Best of Bilbao: Top Sights & Guggenheim by a Licensed Private Expert in Bilbao - Bilbao_HHG_Guggenheim
4.8

Best of Bilbao: Top Sights & Guggenheim by a Licensed Private Expert

  • 4 hours
  • City Highlight Tours
  • Bilbao
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Choose one of 3 locals available

Experience hosted by Mabel, Jéssica & one other local

  • Private Tour
  • Carbon Neutral

Eager to see the best of Bilbao? We've got you covered. With a Withlocals experience, the real thrill lies in discovering the city's hidden gems. Join your favorite private, licensed guide for an immersive tour, including a guided visit and tickets for the Guggenheim Museum. Experience the authentic spirit of Bilbao and say: I experienced the real Bilbao!56

Destination
Bilbao, Spain
Category
City Highlight Tours
Duration
4 hours
Transport mode
Walking tour
Available languages
English, Español, Português, Deutsch, Français, Italiano
Included
  • Private Guide
  • Local Snack or Drink
  • Public Transport
  • Entrance to Guggenheim museum
Excluded
  • Entrance to other attractions then mentioned

5 reasons to book this tour

  • Explore the best of the city including a visit to the Guggenheim in only 4 hours
  • Spot classics like Plaza Nueva & Cathedral de Santiago de Bilbao
  • Includes ticket and guided visit inside the Guggenheim Museum
  • Explore with a licensed local guide
  • Can be 100% personalized to your wishes

What you can expect

Best of Bilbao: Top Sights & Guggenheim by a Licensed Private Expert in Bilbao - Bilbao_HHG_Guggenheim

Bilbao, is a magical place! And with the local licensed guide of your choice, you are going to experience it all. So get ready; culture, history, and local lifestyle await!

Embark on an unforgettable adventure as you dive into the origins of Bilbao, experiencing the city's vibrant heartbeat through its most iconic landmarks. Feel the pulse of history at Plaza Nueva, where the air buzzes with the sounds of lively conversations and the aroma of freshly brewed coffee. Stand in awe before the majestic Cathedral de Santiago de Bilbao, where the scent of aged stone and echoes of centuries-old prayers envelop you.

Spend the first two hours unraveling the city's highlights and hidden gems. As you stroll through Bilbao’s charming streets, your senses will be delighted by the sight of colorful facades, the distant strumming of street musicians, and the tantalizing aroma of local cuisine wafting from nearby eateries. Each guide brings their unique stories and perspectives, painting a vivid picture of Bilbao’s rich heritage and dynamic culture.

Next, dedicate the following two hours to exploring the wonders of the iconic Guggenheim Museum. Marvel at its avant-garde architecture, where shimmering titanium panels catch the light and cast a spellbinding reflection on the Nervión River. Inside, let your imagination soar as you absorb the thought-provoking art installations and masterpieces that stir the soul.

Need a break? Trust your local guide to guide you to a hidden eatery cherished by locals. Savor a hand-picked treat, perhaps a freshly prepared pintxo or a sip of local Txakoli wine, as you soak in the authentic flavors of Bilbao. Engage in heartfelt conversations with your guide, learning more about their life in this enchanting city and gathering insider tips on the best things to do.

Remember, the true essence of Bilbao is best experienced through the eyes of a local. Let your favorite guide ensure you enjoy a unique, authentic view of Bilbao, making your journey truly unforgettable.

The best part of any city tour is definitely the unique stories. Everybody has a story to tell, especially your host. Each one of the local hosts has a different background ranging from arts to history. They can’t wait to share their knowledge with you and exchange ideas and perspectives! Feel like changing the route a bit? No problem, the hosts will be happy to personalize the tour to your wishes and make their Bilbao, your Bilbao!

Choose your local

Get to know these 3 passionate locals, each bringing unique perspectives and talents. Choose your favorite, check their availability, and book to create an unforgettable adventure tailored to you.

This is the plan

Check out the plan below to see what you'll get up to with your local host. Feel free to personalize this offer with the host of your choice.

  1. Meeting point

    Meet at In front of Pasteleria Arrese - Bilbao to start your journey

  2. Itinerary

    This is what our experience could look like, but it’s not set in stone! Once you book, you can chat directly with your host to make small tweaks to suit your preferences.

