Bilbao is a mid-sized city situated along the shores of the Cantabrian Sea, 400km north Madrid, in the heart of the Basque country. Since the mid ‘80s, Bilbao has undergone a complete transformation, from a traditional industrial city to a modern city of services, more and more focused on tourism. Let us introduce you to a beautiful and dynamic city that will for sure fulfil your needs for MICE services.
The city
Bilbao is a cultural, gastronomic and leisure destination with a fantastic added value: its authentic and spectacular natural surroundings. Green landscapes of hills and mountains, forests, large sandy unspoiled beaches, dramatic cliffs … offer visitors a broad range of possibilities for outdoor activities.
Let’s also point out its strategic position and modern tourist infrastructure, with an international airport 20min way, a modern diverse accommodation offer, cutting edge congress facilities and first class restaurant services.
Guggenheim Art Museum is perhaps the best known and most spectacular building of Bilbao, situated in the most avant-garde area of the city and connected to the traditional Old Town (the famous Casco Viejo) by the river.
In the Casco Viejo visitors can enjoy the famed local gastronomy at the traditional restaurants that share the pedestrian streets with modern cosmopolitan establishments – a pre-dinner walk from bar to bar to taste the wonderful “pintxos” is always a must!
The river and the areas that were once industrial are now green leisure spaces where outdoors sports can be enjoyed and team-building activities organised.
What to do & see
When it comes to visit to Bilbao and the Basque Country, gastronomy and nature are in the top of each visitor’s list. Basques are said to love to eat and eat well J so, if you’d like to discover Bilbao the best way is to get to know their culinary tradition. Wandering through the city streets, surrounded by a mix of history and modernity, visitors will find a diverse gastronomy, from traditional taverns and cider houses to high quality restaurants (as per today, they count with six Michelin-awarded restaurants). Pintxos snacks, fish, meat, cheese, wine and apple cider are the most popular dishes. What else could be better than a tailor-sized activity for your incentive group? Foodie tours, cooking classes, food market tours, visits to wine cellars and cider houses …. all will be perfect for a mice program.
As mentioned, Basque natural environment is a key factor to explain the appeal of Bilbao as tourist destination. Taking advantage of natural surroundings, professional companies offer a broad portfolio of activities for companies and groups. Let’s see some of them.
Hiking: discover Bilbao surrounding coast and mountain trails with a guided tour. Itineraries across Urdaibai estuary; geotours to explore the cliffs from Getxo, Barrika and Sopela; hiking the Basque coast and interior landscapes … while learning its history, traditions, culture and heritage.
Outdoor & oenology: let’s combine tradition, an active program and the pleasure of tasting Basque wines. Day starts with a team-building activity related to local tradition and adapted to each group needs and skills. After lunch, journey continues with a vineyard visit to taste one the most famous local white wines: the prized Txacolí. A similar activity can be arranged visiting a local “sidrería”, where famous Basque apple cider is produced.
Water activities: the nice coastal areas of Bilbao and the river that crosses the city offer a perfect spot for practicing water sports: traditional row boat regattas; big SUP and coasteering; rowing standing up on BigSUP surfboards; kayak; snorkel … combine them as you wish, all of them are perfect teamwork dynamics that, at the same time, will allow you to contemplate wonderful landscapes.
Culture and leisure in the city: Guggenheim art museum is the icon of Bilbao. It is difficult to miss Frank Gehry’s architectural jewel and it is a must to stop there just to admire it. Art lovers will also enjoy its interesting exhibitions and, in case of wishing to embrace the city’s cultural offer, they can continue with Bilbao Fine Art Museum. A walk in the old city streets, a stop for a drink and pintxos, lunch and dinner at a good restaurant, shopping time … will complete a fantastic stay. Of course, there is also the chance to reinvent a traditional itinerary to discover the city into a teambuilding time, with a gymkhana or a quiz challenge.
Send us your questions, let us know your needs, and we will design an unforgettable experience.
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