I recently moved to Bilbao, and it's one of the best decisions I've ever made in my life. Compared to my former city, it's much more vibrant and exciting, but slightly more polluted. Night life is also a positive, there are a lot of options for every taste. However, the thing that impressed me the most at first is the public transport system, incredibly effective, and it makes the sorrounding areas appear much closer than they really are. Do you want to go for a walk in the mountains? 20 minute trip. Do you want to go to the beach? 20 minute trip. People are quite nice as well, and, as you said, gastronomy is varied and excellent. I've been living here for a year, and it hasn't disappointed me even once yet. ❤️

I'm a student based in Chicago and I just came home from spending a semester in Deusto. Bilbao captured my heart because the city and the people is a beautiful combination of the Basque tradition and modern-day development and design. So lucky to have called her my home for five months.

Fun fact: Bilbao is one of the 10 smallest cities in the world having a subway system.

Bilbo!!!! The First Spanish City I visited!!. I need to go back 😙

My GF is from bilbao. We visit 2x a year. Best city ever. You do not need a car. After work or during you go for a drink. Social life is top notch. Food cheap and alco cheap. Fantastic parks. People friendly. BEAUTIFUL CITY.

I spent a year in Bilbao 1973-74. It was industrial, grey, with soot falling from the sky. The River Nervión was a horrible brown colour and very dead! I returned for a couple of days 40 years later and was absolutely amazed at the transformation to a city where people seem to be uppermost. There were new green spaces, beautiful riverside walks, amazing new architecture, an excellent transport system,etc etc. It all seemed to make for a very high quality of life. Would love to go back.

My parents in law live in the centre of Bilbao, not far from the Abando train station. I married my wife in the beautiful renaissance church of San Vicente. It's a city that has been transformed beyond recognition from what it was 30 years ago. I think it's a fantastic city but I've only seen it since its makeover. My wife spent most of her formative years in Bilbao and went to university there and she remembers it when it was dirty and industrial. The estuary was filthy but today it's full of life and you can see the fish. It's been a masterpiece of urban planning that has won many awards. The Guggenheim was a brilliant idea but we also have the bridge, metro and airport which have all won awards. The tram system is good and large parts of the city have been sympathetically pedestrianised.There's also a great deal of public art and sculpture. It's been so successful that other cities have tried to emulate it and bankrupted themselves in the process. One of the great things about Bilbao is the excellent quality of the shops. The New Town has many top Spanish shops and has a great deal of panache. I love the Old Town (Casco Viejo) which has a delightfully alternative feel. Keep an eye out too for the many beautiful Art Nouveau buildings in the centre of the city. The food, of course, is fantastic and even the menu del dias in Bilbao are the best in Spain. 10 euros will get you a fine meal and a bottle of wine. Some of the less glamorous looking places will still serve great food. The pintxos are great and every Basque city will say theirs are the best. There's an art to a pintxo and it's not going to be free. Besides, tapas isn't free in most of Spain, except for some olives or crisps, etc Transport in and out of Bilbao is great. Getting a coach to San Sebastian is astonishingly cheap. You can jump on the metro and for a couple of euros go north to the coast to places like Getxo and Plenzia and both places are well worth visiting. There's a history of money in Getxo and that's reflected in the volume of beautiful houses although the oldest part still retains a strong, salty, Basque, maritime flavour. There are some delightful places to eat in Getxo, particularly seafood, but it's not cheap. Plenzia, the last stop on the metro, has a delightful beach and atmospheric old centre. The one thing you will see on the metro to these places is greater Bilbao, where the city has expanded, and it's not glamorous. There is poverty. There's a lot of money in this region but there are many people that struggle and we must not forget that. This city has a history of struggle and I would recommend visiting the Maritime Museum and the Basque Museum to understand the very hard history of the Bay all the way down to Bilbao. That really puts the modern transformation into perspective. I love the fact that this is a special part of Spain and I love the Basque culture and people. I come from Wales (Gales) so I know what it's like to have a powerful joint neighbour. Great video Stuart. Thanks. WT

I'm english but have lived in Southern Spain for 6 years and after visiting Bilbao I'm now planning on heading back up there to live. Such a beautiful city with lovely people, great food and such a calm place. Thanks for the upload!

