Pensión Matilde

Pensión Matilde is a budget guesthouse at Calle Askao 27 in the Casco Viejo of Bilbao, in Spain's Basque Country. Calle Askao is a lively street on the southern edge of the old town, known for its alternative bars, and small shops, and the pensión sits about 1.1 km in a straight line from Plaza Moyúa. It lies near the Mercado de la Ribera, the Ribera riverfront and the Bilbao La Vieja district, and the Plaza Nueva and Siete Calles are a short walk to the north. The Guggenheim Museum Bilbao is roughly 30 minutes away on foot along the river, and the Bilbao La Vieja and San Francisco neighbourhoods nearby have a multicultural character with many small bars and restaurants. Listings show double and twin rooms in the budget price band, with rates typically between about €30 and €95 per night depending on the season. As a pensión it offers simple rooms in an older building without a restaurant, spa or full-time reception, so the appeal is price and the immersion in a lively local neighbourhood. Breakfast is generally not a feature, but cafés and bakeries around the market serve morning coffee and pastries, and the pintxo bars of the old town are within a few minutes' walk. The service character is no-frills and suited to independent travellers, backpackers and short-stay visitors. The pensión can be reached on +34 664 446 952 or through its website, pensionmatildebilbao.com. The street can be noisy on weekend evenings, so light sleepers may wish to ask about quieter rooms. Guests should arrange arrival times in advance, as small properties may not have continuous reception.