Gay Guide to Bilbao
Bilbao's gay scene centers on the Casco Viejo, the old town's "seven streets," with bars spilling onto Barrenkale in the evenings. Bizitza is a popular first stop for drinks, with drag and DJs later at Pub Badulake. Bilbao Pride fills the city center each June, founded in 2009 and now drawing more than 100,000 people, one of the biggest Pride events in northern Spain. Spain has recognized same-sex marriage since 2005, and the Basque capital pairs its Guggenheim-era modern reputation with an old-town nightlife scene that runs late.