My family roots are from Bilbao ( I live in the Philippines). 'visited the city and my relatives twice already and in all honesty I was super impressed on both occasions. Agur!

Cities in the Basque Country are all amazing! Bilbo, Baiona, Donosti, Iruña and Gasteiz are simply breathtaking!

Bilbao es la capital del mundo no se os olvide

I am visiting my spanish family close to Bilbao right now. I am from Vienna with the highest standart of living in the world but Bilbao is simply great!

I was in Bilbao just two weeks ago. Walking along the Ría was amazing! The architecture of the Guggenheim is a work of art in itself. Postcard views in all directions. Thanks for the video from Arizona, USA!

I was 7 years old the first time I visited Bilbao. I had family living there and though my memory of Bilbao back then was limited,I do remember it being a very industrial city. I remember mentioning the stench in the air,little did i know it was the pollution I was smelling. I remember the river being very polluted too,it look very dirty. That was in 1978. Fast forward to 2005,the city to my pleasure had a complete makeover. A lot of the old industries closed down and the city started modernising it’s transport and public infrastructure. The Basques enjoy probably the highest standard of living in Spain. Yes,their train metro was very good considering that Bilbao is not a huge city. I must say,Bilbao offers some of if not the best food in Spain. Their pintxos are to die for,yes you do pay for them but they are big elaborate works of food art and taste. That wine txakoli isn’t for the faint hearted! and Patxaran is another good after lunch drink. You have to try Bacalao al pil pil and marmitako de atun too. I remember snacking on these tiny sea snails that you use a pin to get at the meat. Surprisingly tasty 😋. I lived in a place called Astrabadua for 6 months and worked at Getxo. Bilbao lies in a valley,it can get very humid and a touch hot in summer. It rains quite a bit but not as much as Galicia. I’ve been told the climate has changed over the years but hey,isn’t that the trend everywhere these days. I know there’s the political situation there(though not as much these days) but I would chose the Basque Country over Catalunya any day.

Bilbao is so beautiful. Thank you :)

No is not the best city in Spain , is the best city in the world ✨ARRIBA BILBAOOOOOOO ✨

Y una de las mejores de Europa! En 2018, obtuvo el premio a la "Mejor Ciudad Europea 2018"!!! Soy venezolano y vivo en Bilbo desde hace 12 años y me fascina Bilbao poque es una ciudad pequeña, con no muchos habitantes pero con mucho swing! Cosmopolita sin ser bulliciosa... cómoda porque todo queda cerca... magnífica comunicación vial... bajísimo índice delictivo... gente amable y amigable... y una gastronomía exquisita! Musicalmente es amplia, con su Getxo Jazz, donde se presentan músicos del primer nivel (en esa calle Ledesma me encontré una vez con el conguero trompetista de jazz latino Jerry González). Su relación músicos-habitantes podría compararla con Viena, Nueva York, La Habana, Londres o Nueva Orleans... Bella ciudad!!!

My favorite place on Earth! I was lucky to have spend the best 6 months of my life there and I’ve been dreaming to come back and stay there forever! Thank you for a beautiful and informative video! :)

Just spent the past semester in Bilbao. It's the true gem of Spain!

Suggestion: People always visit the city of Bilbao, but you have really nice landscapes going by metro until Sopela's beach or Plentzia and Barrika. And if a car rental is possible, Armintza and San Juan de Gaztelugatxe, are a MUST! ENJOY!!

Fantastic city, dont let the rain put you off. From a tourist point of view, buy a bixkaiacard, book online pick up from the airport, unlimited transport and will also act as free entry to most of the attractions, the transporter bridge and furnicular rail included, the veiw from the top is spectacular, theres a lido up there, portugelete is a great old street, i stayed in the old town, apart from bars you can buy almost anything in any ammount, even odd buttons, fantastic place, so much to see. The termibus is a gateway to spain. Basques are my favourite people, next stop san Sebastian eh Stuart?

