Kontxi Claver

Councillor for Economic Development, Trade, Employment and Tourism

SOUL

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October 2025

Kontxi Claver, Bilbao’s Councillor for Tourism, highlights the city’s commitment to attracting high-level cultural events (music, opera, BBK Live) and quality tourism. She emphasises the appeal of the museums (Guggenheim, Fine Arts), the gastronomy and the century-old commerce. Bilbao is strengthening its international connections and consolidating its position as a conference destination, inviting visitors to stroll around and enjoy the ‘pride of Bilbao’.

Kontxi Claver, who has a degree in law and lives in the Casco Viejo neighbourhood of Bilbao, is responsible for municipal policies related to tourism in the capital of Bizkaia. “As a city, we have our own agenda and we are making a strong commitment to attracting high-level cultural events, especially those related to music”, she emphasises. She mentions Bilbao Music Legends, the Blues Festival, Bilbao BBK Live, the ABAO opera season, the Bilbao Orkestra Sinfonikoa (BOS) programme and venues such as the Arriaga Theatre and the Bilbao Arena.

The councillor does not forget other cultural events such as “museum exhibitions, with exhibitions at the Guggenheim, the Fine Arts Museum and the Basque Museum, which will reopen soon”. The councillor points out that the council “is trying to attract a specific audience, interested in culture, but who are also interested in our gastronomy, because this is part of our roots, our identity’.

The route of the Tourism councillor

“The first stop would be in the Casco Viejo, and I would invite them to go for a walk through the Ensanche, Gran Vía, and then down to the Guggenheim area. I would also invite them to take the Artxanda funicular railway to enjoy the views of Bilbao”, suggests Kontxi Claver, who proposes “wandering around, getting lost in the streets of Bilbao and letting yourself be surprised by the traditional taverns, but also by the new ones that are emerging, maintaining that identity and offering quality products to tourists”.

One unmissable photo is that of “the light of water and titanium at the Guggenheim”. The councillor admits to being in love with the city. “The neighbourhoods also have their charm, each with its own particular identity. I think it is worth seeing the whole of the city, not just the centre”.

Claver assures that they “are reinforcing ties with long-haul international markets” and their “links with the airline sector”, with whom they “work closely”. The direct connection to New York and the immediate launch of the terminal expansion corroborate these statements. “Bilbao Airport has become a very important asset for attracting people, both tourists and professionals and businesspeople; the conference industry is growing more and more, and that is showing”, the councillor emphasises.

The shopping scene perfectly complements the cultural and gastronomic offerings. Satisfaction surveys give Bilbao’s shops very high marks. These shops form a community of century-old establishments. “Our commercial expansion project helps this community of century-old shops to continue growing, because it is also part of our identity, and we include it in the recommended tourist routes”,Claver points out.

“Bilbao has a charm unique to itself”

Bilbao is characterised by its high-quality accommodation and restaurants, its great atmosphere, its important cultural activity and its public transport system, which also provides excellent connections to the upper districts. Metro, tram, bus network, funicular railway… “Moreover, you can easily get around on foot, and it’s very clean”, adds Kontxi Claver.

According to the councillor, “Bilbao’s charm is visible in its streets and in its orography: we are in the botxo”. The city stretches across a very enclosed valley, crossed by the estuary and surrounded by green hills. “The green surroundings of the city itself create a striking contrast. Furthermore, Bilbao has its own character, with a long history of industrialisation and reconversion, which we are continuing. When talking about the transformation of Bilbao, it should be noted that Bilbao continues to transform itself.”

Although Claver insists that ‘Bilbao’s real charm lies in its people. We are good hosts, we welcome those who come from elsewhere and, every time we see tourists, we feel proud to be from Bilbao”.