Bilbao, an industrial port city in northern Spain, is surrounded by green mountains. It’s the de facto capital of Basque Country, with a skyscraper-filled downtown and gay friendly hotels Bilbao. It’s famed for the Frank Gehry–designed Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, which sparked revitalization when it opened in 1997. The museum houses prominent modern and contemporary works, but it’s the curvy, titanium-clad building that receives the most attention.
Gay Pride Bilbao is a peaceful march of LGBT people and their relatives and friends, which combines social and political protest with entertainment such as live concerts. It takes place every year in the month of June in Bilbao, of of the main destination of Spain. There are more than 75 daily flights from various cities of Europe to Bilbao if you want to attend the parade.
What are the top attractions to visit in Bilbao?
What is Bilbao famous for? Bilbao combines a stylish vintage district, an industrial heritage, and stunning modern architecture in one of the largest cities in northern Spain
- Marvel at the works of the Guggenheim Museum.
- Eat your way through the city’s pintxos bars.
- Wander around the streets of the Casco Viejo.
- Browse the stalls at La Ribera market.
- Visit the collection at the Museo Bellas Artes.
- Take a boat ride down the Ría de Bilbao.
- Ride to the top of Mount Artxanda for fantastic city views
1. Casual Gurea Bilbao 2* – Gay Friendly Hotels Bilbao
Casual Gurea is located in Bilbao’s , just 50 m from the Cathedral and 250 m from Abando Train Station. It offers a tour desk and rooms with free WiFi.
Rooms at the Casual Gurea have heating, themed décor and wooden floors. Each has a flat-screen TV, free safe, and a private bathroom with hairdryer.
The property has a shared lounge with vending machines and microwave. Services offered include bikes rental, free luggage storage and 2 computers with free internet.
Located in the Old Town, next to the Cathedral, in the heart of the city and close to all major touristic attractions. Totally refurbished in 2014 Gurea offers new modern and themed rooms with private bathroom, free hi speed wifi (120mb), Flat TV, safe box, duvet covers and views. We also offer children playground room, lounge with vending services and microwave, free children seat and cycles rent, luggage storage and t free cibercorner. Next to Casual Gurea there are plenty of restaurants, tapas bar, shops and tram & underground stops.
Casco Viejo is definitely the best place to stay in Bilbao as you have all of the fantastic Pintxo bars closeby and also the metro station and bus and tram stops that will enable you to get around the city very easily.
The best way to get to the Old Town from the airport is to get the airport bus all the way to the interchange and from here you can transfer to the metro station without leaving the building and it takes you directly to Casco Viejo.
The rooms were in one of the old town houses in the atmospheric Casco Viejo so you felt like you were staying in a home from home instead of a clinical hotel. The room we stayed in was very compact with just enough hanging space but the bathroom was more spacious. The rooms were decorated in a modern style but also trying to keep some of the architectural features (such as the squeaky wooden floor boards!)
Hotels in central Bilbao are expensive. Casual is well located and well priced. Our room was clean, reasonably sized and staff were friendly and helpful. No breakfast is provided- but you are right in the old town with plenty of options.
The location just can’t be beaten, absolutely central in the old town and close to tram stops for getting around or a stroll along the river. Staff at the desk were always friendly, happy to offer advice on places to go. My room had a view of an inner courtyard and some ventilation shafts but this meant it was quieter than the ones overlooking the street, and I could happily leave the window open at night to cool down.
Be aware that there’s no breakfast, but you’re in the centre with lots of cafes within a few steps.
Everything you need from sights, supermarkets, souvenirs, cafes, bars and restaurants are in the old town and therefore immediately on your doorstep. The Guggenheim is a pleasant 20-25 min stroll along the river, or again, you may wish to make use of the city’s tram system. The funicular railway is worth a visit too, superb panoramas of the city-scape.
How much does a room costs at Hotel Casual Gurea Bilbao?
Prices start 60$/night for Double Room. The Superior Double Room with Balcony is 90$/room per night – if coming on a honeymoon this is the perfect choice for gay couples.
This double room features a balcony.
Where to book online – Casual Gurea Bilbao – Gay Friendly Hotels Bilbao – you can find the best hotels deals in Bilbao during Bilbao BBK Live which is celebrated with much enthusiasm in Bilbao on Booking.com or Expedia.com and see more reviews on TripAdvisor.
2. Hesperia Bilbao Hotel 4 * – Gay Friendly Hotels Bilbao
Located just across the Nervión from ’s , Hesperia Bilbao has an eye-catching coloured glass façade. Bilbao’s old town and city centre are 10 minutes’ walk away.
