sounds great right?!

Playa Salvaje

Are you a real sports fanatic? Then visit Playa Salvaje. At this place you will find the best waves to surf. Aren’t you afraid of heights and adventurous activities? Then you are at the right place here because you can also go paragliding here! In addition, you have a lot of rocks at Playa Salvaje and you can fish and camp here. For adventurers and real outdoor people this is a golden place.

At the Bilbao beaches there is more than enough things you can do. Do you feel more like discovering the city yourself? Then read our article about things to do in Bilbao.

Only message left to say; enjoy!

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The island has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List, category bio-ambience reserve since 2006. It is beautiful, soothing, green, relaxed and you can continue with all kinds of positive associations. Discover Menorca by car, bike, jeepsafari or even on a boat.

Discover Menorca; the hidden island of the Balearics

If you’re in need of something other than Ibiza or Mallorca, then Menorca may be a destination that you would like to add to your list. Menorca is an island that is frequently visited by families and couples. It really is a place for a wonderful relaxing holiday in the sun. Curious? Discover Menorca in advance by reading our top 5 most beautiful spots at Menorca.

Cala Galdana

In the south of Menorca lies the largest bay of the island. This is more than 35 km from the capital Mahón. There are plenty of things to do in this beautiful seaside resort. You can practice various water sports and you have various shops and nice boutiques in the street of Cala Galdana. Not far from this bay you can find the most beautiful beach of Menorca, called Cala Macarella. This breathtakingly beautiful bay has the shape of a semi-circle and has very green hills in the background. The water is super clear and has the azure color.

Cala’n Blanes

The popular resort of Cala’n Blanes is the most new tourist part of Menorca and the majority of the accommodation here consists of villas and apartments. Together with the neighboring towns of Cala’n Forcat and Los Delfines, this part forms a fairly large expansive tourist area. Here you can also find various forms of animation including Los Delfines Aquapark. This is a water park with all kinds of water slides and water tunnels. They also have Jacuzzis and of course sunbeds to read a good book or to enjoy the sun. For more information about this aquapark click here.

Mahón

The largest city on the island of Menorca is Mahón or Maó. At this place Placa de s’Esplanada is the large and busy square, which comes to life especially in the evenings and at weekends. The old town has quite a few historic buildings such as the Santa Maria church and the town hall from 1789. Furthermore, you still have the medieval gate on the Pont de Sant Roc, which is a remaining part from 1359. In the port of Mahón there are remnants of the Sant Felip castle and fort La Mola.

Monte Toro

On the highest mountain of Menorca de Monte Toro also called El Toro, you have a very nice view over the whole island. With clear weather you can even see the Tramontana mountains of Mallorca. At the Monte Toro there is also a 17th century church with a statue of the Virgin Mary with a bull at her feet.

Fornells

In the north of Menorca between Cap de Cavallaeria and Port d’Addaia lies the beautiful town of Fornells. This is a quiet place, where nature is treated with great respect. The very beautiful bay of Fornells is again suitable for various forms of water sports. There are also many other activities in the area such as horse riding, mountain biking, climbing and hiking. In Fornells you have several cozy restaurants that serve you the tastiest fish dishes.

In short, Menorca is the place for a marvelous and relaxed holiday where you can enjoy the beautiful surroundings, clear blue waters and tranquility. Discover Menorca yourself and enjoy all the beauty that this gorgeous island has to offer!

Have you become curious about sister island Mallorca? Then you should also read our article about Palma de Mallorca.

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Things to do in Cádiz; city, nature, architecture and beach

Things to do in Cádiz; there are plenty of things to do in Cádiz and there are various sights you can visit. Because Cádiz is a port city, you naturally also think of the port. But in the center there are many old buildings, fortifications and a large cathedral which are nice to visit. You can also visit various museums in Cádiz that vary from architecture to visual art. You also have large and well-known theaters in Cádiz, including a Roman theater which is the second largest Roman theater in the world. This theater has only been surpassed by a theater in of course, Rome. Probably nice to know is that you can visit the theater for free.

