Things to Do in Bilbao in January
January weather, activities, events & insider tips
January Weather in Bilbao
Is January Right for You?
Advantages
- Pintxos bars are at their absolute peak - January brings seasonal ingredients like wild mushrooms, winter truffles, and txangurro (spider crab). The bar crawl scene is packed with locals, not tourists, and you'll actually get served without waiting 20 minutes.
- Accommodation prices drop 35-45% compared to summer months. That boutique hotel in Casco Viejo that's 180 euros in August? You'll find it for 95-110 euros in January, and you'll have actual negotiating power for longer stays.
- The Guggenheim Museum is genuinely manageable - expect 40-50 minute waits maximum versus the 2-3 hour queues in peak season. You can actually stand in front of the Rothkos without someone's selfie stick in your peripheral vision.
- Basque cider season (sagardotegi) runs January through April. This is when locals pile into cider houses in the surrounding hills for the txotx ritual - catching cider straight from massive barrels while eating massive multi-course meals for 35-45 euros per person.
Considerations
- The rain isn't tropical downpours you can wait out - it's persistent Atlantic drizzle that can last all day. Those 10 rainy days are misleading because partial rain affects maybe 18-20 days of the month. You'll be doing a lot of ducking into bars.
- Sunset hits around 6:15pm, which means your outdoor sightseeing window is compressed. By 5pm, the light is already getting flat and gloomy, and the temperature drops noticeably once the sun disappears.
- Several beach clubs and coastal restaurants close entirely in January, particularly in Getxo and Plentzia. The surfing scene moves to hardcore locals only - water temps around 12-13°C (54-55°F) mean you need serious neoprene.
Best Activities in January
Guggenheim Museum Extended Visits
January is when you can actually experience the Guggenheim properly. The shorter days mean arriving right at 10am opening gives you 2-3 hours before any significant crowds build. The permanent collection rooms are nearly empty, and you can spend time with the Richard Serra sculptures without tour groups flowing through. The building itself is worth studying in winter light - the titanium cladding looks completely different under grey skies versus summer sun.
Casco Viejo Pintxos Crawls
January is peak season for Basque gastronomy. The pintxos bars are full of locals celebrating post-Christmas, and the seasonal ingredients are exceptional - look for anything with perretxikos (wild mushrooms) or txangurro. The narrow streets of the old quarter are atmospheric in the rain, and bar-hopping keeps you dry. Start around 1pm for lunch pintxos or 8pm for evening crowds. Expect to hit 4-6 bars, spending 8-15 euros per bar.
Cider House Experiences in Astigarraga
The sagardotegi season runs January through April, and this is peak local culture. You'll drive or bus 20 km (12 miles) south to cider houses where the ritual is simple: unlimited cider caught straight from massive barrels, plus a set menu of chorizo, cod omelet, massive steaks, and cheese with walnuts. It's loud, communal, and you'll be sitting with Basque families. This only happens in cider season, making January-April the only time to experience it.
Coastal Hikes Between Beaches
The Basque coast between Bilbao and Getxo offers dramatic clifftop walks that are actually better in winter. The famous route from Plentzia to Gorliz (about 6 km or 3.7 miles) takes you along cliffs with massive Atlantic swells crashing below. January weather means you need proper rain gear, but you'll have the paths largely to yourself. The green is intensely green after winter rains, and storm watching from the clifftops is spectacular.
San Mamés Stadium Tours
Athletic Bilbao plays throughout January, and this is when you see Basque football culture at full intensity. The stadium tour (15 euros, about 90 minutes) takes you through the dressing rooms, press areas, and pitch-side. But the real experience is attending a match - the atmosphere is electric, and unlike Barcelona or Madrid, you can actually get tickets. January typically has 2-3 home matches.
Mercado de la Ribera Food Shopping
Europe's largest covered market is where Bilbao locals shop daily, and January brings peak winter produce. The ground floor has fish counters with the morning's catch from Bermeo, while upstairs you'll find vegetables, cheeses, and cured meats. Go around 10-11am when it's busiest. The market has a small pintxos area upstairs where you can eat what you just bought. This is real local life, not a tourist market.
January Events & Festivals
Reyes Magos (Three Kings Day)
January 5th evening brings the Three Kings parade through central Bilbao - elaborate floats, people in costume throwing candy, and the whole city turns out. This is bigger than Christmas Day in Basque culture. The parade route runs through Gran Vía and ends at the cathedral. Arrive by 6pm for decent viewing spots. January 6th is a public holiday, so many shops and restaurants close.
Tamborrada in San Sebastián
While not in Bilbao itself, San Sebastián's Tamborrada on January 20th is worth the 1-hour train ride (12-15 euros each way). The entire city dresses in chef or soldier costumes and marches through the streets drumming for 24 hours straight. It's loud, chaotic, and uniquely Basque. Trains get packed, so book tickets 2-3 weeks ahead.