It offers spacious, stylish rooms with free WiFi and 42-inch satellite TV. All of the modern rooms are air-conditioned, soundproofed and feature a private bathroom with free toiletries and a hairdryer.
The hotel serves a buffet breakfast which includes a range of healthy antioxidant dishes. Hesperia Bilbao’s La Ría Restaurant serves gourmet Basque food as well as a Japanese menu.
Combining avant-garde design with a superb location across from the Guggenheim, the newly-built Hesperia Bilbao is a luxury hotel just 200 meters from the main shopping area.
This hotel has a very nice location across the road form the river. I stayed on 2 occasions during business travels. Both rooms I stayed in were roomy and comfortable. The front desk employees were welcoming and helpful. All of them spoke English well. The breakfast is expansive with many choices. The room that I stayed in facing the river was expansive and more than needed for 1 person but the street noise was very noticeable. Restaurants are located are just around the block or you can choose to take the bridge across the river for additional restaurant choices.
It’s a great hotel for a short stay in the city – it’s a short walk to the Guggenheim in one direction and to the old town in the other direction. The views over the river are lovely. The different coloured windows look fantastic from the outside and give the inside of the rooms a coloured tint (ours was blue)!
The hotel is within walking distance of the Guggenheim Bilbao Museum. A very attractive lobby in ultramodern colors and motifs. The breakfast is very good with diverse offerings, including local specialties and made-to-order egg dishes. Staff are friendly and helpful. WiFi is good. Rooms are small, but use space efficiently. Bathrooms are tight on shelf space, but function well just the same.
Lovely modern hotel located close to the old city. Room exceptionally clean. Very nice bath with tub, in tub shower, bidet and dual basins. Located on bus route, also not far from train station. We can see the Guggenheim building from the f4ont of the hotel. Restaurant, bar and room service. Room has reading alcove with doors that open to the outdoors.
Modern and cozy 4 star hotel , very well located, especially to visit the Guggenheim museum ( 5 min walking) , and 10 or 15 min minute walking to the historic center. The rooms they are not especially big, but smart and comfortable, with tea selection some Nespresso coffee and small bottle of water free. The breakfast breakfast was varied, both traditional food and healthy food.
Hotel Hesperia, located right on the river and just a few blocks from the museum. This is an attractive, contemporary hotel. The common areas are quite spacious as is the dining room for breakfast. The rooms are tasteful and modern, albeit fairly small.
But I was supremely comfortable here; and found this hotel a great value. Again, the location was superior! You can easily walk to the historic downtown core, as well as other upbeat and architecturally significant city attractions. I would certainly stay here again.
How much does a room costs at Hesperia Bilbao?
Prices start 109$/night for Standard Double Room. The Junior Suite is 180$/room per night with breakfast included- if coming on a honeymoon this is the perfect choice for gay couples.
This suite has air conditioning.
Where to book online – Hesperia Bilbao – Gay Friendly Accommodation Bilbao – you can find the best hotels deals in Bilbao during Bilbao BBK Live which is celebrated with much enthusiasm in Bilbao on Booking.com or Hotels.com and see more reviews on TripAdvisor.
3. Basque Boutique Hotel 2* – Gay Friendly Hotels Bilbao Spain
Offering stylish, air-conditioned rooms with free Wi-Fi, Basque Boutique is located in Bilbao’s Old Town, 150 m from Santiago Cathedral. It is 10 minutes’ walk from Bilbao Abando Train Station.
Each room is individually decorated with unique, hand-made furnishings and artistic finishes inspired by Basque culture. Each one has a TV and a private bathroom with a hairdryer.
Basque Boutique features a shared lounge area where guests will find tourist information. There is a wide range of restaurants and bars in the area, where guests can try Basque pintxos.
See why so many travelers make Basque Boutique their guest house of choice when visiting Bilbao. Providing an ideal mix of value, comfort and convenience, it offers a romantic setting with an array of amenities designed for travelers like you.
The rooms offer air conditioning, and getting online is possible, as free wifi is available, allowing you to rest and refresh with ease.
Basque Boutique features express check-in and check-out.
For those interested in checking out popular landmarks while visiting Bilbao, Basque Boutique is located a short distance from Bilbao, Spain (0.1 mi) and Plaza Nueva (0.2 mi).
While visiting Bilbao, you may want to try some burritos at one of the nearby restaurants, such as TOTOPO Mexican food.
Plus, during your trip, don’t forget to check out some of the popular history museums, such as Euskal Museoa Bilbao Museo Vasco and Bizkaia Museum of Archaeology.
