The 4 Best Luxury Hotels in Bilbao
Facing the Guggenheim, in a former bank on the Gran Vía or in an aristocratic palace on the Bay of Biscay: our travel advisors talk you through which of the luxury hotels in Bilbao suits your trip. Every suitespot booking comes with free breakfast for 2, a room upgrade subject to availability, hotel credit and VIP service – benefits worth over €500.
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Unlock exclusive benefits as a premium member
Unlock exclusive benefits as a premium member
Unlock exclusive benefits as a premium member
The best-known hotels in Bilbao
Art, city or sea, what is at the top of your list? Here you see the best hotels in Bilbao at a glance, with location, suitespot score and price per night. Our tip: for the Guggenheim, stay at The Artist Grand Hotel of Art Bilbao; for beach and spa, at the Palacio Arriluce Hotel in Getxo.
| Hotel | Location | suitespot score | Price from |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Artist Grand Hotel of Art Bilbao | Abando | ★ 4.7/5 | 150 € |
| Hotel Ercilla de Bilbao | Indautxu | ★ 4.1/5 | 109 € |
| Palacio Arriluce Hotel | Bizkaia | ★ 4.4/5 | – |
| Radisson Collection Hotel Gran Via Bilbao | Abando | ★ 4.0/5 | 112 € |
Your guide to the best luxury hotels in Bilbao
The Artist Grand Hotel of Art Bilbao · AbandoWhich is the best hotel in Bilbao for you depends on your plans. For art and architecture, we recommend The Artist Grand Hotel of Art Bilbao directly opposite the Guggenheim, with a Michelin Key and lunch for two included. If you want the sea, a spa and some calm, stay at the Palacio Arriluce Hotel in Neguri, a restored palace with a pool above the bay.For everyday city life, between Plaza de Indautxu and Azkuna Zentroa, book the Hotel Ercilla de Bilbao, a Bilbao institution since 1972. And if you like dining above the rooftops, stay at the Radisson Collection Hotel Gran Via Bilbao with Eneko Atxa’s rooftop restaurant.
At no extra cost: booking through suitespot costs the same as booking direct with the hotel – the benefits come on top, free of charge.
Newly opened and freshly renovated: what the luxury hotels in Bilbao offer you today
Since 2023, the Palacio Arriluce Hotel has been a hotel: an early-20th-century palace in Neguri, restored with its original marquetry, stained glass and furniture. Today you stay in one of 49 rooms, seven of them suites, play on the hotel’s own croquet lawn and dine in a restaurant overlooking the sea – a deluxe stay on the coast.
Palacio Arriluce Hotel · BizkaiaIn March 2022, the Radisson Collection Hotel Gran Via Bilbao opened in the former 1945 headquarters of Banco Hispano Americano on the Gran Vía. dAAr Arquitectura converted the building with Art Deco-inspired interiors, with 137 rooms on six floors, and it is LEED Platinum certified.
The name of The Artist Grand Hotel of Art Bilbao is new too: the former Gran Hotel Domine, completely refurbished by Foraster Arquitectos in 2017, has been called The Artist since 2024 and gained new restaurants, Olio and The Gallery. The Hotel Ercilla de Bilbao was redesigned in a 1970s-inspired style with Anglo-Basque touches after joining the Autograph Collection.
These luxury hotels in Bilbao have a pool – and a spa
After a day between the Guggenheim and the Casco Viejo, three of the four hotels offer somewhere to unwind, one of them by the sea.
Radisson Collection Hotel Gran Via Bilbao · AbandoOur pick for pool and sea is the Palacio Arriluce Hotel: on the terrace above the bay there is an outdoor pool, open from June 1 to September 30, with La Ría pool bar for hotel guests only. The Neguri Spa & Wellness has a water area with a jet pool, sauna and Turkish bath, plus facials with Nieves Álvarez and Mesoestetic products and holistic, relaxing and prenatal massages.
Right in the city, the Radisson Collection Hotel Gran Via Bilbao has a spa with an indoor pool, just off the Gran Vía.
- Breakfast for two, every day
- Room upgrade subject to availability
- Hotel credit, e.g. US$100
- Early check-in and late check-out
- VIP service and personal advice
- Points and status in the hotel programme
No pool, but plenty of calm: at The Artist Grand Hotel of Art Bilbao, the Wellbeing works with Henao Wellness Clinic, offering a Turkish bath, sauna, body and facial treatments and personalized skin and hair rituals, daily from 9 am to 9 pm. To relax, you sit in Frank Gehry’s Cross Check chairs by Knoll.