Soy de Bilbao,es una ciudad pequeña y a la vez muy grande en sentimiento.Love Bilbao.In from Bilbao,its a small city and the same time greatin in feeling.Y al comentario de Sevilla,estube de vacaciones y nos trataron como marqueses muy buena jente,que mala jente los ailo en todos lados, y ya no ablemos de Sevilla Ciudad me enamoro...Un saludo Adios,agur....

Came back home from Bilbao a few days ago. Bilbao is the coziest and nicest place I know! My second home ever since my exchange year there 13 years ago. One should also visit the outskirts of the city, parts like Algorta, Sopelana, Plentzia and Gorliz, which all have beaches too.

Beautiful Bilbao!! 😍 I've been a couple times and Bilbao is so refreshing after coming from visiting Barcelona or Madrid. As always, great video!! 👍

I've visited Spain a month ago and it really impressed me, amazing country. Bilbao is also one of the cities i want to visit, so thanks for the video. Liked, subscribed)

Bilbao is absolutely spectacular. I visited last July and loved it. It’s the kind of city I see myself living in. Being from Sao Paulo Brazil, the weather is very similar. The pinchos are not free but are of great quality.

Love Bilbao....Spain Is great country to visit... and I was lucky to visit the country in 2016 from North to South by train. Spain is doing a good job in all cities with parks, pedestrian lanes and gardens. Great food and great culture.

Llevo 5 años viviendo en Bilbao! Y la verdad es que es una ciudad fantástica. No la cambio por nada! 👏🏽❤️

I like driving into Bilbao from the A8 I think Valencia and drop down past beautiful scenery of trees and Swiss style house, breathe taking

Yo soy de Barcelona pero País Vasco Asturias Cantabria son muuy bonitas me gustaría vivir alliii💙

Bilbao é precioso yo vivo aquí me encanta 🙋🏼‍♀️😍 Agur

Best city in spain? No, no.... is best city in europe..... And the five best city of world.....

Sanitago Calatrava also designed the Samuel Beckett and James Joyce bridges in Dublin. Viva Irlanda!!! :)

Good memories from Bilbao. I cycled in on the Camino del Norte. It has the worst off road uphill section and a steep cobblestone section to get into town. I met a local cyclist who joined me all day showing me the sights like the transporter bridge and a little boat museum. He even carried my bike up the steps to the coast path as he told me it was better than the road route.

I would love to visit Bilbao! The Basque people are so proud and wonderful and the food/culture in unmatched.

Trying to boil Spain's best down to one city is kind of a long shot. I've visited Spain about 20 times in my life. I lived in three different cities and got to know the country well. You do such a good job portraying its beauty. Thank you!

As a football fan, like most of spanish, you missed San Mames Stadium, another fantastic must see attraction in Bilbao

When you were in Getxo, what you were seeing on the other side of the River was not Bilbao, it was Portugalete and Santurtzi, another 2 cities worth visiting. Portugalete is my hometown,beautiful in every way... The hanging Bridge the most beautiful one, and the medieval part is magical... Santurtzi with its fishing port and loads of history ... Bilbao is beautiful but there are more places worth seeing around the city...

Llevo 7 años viviendo en Bilbao, me ha brindado tanto, su cultura, su gente, mi trabajo, amigos,... Una vida, y claro está que una ciudad como esta es incomparable porque aparte me ha permitido viajar y la comparación es grande, gracias bilbao y su gente 🤗

I lived in Bilbo for almost 7 years. It has the upsides of a large city without the downside of a mega city. It is my favorite place in the world.

Is this the best city in Spain? Its the best city in the World

Lo que hace que una ciudad sea bonita de verdad es su gente y Bilbao es un ejemplo.

Hey, thanks for sharing a view of Spain in a language I understand... Wow - Spain... I'm impressed & I'm looking forward to another visit... Gracias.