In the Old Town, the hotel is in a great location to walk to lots of the city’s attractions. The rooms are pretty, very clean and very comfortable. An extra pillow could be nice and an option to make coffee in the room but the complimentary toiletries, coffee and water were a nice touch. The location is in the middle of lots of bars and restaurants and it isn’t quiet. Ear plugs are provided but you can also hear other residents etc so there is some noise.
Located right in the Old Town in walking distance of all it has to offer. Room was a good size, very clean and comfortable. Air con kept it plenty warm enough in December. Bathroom was large and included toiletries (replenished by the cleaner) a good hairdryer and straighteners. Staff were friendly and the maid service excellent. No coffee facilities in the room but coffee pods available in a nice lounge area. Location means there is some street noise but there are ear plugs provided. A short walk to trams. Around 5/10 minutes to buses and underground.
A lovely little place right in the heart of the old town so as people have said since you are close to bars and restaurants it can be noisy but hey get out and party knowing no taxi back required! We loved the character and the young girls on reception were helpful and friendly. Furniture was striking and created a theme but minimalist so we lived out of suitcases as no drawer space provided. There is an attractive small lounge area which would benefit from a coffee/tea facility then people might linger a while.
How much does a room costs at Basque Boutique Hotel?
Prices start 79$/night for Double Room. The Exclusive Double Room is 112$/room per night with breakfast included- if coming on a honeymoon this is the perfect choice for gay couples.
This air-conditioned room features design furniture made by local designers.
Where to book online – Basque Boutique – Gay Friendly Hotels Bilbao – you can find the best hotels deals in Bilbao during Bilbao BBK Live which is celebrated with much enthusiasm in Bilbao on Booking.com or Hotels.com and see more reviews on TripAdvisor.
4. Hotel Tayko Bilbao 4* – Gay Friendly Hotels Bilbao
Situated in Bilbao, 200 m from Arriaga Theatre, Hotel Tayko Bilbao was built in 1924. The property is within just 0.2 km of Catedral de Santiago and 15 minutes’ walk from Guggenheim Museum.
All rooms in the hotel are equipped with a flat-screen TV, private bathroom with free toiletries.
Michelin-star restaurant Ola and Gastrobar Patri at Hotel Tayko Bilbao are both managed by the Michelin-starred chef Martin Berasategui.
Tayko Bilbao is a design hotel of 53 rooms located in the old part of Bilbao. It was built in 1924 and has been completely restored respecting its original structure. The rooms of Tayko Bilbao stand out for their design and the comfort of the beds. The hotel has the bar Patri and a restaurant called Ola awarded with a Michelin Star, both managed by the Michelin-starred chef Martin Berasategui. It is 200 metres from Arriaga Theatre, 300 meters of Catedral de Santiago and 15 minutes’ walk from Guggheneim Museum.
Hotel Tayko has everything I look for in a hotel: comfortable bed, kind and thoughtful staff, good location and above all quiet at night. Stayed over a long weekend at the beginning of September and loved it.
It’s located in the older part of Bilbao and looks traditional from the outside. But step through the door and inside all is ultra modern, in quite a quirky way. The interior of the building was completely ripped out during a refurbishment and then rebuilt, leaving lots of exposed concrete, brick walls, even old graffiti. It’s a look that might not appeal to everyone but it’s interesting to see and, above all, has resulted in an amazingly comfortable place to stay.
My room was on the sixth floor with a ‘river view’. Minimalist design is probably the best way to describe it. Huge and very comfortable bed, wardrobe, chest of drawers (with a room safe), desk and chair, and an easy chair. Minimalist but still had everything you need. The ensuite bathroom had a large walk-in ‘rain forest’ shower.
The industrial/infilling style of the building was interesting and we’ll thought out. All the staff were very friendly, informative and good humoured. Special mention must be made to the very able mixologist who not only put up with our banter but she also entertained and educated us.
As part of the old town the first bar / restaurant is only about 20 yards away and the layout of the street’s allows for numerous enjoyable circuits to be made of an evening. Close to a number of interesting buildings etc., and transport to further afield and other links are very good.
Breakfast was served in the ground floor brasserie-style restaurant with hot food cooked to order plus all the usual these days: fruit, cheeses, cereals, pastries etc. At 20 euros a day it wasn’t cheap but at least good quality.
The interior is very attractive – clean, good design, and great use of the existing older building architecture. The room was quiet, aside from the occasional sound of dragging furniture from other rooms – not sure where this came from, as our friends were staying immediately above us, so it must travel across the building. The curtains could do with a bit of adjustment – they aren’t fully black-out at the edges. The attached bar restaurant was convenient for grabbing a quick snack. Very good, central location next to the indoor market.
The building itself has been so beautifully converted and retains the heritage of what it once was mixed perfectly with what I would describe as something of an industrial chic vibe. Bed really comfortable and we loved the decor in our room. For me, the L‘Occitane toiletries were a real treat.
