Timeline
17:16
Grab a hot drink or snack from a nearby shop in Portugalete. The bridge is open for pedestrians, so you can grab your refreshment and head to the west side viewpoint.
17:46
Walk to the west side viewing area. Arrive with time to spare to find a good spot on the promenade. The industrial architecture of the Vizcaya Bridge looks stark and beautiful as the light begins to fade.
18:01
Watch the sunset. At 18:01, the sun sets toward the WSW. The golden light from 17:16 will have already warmed the scene, but the final moment of the sun disappearing behind the horizon is the peak experience.
18:31
Stay for the twilight. The blue hour lasts a few minutes after sunset. Use this time to cross the bridge using your Barik card if you wish, or simply enjoy the quiet industrial atmosphere as the lights of Portugalete begin to twinkle.
Local tip
Check the route from the east side if you are coming from Bilbao, as the west side (Portugalete) is the primary viewing spot for this sunset direction.
Check before you go
- Sunset times vary by season. The times above are for 15 January. Check local sunrise/sunset times for your specific date.
Built from places in the Wikivoyage guide to Bilbao (CC BY-SA 4.0), with open map data from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).