Gure Lurreko Merkatua Farmers Market

Fifteen stalls is a size you can cover properly in half an hour, and it means most of what is on the tables comes from growers and producers rather than wholesalers. The Tinglados are the covered structures on the edge of Parque del Arenal, right by the river and a couple of minutes from the Casco Viejo, so the market slots into a Saturday morning already spent in the old town.

Fresh vegetables and fruit take up most of the tables, changing with the Basque season. Alongside them are meat and poultry, cheese and dairy, and bread and bakery stalls. Organic produce is a running theme rather than a single stand, so it is worth asking growers how things were raised. As at most open-air produce markets, some stalls will only take cash, so bring notes and coins rather than relying on a card.

Staying in the Casco Viejo puts you in the old town, within easy reach of the market and plenty of pintxos bars to visit before or after. The Gran Hotel Domine Bilbao is a solid choice if you want something more comfortable, facing the Guggenheim.

For a quieter base that still keeps you close, Abando is well connected and has good transport links for getting around the city.

The address is Tinglados del Arenal, Parque del Arenal, 48009 Bilbao, on the flat riverside ground between the Arenal bridge and the old town, walkable from both Abando and the Casco Viejo. See other street markets in Bilbao, the city's municipal market halls, or the full list of Bilbao markets. There is more background on the organiser's page.