When you think of travel, there are places you dream about, plan for, research ahead of time, and imagine vividly long before you ever set foot there. Bilbao, for us, wasn’t one of those places. To be honest, the only reason I ever heard of Bilbao before was because of football. I’d seen the name flash on the screen during matches — mostly when Athletic Club Bilbao played against Real Madrid. But beyond that, the city was just a name. No pictures, no expectations, just a dot on the map as part of our 19-day road trip that began in Germany, swept through France, touched the soul of Spain, and looped back again.
It was June. That perfect time of year when summer is just beginning to bloom, but the heat hasn’t yet worn out its welcome. We had already visited several cities, and Bilbao was one of our last stops in Spain before heading back into France. We were coming from Madrid, a city bustling with energy and packed with sights. Leaving the capital behind and driving northward, we didn’t quite know what to expect. But the moment we arrived in Bilbao, it felt like the city wrapped us in a soft, quiet hug — the kind that says “stay as long as you like.”
Our Airbnb was nestled right in the heart of the city. The host was warm, friendly, and made sure everything was perfect before handing us the keys. It was a three-bedroom apartment — clean, spacious, thoughtfully decorated, and most importantly, it felt like home. After so many days on the road, there’s something deeply comforting about stepping into a place that doesn’t feel temporary, even if only for a short while. We arrived in the afternoon, a bit tired from the drive, so we took it slow. We settled in, stretched our legs, and decided to start exploring the next day.
When morning came, we opened the windows to soft daylight and a quiet hum from the street below. There was no rush. No stress. Just a calm invitation to step out and discover what Bilbao had to offer. And oh, did it offer.
Walking through the city felt like slipping into a storybook. Everything was well-kept and beautifully balanced — a mix of old and new, with thoughtful architecture, gentle curves, and a sense of harmony that cities rarely manage to capture. But the moment that truly etched itself in our memories came when we wandered towards the famous Guggenheim Museum. It wasn’t just the museum itself, though that titanium structure is unlike anything you’ll ever see. It was everything around it — the open space, the river gently flowing beside it, the sculpture of the giant spider standing tall and eerie yet elegant, the way the light danced off the building’s curves.
We found a bench near the river, facing the museum, and just sat. We didn’t say much. We didn’t need to. The quiet spoke volumes. The breeze, the occasional laughter from a passing group, the stillness of the water — it all wrapped around us like a cozy blanket. In that moment, a thought quietly bloomed in my mind: This might just be the perfect place to retire. There was something so effortlessly peaceful about it all. Clean streets, fresh air, calm atmosphere. It didn’t push you to keep moving the way some cities do. It welcomed stillness.
Later that day, we wandered further into the city. Every corner we turned seemed to offer something new — a charming cafe, a flower-lined walkway, little shops with smiling locals. The food, as you’d expect in Spain, was a joy. Pintxos — those small bites of deliciousness — became our quick obsession. Each bar had its own twist on them, and we tried as many as we could. With every bite, we felt more and more like we belonged.
Even though we didn’t plan for Bilbao to be anything special, it quickly became a highlight of our trip. It wasn’t grand in the way Paris is grand, or loud in the way Barcelona is loud. It was quieter, more graceful. A city with confidence in its own rhythm. It didn’t need to shout to be heard — it just needed a chance to show you what it had.
In the days leading up to our arrival, we had seen many amazing places. But there’s something magical about the unexpected. When you don’t expect anything, and you’re gifted with something beautiful, it lingers longer in your heart. That’s what Bilbao did for us.
One of my favorite moments was a simple one: sitting at a riverside cafe not far from the museum, sipping coffee as the sun gently warmed the streets. People walked by at a leisurely pace, a couple of kids laughed as they chased each other, a small boat drifted lazily along the river. It was all so… human. So real. No rush, no noise, just life happening at the perfect speed.
We took walks without maps. Followed streets just because they looked interesting. Found ourselves in small neighborhoods where balconies were filled with flowers and old buildings stood with pride. Every now and then, we’d hear the distant sound of someone practicing music or a soft conversation carried on the wind. It was all very cinematic, but completely unforced.
Even in just a short time, Bilbao taught us something: you don’t always need big plans to find joy in travel. Sometimes, you just need to show up with open eyes. Let the place show itself to you, not the version you imagined, but the version that simply is. And when a city feels like a secret gently unfolding just for you, it leaves a deeper mark than any famous landmark ever could.
As we packed up to leave and head back towards France, a quiet sadness crept in. We knew we were heading home soon, and while home is always a welcome thought, there was a part of us that wished we had more time in Bilbao. Maybe just one more morning walk by the river. One more coffee near the museum. One more chance to sit on that bench and breathe in the peace of the place.
It’s strange how travel works. How a place you knew nothing about can suddenly become a part of your story. Bilbao did that for us. It reminded us that beauty doesn’t need a spotlight — sometimes, it just waits quietly for you to arrive.
And now, whenever I hear the name “Bilbao,” it’s no longer just a football team on TV. It’s a feeling. A memory. A warm, slow afternoon beside the river. A clean, calm street. A perfect pause in a journey full of movement.
If we’re lucky enough, we’ll return someday. But even if we don’t, Bilbao will always be with us — a quiet star in the map of our hearts.
