First time in Bilbao?
Spannabis used to live in Barcelona. In 2026 it moves to Bilbao for the first time. If you've never been to the Basque Country before, this short guide covers what you actually need to know — the practical stuff that doesn't fit in a Wikipedia article.
Getting in and out
- Bilbao Airport (BIO) is 12 km from the city centre. The Bizkaibus A3247 runs to Termibus / Plaza Moyúa every 20 minutes (~€3 in 25 min). A taxi runs €25–30. Uber and Cabify are both active.
- From Madrid or Barcelona — Renfe high-speed and night trains arrive at Abando station, walking distance to most city-centre hotels.
- From France — the SNCF + Euskotren combo via Hendaye/Irún is slower but scenic.
Where to stay
Three sensible neighborhoods depending on what you're optimising for:
- Casco Viejo — old town, walkable to everything, dense pintxo bars, charming. The neighborhood with the most character. Slightly noisy on weekends.
- Indautxu / Abando — central, modern, more business hotels. Best for getting around by Metro.
- Near Termibus / Bilbao La Vieja — cheaper, edgier, authentic. Walking distance to most cannabis social clubs.
Avoid booking near BEC unless you only care about the fair — the Barakaldo area is industrial and has nothing else to offer.
Getting to the Spannabis venue (BEC)
The Bilbao Exhibition Centre is in Barakaldo, a 30–40 minute Metro ride from Bilbao centre. Take Line 2 to Ansio. The BEC is signposted from there. Buy a Barik card on arrival for cheaper Metro fares.
Pintxos — the actual local food
Bilbao's pintxos scene is the city's biggest tourist asset. These are bite-sized snacks served on bar counters, eaten standing, paid by the toothpick. Three streets to know:
- Calle Licenciado Poza (Indautxu) — the most famous pintxo street. Try El Globo, Café Iruña.
- Plaza Nueva (Casco Viejo) — arcaded square with legendary spots like Café Bar Bilbao and Víctor Montes.
- Calle Diputación / Ledesma (Abando) — quieter, locals after work.
Go between 20:00 and 23:00. Lunchtime is for sit-down menús.
Things you have to see (even with limited time)
- Guggenheim Museum— yes, it's touristy. It's also genuinely one of the great pieces of architecture of the last fifty years. Worth two hours.
- Funicular de Artxanda — old hillside funicular up to a viewpoint over the entire city. Cheap.
- Casco Viejo's Seven Streets — the medieval core. Wander, get lost, eat.
- Mercado de la Ribera— Europe's biggest covered market, riverfront. Lunch upstairs.
- Puente Bizkaia (in Portugalete) — the UNESCO-listed transporter bridge. Quick metro ride out.
Cannabis culture in Bilbao
Cannabis social clubs in Bilbao are private, members-only associations. They are not retail and they are not coffeeshops. Read the full CSC guide →
For the curated map of 26 verified Bilbao clubs: Open the map →
The rookie mistakes to avoid
- Smoking in public.Don't. Ley Orgánica 4/2015. Fines from €601. Bilbao police are present in tourist zones.
- Trusting random "tourist club" passes online.The Barcelona crackdown is starting to influence Bilbao. Use direct contact via the club's own published channels instead.
- Eating dinner at 19:00. No-one in Spain eats dinner at 19:00. The pintxo bars are dead until 20:00.
- Not learning ten words of Basque."Eskerrik asko" (thank you), "Kaixo" (hi), "Agur" (bye). It costs nothing and locals notice.
- Confusing Spanish with Basque. Both are spoken; street signs are bilingual; locals are proud of the language. Be curious about it.
- Booking the airport hotel.Stay in the city. Bilbao is small enough that you don't need to commute.
Useful Spanish/Basque phrases
- ¿Tenéis sitio? — Do you have a table?
- Una caña, por favor. — A small beer, please.
- La cuenta, por favor. — The bill, please.
- ¿Habláis inglés? — Do you speak English?
- Eskerrik asko. — Thank you (Basque). Always works.