Habanita ‘Little Havana’

Because of its resemblance to Havana, the capital of Cuba and also the sister city of Cádiz, Cádiz is also called Habanita (Little Havana) or the ‘Havana of Europe’. This resemblance is mainly due to the Malecón, a world-famous boulevard in the Cuban capital that closely resembles the Malecón in Cádiz. For this reason, the James Bond film, Die Another Day, which took place in Havana, among other places, was partly recorded in Cádiz. Do you want to imagine yourself in Cuba? then you should definitely visit the Malecón.

The city that smiles

The best thing about Cádiz? If you ask us, that is the characteristic cheerfulness of the Gaditanos, the inhabitants of the city. Gaditanos are cheerful, satisfied and enjoy life to the fullest. Cádiz is ‘la ciudad que sonríe’, the city that smiles, something you experience everywhere in the old town. At Plaza de Mina, where people greet each other with kisses and hugs and start to sing flamenco spontaneously. Or on the promenade Duque de Nájera, where you really see everyone enjoying the nice sea breeze and the beautiful sunset in the evening. To see this for yourself is a great experience.

Playa de la Caleta

Cádiz has several beautiful beaches. The most atmospheric is without doubt Playa de la Caleta on the edge of the old town. The beach is located on a wide boulevard and overlooks the old harbor and two historic forts, Castillo de San Sebastián and Castillo de Santa Catalina. Behind the beach is the Barrio de la Viña, this is an old fishing district where you’ll find the famous and exquisite seafood restaurant El Faro.

Curious about the best beaches in Spain? Read our blog about the top 5 best beaches in Spain.

Catedral Nueva

One of the highlights of Cádiz is the Catedral Nueva from 1838 with its impressive towers and the beautiful golden dome. The cathedral was built over a period of 116 years and as a result a there’s a mix of the architectural styles baroque, rococo and neoclassical. At the spacious open square in front of the cathedral, the Plaza de la Catedral, there are all kinds of tapas bar and cozy terraces. Perfect to enjoy the sun while enjoying a snack and a drink.

Torre Tavira

Cádiz is known for the many Miradores (watchtowers) that were built on houses throughout the city in the 18th century. From the towers, merchants watched the arrival of ships from South America. The Torre Tavira is the highest (45m above sea level) and from here you have a beautiful view over the city and the harbor.

Parque Genovés

City park ‘Parque Genovés’ is the perfect place to go for a walk or cool down when it’s too hot. The park consists of many tall palms, beautifully pruned trees, fine springs and a special botanical garden. In the park there’s a café with a lovely large terrace, a playground and an open air theater where there are often concerts.

Plaza Topete

Because of the many flower stalls this square is also called Plaza de las Flores. Start your day here with café con leche and a newspaper, while the square and the adjacent central market come to life. Plaza Topete is also the place to get acquainted with the specialty of Cádiz: fresh fish from the Bay of Cádiz fried in olive oil.

Besides these nice places that you could visit during your stay in Cádiz. Cádiz is also a real party town with festivities throughout the year. The highlight of the year and the pride of the city is the Carnaval de Cádiz, one of the most famous and largest carnival celebrations in the world. For a week and a half there will be non-stop singing and dancing. The most important part of all festivities are the satirical singing groups that scoff at politicians and public figures. In 2019 this festival will take place from the 28th of February till the 10th of March. You’ll find the agenda here.

Things to do in Cádiz; thanks to this article you don’t have to worry about this anymore!

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Things to do in Bilbao; the places you must visit

In the 1990’s Bilbao went through an economic crisis. After that the city decided it was time for some innovation and to become a more modern city. The highlights of this urban renewal were the arrival of the metro in 2012 (Euskotran), the Guggenheim museum (Museo Guggenheim Bilbao) and the Palacio Euskalduna (a concert and event hall). Currently they are still working outside the center to continue this urban renewal there as well. They set up pedestrian paths, underground parking lots, parks and new sports halls. In this way, the city wants to convert the industrial of Bilbao into that of a modern city, attractive for tourism and recreation.

Museo Guggenheim Bilbao

Speaking of Bilbao sights, thanks to this museum, tourism in Bilbao has increased significantly. For lovers of modern art and architecture, the Museo Guggenheim Bilbao is an absolute must see. This museum has been in the city since 1997. The construction took about 4 years and costed about 100 million. The Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao receives more than 1 million visitors a year and is the most important landmark of Bilbao and the Basque Country. The design is by the American architect Frank Owen Gehry. The chosen style and materials ensure that the building is a work of art itself. The artworks on display vary from modern art (pop art) to works by famous artists such as Picasso. Around the museum there are also a number of artworks that you can admire. Want to know more about the Museo Guggenheim Bilbao? Read our blog Guggenheim Bilbao.

