Bilbao campsites for seaside and city days
Can’t pick between a city break and a rural stay? Why should you? Pick yourself a campsite near Bilbao and you can be getting arty at the Guggenheim one day and then gallivanting up in the hills or on the beach the next.
Such a setup is a splendid solution for folk who like to pack as much variety as possible into their hols – and it’s also generally a handy way to find good-value places to stay in northern Spain. All this, plus loads of fresh air and some gorgeous views… no wonder we think Bilbao camping is a bit of a winner.
Simple seaside pitch or something rather smarter? Here’s our guide to picking your Bilbao campsite.
Camping near Bilbao: from peaceful pitches to posh pads
Bring a tent, book a glamping trip in a smart rental tent or lodge, park up in your caravan or motorhome – there are so many ways to sort yourself a stay at a campsite around Bilbao, whether you’ve got your own camping kit or not.
It’s not likely that you’ll find many campsites right in the centre of Bilbao, so if you’re planning to do several trips up to the city it’s worth picking yourself a spot that’s not too far away from either a main road or some form of public transport to whisk you along there. (Those main roads are handy things too if you’re travelling around in a motorhome or caravan – the pesky winding mountain roads can be tricky if you’re not fully confident with your vehicle.)
Handily, sticking close to the main roads also mostly means sticking close to the coast, so it’s easy to find a Bilbao campsite by the beach. In fact campsites around here have direct access to the sands – mighty handy if you’re planning to hit the surf or take the tiddlers over to the sands on a regular basis.
Location nailed, it’s worth spending a bit of time fiddling with the filters on the left of this page to make sure you get the kind of facilities and vibe you’re after. Check out those sites listed as peaceful or wildlife haven if you’re looking for maximum chillout time; pick something that’s got a play area, a bar and a pool if you’re after a livelier family atmosphere.
Obviously the food around this part of the world is fairly legendary, so it’s likely you’ll want to be out picking up pintxos and sampling seafood a fair amount of the time – even so, it’s pretty handy to have a restaurant or café on site for those times when you just don’t feel like making the effort to go out.
How to fill your days on a Bilbao camping holiday
Even if you don’t think of yourself as a particularly arty type, it’s likely you’ll have heard of Bilbao’s Guggenheim Museum – and it’s certainly one you should plan to visit (yep, the inside as well as the famed shimmering exterior). While you’re in town, take a wander around the centre to see the fab mix of modern architecture by the likes of Philippe Starck, Art Nouveau buildings, pretty plazas and classic cobblestoned streets.
If you’ve got a bit more time in town, take a wander around the archaeological museum, see Basque pride spilling over at an Athletic Bilbao football match and ride the funicular up to Artxanda for fab views over the city. Oh, and don’t forget the eats – much like its near neighbour San Sebastián, Bilbao’s got fine foodie pickings around its pintxo bars and Mercado de la Ribera.
But you haven’t just come here for the city, have you? So turn your attentions to the coast, for gorgeous beaches galore, fishing towns like Castro Urdiales and Lekeitio, or the famed surf scene of Mundaka. The Gorbeia Natural Park is the place to go for mountain walks, waterfalls and wildlife, while the Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve is a haven for seabirds (and those who like to spot them).
Lucky enough to be on a lengthy Spanish sojourn? Plot a course around the country with our collection of campsites and holiday parks in Spain.