As a spanish guy, here is my top of cities in Spain, Europe: 1 - Madrid 2 - Barcelona 3 - Bilbao 4 - Gijón 5 - Valencia

It was amusing that at 2:31 when he's talking about the cleanliness of the city, a green cleaning (or trash) truck "Bilbaogarbi" just passes by.

What about the best football team of the world? ( Athletic Club Bilbao). We only play with basque players and never have been in the second division.....and our stadium ( San Mamés) is modern and beautiful . Athletic is a proud for all of us

Gonna move there in two months for my study, I'm so excited! Great videos

Pintxos are much more elaborated and high-end than tapas.

Бильбао - это шикарный город в Испании. Я здесь и вижу это своими глазами. Я влюблена в Бильбао❤

Love Spain and Spanish people ❤️

I congratulate you for such an excellent report on this magnificent city. You forgot to say that it is also one of the safest cities in Spain and even in Europe. You will not have problems and dangers like in Barcelona or Madrid. I will be back soon!

Like si viniste aqui a ver que decian de nosotros

Si es una ciudad encantadora yo vivo en el norte pero en Asturias Oviedo y Bilbao q ciudad tan bonita

Im from Bilbao and i think is one of the best city of spain ♥️

You nailed it. Thanks for your accurate description of BILBAO.

Some parts of the rioja region are in the basque country, so they are our wines as well

Of course it is the best. Bilbao is the center of the universe and capital city of the world

I am from Bilbao! I really enjoyed this video, congratulations! Have a great day or how we say in basque "Egun on bat izan!"

I went to Bilbao with my family last year, we all loved it so we’ll be going back in a couple of weeks

half basque here, yes... yes it is the best city its near perfect

No se si es la mejor, pero es una seria candidata a ese puesto, eso seguro.

Wow......it looks very prosperous and well maintained. Hardly any (hideous) graffiti scrawled all over beautiful building and monuments either, that is so common in so many European cities. I hope to visit there next year.

Hi, it's my city and I really like how you saw it. We love having people from all over the world and we are proud of it. thanks for this nice tour

As someone who was born and raised there I liked the video a lot, thanks for shinning a light over Bilbao (which usually gets outshined by other cities in Spain like Madrid, Barcelona or even Donostia or Sevilla).

I don't know how you don't have more subscribers. I liked the video⭐

Great video of my home! just an appreciation: I will say that our pintxos are sophisticated tapas ;)

Bilbao is a great city with some amazing architecture and food. Having lived in Ibiza for a couple of years, I've got over to the mainland to visit most of Spain's cities. For me Bilbao is up there in the top 5. Others include Granada, Oviedo and Seville. Barcelona though for me is the best city in Spain (and Europe).

Great video. I love how you speak about the Greater Bilbao. The city of Bilbao itself doesn't make sense without its metropolitan area.

Bilbao, Granada, Madrid and San Sebastian are my favourites cities of Spain. Also Salamanca but different. Very very nice

Look like you’ve found your new city! And this has a huge number of views... well done! You deserve it!

So clean and green!

Bilbao is a basque city, ruled by an independence seeking basque political party and located in euskal herria, the basque country. You are all welcome

Spain is filled with history and great architecture, and yet most tourist end up in Ibiza, Canary Islands or some resort, rolling around their chubby bodies in the sand and mingle their sweat together in the sea, they are missing so much.

bilbao is beautiful thank God I live there ,,

Some facts to add: Calatrava is also the designer of Bilbao's Airport. His different constructions are known to make people fall over or slip. An example, as you've shown in the video, is one of Bilbao's bridges. Its original floor was made out of crystal (and other materials, but mainly crystal), for people to see the river. But, as you mentioned, Bilbao is known for the constant rain, and so people kept slipping, and the local government had to put some mats on the floor to prevent people from falling. Also, (this is just a fun fact), the airport is commonly nicknamed 'The dove' for its unique roof design.

Most Americans ignore the north of Spain, I think. But Bilbao looks like a "must visit".