Pool season in Neguri
The outdoor pool at the Palacio Arriluce Hotel is open from June 1 to September 30, the spa with its jet pool all year. If you come in summer, it is best to combine a few days in the city with a few days by the sea – our travel advisors will gladly plan the order with you.
Dining at a 5-star hotel in Bilbao: Guggenheim views, a rooftop restaurant and palace cuisine by the sea
In Bilbao, you eat pintxos standing up, from bar to bar, with a glass of txakoli. The hotels add their own accents, from a table with a museum view to a terrace above the sea.
At The Artist Grand Hotel of Art Bilbao, Abel Corral, together with Nelson Da Silva of Les Voisins, cooks Basque-French cuisine at Olio, as a tasting menu or à la carte; lunch Thursday to Saturday, dinner Thursday to Monday. The Gallery on the ground floor looks through its glass facade at the Guggenheim and Jeff Koons’ “Puppy,” and on The Rooftop you enjoy a sundowner with a museum view.
At no extra cost: you pay the same rate as booking direct with the hotel – the suitespot benefits come on top, free of charge.
At the top of the Radisson Collection Hotel Gran Via Bilbao, NKO by Eneko Atxa serves Basque-Japanese cuisine, with a terrace and vertical gardens above the city.
At the Palacio Arriluce Hotel, Michelin-starred chef Fernando Canales leads the kitchen at DELAUNAY: Basque tradition, modern and produce-driven, open daily, with vegetarian and vegan dishes and views of the sea. Take your aperitif at the Bar Inglés, the palace’s former library and chapel, beneath the original stained-glass windows.
Jazz in the speakeasy
Behind the lobby of The Artist Grand Hotel of Art Bilbao lies the Sixty-One bar in the style of 1920s London and New York, open daily from 5:30 pm to 1 am. On the second Thursday of each month there is live jazz – our travel advisors will gladly time your trip for it.
Luxury hotels in Bilbao with history: an aristocratic palace, a bank and a design icon
The history of the luxury hotels in Bilbao tells the story of the city’s rise. The Palacio Arriluce Hotel was built by architect José Luis Oriol Urigüen as the first palace in Neguri, an English-style mansion that resembles a castle. The Anglophile aristocracy of Biscay met here; today the hotel displays works by Sonia Delaunay, František Kupka and Diego Canogar.
Hotel Ercilla de Bilbao · IndautxuThe Radisson Collection Hotel Gran Via Bilbao occupies the 1945 headquarters of Banco Hispano Americano, while the Hotel Ercilla de Bilbao opened in 1972 and was one of the city’s first modern hotels. It is still owned by Grupo Ercilla today.
The Artist Grand Hotel of Art Bilbao opened in 2002 opposite the Guggenheim, built by IA+B and designed inside by Javier Mariscal and Fernando Salas. More than 500 artworks hang in the hotel, and in the lobby the kinetic installation “A Million Times 120” by Humans Since 1982 is in constant motion.
- Breakfast for two, every day
- Room upgrade subject to availability
- Hotel credit, e.g. US$100
- Early check-in and late check-out
- VIP service and personal advice
- Points and status in the hotel programme
Awards: The Artist Grand Hotel of Art Bilbao holds one Michelin Key and belongs to Preferred Hotels & Resorts (L.V.X. Collection); Michelin Keys recognize hotels, not restaurants. The Palacio Arriluce Hotel is a member of The Leading Hotels of the World, the Hotel Ercilla de Bilbao is part of Marriott’s Autograph Collection, and the Radisson Collection Hotel Gran Via Bilbao is LEED Platinum certified.
Where to stay in Bilbao: Abando, Indautxu or Getxo by the sea – the right location for your 5-star hotel
Bilbao is organized around the Ría. On the right bank lies the Casco Viejo with its seven streets and the market on the Ribera; on the left, the newer town with Abando, the Gran Vía and the Guggenheim. Further downstream, the Ría reaches the sea at Getxo, where the Vizcaya Bridge links the two banks.
