Bilbao: The perfect city to get lost in as winter approaches

Brought to you by Aer Lingus

As underrated European cities go, Bilbao is up there with the best of them and makes for the ideal winter getaway.

The perfect city for anyone who fancies something a little bit different this winter, Bilbao stands out as a cultural marvel in the Basque Country, and one of the Iberian peninsula's most important destinations for lovers of food, wine, shopping and living life at a relaxed pace. We stayed in the San Francisco area within the city, an area known for its museums, galleries, cheap and cheerful coffee shops and with easy access to some of the city's most popular cultural hotspots. It's the perfect hub for anyone planning a winter stay, with many of Bilbao's festive attractions only a walk away. Bilbao features some magical window displays in the run up to Christmas, with a contest in place among shop owners to find the most magical and evocative scene. If you're lucky enough to plan a stay in Bilbao just before Christmas, you can't miss the mythical Basque Christmas character of Olentzero travelling down Gran Via towards the Arriaga Theatre. This takes place on 23 December and is a real highlight of the season. Bilbao turns into a winter wonderland from November onwards, and Christmas throughout Spain is celebrated with gusto right up until the Three Kings, or the Three Wise Men, parade into cities and towns on 5 January - including Bilbao - and leave gifts for children to open the following morning. It truly is something to behold. Less than ten minutes away from San Francisco, the Ribera Market is worth spending time in for anyone who loves to see good, fresh food treated with respect. The sights and sounds of Northern Spain are all here, housed in Europe's largest enclosed market. If you've booked an Airbnb and plan to cook, this really has to be your first port of call and is located at the Ribera tram (Euskotren) stop on the edge of Casco Viejo, the heartbeat of the city and its medieval cultural quarter. Casco Viejo is the perfect spot to get lost in for the day, especially during the cooler winter months when walking around outdoors can be so much more comfortable. Peppered with tiny bars and cafés where you can stop for a beer, a Pintxo or two (tiny plates of delicious food, from chorizo to fish to the best tortilla in Europe) that you can graze on throughout your stay, Casco Vieja is an intoxicating place that builds in atmosphere as the night goes on. Spanish culture dictates, of course, that the city does not really come to life until 10pm or later. For anyone planning a trip before Christmas, St. Thomas's Market in Plaza Nueva has carol singing, countless stalls and a festive atmosphere that's the best in Spain - the place really comes alive on 21 December, when thousands gather to sample the local beers, wines and culinary treasures. The city is divided by a snaking river, Ría de Bilbao, that eventually leads you to Frank Gehry's monumental Guggenheim Museum - a short tram journey from Casco Viejo. The Guggenheim is an extraordinary place to visit, a chrome and metal masterpiece that plays home to some stunning modern artistic creations. If, like me, you prefer to swerve the usual tourist hotspots to find your own way around cities like Bilbao, you won't regret making an exception for the Guggenheim - even spending an hour amid the splendour of Gehry's work will be well worth it; for just €10, you'll see some stunning exhibits. Football, as in the rest of Spain, is woven into the fabric of the city and even if it's not necessarily your thing, the San Mames Stadium - home to Athletic Bilbao - has one of the best atmospheres of any European venue; surprising, perhaps, given the fact that it only opened in the last five years, replacing the old and much cherished home of Los Leones. Bilbao is an exceptional city, and is perfect for solo travellers looking for stories to tell, as well as couples and those in larger groups. Easy to navigate, with its network of tiny paved streets and the Ría de Bilbao to keep you oriented, it truly is a place where you will eat and drink well, take in some incredible architecture and leave with the determination to come back again soon. It's the perfect winter getaway.

Did you know that Aer Lingus are offering discounted flights to Bilbao - and many other European destinations - as part of their winter sale?

Click here for full details.

Brought to you by Aer Lingus