From 29 April Aer Lingus (www. aerlingus. com) will fly direct from Dublin into the Basque city three days a week, on Tuedays, Thursdays and Saturdays, making it an ideal destination for a long weekend break. If you want to visit sooner try Iberia (www. iberia. com) direct from London or Ryanair (www. ryanair. com) from Dublin into Biarritz. From there it's about 30 minutes' drive to the Spanish border and another hour or so to Bilbao.

So what's to see then?

The Guggenheim Museum, of course. The stunning Frank Gehry-designed futuristic, titanium building that has put Bilbao firmly back on the tourist map. So impressive is the exterior that it's easy to forget the inside but here you'll find three floors of art galleries and, although some pieces are permanent, most works are fluctuating temporary exhibits from the Guggenheim Foundation. If you're here for a short break you'll spend a lot of time in the casco viejo, the old town, which, although compact, is a warren of medina-like streets and perfect territory for getting lost in. In an area awash with terrific bars and restaurants, don't miss the cloister-like Plaza Nueva and visit the Catedral de Santiago, the beautiful Gothic cathedral in the middle of the old town.

And accommodation?

The five-star Gran Domine (0034 944 211198, www. hoteles-silken. com) is brilliantly located for the Guggenheim while pension Iturrienea Ostatua (0034 944 161500) in the old town is a real gem with great breakfasts.