Last Updated on September 22, 2026 by George Pavlopoulos
As I often confess, I have a thing for waterfront cities. I decided to base myself in Bilbao on my journey to the Basque Country. From there, I could easily reach the places I wanted along the coastline. Beyond visiting other places, as I wrote in my Bilbao travel guide, the city is a gem: it has a fantastic location close to the ocean, and the River Nervión runs through it. As you can easily imagine, I went on a Bilbao boat tour, which was a great experience overall.
I always claim that boat trips combine two things: sightseeing and relaxation. One side effect of traveling is that intense sightseeing can tire you. When I decided to take short boat trips, I realized that floating through a city can be relaxing. I did that in Bergen, Copenhagen, Ljubljana, and even Berlin. The Bilbao boat trip offered a similar experience and was also relatively cheaper.
So I will share my honest opinion in this Bilbao boat tour review. You will also see some photos from the trip and get tips on choosing the best boat tours in town.
*Some links are affiliate links. This means that if you buy something, I might earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.
Bilbao boat tour review: everything you need to know
The River Nervión stretches 23 kilometers from Bilbao to the Cantabrian Sea. It’s an integral part of city life, with many iconic landmarks on its banks. Spots like the Guggenheim Museum and the Euskalduna Conference Center line the way, and a boat trip offers different views of these locations.
Depending on the boat route you choose, several other landmarks will appear on your way -even the iconic Bizkaia Bridge at Getxo. As you will read later in the article, Bilbao offers plenty of boat tours to choose from.
I chose the 1-hour boat tour that travels to San Ignacio (you can book this tour here). Although it was tempting to sail beneath the Bizkaia Bridge, I decided to move in the opposite direction. The reason is that I have visited the Bridge area twice, but haven’t been to the other side of town.
The 1-hour Bilbao boat tour itinerary
The 1-hour boat trip I joined started from the pier at Uribitarte Pasealekua, close to Udaletxeko Bridge. Most trips start on this side of the city, but check with your provider.
Since it was still early autumn, several boat tours were running. Surprisingly, most of them were sold out, so my best advice is to book your ticket in advance, especially if you’re traveling as a group. While there is enough space to meet demand, you might run into a group, and tickets could sell out in a moment.
The boat sailed from this spot all the way to San Ignacio. It crossed Bilbao’s most famous bridges (like Ponte Zubizuri and Puente de la Salve) and passed the Bilbao Guggenheim Museum and Deusto University. It continued toward the city’s Maritime Museum and moved to the outskirts. The final part was truly impressive, with the docks and the warehouses.
Half an hour later, the boat turned and followed the same route back for another thirty minutes. It was interesting to see Bilbao slowly unfold on the horizon: I think moving from the outskirts to the city center always gives you a better impression than the other way around.
The boat of the tour
The boat was spotlessly clean. Despite serving several routes every day, it was clean and tidy. Since it was a warm day, I sat on the upper deck and enjoyed the sunshine and the wonderful views. However, the lower floor offers a nicely warm interior where you can relax and enjoy the boat ride from the windows.
There is also a small bar selling snacks and drinks. I didn’t buy anything, but the prices seemed reasonable.
One thing that deserves mentioning is that there was no guide aboard. Instead, the crew prompted you to download an audio guide on your smartphone and listen to the information while sailing. That said, the tour wasn’t interactive, which is always a nice plus, especially for people willing to ask some questions during boat rides.
Bilbao boat tour: the overall experience
I’m probably biased because I love being close to the water. However, the 1-hour boat tour in Bilbao served its purpose perfectly. It let me see the city from the water and discover places I would have otherwise missed. Moreover, seeing and photographing the Guggenheim Museum from the river level offered a different perspective of the building’s size.
The lack of a guide didn’t bother me, but if that’s a must for you, you might have to search for another similar tour. I cared more about cleanliness and space for everyone, and on those points, the tour easily ticked the boxes.
One thing I want to mention, even though it’s unrelated to the tour itself, is that the river water is brown, especially close to Bilbao. So, if you want to take photos, find a good angle to avoid the color that might look bad in your photos.
Overall, I was happy with the Bilbao boat tour. Relaxing for an hour while still sightseeing is always a good thing. So, if you have enough time in town, grab the opportunity and join one.
Information about the boat tours in Bilbao
Bilbao has plenty of boat tours. I always recommend only the tours I take, but if you need more info, here’s where to find it.
First, double-check your tour’s departure point. Many providers offer similar services, so ask for the exact spot at the pier. Prices are roughly the same for similar tours, starting at 10-15 euros per person.
It is worth mentioning that most tours don’t run year-round. There’s a winter pause, with no itineraries in January and February. They resume in March and run until early December. As you might expect, there are more itineraries in the summer and shoulder months. You can expect 2-3 itineraries per day in early spring and mid-autumn.
You can book the tour I joined here. I chose the 1-hour itinerary, but there is also a 2-hour boat tour to Bizkaia Bridge.
Bilbao boat tour review: Final Thoughts
Boat tours are always enjoyable and let you see the city from different perspectives. A 1-hour Bilbao boat tour was a delightful experience. The crew was friendly, the boat was tidy, and the route was great for first-time visitors like me. Yes, sailing Bilbao is a great experience overall.
Bilbao is a gem, and seeing it from the water definitely adds an extra layer of experience for travelers. So I can only recommend a boat tour in Bilbao if you have enough time. And if you haven’t seen the Bizkaia Bridge, taking a boat to it is a good idea. It’s hands down one of the most impressive things to see on your trip to Bilbao and the Basque Country.
More about the Basque Country: San Juan de Gaztelugatxe, Visit Mundaca, Gernika, San Sebastian
Pin it for later
Sharing is caring. Share this article about the boat tours in Bilbao with your friends.