Neighborhoods in Bilbao

The Casco Viejo (Old Town) is Bilbao's medieval heart, centred on the original Siete Calles — seven streets laid out when the city was founded in 1300. Today it's a dense, vibrant district packed with pintxos bars, independent shops, the Cathedral of Santiago, and Plaza Nueva.

The Ensanche ('Extension') is the 19th-century planned neighbourhood stretching west from the Casco Viejo, characterised by broad tree-lined boulevards, elegant Belle Époque architecture, and Bilbao's main commercial arteries including the Gran Vía.

Zorrotzaurre is a former industrial peninsula on the Nervión being reimagined as Bilbao's creative and innovation district. With street art, converted warehouses, and waterfront paths, it offers a raw, evolving counterpoint to the polished Guggenheim area.