The Guggenheim museums are on the bucket list of many gay guys. Bilbao has one of the few, so this makes it automatically a gay destination.
Most of Spain gets very hot in summer. Bilbao is situated near the coast of the Gulf of Biscay and is a little cooler. In summer night life is very outdoors with many terraces.
The gay bars are located near each other, and people tend to stay outside on the streets. The bars get going late, the clubs very late.
See the section below for a list of the gay places.
Stay in the center of near the river, and everything is on short walking distance. Restaurants and terraces are located in the city center. The gay bars a bit south of the city center. They get going very late, so for us the center was a better area to stay in.
330+ rooms
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Badulake is a late night gay bar. It's Spanish-late, it gets going when the bars and terraces in Casco Viejo are closing.
Lamiak is a gay friendly bar / cafe in the old quarter (Casco Viejo) in Bilbao. It's a perfect place to meet with someone or friends more
Modesto is a gay bar in the old quarter (Casco Viejo) of Bilbao. Classical layout, narrow bar with a long bar throughout the place more
El Balcon de la Lola is a late night gay dance club in Bilbao. The club is located under old railway arches and has a industrial underground style more
outboundEGO is Bilbao’s central gay sauna with steam and dry rooms, a long maze of cabins and dark zones, a bar, and daily opening—quiet afternoons, busy nights. more
Here are some photos we made to show you what the city is like and which places to visit during the day.
The is the 2nd most popular museum. It's a museum about fine art and modern art.
Pintxos is the basque version of tapas. People usually order a few with their drinks
Madrid is the capital of Spain and is a very beautiful city. Their gay pride is one of the biggest in Europe. The gay night-life is concentrated in the area Chueca, which is right in the center of the city. There are many gay bars, clubs and gay saunas. The night-life is happening on Fridays and Saturdays mostly.
320 km from Bilbao
Madrid guide
Sitges is a compact, beach-first town with lively bars, an easy promenade scene, and the main gay beach right in the center—plus two clothing-optional coves close by.
450 km from Bilbao
Sitges guide
Barcelona is a vibrant city with a lively gay scene. From the bustling Eixample/Gayxample district to the beach clubs of Sitges, there's something for everyone. Enjoy world-class dining, trendy bars, and exciting nightlife. Don't miss the annual Pride celebration, a highlight for locals and visitors alike.
470 km from Bilbao
Barcelona guide
Valencia is the 3rd biggest city of Spain. You can compare it a bit with Barcelona, old buildings combined with modern architecture and a beach next to the city. Valencia is way less touristic, but they are working on that. The gay night life is only happening in the weekend. It is a great city for a weekend city trip.
470 km from Bilbao
Valencia guide
Benidorm is one of the biggest European beach destinations. It has also an extensive gay scene, with about 30 gay bars all located close to each other in the Old Town. It is is very popular by English tourists.
580 km from Bilbao
Benidorm guide