The hotel is fabulously located within reasonable walking distance of practically everything the city has to offer.
Would highly recommend this hotel to anyone staying in Bilbao. Thanks to all of the staff for making our stay such an enjoyable one.
The hotel was easy to access from the airport, just a short bus ride into town and a ten minute walk. The hotel itself is a beautiful building which has a good mix of character and modern functionality. The room was spacious and well put together with a big comfortable bed, sitting areas and a modern bathroom with good quality toiletries.
We had a view of the river which was nice to look out on and the windows did a very job of keeping out the noise of the streets below. The bar had a good buzz and was nice for a quick drink before heading out in to the city. The whole place was immaculately kept and very clean and all of the staff were helpful and friendly and really made us feel at home. Overall a great hotel, in a good location and we would definitely stay again.
How much does a room costs at Hotel Tayko Bilbao?
Prices start 112$/night for Indoor Double Room. The Double Room with River View
is 150$/room per night with breakfast included- if coming on a honeymoon this is the perfect choice for gay couples.
This double room features flat-screen TV and minibar.
Where to book online – Hotel Tayko Bilbao – Lgbt Friendly Hotels Bilbao – you can find the best hotels deals in Bilbao during Bilbao BBK Live which is celebrated with much enthusiasm in Bilbao on Booking.com or Trip.com and see more reviews on TripAdvisor.
5. Gran Hotel Domine Bilbao 5* – Gay Friendly Hotels Bilbao
Designed by Javier Mariscal, this stylish hotel is located ‘s . It features a with spectacular views.
The air-conditioned rooms at the Gran Hotel Domine Bilbao feature carpeted floors and a private bathroom with bathtubs, bathrobe and slippers. Each room has free WiFi, USB connection and a 40″ flat-screen TV with international satellite channels, HDMI.
Breakfast is served on the roof terrace with panoramic views of the city. Guests can enjoy different dining options at either the Belz restaurant, Le Café or at the Sixty-One Lobby Bar.
The Gran Hotel Domine is the only 5-star hotel in front of the Guggenheim. Having been completely newly renovated in 2019, luxury can now be found in its spacious ambience, its extraordinary service, the passion for art and design, as well as an elegant and cosmopolite style.
What a great place to stay! First of all is the location. Right opposite the Guggenheim, but also just by the first stop of the airport bus. Easy walks to restaurants, shopping and metro.
Second is service. Without exception, all staff were friendly, helpful and courteous. This includes reception, concierge, restaurant staff and maids. Especially helpful were Alberto and Marta at breakfast.
Third is the food. The breakfasts are superb with a great choice of food either from the buffet, or ordered from the kitchen. The view from the breakfast room is wonderful too: Guggenheim opposite with the river and hills behind. One of the restaurants was closed for renovation when we were there, but dinner in the breakfast room was excellent too. Not a large menu but all choices were top notch.
The rooms are very well-appointed with a choice of view overlooking the lobby, the street, or the Guggenheim. We chose a view of the street but might well have chosen the lobby had we known how interesting it looks.
We particularly enjoyed the rooftop terrace where they serve a wonderful breakfast. The view of the Guggenheim and the city from this terrace is lovely. It is a new hotel with modern decor.
The roof top breakfast is magnificent with abundant choices. It isn’t served as a buffet but you can pretty much order everything on the card and it is prepared special for you.
After a afternoon nap and returning from dinner we noticed that housekeeping made up/ cleaned our room for the second time that day. Excellent/ luxurious treatment I only had encountered once during our cruise trip.
Airport bus stop only 2 minutes walk away. For only € 1,14 each the bus will bring you to the airport in just 15 minutes. With taxi it was €27 from airport to city center. Within 10 minutes walk you can reach the main shopping street. Old town can be reached by tram. The tram station is just at the Guggenheim museum.
How much does a room costs at Gran Hotel Domine Bilbao?
Prices start 162$/night for Superior Double Room. The Premium Double with Wellness Package
is 480$/room per night with breakfast included- if coming on a honeymoon this is the perfect choice for gay couples.
This room offers panoramic windows overlooking the Guggenheim Museum. It comes with a USB charger, a universal charger, an HDMI cable, and a Smart TV. The private bathroom offers a design bath.
The package includes: – 30 minutes massage per person.
Where to book online – Gran Hotel Domine Bilbao – Gay Friendly Hotels Bilbao – you can find the best hotels deals in Bilbao during Bilbao BBK Live which is celebrated with much enthusiasm in Bilbao on Booking.com or Expedia.com and see more reviews on TripAdvisor.