  3. City Highlights

    See from Plaza Nueva, Cathedral de Santiago de Bilbao, the Guggenheim museum, and other landmarks and must-sees of the city. Your local guide will take you to the main spots in town so you can get the perfect overview of what makes Bilbao so unique
  4. Hidden Gems

    Along the way, your local host will show you treasures hidden in plain sight that only the locals know about. Get to know the city through a different perspective, the local way, and discover places and stories that not many tourists experience
  5. Magical Storytelling

    Behind every landmark and every stop, there’s a story, and your local host is ready to tell it all. Get ready to listen to incredible stories, one-of-a-kind insights, and fun facts only a knowledgeable local would know!
  6. Special Treat

    Follow your guide to one of their favorite eateries for a local snack or a drink beloved by the locals. Take a break and catch up with your new local friend and get the answers to all your travel questions
  7. The Guggenheim Museum

    Your local licensed guide will lead you through the treasures and tales of this iconic museum
  8. Make it yours

    Want to tweak the itinerary? Book directly & chat afterwards with your host to adjust highlights, skip stops, or make small changes to fit your preferences.

    Book risk-free: Cancel within 24 hours for a full refund.

    Need something special? Personalize your experience for more time, alternative locations or a completely tailored plan.

Flexible cancellation policy

  • Feel confident booking

    Cancel within 24 hours for a full refund. Even up to 7 days before your experience, you’ll receive a refund, minus the service fee.

  • Change of plans?

    Reschedule your experience to a date and time that works best for you.

  • Loved by travelers worldwide

    Simple and flexible – your plans, your way.

Reviews from guests

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Jason🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
15 June 2024
My wife and I combined the Hidden Gems Tour with a Guggenheim visit with Jessica and had the most delightful time. We started in the old city. Jessica wove wonderful tales of history and Basque culture as we trod the cobbled streets. So many centuries of amazing history of the Basque people ! We tasted amazing food, saw unique architecture and listened to the joyous energy of Casco Viejo. We then ventured across the river to the bustling modern portion of the city where we enjoyed fabulous pintxos, then headed toward the Guggenheim. At the Museum, Jessica was exquisitely detailed in her explanations of design and construction of the museum. She offered insightful interpretations of the exterior works. Her discussion of the meaning of the giant spider made it seem not so scary. Inside the museum, her interpretations of the exhibits brought us much fuller understandings of the art and the artists. Jessica's English was excellent and her mood bouyant. This was definitely a high point of our trip to Spain. Fantastic Afternoon in Bilbao w/ Jessica !
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David
(About local )
3 February 2025
I love having my mind changed. I went into our trip to Bilbao with expectations that I wouldn't like it. Thanks in part to Mabel and our WithLocals Tour, I can now say without a doubt that I love Bilbao. Our time was a bit truncated due to some communications issues, but Mabel made the most of our time and showed my partner and me a wonderful experience. We're both really into the food scene and Mabel showed us how it's done in Bilbao. But more than the food, she really gave us an inside look into life in this beautiful Spanish gem. We can't wait to go back and we look forward to seeing Mabel again. And if you want to have a great experience in Bilbao, go see Mabel!A New Favorite City - Thanks, Mabel!
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Oner🇹🇷 Turkey
(About local )
21 December 2024
Jessica picked us up from our hotel right on time and made us taste the locals' favorites and the specialties of each bar. She kept us informed throughout the tour and ensured that we had a pleasant time. We highly recommend the tour with Jessica Perfect choices
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Susan🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
13 December 2024
This was our first visit to Bilbao and Joseba was the perfect guide. His communication prior to meeting made it easy for us - 4 NYers. We had a nice mix of history, culture and food. Amazing day with a passionate guide!
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Will🇬🇧 United Kingdom
(About local )
29 November 2024
Jesica is a star. Super friendly, great guide and knows all the best food spots in Bilbao. We are veterans of food tours and this is right up there as one best we have done. Awesome Bilbao food tour
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Ingrid 🇦🇹 Austria
(About local )
27 November 2024
Joseba knows a lot about his city and he could answer all our questions. We highly recommend to book a Tour with himWe enjoyed our citytour with Joseba a lot
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giovanna
(About local )
25 November 2024
Joseba è stato molto disponibile e simpatico nell'accompagnarci durante il tour. Preparato sulla storia e particolarità del posto. Siamo rimasti molto sorpresi ,non ci aspettavamo una Bilbao così bella! Grazie a Joseba per tutte le indicazioni !Sorpresi da Bilbao!!!
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Silvia🇸🇪 Sweden
(About local )
18 November 2024
Mabel was very knowledgeable and accomodated out wishes to include more sights into her tour. She was very helpful when we unfortunately found out that one us had been the victim of a theft during the tour.Bilbao moderna e medievale
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Frans🇳🇱 Netherlands
(About local )
13 November 2024
We loved our tour with Joseba. He knows so much about Bilbao and the Basque history. He pointed out the best places to eat Pinxtos and where to buy sweet specialities like the Bollo de Mantequilla. Also his story about the Guggenheim was very interesting. So, when in Bilbao: go with Joseba! When in Bilbao go with Joseba!
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Franz🇩🇪 Germany
(About local )
29 October 2024
Mabel hat uns die Geschichte und die Sehenswürdigkeiten der Altstadt wunderbar erklärt. Ihre Führung war kurzweilig und selbst für unsere Teenager Tochter super interessant. Absolute Empfehlung und jederzeit wieder! Wunderbare Führung!
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Carola🇩🇪 Germany
(About local )
23 October 2024
Mabel ist sehr sympathisch und spricht perfektes deutsch. Sie hat uns einen wunderbaren fundierten Überblick und Eindruck von Bilbao vermittelt. Ganz entspannt während wir durch die Stadt liefen. So machen Stadtführungen Spaß und sind ihr Geld wer. Danke Mabel.Hervorragend!
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Thomas🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
22 October 2024
Jessica was a wonderful tour guide for our trip to the Guggenheim museum. She was knowledgeable, friendly, fun and able to answer all of our questions about the exhibits and building. The three of us enjoyed discussing our different interpretations of the art. I highly recommend Jessica as a tour guide for anyone. Guggenheim tour
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Margaret🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
20 October 2024
Jessica leads a great food tour. She is knowledgeable about the city and especially its food scene. She provides a lot of information, while being relaxed and fun and funny. We shared a lot of delicious food and beverages.Great guide, great city, great food
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Rosi
(About local )
9 October 2024
Mabel ist eine wunderbare Führerin mit perfekten Deutschkenntnissen. Wir haben viel über die Stadt und die historische Entwicklung erfahren. Wir würden Mabel jederzeit wieder engagieren. BILBAO
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Katrin🇩🇪 Germany
(About local )
6 October 2024
We had a great experience with Joseba. He is knowledgeable und easy-going. Really enjoyed the tour!Highly recommended
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Rob🇬🇧 United Kingdom
(About local )
1 October 2024
Jéssica was a great host, able to tailor the tour to our likes and tastes as well as adapting due to some bars being closed. She gave a great overview of some of Bilbao’s history and recommendations of where to eat giving us plenty to do for the rest of our stay. Thank you!A great introduction to Bilbao
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Jeroen🇳🇱 Netherlands
(About local )
30 September 2024
Antwoorden op al onze culinaire vragen, steeds inspelen op onze interesses, een lijst met suggesties om ook de rest van de week culinair verrast te worden. Jéssica heeft ons perfect geïntroduceerd en heerlijk geïnspireerd!Jéssica rules!
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Robert🇨🇭 Switzerland
(About local )
29 September 2024
Un grand merci à Mabel. Elle nous a fait découvrir la ville à pieds avec beaucoup d'explications sur son passé et son évolution.Une belle promenade pour connaître Bilbao
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Peter🇬🇧 United Kingdom
(About local )
10 September 2024
Mabel was a great tour guide. Friendly and interesting and we all had a great time!Eccellent tour!
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Victor🇳🇱 Netherlands
(About local )
7 September 2024
As a start for our citytrip Bilbao, we decided to make a pintxos tour with a local. Jessica met us right ontime at the St.Nicolas church in the old city center. Despite a rainy evening, she managed to show us what the most wonderfull places to enjoy autentic pintxos and regional drinks like Cider, Vermut and licquor. During the tour she explained the history and recent Development of Bilbao. We visited small bars in the old City and more trendy bars at the otherside of the river. Overall, this trip was a wonderfull and tastefull start of our Bilbaotrip. And thans to Jessica with lots of tips for the coming days.Getting to know Pintxos cultur
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Frank🇩🇪 Germany
(About local )
5 September 2024
Ein angenehmer Sadtspaziergang mit interessanten Erklärungen zu Hintergründen und Stadtgeschichte, sehr professionell vorgetragen, Mabel ist für eine Führung in deutscher Sprache die beste Wahl. Die Auswahl der besuchten Pintxos Restaurants war gelungen, die Mischung aus Stadtviertelbesichtigung und Restaurantbesuchen stimmig. Empfehlenswert !informativ, gesellig und kurzweilig
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Imme🇩🇪 Germany
(About local )
5 August 2024
Mabel war sehr nett und hat mir einen schönen Spaziergang durch die Altstadt gemacht. Dabei die interessanten Dinge herausgehoben und gut erklärt. Ein angenehmer Nachmittag. Ich kann Mabel sehr als Guide empfehlen.Ein tolle Führung!
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Megan🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
29 July 2024
Our family had a magical time with Jessica. She is friendly, kind, and knowledgeable. She made the tour at our pace and encouraged my parents to get a cab when she was worried they couldn’t make it to the next spot. We would absolutely suggest using JESSICA!!!! The Best of Bilbao
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Bruce🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
29 July 2024
We thoroughly enjoyed our time with Mabel! She was so knowledgeable about local history and took us to some great places for pintxos, based on our preferences. We covered a lot of ground but never felt rushed. We felt this was the perfect way to see and get to know Bilbao! Thoroughly enjoyed it!
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Cécile🇧🇪 Belgium
(About local )
16 July 2024
Mabel connait bien l’histoire de sa ville et de sa région, visite remplie d’informations historiques et plus contemporaine. Belle expérience avec Mabel
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Margaret
(About local )
8 July 2024
The 6 of us had a great evening with Jessica. She was very knowledgeable and friendly, sharing with us some history of Bilbao and Basque foods and drinks. Even though it was a Sunday, and some of her favorite places were closed, she had worked out really good alternatives that we all enjoyed. Wonderful walking food tour
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Charlotte🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
8 July 2024
This was our first time in Bilbao with two adults and two teens. We had a wonderful tour with Jessica!! Not only did we taste a variety of tasty pintxos, we saw the beautiful city of Bilbao and learned a bit about the Basque culture. Jessica was punctual, professional, kind, knowledgeable and customized our tour to make it an enjoyable adventure for my entire family!!Wow - What an experience!!
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Jess🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
3 July 2024
Jessica took my wife and I on a wonderful private tour of Bilbao. She is very knowledgeable and planned a great route for our walking tour. We highly recommend her.Jessica is a Wonderful Guide!
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Claire
(About local )
17 June 2024
We had a wonderful afternoon with Jessica during the ten tastings tour. She told us a lot about the city and in between we got the most delicious typical dishes and drinks from Bilbao. Lovely and delicious walk through Bilbao!
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Peter🇳🇱 Netherlands
(About local )
1 June 2024
We hebben een leuke energieke tour gemaakt met Joseba. Hij vertelde ons enthousiast over de cultuur van pinxtos eten en de passende drankkeuze, waaronder cider. En wij genoten van het eten en drinken. Daarnaast wist hij op al onze vragen antwoord te geven en mooie achtergrondverhalen te vertellen. Goede energie, veel gezeliigheid.
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Demetrio🇨🇭 Switzerland
(About local )
15 May 2024
Pleasant guide and very friendly person Always attentive Jessica was very knowledgable. Thank youNice Tour Bilbao city
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ygtmfqp5dz