Abando

The Abando district is located in the old town of Bilbao. Are you looking for the vibrant nightlife then you should definitely go here. This is where you’ll also find the famous tapas/pinchos of Bilbao. The clubs, bars and restaurants will ensure your perfect night out. And if you’re a lover of live music, then you should go to Kafe Antozokia.

Casco Viejo

The official name of this oldest district of Bilbao is ‘Las Siete Calle’. You can walk through the narrowest old streets with beautiful old facades and you will find churches such as the Cathedral of Santiago, San Nicolás, Santos Juanes, San Anton etc. You will also find nice and cozy eateries, bars where you can eat the famous delicious tapas and the Arriaga Theater.

Mercado de la Ribera

In this more than ten thousand square meters covered indoor market you can really find everything you want. The Mercado de la Ribera has a very nice location, in the middle of the center and near the water. This market attracts thousands of visitors every day. If you go here, you won’t fail to notice the beautiful stained-glass windows.

Plaza Nueva

Under the arches on the monumental square ‘Plaza Nueva’ there are several restaurants, shops, terraces and bars. The square is also used for flea markets, concerts and festivals. Especially on Sundays it’s very busy on this square. This square can be found north of the cathedral of Santiago de Bilbao between the streets Calle Correo and Calle Askao.

In addition to these things to do in Bilbao with the places that you should definitely visit, Bilbao is a city that is becoming increasingly popular, especially among students. For example, in Bilbao you have a lot of Erasmus students, for which many activities are organized. During your trip or your study time in Bilbao you can certainly enjoy a nice party here and there.

Tip: Bilbao is also a great place to have a nice picnic with all the good food. Get inspired here!

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Palma de Mallorca; sun, sea, beach and city

Mallorca has everything you’ll need for a wonderful holiday, a city trip or even for studying in Mallorca. Mallorca is a combination of beautiful beaches, small villages, the most beautiful views over the sea and Palma as the big city. Mallorca is an island where you can do anything you want. Mallorca is also suitable for the largest target groups: seniors, young people, families and couples.

Palma de Mallorca

Palma is a very vibrant and modern city. The old parts of the city are well combined with the modern parts. Many alleys and small streets, with cozy terraces, cafes and restaurants. You can also shop well here, in the big famous shops like Zara and H&M but also in many small boutiques.

There are a number of sights in the city. The most famous of these is the cathedral La Seu, which was built by, among others, the famous Antoni Gaudi, who is also responsible for many impressive buildings in Barcelona. If you want to know more about the Cathedral of Palma, take a look at the website of Catedral de Mallorca.

The museum Palau March, this is certainly the most beautiful museum of Palma de Mallorca. The museum is worth a visit just for the view and the statues on the courtyard.

Plaza Mayor, the most beautiful and cozy square in the city is certainly the Plaza Mayor. The Plaza Mayor in Palma de Mallorca is a replica of the Plaza Mayor in Madrid. On the square you will find many cozy terraces, where in the summer months you can relax in the sun. In the summer months you will also find many street artists such as living statues, jugglers and mimes.

Passeig del Born, this is certainly one of the nicest streets of the historic center of Palma de Mallorca. It’s a street consisting of two roads with in the middle of it, a wide central strip with large trees in it. And again you will find several terraces that are particularly crowded in the evening. On the Passeig del Born you will find restaurants, bars, clothing stores and galleries. You will also encounter street artists here.

Parc de la Mar, a nice quiet place in the city where you can recover from the shopping and the crowds you experience in the center of Palma. On one of the walls of the park, the Catalan artist Joan Mira has made a great work of art that you will not overlook.

Playa Palma de Mallorca

Besides that Palma is a very vibrant city that you shouldn’t miss out on, you also have to visit one of the most important beaches on the island. Playa Palma de Mallorca is located near Palma and is an eight kilometer long sandy beach. It is a very flat sand beach which makes it very suitable for enjoying the sun. You can imagine that in the summer months, it’s quite crowded on this beach.

