One of the most common misconceptions about cruising is that you don’t actually get to see the places that you stop off in. But, that’s just not true at all! In fact, a cruise port day can be filled with a ton of great activities. It all depends on how you decide to spend your time during one. On my recent cruise with Princess Cruises, we stopped off in several cruise ports. We visited La Coruna, Bordeaux, and Guernsey. But, Bilbao had to be one of my favorites. And that’s because we took full advantage of our cruise port day in Bilbao!
We had a jam packed schedule and made the most out of the hours we had onshore. We disembarked from the boat straight away and came back to the ship just before the last boarding call. And during that time, we were able to see multiple parts of Bilbao!
Cruise Port Day
So, what is a cruise port day? It’s basically a day that you’re in port. The ship docks or tenders and you have time to visit and explore a new place. Depending on how long your cruise is and how far apart ports are will determine how many hours you get in a port. On some longer cruises, you may even have an overnight!
Exploring Bilbao!
To give you a little taste of what you can get up to on a cruise port day, I’m going to walk you through the itinerary we had during our time in Bilbao.
Morning
We met in the international cafe before disembarking from the ship. Once on land, we hopped on the bus to head to our first destination. After about an hour drive, we arrived at Gaztelugatxe, which is better known to tourists as Dragonstone. Many scenes from season 7 of Game of Thrones was filmed in this amazing location on the coast of Norther Spain. Take a few hours to walk downhill and then back up the steps to the top of the hill. There are amazing views while you walk up the 240 steps. When you arrive at the top, be sure to ring the bell on the church three times and make a wish!
If you still have time when you’re finished, you can take a ride to the nearby fishing village of Bermeo. Take a stroll around the seaside town and enjoy some pintxos and a glass of wine.
Afternoon
Hop back in your car or on your bus and drive into Bilbao! Explore the old quarter of the city to check out the beautiful architecture and small, pedestrian streets. After you’ve worked up an appetite, it’s time for some more pintxos! I recommend checking out Berton. They have a large selection of cold and hot pintxos. Pintxos are basically the Basque version of tapas and are often served with or on top of a piece of bread.
If you’re going to visit Berton, then you definitely need to order the croquettes and the octopus! Wash it all down with a glass of regional wine!
After Lunch
Now that you’re full, it’s time to explore the main attraction in Bilbao. The Guggenheim Museum was built almost entirely out of titanium and was opened to the public in 1997. Visit the museum to see stunning works of modern and contemporary art. Make sure to take a stroll outside to check out the facade of the building. The best view can be seen from across the canal!
When you’re done exploring, it’s time to head back to the cruise port and board your ship!
This post was sponsored by Princess Cruises, but as always, all opinions are my own! Some of the links on this page are affiliate and earn me a small commission at no extra cost to you! Thank you so much for continuing to support TravelColorfully!
Pin It For Later:
