Essentials
- City
- Bilbao, Biscay, Basque Country, Spain
- Population
- 345,000 (Metropolitan area approx. 1 million)
- Internet Speed
- Average 150-300 Mbps; Fiber optics widely available via Movistar and Orange
- Currency & Banking
- 1 EUR ≈ 1.09 USD; Euro (€) is the official currency
- Tap Water
- Drinkable and high quality (Consorcio de Aguas Bilbao Bizkaia)
- Power
- 230V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type C and F sockets
- SIM Card
- Movistar, Vodafone, Orange, and Yoigo; Prepaid SIMs available for €10-€20
- Banking for Expats
- BBVA (Headquartered in Bilbao), Santander, Kutxabank, and digital banks like Revolut/N26
- Accommodation
- Monthly rentals via Idealista, Fotocasa, and Badi (room sharing)
- Cashless Friendly
- Yes, cards and contactless payments accepted almost everywhere, including most Pintxo bars
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb, Booking.com, and staying-in.com (Apartamentos Bilbao)
- Budget Accommodation
- Hostel Ganbara (€25-€35/night), Poshtel Bilbao (€30/night)
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Casco Viejo (Old Town) for history; Abando for the Guggenheim and shopping
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Indautxu for trendy cafes and central access; Deusto for a more local, student-friendly vibe
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- Monday Uribitarte (€250/month, €25/day) at Uribitarte Kalea, 6
- Best Cafe for Work
- Bihotz Café (Arechabaleta Kalea, 6) - excellent coffee and laptop-friendly atmosphere
- Networking Events
- Silicon Drinkabout Bilbao; Meetups hosted at BBK Kuna
- Social Events for Expats
- Bilbao Expats Facebook Group; Tandem Language Exchange at Residence Café
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Uber, Cabify, and the local Pidetaxi app
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Bilbaobizi (Public bike sharing, €25/year registration for residents)
- Best Beach Nearby
- Plentzia Beach (reachable via Metro Line 1, approx. 45 mins)
- Top Regional Airline
- Vueling (Major hub at Bilbao Airport - BIO)
- Top International Airline
- Lufthansa, Air France, and Iberia
- Highway Access
- AP-8 (Cantabrian Highway) and AP-68 (to Vitoria and Zaragoza)
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Bilbao-Abando Indalecio Prieto Station
- Public Transport Passes
- Barik Card (Reloadable card for Metro, Tram, and Bilbobus; fares approx. €0.48-€1.10 per trip)
- Regional Travel
- Euskotren for coastal towns; ALSA or Bizkaibus for regional bus travel
Food and Drink
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Calle Ledesma (After-work drinks); Mazarredo (Clubs and late-night bars)
- Local Brewery
- Boga Mari (Basque Craft Beer); Basqueland Brewing (Found in local bars like Penguin Bar)
- Wine Bars
- Cork (Licenciado Poza, 45) for an extensive regional selection
- Street Food Stalls
- Pintxo stalls in Plaza Nueva; Food trucks at The Sunday Market Bilbao events
- Popular International Cuisine
- Demaio (Gourmet Pizza); Kimchi (Korean cuisine)
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Garibi (Calle de la Amistad, 5); Copper Deli (Vegan-friendly sandwiches)
- Best Dessert Spots
- Arrese (Pastelería since 1852) - try the 'Trufas de chocolate'
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Mercado de la Ribera (Europe's largest indoor market)
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Amazon.es, El Corte Inglés online
- Grocery Delivery
- Mercadona, Eroski, and Carrefour
- Best Food Delivery App
- Glovo and Just Eat are the most popular
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Bacalao al Pil-Pil (Cod in garlic/oil sauce) and Gilda pintxos
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Guggenheim Museum Bilbao; Jeff Koons' 'Puppy' statue
- Museums & Art Venues
- Bilbao Fine Arts Museum (Museo de Bellas Artes); Itsasmuseum (Maritime Museum)
- Historical Sites
- Santiago Cathedral; Vizcaya Bridge (UNESCO site in nearby Getxo)
- Religious Sites
- Basilica of Begoña; Church of San Antón
- Annual Events
- Aste Nagusia (Great Week in August); Bilbao BBK Live music festival
- Cultural Districts
- Bilbao La Vieja (Bilbi) - the artistic and bohemian district
- Theater Venues
- Teatro Arriaga; Palacio Euskalduna
- Local Markets
- Mercado del Dos de Mayo (Antique and craft market, first Sunday of the month)
- Music Scene
- Kafe Antzokia (Live music and Basque culture venue)
- Street Art
- Murals in Bilbao La Vieja; Street art tour around Ruth Iturbide's works
- Cooking Classes
- Bilbao Cooking (Pintxo workshops and traditional Basque cuisine courses)
- Art Galleries
- SC Gallery (Urban Art); Galería Vanguardia
- Historic Buildings
- City Hall (Ayuntamiento); Azkuna Zentroa (Alhóndiga) redesigned by Philippe Starck
- Local Heritage
- Ikurriña (Basque flag); Euskara (The ancient Basque language)
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Hospital Universitario Basurto (Public); Clínica Guimón (Private)
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Yoga Bilbao (C/ Manuel Allende, 18); Sadhana Bilbao
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Metropolitan Begoña (€70-€100/month); Basic-Fit (€24.99/month)
- Laundry Services
- Tintorería Speed Queen (Self-service laundromat, approx. €5 per load)
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Mount Artxanda (Accessible by funicular for city views)
- National Parks Nearby
- Urkiola Natural Park (45 mins drive); Gorbeia Natural Park
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- The Ria de Bilbao promenade; Paseo de Abandoibarra
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Mirador de Artxanda; Kobetamendi hill
- Birdwatching Locations
- Urdaibai Bird Center (Biosphere Reserve, 40 mins drive)
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- San Juan fires (June 23rd) celebrated at Arriaga Square and local beaches
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- Correos (Main office at Alameda de Urquijo, 19); SEUR; DHL
- Tech Repair Services
- Rossi Informática; Apple support at K-tuin Bilbao
- Table Tennis Spots
- Polideportivo Municipal San Ignacio
- Language Classes
- Instituto Hemingway (Spanish classes); AEK (Basque language)
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Biblioteca Foral de Bizkaia; Mediateka at Azkuna Zentroa
- Community Centers
- Azkuna Zentroa (Culture and leisure center)
- Gaming Lounges
- Elite Gaming Center Bilbao
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Gran Casino Bilbao (Alameda de Urquijo, 13)
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €4,500 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = €180,000)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €3,200 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = €128,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €4,200 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = €252,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €3,000 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = €180,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €4,000 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = €320,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €2,800 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = €224,000)
- Corporate Tax
- 24% (Special Basque local tax regime; slightly lower than Spanish 25%)
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 19% - 28% for residents
- Tax System
- Spanish tax system with Basque Foral autonomy; Residents taxed on worldwide income
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 49% (Varies slightly based on Bizkaia provincial rules)
- VAT
- 21% (Standard IVA)
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, Spanish CFC rules apply
- Property Tax
- IBI (Impuesto sobre Bienes Inmuebles), approx. 0.4% - 1.1% of cadastral value
- Property Transaction Tax
- ITP (Property Transfer Tax) at 4% in Bizkaia (One of the lowest in Spain)
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- Spanish Digital Nomad Visa allows 15% flat tax on income up to €600,000 for 5 years