Rooftop bars, Michelin-star restaurants, prime locations and world-class amenities, add a bit of elegance to your time in Bilbao.
Hotel Carlton
Located right in the heart of the city, in Plaza Moyua, the palatial Hotel Carlton is one of Bilbao’s most iconic hotels.
A hark back to a different era, this five-star establishment, the brainchild of renowned Bilbao architect Maria Manuel Smith, was first opened in 1926 and has lost none of its elegance since.
At the time of its inuaguration, the Carlton was considered an architectural masterpiece. The main hall features marble floors, persian rugs and a stunning stained-glass ceiling propped up by large white pillars.
The hotel has been the focal point in some of the most important moments of Bilbao’s history. For example, during the Spanish Civil War, the Basque Government established their main headquarters in the building during the siege of Bilbao.
During the war, the hotels’ basement was turned into a bunker, the vents of which can be seen from the street. Nowadays, it’s a private English-style pub, aptly named “El Bunker”.
The hotel has 111 standard rooms, 23 superior rooms, five junior suites and an imperial suite, as well as a fine-dining restaurant, a variety of meeting rooms, parking and a gym, among other amenities.
*Hotel shown in header image.
Hotel Meliá
Situated alongside the Parque Doña Casilda, the five-star Hotel Meliá Bilbao is just a stone’s throw away from the Guggenheim Museum, the Fine Arts Museum, Athletic Club’s San Mames Stadium and Bilbao’s Gran Via.
Designed by Mexican architect Ricardo Legorreta, the hotel’s distinctive look and copper colour palette was inspired by renowned Basque sculptor Eduardo Chillida, who worked with forged iron.
The hotel has 211 rooms, a wellness centre, gym, meeting rooms, a bar, restaurant and a terrace, but its most distinctive feature is a partially-covered, heated swimming pool with views of Bilbao’s surrounding mountains.
The Artist – Grand Hotel of Art
Formerly known as the Hotel Gran Domine until a rebranding in April 2024, if prime location is what you’re looking for, this is the place to stay.
The Artist is literally next door to the Guggenheim Museum and its aim is to be “a place where art meets excellence in service”.
Behind the building’s striking mirrored façade there are 145 rooms, two restaurants, an impressive tower structure made of small rocks and one of Bilbao’s finest rooftop bars with views of The Puppy, the Guggenheim and rolling hills and mountains.
Even if you don’t plan on staying at The Artist, a cocktail or two at the rooftop bar one evening is a must while you’re in Bilbao.
Radisson Collection Bilbao
One of the city’s newest hotels, the Radisson Bilbao can be found at the bottom of the bustling Gran Via, across the road from Abando Train Station and a 10-minute walk from Casco Viejo.
What’s more, behind the hotel you have one of Bilbao’s prominent pintxo streets in Calle Ledesma.
The hotel overtook the headquarters of a former bank in 2022 and it has everything you’d expect from a top-tier, modern hotel: 137 rooms and suites, a spa, a fitness centre and a Basque-Japanese fusion restaurant, run by five-time Michelin-star chef Eneko Atxa, located in a chill rooftop bar.
Booking.com getaway deals
Booking.com are offering 15% off on stays across a range of Bilbao hotels when reserved before the end of September 2026.
Click the following link to take a look at which hotels are offering getaway deals.
