Doña Casilda Iturrizar ParkAbout Doña Casilda Iturrizar Park
Doña Casilda Iturrizar Park is the principal public park in central Bilbao, Basque Country, created in the early 20th century after a land donation by Doña Casilda Iturrizar. It functions as the city’s main urban green space.
The park’s primary features include a large central pond with waterfowl, broad tree-lined promenades and lawns that accommodate recreational walking and informal gatherings. Paths and open lawns create an easily navigable layout across several hectares.
The land was donated by Doña Casilda Iturrizar in the early 1900s and developed as a municipal park in that period; its layout reflects early 20th-century urban park design. Over time the park has remained a civic green space while being integrated with surrounding cultural institutions.
The park sits in central Bilbao, adjacent to the Museo de Bellas Artes and within walking distance of the city centre. It occupies a low-lying riverside/urban plain within the metropolitan fabric of Bilbao.
- Nearby museum: Sits immediately adjacent to Bilbao’s Museo de Bellas Artes, offering a convenient combined visit for park and museum exploration.
- When to visit: The central pond and main paths are busiest at weekends and in the late afternoon; the park is commonly used for short walks and family outings.
What to See#
- Central pond: A large landscaped pond at the park’s centre that supports waterfowl and is ringed by paved paths and lawns; the pond occupies a prominent open space within the park.
- Promenades and bandstand: Tree-lined promenades, formal planting and a small bandstand area that provide the park’s main circulation routes and gathering spaces, laid out in an early 20th-century urban-park plan.
Nearby Attractions to Doña Casilda Iturrizar Park
Best Time to Visit Doña Casilda Iturrizar Park
Best spring through autumn for the gardens and pond life; winter is quieter but still pleasant for a city walk.
Weather & Climate near Doña Casilda Iturrizar Park
Doña Casilda Iturrizar Park's climate is classified as Oceanic - Oceanic climate with warm summers (peaking in August) and cold winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from 5°C to 26°C. Abundant rainfall (1180 mm/year), wettest in November.
| Month | Comfort | Temp | Feels | Rain | Sky | Humidity | Wind | UV | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Poor | 5° - 13° | 7° | 122 mm | overcast | 80% | 3.3 m/s | 0.2 low | 9.2h |
| February | Acceptable | 5° - 15° | 8° | 96 mm | overcast | 78% | 3.3 m/s | 0.3 low | 10.3h |
| March | Good | 6° - 16° | 11° | 97 mm | overcast | 78% | 3.4 m/s | 0.7 moderate | 11.8h |
| April | Acceptable | 7° - 17° | 12° | 130 mm | overcast | 79% | 3.6 m/s | 1.1 high | 13.3h |
| May | Good | 10° - 20° | 15° | 91 mm | overcast | 79% | 3.2 m/s | 1.4 high | 14.5h |
| June | Very Good | 13° - 23° | 18° | 69 mm | partly cloudy | 78% | 2.9 m/s | 1.7 very high | 15.2h |
| July | Very Good | 15° - 26° | 20° | 58 mm | partly cloudy | 76% | 2.9 m/s | 1.7 very high | 14.9h |
| August | Very Good | 16° - 26° | 21° | 86 mm | partly cloudy | 73% | 2.6 m/s | 1.5 high | 13.8h |
| September | Very Good | 14° - 25° | 19° | 72 mm | partly cloudy | 72% | 2.6 m/s | 1.1 high | 12.4h |
| October | Good | 11° - 21° | 16° | 119 mm | partly cloudy | 73% | 2.9 m/s | 0.6 moderate | 10.9h |
| November | Acceptable | 8° - 16° | 12° | 131 mm | overcast | 77% | 3.0 m/s | 0.2 low | 9.5h |
| December | Acceptable | 6° - 14° | 10° | 109 mm | overcast | 79% | 3.4 m/s | 0.1 low | 8.8h |
How to Get to Doña Casilda Iturrizar Park
The park is about a 10-15 minute walk from the Guggenheim Bilbao (Museo Guggenheim Bilbao) and roughly 15-20 minutes on foot from Bilbao-Abando station. Several city buses stop nearby; the Moyua square/metro stop (Lines 1 and 2) is a 10-15 minute walk.
Tips for Visiting Doña Casilda Iturrizar Park
- Visit early morning to watch the park's tame ducks and to catch the light over the central pond.
- Combine a trip with the Guggenheim Museum - the park sits a 10-15 minute walk from the museum and makes a quiet counterpoint.
- Look for the park's Art Deco bandstand and the plane-tree alleys; both are often missed by people who rush past for the Guggenheim.