Hotel Ria de Bilbao

We were unsure at first about staying outside the centre, but ended up really happy with the place. The rate was very reasonable compared with central hotels, and free coffee and packaged snacks were available, a nice extra many hotels don't provide. Other reviewers mention the lack of breakfast. It was a holiday weekend, so we didn't hear nearby building work, though that noisy work doesn't happen at night anyway. The room was bright and airy, and the manager was friendly. We found free street parking about a hundred metres away. Instead of taking the metro, we walked into town, which turned out to be a great idea: 45 minutes over the Frank Gehry Bridge, along the river embankment, past San Mamés Stadium and then the Guggenheim museum. It was a lovely walk, and not one we'd taken when we previously stayed in the centre.

The room was small but cozy and clean. Staff were really friendly and helpful, giving us a map and suggestions for where to eat and which places to avoid. The location wasn't the best and there's no hotel parking, but finding a spot was fairly easy and parking was free. No breakfast, just a coffee machine and packaged croissants and muffins, though those were available 24/7.

Be careful when dropping off your bags and checking in. We asked where to park, and they directed us to a lot around the corner on the left. We got fined for parking there, and now they won't take full responsibility for what they told us. Take care.

Hotel Ria feels like a little piece of traditional Bilbao, with striking river views from the window, old photographs on the walls that could be in a museum, and a peaceful garden out back. It's lovely, feels real, and offers great value if you're after an authentic Bilbao stay. It's not KM0, of course. Deusto subway is a ten-minute walk, and the stadium or Iturrizar Park are about fifteen minutes away. If being seen is the point of a hotel stay, Bilbao has a few showy, pretentious places you'll recognize. This isn't one of them.