Vizcaya Bridge (Puente de Vizcaya)

A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2006, the Vizcaya Bridge is considered an icon of the Industrial Revolution, and a triumph of 19th-century ironworking traditions. Located north of Bilbao—and poised over the River Nervión, near where it widens to meet the sea—the bridge links the towns of Getxo and Portugalete. Little has changed since its construction: It spans 525 feet (160 meters) and its four iron towers stand 148 feet (45 meters) high. The bridge’s design, in which vehicles and people are transferred via a hanging gondola, ensures no interruption to the maritime traffic below.

Today, the Vizcaya Bridge runs through the day and night, and some 200 passengers, six cars, and additional cyclists and motorcyclists can ride on its suspended gondola at any one time. A trip by gondola takes just 90 seconds, though visitors can also take elevators up to its elevated walkway for impressive aerial views.

• The Vizcaya Bridge’s gondola is accessible to all, though wheelchair users and those with strollers are not able to access its elevated walkway.

• Kids, families, and seniors receive discounted entry to the footbridge, while kids under 5 visit for free. Audio guides can also be purchased as an accompaniment.

• During the day, you can use a BARIK card (public transportation card for the Biscay, or Vizcaya region) on the gondola, but this option is not available overnight.

• The Vizcaya Bridge has two gift shops—one at its entrance in Getxo, and one in Portugalete.

The Vizcaya Bridge, between Getxo and Portugalete on the River Nervión, is about 9 miles (14 kilometers) north of Bilbao. If driving from Bilbao, take the A-8. You can also take line 1 of the Bilbao Metro to Areeta (10 minutes from the bridge, on the Getxo side), or take train line C1 from Bilbao-Abando Station to Portugalete.

The Vizcaya Bridge operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. It runs constantly during the daytime all year round, and runs every 30 minutes from midnight until 5am. For those looking to access the footbridge, both elevators run from morning until early afternoon and late afternoon to early evening (with a siesta break) daily during the April–October high season; the elevator at Portugalete is closed during the low season.

The Vizcaya Bridge isn’t the only famous bridge in the greater Bilbao region. The city’s Zubizuri Bridge—also known as the Calatrava Bridge, after architect Santiago Calatrava—is equally distinct, though entirely different in scope. Debuted in 1997, the pedestrian footbridge is recognizable for its white archways, and offers additional scenic viewing over the River Nervión.