Things to Do in Bilbao in November
November weather, activities, events & insider tips
Low Season · Budget Friendly
November Weather in Bilbao
Temperature, rainfall and humidity at a glance
61°F (16°C)
High Temp
46°F (8°C)
Low Temp
6.7 inches (170 mm)
Rainfall
70%
Humidity
Is November Right for You?
Weigh the advantages and considerations before booking
Advantages
- + The crowds have gone. You can finally see the canvases at the Guggenheim without ducking selfie sticks. On a still November morning the Alhóndiga bridge reflections feel like they're yours alone. Silence sharpens the art.
- + Pintxo bars roll out winter plates. Txipirones en su tinta and txuleta grilled over hawthorn coals at Casa Rufo taste better when the air smells of coming rain. Let the ink stain your fingers.
- + Room rates drop 25-30% after the October art-fair crush. Last-minute weekend slots reappear in old-town pensions along Calle de la Tendería where wooden balconies creak with history. Book late, save big.
- + The Ría de Bilbao turns silver under low sun. Perfect light for photographing the titanium scales of the Guggenheim at 4pm when the river mirrors the building like liquid mercury. Bring a polarizer.
Considerations
- − Basque storms roll in fast. A blue sky at 10am can collapse into sideways rain by lunch. Outdoor plans like the funicular up Artxanda get cancelled half the time. Check radar.
- − Daylight shrinks to 9.5 hours. Last call for riverside walks is 5:30pm. The charming staircases of Casco Viejo feel eerily empty after dark if you're not bar-hopping. Keep moving.
Best Activities in November
Top things to do during your visit
Guggenheim Architecture & Modern Art Tours
November's soft light makes Frank Gehry's titanium curves glow instead of glare. No tour-bus crowds mean you can hear your own footsteps echo in the atrium. Temporary exhibitions rotate this month, so the collection feels fresh even for repeat visitors.
Booking Tip: Reserve entry slots for 11am or 2pm when daylight through the glass atrium is brightest. Weekday mornings are quietest. See current skip-the-line options in the booking section below.
Casco Viejo Pintxo Crawls
The old quarter's seven parallel streets stay warm thanks to body heat and sizzling planchas. November specialities include wild-mushroom croquetas and grilled txistorra that taste like smoke and autumn. Locals eat one pintxo per bar, then move on. Follow them.
Booking Tip: Start at 7:30pm, hop four bars maximum, and let the bartender choose if you're unsure. Guided evening crawls explain Basque cider etiquette and which bars still hand-carve their jamón. Worth every euro.
Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve Day Trips
Autumn migratory birds pause here en route to Africa. Ospreys dive over mudflats and the oak hillsides glow copper. November drizzle keeps most beach crowds away, so you'll share the tidal marshes with more herons than humans.
Booking Tip: Book small-group tours that leave at 9am and return after lunch in Gernika. You'll catch low-tide bird activity and still be back in Bilbao for evening pintxos. Licensed operators provide waterproof binoculars. Bring your own if you're serious.
Ría de Bilbao Evening Boat Cruises
The river reflects city lights like broken glass. November's calmer water means the boat doesn't rock while you're photographing the Zubizuri footbridge. Operators hand out blankets and hot calimocho that steams in the chilly air.
Booking Tip: Sunset departures around 5:30pm sell out first. Book 2-3 days ahead. Dress in layers. The pier feels 5°F cooler than the street. Check the booking widget for current sailing times tied to tide schedules.
Basque Cider House Visits in nearby Astigarraga
Cider season runs through November. Farmhouse taverns pour last year's vintage from enormous barrels while the new harvest ferments in chestnut vats. The smell is sharp. Green apples and woodsmoke. The txuleta steak served on wooden boards tastes wilder than anything in town.
Booking Tip: Saturday lunch slots fill with local families. Weekday evenings are quieter and guides translate the ritual of catching cider in your glass straight from the spigot. Transport is included in most tours (see booking section).
Where to Stay in Bilbao in November
Hand-picked hotels across price tiers for November travellers.
November Events & Festivals
What's happening during your visit
Late November
Bilbao Jazz Festival (Bilboko Jazzaldia)
Late November brings intimate club sessions and riverside concerts. The city's tiled metro entrances echo with sax at midnight. Tickets for the Arriaga Theatre headline acts sell in late October. But many bars host free jam sessions after 11pm.
Late November build-up
Santo Tomás Fair
The city's biggest rural market takes over Plaza Nueva on December 21, but preview tastings and pop-up stalls appear in Casco Viejo throughout late November. Look for cheese-makers from mountain farmhouses handing out Idiazabal samples sharper than any you'll find in shops.
Packing Checklist
Bookmark this page — your progress is saved between visits
Need the full list with shopping links?
Climate-specific gear, brand recommendations, and what to leave at home.
View Bilbao Packing List →Essential Tips
Insider knowledge and common pitfalls to avoid
Insider Knowledge
Locals eat lunch at 2pm and dinner at 9:30pm. Tourist restaurants that open at 6pm microwave food meant for later service. Wait or pintxo-hop instead.
If the Nervión River is running high and brown after rain, skip the riverside walk and head to the Alhóndiga cultural center. The glass-floor library lets you watch swimmers in the rooftop pool below while you stay dry.
Buy a Barik transit card at any metro machine. Single rides cost 40% less than paper tickets and work on buses, trams, and the funicular.
Free entry to the Guggenheim after 5pm on Mondays for residents. Flash any Spanish hotel keycard and security rarely checks addresses; you'll still get the full collection.
Avoid These Mistakes
Don't assume Sunday is quiet. Bars open at noon. But most pintxo kitchens close by 4pm. Eat early or you'll be stuck with tourist paella.
Skip the rental car for the city. One-way streets are GPS-resistant and underground garages charge by the minute. Use metro and walk instead.
Stop waiting for perfect weather to ride the Artxanda funicular. Clouds can lift in minutes and the viewpoint is covered if it rains. Just go.
Book Experiences in Bilbao
Top-rated things to do in Bilbao this November
Explore More Activities in Bilbao
Didn't see anything interesting yet?
Browse Viator's full catalog of tours, day trips, food experiences, and private guides in Bilbao.
See All Bilbao Tours on Viator