Bilbao

Bilbao, the largest city in the Basque Country in northern Spain, was a gritty industrial port in its former life. Since Frank Gehry's titanium-clad Guggenheim Museum opened in 1997, it has become one of the great case studies in urban regeneration through culture — the building alone transformed the city's identity and has drawn millions of visitors who discovered, in the process, one of Europe's most compelling small cities. The Guggenheim itself is a work of art from every angle — its shimmering metal curves reflecting the Nervión River, the giant spider sculpture by Louise Bourgeois standing outside, and an interior that houses major modern and contemporary art. The nearby Museo de Bellas Artes is excellent and free on certain days. The Old Town (Casco Viejo) across the river is a tight grid of medieval streets centred on Plaza Nueva, where pintxo bars line every street — this is Basque bar culture at its finest. Basque cuisine is considered the finest regional cuisine in Spain, and possibly in Europe. The concentration of Michelin-starred restaurants per capita in the greater Basque Country is extraordinary. Pintxos (the Basque version of tapas, typically served on bread) in Bilbao's old town are exceptional and remarkably affordable. Day trips to San Sebastián, the surfer towns of Zarautz and Mundaka, and the historic town of Gernika are all easy. Visit any time of year; the north is green because it rains, but summers are perfect.