Reasons of the month · marzo

What to do in Bilbao in marzo

The best month for Bilbao is septiembre — The so-called 'second summer' brings the most stable, dry days of the year, right when the Aste Nagusia crowds…

The editorial plan

Why Bilbao in marzo

The Loraldia Festibala fills Bilbao with contemporary Basque culture from March 9 to 28 — theatre, bertsolaritza, dance and Basque-language music across landmark venues.

Shoulder season before the Easter crowds: prices stay reasonable and the city exhales after the long winter.

Hillsides turn green and days stretch longer — a good window for a day trip to San Juan de Gaztelugatxe or the Urdaibai reserve before the summer rush.

Same place, another month

Bilbao is worth visiting other months too

enero

The Three Kings' Cavalcade winds down Gran Vía on the evening of January 5, with Olentzero and the Magi tossing sweets ahead of the night kids wait for all year.

febrero

Aratuste (Carnival) takes over the Old Town and Plaza Nueva in mid-February with costumed comparsas — the name comes from haragi uzte, 'leaving meat behind' before Lent.

abril

Holy Week brings out the brotherhoods and their pasos through the Old Town, with Good Friday's Santo Entierro procession as the peak of the Basque religious calendar.

mayo

International Museum Day on May 18 opens the Guggenheim and the Fine Arts Museum for free, with extra activities and extended hours.

junio

St. John's Eve, June 23 to 24, fills the estuary and beaches with bonfires — the Basque solstice tradition of leaping over the flames.

julio

Bilbao BBK Live marks its 20th anniversary from July 9 to 11 on Mount Kobetamendi, with Robbie Williams, David Byrne and Lily Allen among the headliners.

agosto

Aste Nagusia (the Big Week) starts August 22 and runs nine days: the txupinazo, Marijaia's appearance at the Arriaga theatre and over 100 free concerts.

septiembre

The so-called 'second summer' brings the most stable, dry days of the year, right when the Aste Nagusia crowds have cleared out.

octubre

BIME Bilbao gathers the music industry from October 28 to 31 — 65 concerts spread across Euskalduna, Kafe Antzokia and other city venues.

noviembre

ZINEBI holds its 68th edition from November 20 to 27 — Bilbao's International Documentary and Short Film Festival, the dean of Basque cinema.

diciembre

The Santo Tomás Fair on December 21 fills Plaza Nueva with baserritarras (Basque farmers), talo with txistorra and txakoli — the countryside comes to the city.

Year at a glance