Banks: 08.30 to 14.00, Monday to Friday; 09.00 to 13.00, Saturday
Post Offices: 08.30 to 14.00, Monday to Friday
Government Offices: 09.00 to 14.00 and 17.00 to 20.00, Monday to Friday
Business Centres: 09.00 to 14.00 and 17.00 to 20.00, Monday to Friday
Shops: 10.00 to 10.00, Monday to Friday; some open on Sundays

Most visitors to Bilbao encounter no problems on their visit but there is a risk of pickpockets, like in any busy European city. Take care of your personal belongings when visiting tourist sites and museums, and don’t walk in unpopulated areas at night. Beware of thieves working in teams, with one person trying to engage you in conversation while another snatches your bag or wallet. If you rent a car during your stay, keep all valuables out of site when parking the car anywhere.

220V, 50Hz; round, two-pin plugs are standard.

There are few health risks for visitors to Bilbao to concern themselves with. No vaccinations necessary and food hygiene is very good. Should you get ill during your stay, there are numerous pharmacies spread across the city which will be able to assist you. In the event of a more serious medical emergency, Bilbao has modern hospitals to cater to most situations. As medical care is expensive in Spain, it is important to ensure you have medical cover before leaving home, even if you are covered for discounted healthcare as an EU national.

Hospital de Basurto: +34 94 442 3859

The national language of Spain is Spanish but many people in Bilbao speak the regional tongue, Basque. While locals outside of the city may not speak English, most residents in the city can speak some English, French or German.

As with the rest of Spain, Bilbao uses the euro, with €1 equal to 100 cents. Coins come in increments of one, two, five, 10, 20, and 50 cents, and €1 and €2 while banknotes are available in denominations of €5, €10, €20, €50, €100, €200 and €500.

EU nationals can bring in reasonable amounts of alcohol, tobacco or other goods for personal use while non-EU visitors may bring in the following without paying duty: 200 cigarettes, a litre of spirits, two litres of wine, 60ml of perfume and gifts up to a value of €200.

The easygoing nature of Bilbao residents helps visitors to feel at home right away. The handshake is a standard greeting between both sexes but established friends may also kiss and hug. While the Spanish dress casually for most occasions, people here like to dress smartly when dining out so reserve your shorts for the beach. Likewise, when visiting local churches, be sure to dress conservatively and behave respectfully.

When dining out in Bilbao you may wish to tip five to 10 per cent for good service; however, most eateries include a service charge in the bill. Porters and taxi drivers should also be tipped for good service.

EU nationals don’t need a visa to enter Spain and can stay for an unlimited period. Non-EU nationals may need to apply for a tourist visa at a Spanish embassy in advance of travel if their country of nationality is not party to the Schengen Agreement or on the visa-waiver list such as Canada, the US, New Zealand and Australia.

Bilbao Tourist Office is open on weekdays from 09.00 to 14.00 and 16.00 to 19.30. On Saturday the office is open from 09.00 to 14.00 and on Sunday from 10.00 to 14.00. It is located on Paseo del Arenal 1. 
Phone: +34 944 795 760