Hotels Bilbao

What to see by car: Bilbao

Bilbao is ideally placed for exploring some of the best attractions in the Basque country and along the northern coastline. In the coastal resort of Santander, much of the old town was destroyed by fire and ferocious storms in 1941, but the ornate Magdalena Palace, built for King Alfonso XIII during the 1920s, survives on the headland known as El Sardinero. It is now part of Santander's International University.

Santander offers its many summer visitors good bathing beaches and sports amenities, along with a seasonal programme of events and festivals. It is a regular weekend destination for many of Madrid's residents escaping the summer heat.

Any Hemingway enthusiast will know something about Pamplona, the capital of Navarra, about 170kms southeast of Bilbao. The bull-running festival of San Fermin, which takes place in early July, attracts visitors from all over the world. At other times of the year, Pamplona remains a lively university city, and is the main commercial centre of the Spanish Pyrenees.

A stretch of ramparts and something of an old town remain, but much of Pamplona is modern, with wide straight avenues and leafy parks. The main sight is the cathedral, built in a mixture of styles. Its finest features are the alabaster tomb of Carlos III and his queen Eleanor, and the delicate Gothic cloisters. The Navarre Museum is also worth a visit, and features wall paintings and Romanesque sculpture.

Despite its famously extreme climate, Burgos, located to the south of Bilbao, is one of Castile's most agreeable cities. The city's main feature is its stupendous cathedral, which is Spain's best example of Gothic ecclesiastical architecture and is packed with treasures inside. Burgos also has a delightful old centre with good restaurants, lively bars and plenty to see.

On the outskirts lie three interesting monasteries. The best of these are the Monasterio de las Huelgas (incorporating a fascinating textile collection in its Museo de Ricas Telas); and the Real Cartuja de Miraflores, 4kms east, with its superbly sculpted altarpiece and tombs. Folklore says the ghost of the medieval hero El Cid, born near Burgos in 1026, haunts the city. His final resting place can be seen at the transept crossing beneath the great lantern in the cathedral.

Selection of hotels in this region:

Barcelo Nervion Hotel
Sheraton Bilbao Hotel
Husa Jardines de Albia
Abba Parque Hotel
Zenit Bilbao Hotel
NH Deusto
Hotel Petit Palace Arana
Hesperia Zubialde
Silken Gran Hotel Domine

Click below for a full list of hotels and online booking

Holiday Inn, Travel Inn, Marriott, Travelodge, Hilton, Hyatt, Novotel, Best Western, Comfort Inn, Swallow. <*pagetitle*> <*countrydescription*> from www.cheaphotelbookings.com

Selection of other locations with hotels available: