Iñaki and Ana have a beautiful home--their apartment is a prime example of the absolute best of AirBnb!
From the very moment we stepped out of the cab from the airport, we felt like family being welcomed back home. Iñaki greeted us where the cab dropped us off at the edge of Casco Viejo and escorted us to their spacious apartment located in a beautifully well-maintained historic old building.
Iñaki told us a bit about Casco Viejo and Bilbao as we walked through the pedestrian-only, picturesque cobblestone streets. Upon entering their apartment, we were warmly greeted by Ana like we were an old friend or member of the family. Iñaki and Ana showed us the apartment and made sure we were comfortable before leaving us to ourselves for the duration of our stay.
In addition, they compiled a number of materials that would be useful for visitors to a new city, including a map and list of their favorite places for a drink or meal or - most importantly- for pintxos. We found this to be incredibly helpful as we explored the city over the next two days.
Their apartment is beautiful - a house curated with love and a lifetime of travel - and it is in probably the best location for a newcomer to Bilbao. As mentioned, Casco Viejo, the old part of the city, is pedestrian-only, and there a numerous bars and restaurants within a 5 minute walk. While there can be much noise due to the proximity of the bars, Iñaki and Ana have sound-proofed their floor-to-ceiling windows. When the windows are fully shut, you hear no noise.
Bilbao is a ver walkable city, and while the Guggenheim is located on the other side, it is a very enjoyable 25-30 minute stroll. We decided to walk along the river - per Iñaki and Ana's suggestion - and very much enjoyed taking in the beauty of the old city, the mountains, and the river while we walked.
Bilbao is a beautiful place, and I really can't imagine a better AirBnb than Iñaki and Ana's apartment. The space is very sizable, the shower incredibly comfortable, and the balcony which overlooks the liveliness of Casco Viejo is an ideal place to take in the city after a full day of exploration.
Stay here - you won't regret it.