The Best of Basque | Private Luxury Tours Basque Country & Rioja

Bilbao Tour for Cruise Ship Guests

Bilbao Tour for Cruise Ship Guests

When docking in the port of Bilbao in Getxo on your European cruise we know your time is valuable as you may only have a half-day to see the city. For our cruise ship guests we know that your time in the Basque Country may be limited and you desire to see Bilbao, the Guggenheim Museum, Getxo and the surrounding area! Thus, we design tours and shore excursions that show you the best of the region in a way that maximizes your time ashore! We can take you on private guided tour that highlights the best of Bilbao and the beautiful coastline of the Basque Country. However, if you have a specific interest we can absolutely accommodate your wishes while considering time constraints.

What to do in Bilbao from cruise ship?

Private Group & Customized

Pick-up at Port of Bilbao in a luxury and spacious Mercedes-Benz van or Audi sedan depending on your group size. We will then make the short drive to the scenic old port city of Algorta where we take you on a guided walking tour through the centuries old fishing village.

The Bizkaia Bridge: A Technological Marvel

On our second stop we will make another short drive over to the Puente Colgante Hanging Bridge in the city of Getxo, which is a designated UNESCO World Heritage site. This is one of the most famous sites in the Basque Country!

Bilbao Cruise Port to Guggenheim

Bilbao is our next stop on the tour. We will take you on a guided walking tour of the city which includes stops at the famed Guggenheim Museum (entrance tickets not included), the old quarter of Bilbao, and numerous medieval churches, and other notable sights… Take a trip back in time as we walk through Bilbao’s scenic Casco Viejo or Old Part, which highlights the 700 year old buildings and architecture that make this area so unique. Points of interest on our Bilbao guided tour include century old Cathedrals, City Hall, local Basque food markets, and other interesting anecdotes associated with the history of the city. In Bilbao you will have the opportunity to taste the delicious Basque pintxos (tapas) at the numerous bars that line the streets. We will stop for at a local bar for 2 pintxos (tapas) and 1 drink (included)

Spectacular Views from Mt. Artxanda

We finish this private Basque tour with a short drive to the peak of Mt. Artxanda, which offers absolutely stunning views of the entire city.

What aspect of Bilbao cruise excursions are you most excited about?

Bilbao Tour for Cruise Ship Guests Price

Included
  • Private tour
  • 2 pintxos (tapas) and 1 drink at a local bar
  • Basque local guide/driver
  • Private premium vehicle and all transportation costs (fuel, parking and tolls)
Not included
  • Other food and drinks
  • We can add a food and wine component to this tour for a surcharge
  • Entrances to venues, museums, etc...
  • Any other not specified items in the tour description
Price
  • 450€ (total) for groups of 2
  • 525€ (total) for groups of 3-4
  • For larger groups please contact us for a price quote
Details
  • Start time: 9:30am
  • Duration: 5-6 hours
  • Tour starts and finishes at your hotel/port of Bilbao
  • Fully insured and licensed by the Basque Government

Also Asked...

If you enjoy a cruise in the Basque Country, these are some of the plans that you can write down in your route. 

Planning Bilbao cruises 

Day 1. Explore Basque culture: Visit the iconic Guggenheim Museum, a spectacular building that houses an impressive collection of contemporary art. You can also explore the Casco Viejo, with its historical architecture, the Cathedral of Santiago and the Plaza Nueva.

Day 2. Walk along the Ría de Bilbao: Enjoy a quiet walk along the Ría de Bilbao, where you can admire the modern architecture and emblematic bridges, such as the Zubizuri Bridge. You can also take a boat trip along the estuary to enjoy panoramic views of the city.

Day 3. Visit the Vizcaya Hanging Bridge: Considered a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, this impressive suspension bridge joins the banks of the Nervión River. You can cross it in the gondola to enjoy panoramic views and explore the surrounding area.

Bilbao Tours

You may also like

Embark on a wine tour to discover the vineyards and wineries of La Rioja, Spain's renowned wine-producing region, known for its exceptional red wines and picturesque landscapes.
From 535€

The Essential La Rioja Wine Experience

Duration: 8h

VIEW TOUR
Experience the beauty of San Juan de Gaztelugatxe on a guided tour, visiting the historic chapel and enjoying panoramic views of the Basque coastline.
From 425€

Bizkaia Coast, Countryside and Gernika Tour

Duration: 7h

VIEW TOUR
Discover San Sebastian and its coastal wonders on a guided tour, exploring the city's historic landmarks, culinary delights, and breathtaking ocean views along the Basque coast.
From 450€

