17 Nov 2025 Christmas has arrived in Bilbao, lighting up the city from the Old Town to Getxo, bringing with it the fantastic Christmas spirit.
That traditional magic of these days pervades everything, and the city seems to have a different colour, a different spirit, much more life, and you are fortunate enough to be able to experience it all first-hand with us.
But it doesn't end there; there aren't just Christmas decorations and lights all over the city. Another of the main attractions of this time of year in Bilbao are its Christmas markets, and here we're going to visit them all. Are you up for it?
The city, as Bilbao is known, doesn't have numerous Christmas markets scattered throughout the city. Instead, it has a few, but high-quality stalls that attract the attention and curiosity of locals and visitors.
The Bilbao Christmas Market takes place on the Ripa Pier and will welcome visitors from the beginning of December with more than twenty Christmas stalls.
The vast majority of stalls offer Christmas decorations, from traditional to handmade, as well as a wide variety of typical products at this time of year.
It begins in the morning at 11:30 a.m. and ends at midday, from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. It will then reopen until 9:00 p.m.
From mid-December until the visit of Their Majesties the Three Wise Men, the craft fair remains open to offer the best traditional crafts from Bilbao's most experienced hands.
The Arenal Pier will be even more interesting to visit. Gabonart, as this craft fair is known, brings the public closer to the great traditional craftsmanship that has been carried out for almost half a century.
Supporting local work and commerce, you can enjoy small works of art in the morning, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., and in the afternoon, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. This craft is part of the legacy of a rich Basque history, so by learning about its crafts, you'll better understand the history of Bilbao.
Our first option is to check out the Bilbao City Council's calendar, because at Christmas time they offer nonstop Christmas events and activities for all audiences, from live music to parades.
Of course, even before heading to the Christmas markets, you can't miss a night-time stroll through the Old Town enjoying the Christmas lights. The entire city centre is illuminated with Christmas motifs that bring the spirit of this time of year to the streets of Bilbao.
The next thing you should cross off your list in Bilbao is a visit to the Nativity Scenes. Every year, the most spectacular Nativity Scenes are displayed in key locations throughout the city, such as City Hall, the Museum of Sacred Art, the Museo de Pasos, and the Ribera Market.
And now that we've mentioned museums and the market, be sure to visit both because at Christmas time their offerings expand even further. The museums offer tours and special events centred around these important holidays.
For their part, the markets dress up for the occasion and, in addition to offering their already impressive cuisine, offer typical Christmas dishes that you won't want to miss.
In Bilbao, the food is always good, whether at the markets or in the Old Town, but what happens at Christmas is truly frenetic, something you'll have to experience for yourself to fully understand. From txangurro, which is spider crab, to all its "Biscayan" dishes, to traditional nougat.
In addition to the well-known traditional Three Kings' Parade, the Olentzero Parade is held here on December 23rd. This parade brings Olentzero, a well-known creature from Basque mythology, back to life.
In this parade, he is accompanied by Mari Domingi and other creatures from ancient Basque mythology to greet the city's children and all the children, and adults, who come to meet them. In addition to greeting them, they will distribute gifts to those present.
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17 Nov 2025 