Abando: for art and architecture, we recommend The Artist Grand Hotel of Art Bilbao on Alameda de Mazarredo, directly opposite the Guggenheim and 500 meters from the Museum of Fine Arts. The Radisson Collection Hotel Gran Via Bilbao stands on the Gran Vía, in the middle of the city’s business life.
- Breakfast for two, every day
- Room upgrade subject to availability
- Hotel credit, e.g. US$100
- Early check-in and late check-out
- VIP service and personal advice
- Points and status in the hotel programme
At no extra cost: you pay the same rate as booking direct with the hotel – the suitespot benefits come on top, free of charge.
Indautxu: the Hotel Ercilla de Bilbao is on Calle Ercilla between Plaza de Indautxu and Calle Licenciado Poza, close to Indautxu metro station and the Azkuna Zentroa cultural center.
Getxo by the sea: the Palacio Arriluce Hotel is not in Bilbao itself but in the Neguri district of Getxo on the Bay of Biscay. Ereaga Beach is about a five-minute walk away, and the Punta Galea cliff walk is 1.4 kilometers away.
Our travel advisors’ insider tip
In Bilbao, city and sea combine well: first a few nights at The Artist Grand Hotel of Art Bilbao with the Guggenheim and the Casco Viejo, then a few days at the Palacio Arriluce Hotel on the Bay of Biscay. That turns your 5-star hotel in Bilbao into a small round trip; The Artist Grand Hotel of Art Bilbao arranges private transfers from the airport or train station on request.
What a night at a 5-star hotel in Bilbao costs – and what’s included
Prices start at 109 € at the Hotel Ercilla de Bilbao and go up to 150 € at The Artist Grand Hotel of Art Bilbao; the Radisson Collection Hotel Gran Via Bilbao is at 111 €. For the Palacio Arriluce Hotel, our travel advisors obtain the rate for your dates. The table shows all four luxury hotels in Bilbao. You will find the current price for your travel dates in the hotel list below.
| Luxury hotel | From | suitespot benefits from | suitespot score |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Artist Grand Hotel of Art Bilbao | 150 € | 1st night | ★ 4.7/5 |
| Radisson Collection Hotel Gran Via Bilbao | 111 € | 1st night | ★ 4.0/5 |
| Hotel Ercilla de Bilbao | 109 € | 1st night | ★ 4.1/5 |
| Palacio Arriluce Hotel | on request | 1st night | ★ 4.4/5 |
What’s included: at all four hotels you get daily breakfast for two, à la carte in the Bar Americano at the Hotel Ercilla de Bilbao, plus early check-in and late check-out subject to availability. The upgrade comes on arrival, at the Radisson Collection Hotel Gran Via Bilbao already at booking. Everywhere, the benefits apply from the first night.
Extras: at The Artist Grand Hotel of Art Bilbao, lunch for two is included; at the Radisson Collection Hotel Gran Via Bilbao, a $100 food and beverage credit. At the Hotel Ercilla de Bilbao, a welcome gift awaits you.
Points and status: I Prefer applies at The Artist Grand Hotel of Art Bilbao, Marriott Bonvoy at the Hotel Ercilla de Bilbao, Radisson Rewards at the Radisson Collection Hotel Gran Via Bilbao and the Leaders Club at the Palacio Arriluce Hotel, if you provide your membership number when booking.
When it’s at its best: in spring and fall the banks of the Ría invite long walks, in summer the coast at Getxo beckons, and in August the city celebrates Aste Nagusia. In winter, the museums and pintxo bars are all yours. Book early for Aste Nagusia.
How long to stay: at a 5-star hotel in Bilbao, we recommend two to three nights – for the Guggenheim and the Ría, the Casco Viejo and a day on the coast. If you like, combine Bilbao with San Sebastián.
The hotels in Bilbao at a glance
What sets the hotels in Bilbao apart – from their opening year to the spa:
| Hotel | Opened | Spa |
|---|---|---|
| The Artist Grand Hotel of Art Bilbao | 2002 | ✓ |
| Palacio Arriluce Hotel | 2023 | ✓ |
Earn points & use your status in Bilbao
In Bilbao, each program applies at one hotel: I Prefer at The Artist Grand Hotel of Art Bilbao, Marriott Bonvoy at the Hotel Ercilla de Bilbao, Radisson Rewards at the Radisson Collection Hotel Gran Via Bilbao and the Leaders Club at the Palacio Arriluce Hotel. Because suitespot books at direct rates, you earn points and status nights just as you would when booking direct, and your status benefits apply.
| Program | Hotels | Examples in Bilbao |
|---|---|---|
| I Prefer | 1 hotel | The Artist Grand Hotel of Art Bilbao |
| Leaders Club | 1 hotel | Palacio Arriluce Hotel |
| Marriott Bonvoy | 1 hotel | Hotel Ercilla de Bilbao |
| Radisson Rewards | 1 hotel | Radisson Collection Hotel Gran Via Bilbao |
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Frequently asked questions about luxury hotels in Bilbao
What does a night at a luxury hotel in Bilbao cost?
