Bilbao Now an International Hotspot

The Spanish city of Bilbao has a great deal to offer tourists having "reinvented itself" in recent years, according to one expert.

Korina Miller, commissioning editor for Spain and Portugal at lonely Planet, said that the city has "arrived as an international hotspot".

Describing it as a "vibrant metropolis", Ms Miller suggested that the city is proving popular with those seeking more from their Holiday than a beach resort.

"With an atmospheric old town, surrounding green hills, hip nightlife and beaches on the doorstep, there's little left to long for," she remarked.

Bilbao also acts as a gateway to the Basque region, offering the area's "unique cultural fixes", she added.

According to cityguide.com, Bilbao's most popular attraction is the Guggenheim Museum, which was designed by Frank Gehry.

Boasting 19 galleries, the museum showcases the work of "some of the most influential artists", such as Picasso, Warhol and de Koonig.

Destinations News posted on 10/03/2008 09:04:45