Mount Artxanda and Artxanda Funicular, Bilbao
Mount Artxanda, one of the two small mountain ridges encircling Bilbao, rises to about 251 meters and lies just a short distance from the city center. It's the lower yet more urbanized of the two ridges, making it especially accessible and beloved by locals and visitors alike. Atop the mountain, you’ll find a recreational retreat complete with leafy green spaces, a park, sports facilities, restaurants, and exceptional vantage points over Bilbao and its surroundings.
The Artxanda Funicular, inaugurated in 1915, provides a swift and scenic connection from downtown Bilbao to the summit in just three minutes. The historic red carriages glide along a 770-meter route, ascending 226 meters with a steep gradient of nearly 45%. It rose to connect city dwellers with leisure spaces on Mount Artxanda, including once-popular outdoor eateries and a casino.
It endured interruptions during the Spanish Civil War and again in the 1970s due to an accident, but has since been restored and modernized. In 2025, renovations to the upper station, including improved accessibility and eco-friendly upgrades like solar panels, underscore Bilbao's commitment to sustainability and heritage preservation.
The Artxanda Funicular, inaugurated in 1915, provides a swift and scenic connection from downtown Bilbao to the summit in just three minutes. The historic red carriages glide along a 770-meter route, ascending 226 meters with a steep gradient of nearly 45%. It rose to connect city dwellers with leisure spaces on Mount Artxanda, including once-popular outdoor eateries and a casino.
It endured interruptions during the Spanish Civil War and again in the 1970s due to an accident, but has since been restored and modernized. In 2025, renovations to the upper station, including improved accessibility and eco-friendly upgrades like solar panels, underscore Bilbao's commitment to sustainability and heritage preservation.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Bilbao. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
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Mount Artxanda and Artxanda Funicular on Map
Sight Name: Mount Artxanda and Artxanda Funicular
Sight Location: Bilbao, Spain (See walking tours in Bilbao)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Sight Location: Bilbao, Spain (See walking tours in Bilbao)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Walking Tours in Bilbao, Spain
Create Your Own Walk in Bilbao
Creating your own self-guided walk in Bilbao is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Bilbao Introduction Walking Tour
Officially founded in 1300 AD by the Lord of Biscay, Bilbao began as a small port settlement. Its sheltered estuary allowed ships to load wool, iron, and other goods bound for northern Europe, while merchants imported salt, wine, and luxury items. The name "Bilbao" likely comes from the Basque words bil, meaning "settlement," and bao, meaning "estuary"-a fitting... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.1 Km or 2.5 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.1 Km or 2.5 Miles
Bilbao's Old Town Walking Tour
Bilbao's old town, also known as The Seven Streets, is the medieval heart of the city. Indeed, this ancient neighborhood, a place where the city began and which had been fortified by walls until the late 19th century, today consists of seven main streets and many narrow alleys – called cantons (kantoi, cantón) – that connect them.
Often regarded as a jewel of Basque architecture and... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.6 Km or 1 Miles
Often regarded as a jewel of Basque architecture and... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.6 Km or 1 Miles