Updated October 2026
The best places to meet singles in Bilbao are Bilbao English-Spanish Language Exchange, Bilbao International Meetup, and Azkuna Zentroa. Go on a Thursday, Friday or Saturday evening, when they are at their liveliest and it is easiest to start a conversation.
In Bilbao many people still go out with the cuadrilla they have had since school, which can make the city feel closed at first. The good news is that the pintxo culture means everyone stands at the same counters, and a few weekly fixtures exist precisely for people who want to widen their circle.
These ten places are real and open, checked in October 2026, from the old town and Bilbao La Vieja to Abando and San Mamés, with a mix of ages, budgets and days of the week.
See who nearby is free this evening and send one message. No swiping. Free, 18+.
Language exchangeUribarri€All ages
A free, casual English and Spanish chat that meets every week on Wednesday and Friday at 19:30, on Fridays at the Ilunabar cultural bar and on Wednesdays at an Irish pub. Usually 10 to 30 people turn up for two or three hours, so you talk to locals and newcomers alike and only pay for your drink.
Ilunabar Bar Cultural, Uribarri Kalea 12, 48007 Bilbao · Takes bookings
Event seriesAcross Bilbao€All ages
A group with more than 4,000 members that organises hikes, pub crawls, live music nights and writing sessions, open to everybody with no age limit. The walks usually end with a drink and a pintxo, which makes it an easy way into the local social life if you have no cuadrilla yet.
Meeting points vary across Bilbao and Bizkaia (given on each event page) · Takes bookings
Cultural centreIndautxu€All ages
The old wine warehouse La Alhóndiga, turned into a culture and leisure centre with a cinema, exhibitions, talks, a library and cafés under one roof. Its free events and busy atrium make it a natural place to start a conversation about a film or a show.
Plaza Arriquíbar 4, 48010 Bilbao · Walk-in
Live music venueAbando€€All ages
A former cinema that is now a Basque culture hub with concerts, a bar and a lunchtime restaurant. Gig nights draw a mixed, friendly crowd, and the bar is the kind of place where you end up chatting with whoever is next to you between bands.
San Vicente 2, 48001 Bilbao · Takes bookings
Cooking classLa Salve / Guggenheim€€€All ages
A cooking school and wine bar facing the La Salve bridge, with daily small group classes where you cook Basque and Spanish recipes side by side with food lovers from around the world. You eat what you made together, and the wine bar is open from Wednesday to Sunday if you want to carry on.
Plaza de la Salve 6, Bilbao · Takes bookings
Concert hallBilbao La Vieja€20s
A municipal music hall inside a 17th century church across the river from the old town, with affordable concerts by local and touring bands. It is a classic first stop for a younger crowd before heading into the bars of Bilbao La Vieja.
Muelle de la Merced 1, 48003 Bilbao · Takes bookings
Pintxo squareCasco Viejo€€All ages
An arcaded square in the old town lined with pintxo bars and terraces, where people stand around with a drink and move from bar to bar. On Sunday mornings there is a collectors' market under the arches, and before Athletic matches the square fills with fans in red and white.
Plaza Nueva, 48005 Bilbao · Walk-in
Football matchSan Mamés€€All ages
Before a home game the bars around San Mamés overflow with fans, and asking someone about the team is the easiest conversation starter in the city. The stadium also has a museum and tours on non-match days.
Rafael Moreno Pitxitxi s/n, 48013 Bilbao · Takes bookings
Craft beer barAbando€€30s
A central bar with six rotating craft beer taps and a long bottle list, plus beer tastings and live music. Locals and visitors share the counter, and asking the staff what to try next often turns into a group conversation.
Lersundi 2, 48009 Bilbao · Walk-in
Café and craft beer barBilbao La Vieja€20s
A specialty coffee and craft beer house in the creative Bilbao La Vieja area, open since 2014. Coming alone with a laptop in the afternoon or for a beer in the evening is completely normal, and the area's small bars are right outside.
Calle Arechaga 6, 48003 Bilbao · Walk-in
Popular places to meet people in Bilbao include Bilbao English-Spanish Language Exchange (language exchange), Bilbao International Meetup (event series), and Azkuna Zentroa (cultural centre). All of them are easy to visit alone or with friends.
Pick an indoor spot such as Museo Guggenheim Bilbao or Museo de Bellas Artes de Bilbao. Both work well for a first date in any weather.
In the YesTonite City Index, Bilbao is number 93 of 112 cities for dating, with a dating score of 3.7 out of 10.
Open YesTonite and see who in Bilbao is going out tonight. Say hi, agree on a time and meet at one of the places on this page.
Checked October 2026. Opening hours and prices change, so call or check the website before you go.
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