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Bilbao + Basque Country hotels
The opening of the Guggenheim Museum in 1997 launched a new wave of modern architecture in Bilbao. Most of the hotels built in the city since then have an angular, minimalist aesthetic (although they don't skimp on luxury). There are some older, statelier hotels in the city, too, but even a few of these are redesigning so they're more "contemporary."
The neighboring seaside city of San Sebastián has surprisingly few great hotels for a tourist town. Apart from the handful of high-end lodgings (some of which have seen better days), there are mainly divey pensiones, which have their charms but not many creature comforts. Our recommendations, below, represent the best of the bunch.
The city's hottest boutique hotel, this 25-room property occupies a renovated 19th-century villa that's been designated a historic landmark. The rooms,...more
Located in the storybook town of Hondarribia, this 34-room hotel began life as a 10th-century fortress that protected Spain from France, which lies just over a...more
Set between the Guggenheim and the Museo de Bellas Artes, this 50-room boutique hotel is both superstylish and a great value. The room interiors, conceived by...more
Meliá Bilbao is a soaring, rust-hued property designed by Mexican architect Ricardo Legorreta as a tribute to the Basque sculptor Eduardo Chillida. The...more
It lacks the shimmering (and steeply priced) splendor of the Frank Gehry–designed Marqués de Riscal hotel down the road, but the Hotel Viura is a fine...more
If you crave peace and quiet and don't mind renting a car, head for this hotel in a sedate hillside neighborhood of San Sebastián. Opened in 2002, the...more
Hotel Niza offers affordable, no-frills comfort in San Sebastián's most sought-after location overlooking the Concha beach. The 40 guest rooms (18 with a...more
In the heart of the Rioja wine region (about an hour south of Bilbao) this 2006 Frank Gehry-designed hotel has titanium curves that echo those of Bilbao's...more
Designed in 1912 by the same architect as the Ritz hotels in London and Paris, this ornate hotel caters to those that love old-school pomp and...more
This centrally located Bilbao hotel is just a five-minute walk to the Guggenheim (Frank Gehry stayed when he was working on his initial sketches for the...more
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