ToursGaGa

Check out Bilbao’s street sculptures

You don't have to dish out your dosh at the Guggenheim Museum to get a fill of art in Bilbao, because the streets are awash with around 150 sculptures, statues and installations. Among the best are Puppy by Jeff Koons, a 12m (40ft) West Highland terrier made of flowers near the Guggenheim, and the spindly Maman spider by Louise Bourgeois in bronze, marble and stainless steel.

Go underground in one of Bilbao caves

Forget Surrealism: the stalactites, stalagmites, shawls, draperies and rimstones of Pozalagua Caves (tel: +34 649 811 673) are worthy of any art gallery in the world. Located within the Armañon Natural Park (around 60km (37 miles) from Bilbao), guides take visitors down into the depths of the caves. Tours take around an hour, but pack warm clothes as things can get cold underground.

Surf Mundaka’s infamous Left Wave

For serious surfers, Bilbao is something of a mecca. The infamous Left Wave at Mundaka froths up to 4m (13ft) in height and 400m (1312ft) in length, challenging even the gnarliest boarder. Mundaka Surf Shop (tel: +34 94 617 7229; www.mundakasurfshop.com) can sort out equipment and lessons.

Top up your tan on a Bay of Biscay beach

The Bay of Biscay beaches are stunning, and sun-worshippers will relish the sandy coastal strips near Bilbao. With lovely cliffs and golden sands, Palay de Bakio is the most impressive, though Playa de la Arena Muskiz offers a vast expanse of sand with a children's play area.

Wander Bilbao’s Grand Route

Passing through the forest parks of Artxanda, Monte Avril, Arnotegi, Pagasarri and Arraiz, Bilbao's Grand Route is a 99km (61.5 miles) loop of footpaths and streets that takes in some of the city's best natural scenery. Bilbao Council (www.bilbao.net) has 11 mapped routes of varying difficulty to download (in Spanish only).