The Occidental Bilbao is an upscale, business-oriented chain hotel located in the more residential eastern district of Bilbao. While certainly not ideal for exploring the city center, the charming Old Town is in walking distance and there's easy access by road. Its 200 rooms are smart and modern, if a little soulless, with large TVs and decent free Wi-Fi -- lower-level rooms can pick up some traffic noise. An outdoor swimming pool is a real bonus over the summer months, though all other leisure facilities are for fee in the adjoining health club. A little farther out is the Sercotel Hotel Gran where for around the same price some rooms feature mountain views, though there's no pool. 

The upper-middle-range Barcelo Bilbao Nervion is located on the riverfront in central Bilbao, making it an easy 14-minute walk to the Guggenheim Museum. This hotel offers 350 minimalist rooms with flat-screen TVs, minibars, and kettles, however, the air-conditioning and heating can’t be regulated on a per-room basis. With a restaurant, bar, free Wi-Fi, gym, and hot and cold breakfast buffet (for a fee), the hotel covers all the bases for the leisure traveler and provides 10 meeting spaces for business travelers. Gran Hotel Domine Bilbao is a good alternative for a location closer to the Guggenheim and a fun, artistic design -- but rates are slightly higher.