San Sebastian and Coastal Route

Duration: 7-8h

VIEW TOUR

The Guide

Read our fantastic Reviews

Posted on Tripadvisor Tripadvisor
EmmaH profile picture
EmmaH
30 August 2026
Tripadvisor star 1Tripadvisor star 2Tripadvisor star 3Tripadvisor star 4Tripadvisor star 5Verified
Top tour with delicious pintxos Spent a great evening enjoying a fantastic selection of pintxos and drinks chosen by Lei, our very enthusiastic and knowledgeable guide. The venues were all nice and reasonably varied. I would never have known to order most of the pintxos which Lei selected and it was great to try such different options. We left nicely full and very happy with our tour selection. Lei - you did an amazing job and thanks for giving us such a great night.
Posted on Tripadvisor Tripadvisor
Trip26427251658 profile picture
Trip26427251658
27 August 2026
Tripadvisor star 1Tripadvisor star 2Tripadvisor star 3Tripadvisor star 4Tripadvisor star 5Verified
Es war ein großartiges Erlebnis! Leire, unsere kompetente und empathische Guide, führte durch die Geschichte der Basken und Bilbao. Dabei genossen wir klassische und kreative Pinxos mit köstlichem baskischen Wein. Praktische Tipps, Minisprachkurs und Einblick in örtliche Traditionen inklusive. Großartig! Eskerrik asko Leire
Posted on Tripadvisor Tripadvisor
Joanne W profile picture
Joanne W
27 August 2026
Tripadvisor star 1Tripadvisor star 2Tripadvisor star 3Tripadvisor star 4Tripadvisor star 5Verified
Great Experience with Leire Leire was a great guide and we all had a really enjoyable experience..it ran smoothly and on time. No hassle and we had fun with the rest of the group and Leire.We were all extremely full after the pinxtos and local wine and cider..would recommend this experience 💯
Posted on Tripadvisor Tripadvisor
acbeaulieu2020 profile picture
acbeaulieu2020
23 August 2026
Tripadvisor star 1Tripadvisor star 2Tripadvisor star 3Tripadvisor star 4Tripadvisor star 5Verified
Delicious pintxos and great guide in Bilbao Tour guide Leire (she said we could call her Lei), was super friendly, informative, engaging and helpful. There were 10 people on our English-speaking tour from a variety of countries, and it was fun to get to know everyone. The pintxos and wines were delicious, and it felt like we had the perfect amount of both. I felt pleasantly full at the end and not too intoxicated (which I was afraid of after having wine at every stop lol). Lei was also very accommodating of food allergies and preferences that myself and other members had. Great tour and tour guide. Highly recommend!
Posted on Tripadvisor Tripadvisor
Aina C profile picture
Aina C
20 August 2026
Tripadvisor star 1Tripadvisor star 2Tripadvisor star 3Tripadvisor star 4Tripadvisor star 5Verified
planazo es un privilegio viajar y poder comer buena comida local, y en este tour, esto esta garantizado! lo recomiendo mucho, pasas un buen rato y comes muy bien
Posted on Tripadvisor Tripadvisor
Brian C profile picture
Brian C
15 August 2026
Tripadvisor star 1Tripadvisor star 2Tripadvisor star 3Tripadvisor star 4Tripadvisor star 5Verified
Perfect and fun tour This was the best, most fun food tour. Our guide Irene was so fun and informative. The food (all Pintxos) were all incredible and so were the drinks. Bilbao has such a rich history. We loved this.
Posted on Tripadvisor Tripadvisor
Cheryl N profile picture
Cheryl N
14 August 2026
Tripadvisor star 1Tripadvisor star 2Tripadvisor star 3Tripadvisor star 4Tripadvisor star 5Verified
Rioja Valley winery tour from Bilbao Rioja Valley winery tour from Bilbao: We (group of three couples) had an absolutely fantastic day with Zach as our driver and amazingly knowledgeable tour guide. Zach took us from the Getxo cruise port to visit wineries in Rioja Valley and back to our ship in plenty of time. Communication for scheduling and questions prior to the tour date was always timely and helpful. The wineries we visited were beautiful and our entire day was very personalized and enjoyable. We learned a lot about the beautiful Basque and Rioja areas from Zach during our drive. We highly recommend The Best of Basque as an excellent choice for touring in northern Spain.
Posted on Tripadvisor Tripadvisor
Andee A profile picture
Andee A
11 August 2026
Tripadvisor star 1Tripadvisor star 2Tripadvisor star 3Tripadvisor star 4Tripadvisor star 5Verified
Great food tour Fabulous food tour. Everything was tasty and drinks were good. Two pinchos and a drink at eat spot. Great way to taste pinchos that you may not have chosen
Posted on Tripadvisor Tripadvisor
Brian M profile picture
Brian M
9 August 2026
Tripadvisor star 1Tripadvisor star 2Tripadvisor star 3Tripadvisor star 4Tripadvisor star 5Verified
Best Tour Yet! Wonderful! Zach showed up on time, which already felt like a small miracle. He knew a lot but did not act like a know-it-all. He smiled. He waited for us, which mattered, as our group moved like a geriatric ward The van was brilliantly clean. No odd smells. Seats soft enough that no one complained, which says a lot. The walk to San Juan de Gaztelugatxe felt like a scene from a film, but with more stairs and less grace on my part. Worth every step. Then the wine. Good wine. The kind that makes you nod as if you understand things you do not.
Posted on Tripadvisor Tripadvisor
Kerri_EJK profile picture
Kerri_EJK
8 August 2026
Tripadvisor star 1Tripadvisor star 2Tripadvisor star 3Tripadvisor star 4Tripadvisor star 5Verified
Perfect first night in Bilbao First night in Bilbao and a great food tour with Irene. Explored the old town via 5 pinxtos bars with fabulous food and wine selections. Enjoyed hearing about the history of the Basque region and nice to meet other people in the group. We revisited some of the locations on our subsequent evenings.
Comments are closed.
BOOK NOW BOOK NOW