Bilbao no es una de las mejores ciudades de España porque simple y llanamente no está en España. Eso sí, es una ciudad que tiene todo, con unas dimensiones totalmente humanas y económicamente muy potente.

Valencia, Madrid and Bilbao are my favourite cities in Spain.

Merci pour ce beau video de Bilbao. Je connais bien cette ville qui est magnifique.

La mejor ciudad del mundo ,su cultura ,su gente ,su paisaje y su gastronomia son inmejorables ,tenemos bonitas playas unas montañas impresionantes de bonitas,tenemos antiguedad y modernidad ,lo tenemos todo,no hace mucho frio en invierno y en verano una temperatura muy buena,tenemos de todo y bueno😘😘😘

Of course it is!! Good people, clean, save, green, easy to move in, walking, in the metro, bus, bike... Big cultural personality, pintxos... Bilbao had the best mayor of the world (official reoconogised title...) Come and enjoy it! Also, Gernika, Mundaka.. all that área...

I'm from Bilbao and I can confirm it's the best city in the whole fucking planet!!!!!

I'm heading to Bilbao in June next year (COVID permitting) and this video gave me all the info I wanted to know, really well presented and excellent knowledge, well done! Great video

Unemployment in the Basque country has always been much lower than other parts of Spain, about 12 per cent in the worst days of the 2008 crisis. Nice post anyway. Gracias.

Thanks I was born there and I haven't been back since I was 4 !!! very vaguely remember the terrible storms there and the pollution, it was dirty back then.

Bilbao is in the Sud Basque Country. Is a nice city and its lenguage is the euskara or basque. Basques are friendly people and there are not many turists. They don't like Spain, they feels basque not spanish. They wants to be independent in EU. Good way by Basque Country!

i really enjoyed the outro of your video with all the landscape shots of the city

I love Bilbao very much before I live in France and Germany and Italy and Holland and biljica and Switzerland but now I live in Spain in Bilbao I have only 1 year to that but I want to live here always it is only difficult to have Basque friends who I love Bilbao ❤ ❤❤

I visited Bilbao on 2019 and I loved it! Very clean, well kept, amazing architecture, public transportation, food and culture. Definitely, I will be back and I would live there if the political situation changes.

like si eres de Bilbao

I find that spain seems to be very civilized in many ways.

Thank you Stuart (Stewart?) You do such a great job. I always enjoy 'Spain Speaks'. You might just make an expat out of me after all! Cheers.

Be careful with this title. Most people in Euskadi will not consider themselves as Spanish people, and so, neither will they think Bilbao is in Spain. You can and will offend some people. I have a similar feeling whenever saying Barcelona is in Spain. Something moves inside my guts and impotence takes me on.

Una cuidad súper hermosa mi hijo nació en esa bella ciudad un recorrido por casco viejo o la nueva estación de buses un abrazo

I love Bilbao, part of my family was from near that city. I loved the place when I visited.

Bilbao is like Dublin, has a river in the city centre...☺️

mi querida ciudad, que guapa te has puesto 💪💃

Every person who comes here falls in love... Enjoy Bilbao ❤️

I visited Bilbao last September and just fell in love with the place. I was there on a bus tour and then hung out with a local friend that showed me some interesting places nearby. I agree on the food, my only disappointment is like most of the rest of northern Spain the evening meal relies to much on the pincho culture which can get tiring after a couple of weeks and while their are some very good restaurants it seemed like there weren’t a lot of them considering how many tourists there were.

In The Basque Country some of the best red wines are produced. That is why it is not correct to say as it is said in the report that in Bilbao the wine is imported from La Rioja because La Rioja ( with article) is an autonomous comunity and Rioja ( without artcle) is a denomination of viticulture origin that includes part of the autonomous community of La Rioja and part of the autonomous community of Euskadi, specifically Álava region of Errioxa ( Rioja alavesa in Spanish) which produces excellent wines with its own character within the Rioja designation of origin, was to the point that requested to create their own denomination I was denied them I suppose for polítical reasons. Therefore in Euskadi not only its cuisine is excellent but also its wines.