In addition to Palma de Mallorca, Mallorca has so much more to offer. It’s the largest island of the Balearic Islands so there are plenty of beautiful places outside of Palma that you can visit. Do you want to know which one we recommend? Then read our blog about the 5 most beautiful places of Mallorca.

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Look at the best festivals in Spain 2019 and book your ticket!

Dancing on the most beautiful beaches or in the biggest parks, you can do it in Spain! Are you planning to go to Spain this summer or do you still need to make plans for the summer? See below the best festivals in Spain 2019 and choose the festival that fits to your style!

HOUSE/TECHNO

1) ) PRIMAVERA SOUND: A festival what takes place at the Spanish coast in Barcelona. After the first festival in 2001, primavera sound has grown to one of the biggest festivals in Spain. For around 180 euros you can buy a ticket to shake your booty on the 30^th of may till the second of June

2)  SONAR: One of the best festivals in Spain: The Sonar-festival.This festival takes place in Barcelona as well on the 18^th, 19^th and 20^th of July. Thousands of visitors around the world will flood Barcelona for a week to share the love for house and techno with each other. A ticket isn’t cheap, it costs 170 euro for three days. But Believe me it’s worth the money!

3)  DGTL: We will stay in Barcelona for a bit because on the 23th and 24th of august the DGTL-festival takes place. Maybe you recognized the name of other editions around Europe, but this is a special one because this festival takes place in the famous parc de forum! A ticket costs around 50 euros.

ALTERNATIVE

1) EMAC: On the 15th of February 2019 EMAC-festival takes place in Burriana. A small festival but if you are in the neighborhood definitely worth visiting it!

2) VIDA FESTIVAL: from 4th of july till the 7th of july 2019 you can dance in the woods of Barcelona at the VIDA-festival. All sorts of music are played at this festival. Look at some great bands and dance on the best jam sessions. If you are in time with booking the tickets, it will be around 45 euros!

ROCK AND POP

1) MAD COOL: Also one of the most famous festivals in Spain 2019; The Mad cool-festival.With seven stages where the biggest artist ( Dua Lippa and Arctic Monkeys) are performing on is this festival a must to go to. The festival moved to another location in Madrid what has more space for even more people! A ticket costs around 120 euros for the whole weekend!

2) BILBAO BBK LIVE: on the 11^th till the 13th of july, You could go to Bilbao to show your dance moves on the nicest grounds of BBK LIVE.Famous names like the gorilla’s and Weezer are playing. For 95 euros you can enjoy this amazing festival.

3) A SUMMER STORY: The name is right: it is a summer story. At the a summer story you can dance on rock, pop but also house music! A lot of visitors are coming to the 400m2 field in Madrid to make a story to never forget!

REGGAETON festivals in Spain 2019

1) REGGAETON BEACH FESTIVAL: Here we are again in Barcelona because at the 28th of July the reggaeton beach festival takes place. A lot of Spanish DJ’s are playing the nicest reggaetón hits where you can dance on at the beach of Barcelona! For 45 euro’s you are standing at this festival showing your dance moves to the Spaniards.

2) ROTOTOM: The 16th of June till the 22t of June you can admire the African reggaetón style in Benicassim. This festival is rather different than the ones named before because it’s a cultural festival! Each day of the week there are around 55 performances! You can buy your tickets here: rototom-festival.

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Guggenheim Bilbao; everything you need to know

For those who love modern art and architecture, the Museo Guggenheim Bilbao is an absolute must see. Since 1997 this museum shines brightly in Bilbao at the river Nervión. The construction period took about 4 years and cost about 100 million. With more than 1 million visitors a year, the Museo Guggenheim Bilbao is by far the most important landmark of Bilbao and the Basque Country.

The origin of the Guggenheim Bilbao

After the economic crisis that the city experienced in the 1990’s, the government decided it was time for a more modern city. During this urban renewal there was placed a metro in Bilbao (Euskotran), the Palacio Euskalduna, a concert and event hall and the famous Museo Guggenheim Bilbao.