Prices start at 109 € at the Hotel Ercilla de Bilbao and go up to 150 € at The Artist Grand Hotel of Art Bilbao; the Radisson Collection Hotel Gran Via Bilbao is at 111 € per night. For the Palacio Arriluce Hotel, our travel advisors will quote the rate for your dates. Breakfast for two is included everywhere.
Which is the best luxury hotel in Bilbao?
That depends on what you are looking for. For art and architecture, we recommend The Artist Grand Hotel of Art Bilbao opposite the Guggenheim; for sea and spa, the Palacio Arriluce Hotel in Getxo. If you want to be in the thick of city life, book the Hotel Ercilla de Bilbao, and for Eneko Atxa’s rooftop restaurant, the Radisson Collection Hotel Gran Via Bilbao.
Which hotel in Bilbao has a view of the Guggenheim?
The Artist Grand Hotel of Art Bilbao stands directly opposite the Guggenheim Museum. From The Gallery restaurant you look through the glass facade at the museum and Jeff Koons’ “Puppy,” and from The Rooftop as well.
Which 5-star hotel near Bilbao is by the sea?
The Palacio Arriluce Hotel, a 5-star hotel in a restored palace in the Neguri district of Getxo, on the Bay of Biscay. Ereaga Beach is about a five-minute walk away, and from June to September it has an outdoor pool above the bay.
Which luxury hotels in Bilbao have a pool?
The Palacio Arriluce Hotel in Getxo has an outdoor pool above the bay, open from June 1 to September 30, and a jet pool in the spa. In the city, the Radisson Collection Hotel Gran Via Bilbao has a spa with an indoor pool.
What’s new at the luxury hotels in Bilbao?
The Palacio Arriluce Hotel has been a hotel since 2023, and the Radisson Collection Hotel Gran Via Bilbao opened in March 2022 in the former bank on the Gran Vía. And since 2024, the former Gran Hotel Domine has been called The Artist Grand Hotel of Art Bilbao, with new restaurants.
Which hotel in Bilbao has a Michelin Key?
The Artist Grand Hotel of Art Bilbao opposite the Guggenheim holds one Michelin Key. Michelin Keys recognize hotels, not restaurants.
Can I earn points at Bilbao’s luxury hotels?
Yes, at all four: I Prefer at The Artist Grand Hotel of Art Bilbao, Marriott Bonvoy at the Hotel Ercilla de Bilbao, Radisson Rewards at the Radisson Collection Hotel Gran Via Bilbao and the Leaders Club at the Palacio Arriluce Hotel. Because suitespot books at direct rates, points and status nights count as usual.
Where should I stay in Bilbao?
In Abando for the Guggenheim and the Gran Vía (our pick: The Artist Grand Hotel of Art Bilbao), in Indautxu for everyday city life (our pick: Hotel Ercilla de Bilbao) and in Getxo by the sea (our pick: Palacio Arriluce Hotel).
Which luxury hotels in Bilbao allow pets?
Pets are welcome at The Artist Grand Hotel of Art Bilbao, the Palacio Arriluce Hotel and the Hotel Ercilla de Bilbao. Our travel advisors will clarify the exact conditions with the hotel before you book.
Which is the most expensive hotel in Bilbao?
At the top end is The Artist Grand Hotel of Art Bilbao, with prices from 150 € per night, with lunch for two included. The Radisson Collection Hotel Gran Via Bilbao starts at 111 €, the Hotel Ercilla de Bilbao at 109 €. For the Palacio Arriluce Hotel, our travel advisors will obtain the rate.
Is there a minimum stay in Bilbao?
No, at all four hotels the suitespot benefits apply from the first night, at The Artist Grand Hotel of Art Bilbao as well as at the Palacio Arriluce Hotel.
