La Ribera Market

No tour of Bilbao’s architecture would be complete without a stop at the massive grey and red building along the banks of the Ria River.

La Ribera Market has been a key commercial hub for the city and the region since the 16th century, though the striking structure you see today was completed in 1929. With a surface area of around 10,000 square metres and an outstanding range of local products, La Ribera Market earned a spot in the Guinness Book of Records in 1990 as the largest and most comprehensive covered market in Europe.

Inside, the absence of columns and the abundance of glass skylights create a vast, luminous space. Outside, the decorative floral touches and other details showcase Art Deco design in all its glory. Fully renovated in 2010, the market has remained true to its roots, and is still a popular gathering place where more than 60 vendors offer the very best of Basque produce.

On Saturday mornings, it becomes a lively spectacle of bustling crowds, lively chatter, and that unmistakable local energy.

Standing on the Erribako Zubia Bridge, you can admire the building from every angle, and snap a photo of it framed by the colourful Basque façades of the old town.