Bilbao - A Premier Travel Destination for Singaporean Visitors
(Singapore, June 20, 2025) Attending an information lunch about Bilbao and the Basque Country in Spain I found many good reasons to visit this “Surprising” “Unique” and “Vibrant” region. As it took place in Suggara restaurant – that serves modern, Basque, Spanish Cuisine – I found one very good reason to visit Sentosa.
Organized by the Bilbao City Council, in collaboration with the Spain Tourism Board in Singapore and Turkish Airlines, the latest tourism highlights and opportunities in the region were presented.
Juan Baliño, External Promotion and Marketing Manager and Tourism Counselor Marta Fernández
The Tourism Office of Spain in Singapore was represented by Tourism Counselor Marta Fernández, Charity Ann Lovitos Francisco and Irene Valencia Iribarren. The Office showcases Spain’s diverse regions, from cultural cities like Madrid and Barcelona to hidden gems like Galicia and Extremadura and Bilbao.
Mehmet Akay, General Manager of the Singapore office of Turkish Airlines
Mehmet Akay, General Manager of the Singapore office of Turkish Airlines, was accompanied by Senior Sales and Marketing Executive, Melissa Lam. Mr Akay noted that Turkish Airlines, a supporting partner for the event, now flies to five cities in Spain, including Bilbao, making it more convenient for Singaporeans to visit the European country. Having just been named Best Airline in Europe — for a record 10th time – has provided consistent excellence in service, hospitality and in-flight dining.
The GM continued: Turkish Airlines flies to more countries than any other airline in the world. It now serves over 300 destinations across 131 countries and 284 cities. This expansive network makes it a top choice for global travelers, especially those connecting through its hub in Istanbul, which acts as a strategic bridge between Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East.
Zigor Bereziartua Marketing Department of the Bilbao Tourismo & Convention Bureau, and Juan Baliño, External Promotion and Marketing Manager came to Singapore to introduce their city to Singaporeans who may not be overly familiar with the city in northwest Spain.
Mr Bereziartua outlined the development of Bilbao from the 1980s when it was a failing city to its now thriving economy and social scene – well known on the world stage. “In the 1980s the economy of Bilbao crashed. Mostly based on shipping the global economy contributed to the downturn. There was 30% unemployment. Imagine the reaction of the people when the city leaders said "we are going to build a museum." They didn’t want a museum, they wanted factories – business that would create jobs. Despite the opposition The Guggenheim Museum Bilbao has not just been important to the city—it has been transformational. Since its opening in 1997, it has become the symbol of Bilbao’s rebirth, turning a once-industrial port city into a global cultural destination.
Bilbao is home to about 10 major museums, each giving a unique look at the city’s art, history and identity. But it is so much more. For sports fans it has one of the top clubs in La Liga. Athletic Bilbao, is one of Spain’s most historic football teams but it distinguishes itself for the unique philosophy of fielding players native to Basque Country, which includes the part that is in France.
What to Do
Mr Bereziartua enthusiastically talked about the activities and experiences people can have in the area. Cycling is popular in this area of rolling hills and mountains. The proof is in the fact that stages of the Tour de France have been held there. Swimming is possible in the nearby North Atlantic. While there are about 28 beaches in the region, Bilbao is a short metro ride to a few stunning beaches where swimming is not only safe but spectacular. Ereaga Beach (Getxo) is the closest to the urban area making it perfect for a quick dip and a seaside stroll. La Arena is one of the longest beaches on the Biscayan coast, ideal for a full day beach outing. All of these are easily accessible by Metro Bilbao Line 1 or local buses.
Bilbao is proof that gastronomy is an art in the Basque Country – one of the areas with the most Michelin Stars per person in the world. Plaza Nueva and its surrounding streets are full of busy bars serving their famous pinchos: small, delicious bites of food. Here, foodies can find their place among the buzzing bars, family-run restaurants and prestigious chefs. "What you do is pub hop. You go from bar to bar and have pinchos. Take one, and then move on to the next place."
And visitors should also visit the La Ribera Market, a beautiful building where you can have the produce that you purchase cooked for you, or where you can sample as selection of pintxos and Txakoli wine to the beat of live music.
Cultural and culinary Bilbao is also a green city, with parks such as Doña Casilda de Iturrizar, surrounded by hills (dare to ride the Artxanda cable car, a classic option to get a bird’s eye view of Bilbao). The estuary is another symbol of the regeneration of Bilbao. There is paddle surfing on the water, or take a boat to the famous Hanging Bridge of Portugalete, declared a World Heritage Site. However, swimming is not recommended in the busy waterway.
After the presentation, we enjoyed an exotic lunch at Sugarra, a newly opened Basque restaurant offering an elevated dining experience rooted in tradition and innovation. The specially curated menu was prepared by acclaimed chefs Aitor Jerónimo Orive and Aitor González, who bring years of experience from renowned Michelin-starred restaurants. Their expertise ensures an authentic and exceptional taste of the Basque Country as they serve ‘modern Basque, Spanish cuisine.
Courses were accompanied by sparkling wine, sake, white and red wine, and we were given a bottle of Txakoli (pronounced chah-koh-lee). It’s a crisp, slightly effervescent wine made primarily from the Hondarrabi Zuri grape, grown on the steep, green hillsides of Bizkaia.
The meal was a perfect finish to an afternoon of learning about a new destination that adds to my bucket list.
