The 13 bridges of Bilbao, the footbridges of the Nervión.

Knowing the 13 bridges of Bilbao while enjoying a pleasant walk along the river has become a classic among travelers who visit us.

Bilbao’s bridges have always played a fundamental role in the daily life of the capital of Bizkaia. The estuary, the main artery of the city, has been separating the right and left banks of the Nervión since long before the city was named a town in 1300 by Don Diego Lopez de Haro. Therefore, we can affirm with total tranquility that besides being one of the axes of the urban and social evolution of Bilbao, the estuary has also been one of the biggest natural barriers of the city. In order to tackle this problem, the city council has built several bridges along the estuary, making the space created after the merger of the two forks become one of the most striking and important places in the city. That is why, today, we invite you to walk the route of the bridges of Bilbao, a very pleasant and entertaining route that helps us to know the city at the same time that we enjoy a pleasant walk through the most charming areas of Greater Bilbao.

These footbridges over the estuary of Bilbao, besides being a great nexus of union, also represent a nice range of architectural possibilities, and is that, all the bridges that we find in Bilbao are totally different from the rest, no two are alike. Architects of all periods and styles have contributed to the creation of the new Bilbao, leaving their mark in the form of bridges along these incredible structures. Do you want to know the peculiarities of each bridge in Bilbao? Pay attention because they are not to be missed.

If you want to know the origin of the Bilbao estuary, if you want to follow the steps of the rivers Nervión and Ibaizabal, we recommend you to visit the Salto del Nervión, one of the most visited areas of Euskadi, a place from where the waters continue their journey to Bilbao along the greenway of the Parque Lineal del Nervión. Two routes 100% recommended.

Once in Bilbao, in the neighborhood of La Peña, the river becomes an estuary, mixing with the sea and tracing a large navigable stretch that made Bilbao one of the most important merchant ports of the Iberian Peninsula.

If you want to know the bridges of Bilbao from a different perspective, we recommend you to take one of the different boat tours offered by the capital of Biscay. We are sure that some of them will catch your attention. If you like this kind of experiences we recommend you to take a look at the different activities we have in our booking section.

Reserve

The presence of the estuary has forced the people of Bilbao to build bridges to connect the two banks, which is why there are currently 13 bridges along the Nervion River as it passes through Bilbao. A list, to which we should also add the Rontegui Bridge (Arrontegi in Basque) and the Bizkaia Bridge or Hanging Bridge if we take into account the entire course of the water since it reaches Bilbao until it flows into the Bay of Biscay, in the Bay of Biscay, in the Bay of Biscay.

Frank Gehry BridgeFrank Gehry Bridge: We start with the most recent, the first bridge to be built to connect Zorrotzaurre Island with the mainland. This bridge has been named after Frank Gehry, the Canadian architect who designed the Guggenheim Museum. A small tribute for his contribution to the creation of the new Bilbao. This bridge, of low profile and small dimensions, is the first of many others that will reflect the new generation of bridges in Bilbao.

Nearby, next to the IMQ building, we find another tribute to a person who was fundamental in the foundation of the Bilbao we find today, Mr. Iñaki Azkuna Urreta, mayor of the city for many years.

Euskalduna BridgeBuilt in 1997 by Javier Manterola, this bridge links road and pedestrian traffic between Sagrado Corazón and Botica Vieja using part of the old Euskalduna shipyards as support. An emblem of industrial Bilbao. Under this bridge, we find the Maritime Museum of the city, a space that together with the ships of the dry dock and the Carola crane form one of the historical spaces of the city. Nearby, on the other side of the estuary, on the other bank, we find the Tiger Building, a building that owes its name to the huge sculpture that we find at its highest point. This building was built in 1940 as the headquarters of the company Correas del Tigre, but it was not until two years later, until 1942, when its notorious sculpture was introduced.

Deusto BridgeDeusto Bridge: This drawbridge is one of the most peculiar of the city. And it is that, splitting in half as if it were plasticine, it allowed the passage of the big ships that left from Bilbao loaded with mineral. Designed by Ignacio de Rotaeche and Jose Ortiz de Artiñano, it was inaugurated in 1936. The Iberdrola Tower, one of the last skyscrapers in Bilbao, watches over this incredible work of engineering from nearby.

Pedro Arrupe FootbridgePedro Arrupe Footbridge: This wooden and steel footbridge only allows pedestrian passage, but it is enough to join two large buildings such as the Guggenheim Museum of Bilbao and the University of Deusto, located in the Abandoibarra promenade and the Universities Avenue respectively. This bridge is raised in honor of the Bilbao priest Pedro Arrupe, a person who came to occupy positions of vital importance within the religious organization of the Company of Jesus, popularly known as the Jesuits.

La Salve BridgeNext to the mighty Guggenheim Museum, we find a structure that has been rooted in Bilbao since long before this museum was a reality, the Puente de La Salve. Its name comes from the prayers that the sailors used to say from the decks of the ships arriving in Bilbao. This was the first point from where people coming from the sea could see the Virgin of Begoña, the amatxu Bego. This fact encouraged the sailors to sing the Salve, curious, isn’t it? This work inaugurated in 1972 was designed by the engineer Juan Batanero. Currently, it hosts one of the most international events in Bilbao, the Red Bull jumps, the so-called Red Bull Cliff Diving, 27 meters of acrobatics into the void, amazing.

Zubi zuri or Calatrava BridgeZubi zuri: Its style, accompanied by the typical white of Calatrava, gives life to another of the pedestrian bridges of Greater Bilbao. In this case, this glass-floored structure links Campo Volantín with Uribitarte, a residential area of Bilbao from where we recommend taking the Artxanda Funicular for excellent views of the city.

Its name, Zubi zuri, responds to its nature, and these two words in Basque only define its shape. Zubi zuri, “white bridge” in Basque. Unfortunately this bridge has also been one of the most conflictive of the city, and is that its poor condition, has led the city council to maintain large administrative disputes with the Spanish architect. Near this area we find the famous Isozaki Towers, two large buildings that overlooking the estuary show us the expansion of Bilbao.

Arenal BridgeThe Arenal, one of the most emblematic recreational areas of the city, shows us the anteroom to the kingdom of history, good food and good love, the Old Town of Bilbao. This bridge, surrounded by buildings as noble as the Arriaga Theater, the Station of the Concord or the skyscraper of Bailen (the first skyscraper of Bilbao), represents one of the most central bridges of Bilbao, one of the most trodden.

Bilbao City Hall BridgeBilbao City Hall, the stately home of the city, has a privileged view over this structure that once, in addition to being called Begoña Bridge, opened over the estuary, today, changed the name and its mobility, this bridge still connects the city center with the upper districts. Between the town hall, the estuary and the bridge, in a small txoko, we find a large sculpture by the Basque artist Jorge Oteiza, the Ovoid Variant.

Bridge of La MercedNext to the Bilborock hall, the old converted church of La Merced, next to the marsh that embraces the estuary, we find the bridge of La Merced. This structure built in 1886 by Hoffmeyer, is located next to the neighborhood of San Francisco, an area where once the mines of Bilbao were located and where today is the largest presence of cultures of the city. Over time this bridge has had many episodes or setbacks, from its destruction to name changes or structural changes.

La Ribera BridgeIn the Ribera, next to Marzana, the Old Helmet and the Market of the Ribera, we find another of the pedestrian bridges of Bilbao. A structure that was once made of wood and that has gone through more than one destruction and reconstruction, a building that opens the doors of Bilbao the old and San Francisco.

Bridge of San AntónEmblem of Bilbao, this bridge and the church next to it are part of the coat of arms of the town. Although this structure is not the original one, you can appreciate the wolves that have seen so many goods pass through this space, fundamental mercantile axis between Bilbao and Castile. And it was from here, from where the minerals left on their way to Castile and from where the foodstuffs from there came in. From here we can access the Muelle de Marzana and contemplate at low tide the so-called “beach” of Bilbao. According to the rumors, its origin is previous to the foundation of the town, making this space a historical place.

Miraflores BridgeMiraflores Bridge: This colossus puts an end to the bridges of Bilbao. Its height, 45 meters, places it as the second largest bridge in Bilbao if we take into account the Bizkaia Bridge. Inaugurated in 1995, designed by Juan Jose Arenas de Pablo and Marcos Pantaleón, Miraflores is one of the most demanded entrances to Bilbao, one of the accesses from the A-8.

Hanging Bridge or Bizkaia BridgeWe could not finish this article without mentioning the Bizkaia Bridge, the Hanging Bridge. This incredible metallic structure located in Getxo, in the Greater Bilbao, is the most international bridge of all those that surround us, one of the most famous and beautiful. This bridge represents the first ferry bridge with metal structure in the world, one of the reasons why it was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2006.

Videos: In our YouTube channel you can find videos related to the estuary of Bilbao and its bridges, we recommend you to subscribe to not lose any track of tourism in Euskadi.

There are many bridges in the province, not only the capital has great works of engineering and architecture, and if you do not believe it we recommend you to visit towns like Ondarroa or Balmaseda, two towns that have stone bridges in their urban core.

Many of the people who visit the province of Bizkaia and its capital, transmit us their fascination for one of the most famous bridges of Euskadi, the one that connects the hermitage of San Juan de Gaztelugatxe with the mainland. And, although tastes are very personal, we must say that this structure is one of our favorites and for you, what is the bridge in Bilbao that you like the most?

We must bear in mind that with the creation of the new island of Zorrotzaurre, this list of bridges in Bilbao will increase visibly, since the current project includes the construction of up to 3 bridges that will connect the island with the mainland.