At the time that the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation indicated in 1990 that they were looking for a new location for a third location for a Guggenheim museum, the Basque government offered to establish the Guggenheim in the port city of Bilbao in February. The high cost that was attached to this museum didn’t scare them off, the contrary was through. They knew that this museum could change the image of Bilbao in a positive way. With the Guggenheim museum Bilbao would become world news and definitely attract a new stream of tourists.

Design by Frank Gehry

The design of the building is by American architect Frank Owen Gehry. He has ensured that a particularly impressive building emerged. The architectural style that is used is called deconstructivism. This style falls under modernism. In 2015, Gehry’s design was seen as the most important piece of architecture since 1980. At the time, the American magazine Vanity Fair time asked 52 experts what they saw as the most important architectural work of the last fifteen years. The Guggenheim Bilbao was the best. Now, years later, a lot of people still marvel at this complex design by Gehry. Every moment of the day has its charm. This is due to the combination of the forms that are used and the use of titanium. The way in which (sun) light and material work together leads to a brilliant result.

Until the construction of the Guggenheim Bilbao Museum, the use of titanium was rare within construction. Titanium is mainly used in aircraft construction, building missiles and for making jewelry. Because Gehry has ensured that a large part of the Guggenheim is covered with titanium, it has become a beautiful building with the brilliance of the titanium.

Around the Guggenheim

There is even art to admire for free, the building itself is perhaps the most beautiful work of art to watch. But there are also a number of pieces around the building. In front of the main entrance of the museum is ‘Puppy’ by the American artist Jeff Koons. This 12 meter high puppy is covered in about 70,000 flowers. As a result, the West Highland white terrier puppy is also called ‘Flower Puppy’. You also have the metal giant spider on the Nervión side of the museum. This spider, called Maman, is a popular photo spot for people. Maman was created by the French-American artist Louise Bourgeois. The ‘Tall Tree & The Eye’ is a work of art consisting of 73 metal balls arranged around three axles.

Visiting the Guggenheim

The museum is open from 10:00 till 20:00 from Tuesday till Sunday. On many Mondays the museum is closed, but there are some exceptions that you can find on their website. The museum is closed on December 25th (Christmas Day) and January 1st. The Guggenheim closes earlier on December 24th (Christmas Eve). Tickets for the Guggenheim Bilbao can be reserved in advance via the website, so you can avoid any long queues and you can go inside without waiting.

Children under the age of 12 may enter for free. A discount rate applies for seniors and young people from 12 to 26 years of age. For a visit to the Guggenheim Bilbao you have to spend about 2 till 3 hours.

Are you curious about other fun museums in Spain? Read our blog of our six favorite museums in Spain!

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Let’s check the hotspots in San Sebastian

San Sebastian is a small town but has a lot to offer. The city has a lot of events throughout the year. For instance, jazz festivals, international firework competition and carnival. Besides the events you can enjoy other hotspots in San Sebastian!

1) The most beautiful view on the Monte Igueldo. On this hill you have the most perfect view over the city.  Unfortunately, you have to pay to visit the Monte Igueldo but trust me, it’s worth it! You can go to the top of the hill by foot or by car, but I recommend taking the local tram. This saves you from getting tired legs or the endless search for a parking spot.

2) Go surf on Zurriola Beach. Do you like to catch a wave? On Zurriola Beach you can find the perfect waves! This beach is really popular especially among students. In the night they eat and drink something on the beach, a perfect spot to get to know some new people! Besides surfing you could also go jet skiing or go canoeing.

3) Food! After a day of surfing or exploring the city you could use some dinner. In San Sebastian they love food. Like every part of Spain there are tapas but here you also have pintxos/pinchos. In the streets of parte Vieja you can find a lot of cozy pintxos bars. Also, there are a lots of food truck festivals throughout the year where you can taste all sorts of food. A famous hotspots in San Sebastian: Every Thursday night you at the Gastro pote is an foodtruck event in the Mercado San Martin.

4) Going out in San Sebastian. San Sebastian is rich of many bars and night clubs. The two nicest places where you can find bars and night clubs are in the districts Gros and Illumbe. For most of the clubs you don’t have to pay entrance what is quite special in Spain. In Illumbe you can party till the sun rises and if you aren’t tired yet, you could go to the beach for the afterparty!

Tip: Try the drink: Kalimotxo, a mix of coke and red wine. The drink of the Donostians!

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