What to do in a day in Bilbao with children? Essential plans that you can’t miss!
Bilbao has a cultural, leisure and gastronomic offer for all audiences. Whether you have several days or if your stay is limited, the girls and boys will thoroughly enjoy the city and all the activities and proposals that the Villa offers. Below, we propose the essential plans to do with children in Bilbao in one day, take note of our proposals!
Visit Puppy, at the Guggenheim Museum
Without a doubt, a must-see stop for all families with children is Puppy, the famous floral sculpture, the largest in the world. And of course, it had to be in Bilbao. It is a giant West Highland terrier completely covered in flowering plants of imposing size, with which its author, Jeff Koons, has sought to juxtapose elitist and popular culture references (the art of sculpting bushes, dog breeding or decorative ceramics). Without a doubt, it is an optimistic and majestic sculpture that delights both txikis and adults.
Very close to Puppy, also part of the Guggenheim Museum exhibition, is another sculptural work of almost 9 meters that will delight the txikis. This is “Mama”, one of the most ambitious sculptures by its author, Louise Bourgeois, which represents a spider, in homage to her mother, who was a weaver. This imposing creation, made of bronze, marble and steel, embodies the strength and fragility of mothers, who are protectors and predators at the same time. Its legs, similar to Gothic arches, function at the same time as a cage and a den.
See the ducks in Doña Casilda Park
Doña Casilda Park, also known by Bilbao residents as the “duck park”, is the green lung par excellence of the city. Located between Abandoibarra and Ensanche, two central areas of the town, it has more than 100,000 square meters of green areas and a tree-lined boulevard and is one of the most visited parks in Bilbao by both Bilbao residents and tourists, but it is not the only one, since the city has other green areas that are also worth visiting.
With more than 100 years of history, its construction began in 1907, it is the main reason for the Villa and its work is in a romantic style. Designed by architect Ricardo Bastida and engineer Juan de Eguiraun, the park has evolved over the years, but always retaining its charm. In its most central part, surrounded by magnolia trees, banana trees and flowers, is its famous pond, where the little ones can enjoy the ducks and peacocks that live there.
In addition, in the area there are multiple canals that connect with the pond, and which the most txikis tend to meander. In the area there are also basketball courts, a cyber fountain whose jets are a source of games for girls and boys, an elegant pergola, children’s play areas and cafes, perfect for stopping along the way.
Technical stop: enjoy a carolina, a typical dessert from Bilbao
The carolina is a typical cake from Bilbao that, according to legend, was created more than half a century ago by a Bilbao pastry chef who wanted to surprise his daughter, Carolina, with a dessert to her liking. As it could not be otherwise, Carolina loved meringue, hence this is one of the main ingredients of this typical Botxo dessert.
This cake is made up of a puff pastry tartlet, similar to that of a rice cake, covered with a good amount of meringue painted with chocolate and egg yolk. It is worth stopping along the way to try this delicious sweet that, due to its fun shape and great flavor, will surely delight the little ones.
Nowadays, you can find carolinas in most of the pastry shops in Bilbao, and in different formats and presentations: bite-sized, individual or even giant! Don’t miss out on trying a Carolina, and be sure to visit one of the numerous pastry shops in Bilbao, with great tradition and a wide variety of typical sweets. We highlight, among the most valued in Botxo, some pastry shops such as Arrese, Martina de Zuricalday, Bizkarra or Pastelería Don Manuel, among others.
Discover the original columns of Azkuna Zentroa
Azkuna Zentroa – Alhóndiga Bilbao is the space where culture and art are lived and experienced in a very special way. It maintains its classic exterior, but inside it hides an urban interior space, unique, sober and original, designed by the French designer Philippe Starck.
As soon as we enter the Azkuna Zentroa Atrium of Cultures, we are surprised by its 43 columns that Philippe Starck, designer of Azkuna Zentroa, turned into a cinematographic set designed by the set designer Lorenzo Baraldi. Touring this space and discovering the history and design hidden in each of the pillars is a very fun activity for the txikis. You can see all the columns in this catalog offered by the cultural center [PDF].
In addition, at Azkuna Zentroa there is also an intense cultural activity for all audiences. Its media library with a space for the little ones in the house, where they can stop and read a story from its extensive library. You can also make a stop at their store, where you will find works by Basque designers or at one of their cafes, cinemas or exhibition halls. Don’t forget to check our agenda, since Azkuna Zentroa usually has interesting children’s and family activities along throughout the year.
Riding the barge, at the Maritime Museum
Every Saturday and Sunday, the Bilbao Maritime Museum Itsasmuseum offers an activity aimed at families, where you can visit the Gabarra. The barge is a vessel that during the industrialization of Bizkaia, at the end of the 19th century, transported iron, a mineral necessary for the operation of numerous factories, from the mines to the loading docks located between Olabeaga and Portugalete, so that it was later transported via railway to many other places.
Currently, this maritime platform is the symbol of Athletic Club’s triumphs, and it only returns to the Bilbao estuary to celebrate the team’s triumphs. The rest of the time it is in the museum’s dry dock, and it is possible to visit it with the family on weekends. This visit includes a brief explanation in the museum, a visit to the barge on the dock and, finally, a children’s workshop. You can find all the information and schedules in this Txikiplan article, and reserve tickets on the museum’s website.
Take an interactive visit to San Mamés
AC Museoa, the Athletic Club Museum, is one of the great attractions of Bilbao, especially for girls and boys who love soccer. It can be a perfect opportunity to learn about the history of Athletic Club, especially after its recent victory. The museum has more than 500 original objects preserved throughout the 125 years of the Club’s history, ranging from a collection of t-shirts, trophies, old membership cards, photographs, fragments of matches…
Furthermore, now, you have the opportunity to live a 100% immersive and interactive experience through virtual reality glasses and motion sensors that allow the fan to enter the red-and-white virtual universe.
Thanks to technology you can immerse yourself in the athletic atmosphere, become the avatar of your favorite player or remember the great milestones of the Zurigorri Club. Do you want to know more? We tell you here.
