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Start: Plaza del Funicular 
Arrival: The Salve Bridge
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We begin at Plaza del Funicular, in the neighbourhood of Matiko, very close to Bilbao City Hall and the Old Part, just a stone’s throw from Zubizuri Bridge.
Dogs not considered PDDs can travel in the last coach of the Artxanda funicular railway, as long as they are on a lead and wearing a muzzle.
This cog railway project, which was opened in 1915, was carried out by a Swiss company specialising in Alpine trains. It goes every 15 minutes and travels up 770 metres in about 3 minutes. It’s quite an experience for all ages.
Once at the top, the first thing to do is have a look at the panoramic view, recently restored, to enjoy the unique view of metropolitan Bilbao. If it’s a clear day, you can even see the sea. Once we have located the most iconic places in the city from above, the real walk starts around Artxanda with a dog.
A walk of around 20 minutes, passing by the Artxanda picnic grounds, brings us toPikotam endi, a slope overlooking Bilbao which has been converted into a recreation area of great natural beauty with a small network of hiking trails, tables, stone benches and drinking fountains.
Once here, you can sit a while to enjoy the peace, breathe clean air and admire the views and the joyfulness of other families and couples who are also enthusiastic about outdoor activities, in this exceptionally beautiful landscape, so near and yet so far from the hustle and bustle of the city.
To get back to the city centre, we go down a gravel track and then a path to the left of the Abaro stream. Finally, we reach the track that takes us to the Salve Bridge itself and from there it’s only a few minutes, by lift or stairs, to Campo Volantín.
If you prefer something simpler, you can enjoy Artxanda with a dog around the area closest to the panoramic viewpoint and go down again using the funicular railway.
Dogs must be kept on a lead in the green areas near the Artxanda panoramic viewpoint.
Estimated time: 1.5 hours if we go up by Funicular railway and come down on foot via Pikotamendi, until we reach Campo Volantín. Approximately 1 hour if we go up and come down by funicular railway, and enjoy the surrounding area and views at our leisure, and take a few photographs…
