The first time I came to Bilbao in north of Spain was nearly 15 years ago. To be honest I was not too impressed. This was quite a boring place back then.

But, then something happened. An amazing transformation took place!

The ugly duckling turned into a beautiful swan. In only a decade the city of Bilbao turned from a grey industrial town into a splendid cultural metropolis.

After that first visit I and my family actually ended up moving here. Being Swedish this was quite an exotic destination for me. Throughout the last few years I had the joy of experiencing the transformation of the city first hand.

Many of my fellow country men prefer to visit the South of Spain. After all, warm beaches are what we all long for, right? Going to the North of Spain might seem like an odd goal for a vacation.

Well, let me share my top-10 reasons why I love Bilbao. This place hosts many treasures yet to be discovered by tourists.

1. A city in constant improvement: It seems Bilbao has taken a sacred vow to improve by the day. It is inspiring to see how no effort is spared to enhance the beauty of the city. Some of the best architects of the world have been contracted to partake in the urban transformation. Even small neighbourhood areas where few tourists ever come, are being improved and beautified.

2. The Guggenheim museum: This modern art museum is truly awe-inspiring. It is the most known landmark of Bilbao and is located in the heart of the city, just along the riverbank. The first thing that strikes you is the building itself. It is like a giant vessel, covered with gleaming titanium. Once inside there is more than 10.000 m2 of modern art to enjoy.

3. Splendid cultural life: If you are a cultural lover you will be spoiled for choice. The newly inaugurated “Euskalduna Congress and Music Centre”, and the century old “Arriaga theatre” have ample programs of dance, theatre and opera.

4. Friendly size: Bilbao is a well sized city. It is not too big, nor too small. Put on a pair of good walking shoes and you can get around most tourist places by foot. You have restaurants, culture and shopping all within decent reach.

5. Relaxed atmosphere: Greater Bilbao houses about 1 million inhabitants. Even so, you can still enjoy a feeling of relaxed atmosphere. On nice evenings, after work, people hang out with a glass of wine or a cup of coffee at the local plaza. The children are playing skipping rope or “hide and seek” meanwhile.

6. The Old town: I love the old, historical centre of Bilbao. During the last few years this area has been beautifully restored, preserving the old charm of the century old buildings. Here you can enjoy restaurants, tapas bars and great shopping. This part of the city also offers a vibrant bar life at night.

7. The food: Bilbainos take great pride in their cooking. Fresh sea food and vegetables from the fertile Basque countryside are the basis of the local cuisine. If you are looking for a good restaurant you don’t have to look far – there are plenty. For a “today’s menu” at a neighbourhood restaurant you have to pay about 10 Euros.

8. Get to know a new culture: Bilbao is located in the Basque Country. The region enjoys its own culture and language, unique to the rest of Spain. The Basque language is ancient and no one really knows its origins. It is supposedly very difficult to learn. You will find that all street signs are written in both Basque and Spanish.

9. The beaches: If you long for a clean, beautiful beach with blue water this is the place to come. The beaches of the Basque country are still undiscovered by the great masses of tourists. Here you can enjoy nature, sand and sea without feeling like a crammed sardine. Sopelana and Plentzia are two beautiful beaches located close to Bilbao. You can easily get there by city metro.

10. It is not too hot!: Can that be a reason to love Bilbao? I would say yes! The temperature is mild and comfortable most of the year. You can explore the city at any time of the day without having to defy a burning sun. The temperature can rise above 30 degrees in the summer, but then you always have a beach near. The winter is also pleasant; you rarely need to wear winter gears.

I hope you will add Bilbao to your upcoming vacation plans. It is truly a beautiful place to visit!

About the Author: Ingrid Svalin works as a marketing director in a Spanish company. She is also the editor of http://www.beautiful-bilbao.com/ This site gives you all the best insider tips about the city of Bilbao - what to do, how to get here and where to stay.