Hotel Puerta de Bilbao ★★★★

Holidays are about relaxing, but they should also be about discovery – and it is often hard to combine the two, especially when it comes to a city as vibrant as Bilbao. So, here, on the edges of the city and on the cusp of discovery, is the solution: Hotel Puerta de Bilbao ****.

The hotel offers large, spacious rooms with all the four-star luxuries you could expect: a lavishly comfortable queen-size bed, luxurious bathroom with a bathtub for soothing afternoon soaks and premium high-speed Wi-Fi, and all in a contemporary space, echoing Bilbao’s modern design. As an added bonus, a large window gives you a great view of the Basque Country, with its rolling hills.

Your discovery does not have to start far from the hotel. At the on-site restaurant, ‘La Ribera’, you will find tantalisingly tasty, traditional Basque cuisine with daily à la carte menus. Here, you can choose from an extensive wine list or opt to savour an evening cocktail at the poolside bar. Speaking of the glittering pool, it is set in wooden decking with sunbeds poised to make the most of the Spanish sun, and out beyond it sits the scenic verdant hotel gardens.

Then, there is the hotel’s design itself. Like the cutting-edge architecture of Bilbao city and the art galleries that adorn it, Hotel Puerta de Bilbao **** shows off the region’s artistic prowess. The interior combines sleek design with vibrant colours, stone worktops and mood lighting, creating a uniquely contemporary atmosphere. Now that you have a taste of Bilbao, you can venture in and discover it, all from your tranquil oasis.