(About local )
14 May 2024
Wir waren gestern mit Mabel unterwegs und hatten einen wunderbaren Nachmittag. Es war von A bis Z super! Die Tour war perfekt geplant, wir haben ganz viel gelernt, unsere Fragen wurden beantwortet und wir haben uns mit Mabel sehr wohl gefühlt. Heute waren wir alleine unterwegs und haben Bilbao dank der vielen Informationen über die Stadtgeschichte schon mit ganz anderen Augen betrachtet. Also eine Tour mit ihr ist wirklich zu empfehlen! Herzlichen Dank Mabel 👍👍🙏🙏🫶Rund um zufrieden
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afriedraman🇮🇳 India
(About local )
13 May 2024
We had a wonderful experience with Joseba in Bilbao! He was a local and also deeply knowledgeable. It showed in the way he introduced the city to us, locating it in history and geography and crafting the walk accordingly. Once he gauged our degree of interest and level of knowledge, he picked up on our questions and added further interesting information. After a leisurely drink mid-walk, we ended our tour thoroughly satisfied that we’d got as good an overview of the city, and the history and culture of the Basque region, as we possibly could as visitors. Thank you very much, Joseba! Worth every penny!
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Kristina
(About local )
11 May 2024
Joseba hat unser Herz im Sturm erobert! Wir hatten eine tolle Zeit in Bilbao. Er hat uns viel erzählt und gezeigt, die Pintxos waren lecker, der Wein auch. Jederzeit wieder. Ein perfekter Tag
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Richard🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
9 May 2024
We really enjoyed our walking tour of the old and new town. We learned the history and saw sights we never would have discovered. She also send us a great list of other things to see and do. Thank you Jessica for a wonderful tour. Your English is excellent 👌Wonderful Bilbao tour with Jessica ☺️
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Dagmar🇩🇪 Germany
(About local )
11 April 2024
We had a great time with Joseba and enjoyed his knowlegde. Unfortunately two hours were not enough time for this interesting place…Great Experience
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Charlotte
(About local )
20 March 2024
We had a bike trip with guide Joseba on our first day in Bilbao. It was the best guided tour we ever had. Joseba knows a lot about culture, history, nice food spots, hidden gems, sports, … . Whatever you want to know, he can tell you more. It felt like we were on a bike tour with a friend and the trip passed by really quick. We highly recommend a trip with him, as he is a really passionate guide! Great experience!
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Laurie
(About local )
20 March 2024
Mabel was a perfect guide. She made our experience fascinating and very pleasant. We truly could not have imagined a better guide.Mabel
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Danielle🇧🇪 Belgium
(About local )
25 February 2024
Mooie tour met veel uitleg. Zeer aangenaam verteld.Zeer aangenaam
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Laura🇮🇹 Italy
(About local )
1 January 2024
Attenta ed esaustiva nelle sue spiegazioni. La consiglio vivamente.Turisti milanesi a Bilbao
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Peter🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
1 January 2024
Mabel brought the museum to life for us. We are not often a modern art family but found her engaging and she was able to bring the experience to life. Without her we would have left thinking it was neat but with her we are in aw!Making meaning!
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Sabine🇩🇪 Germany
(About local )
5 October 2023
Mabel hat uns Bilbao mit baskischen Augen erklärt. Wir haben viel über Land und Leute gelernt und den Nachmittag sehr genossen. Der Abschluss in der Pintxos-Bar war toll und sehr lecker.Sehr informativ und kurzweilig
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Udo🇩🇪 Germany
(About local )
26 September 2023
Eine sehr interessante Tour mit Joseba durch Bilbao. Wir haben viel gesehen und über die Geschichte, die Architektur, die Menschen, die Kunst, die Wirtschaft und Sprache erfahren. Joseba ist ein sehr netter Guide. Vielen Dank.3 interessante Stunden in Bilbao
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Rebecca🇨🇦 Canada
(About local )
21 August 2023
Bilbao was a stop on our cruise itinerary and we weren't sure what to do so I checked out 'WithLocals' and found the 10 tastings tour. We thought this would be a good way to learn more about the city an introduce our children to different foods. Mabel met us by the giant puppy at the Guggenheim and walked us through the city sharing the history from a local perspective. We stopped at 4 different places to try local specialities. She was very helpful explaining both the sites and the different foods. We did this tour with our 3 kids, age 13, 15 & 17 and it was perfect for them! Our one daughter is still talking about the Spanish tortillas at the last stop! A taste of Bilbao
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D
(About local )
21 July 2023
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johanna🇩🇪 Germany
(About local )
2 July 2023
To walk to the city and learn about its history was terrific. Mabel is very knowledgeable and showed us many details that we would not have seen otherwise. And she has a good sense of humor. Therefore we enjoyed it very much. Her German is outstanding.An afternoon in Bilbao
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Iris🇩🇪 Germany
(About local )
30 June 2023
Mabel weiß alles über Ihre Stadt und führt eloquent und unterhaltsam hindurch. Sie geht auf alle Wünsche der Gruppe ein, spricht perfekt deutsch und geht selbst auf Smalltalk über andere Themen ein. Wir hatten viel Spaß! Vielen Dank MabelHistorisch-kulinarisch Stadtführung

Withlocals experiences
are always

Private & personalizedNo strangers, just you. Fully customize your trip to your needs.
With a local expertFrom historical facts to the most up-to-date health regulations.
Without the crowdsExperiences designed to take you away from the crowds towards authentic local spots.

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