In the year 1300, the city of Bilbao was founded by Diego López V de Haro in the place of a small settlement at the right bank of the estuary.

This settlement had its rights as a city confirmed by King Ferdinand V of Castile and its charter document included jurisdiction over the lands at the other side of the San Antón Bridge, an area then called Allende la Puente and today known as Bilbao la Vieja, which originally belonged to Abando.

These neighbourhoods were Bilbao la Vieja, Ibarra, Mena-Urizar-Larrasquitu, Elejaberri, Olaveaga, Zorroza and Ibaizabal.

This railway was constructed to connect Bilbao and Biscay with Castile, and was eventually expanded to reach Castejón.

The ensanche project of Alzola, Achúcarro and Hoffmeyer architects was approved in 1876, Abando was to become the modern center of Bilbao, with wide straight boulevards in a grid layout, the main one being Gran Vía de Don Diego López de Haro, contrasting with the maze of narrow alleys of the Casco Viejo, the old town of Bilbao.

Across Abandoibarra many of the former industrial sites and shipyards were replaced with open and green spaces, many of which are located in the surroundings of the Guggenheim museum.

Alongside the many shops and business buildings, located in Abando are the headquarters of BBVA, a multinational banking group as well as Kutxabank.

Bilbao-Abando is also the terminus station for the commuter-rail network Cercanías Bilbao with frequent services to Santurtzi, Muskiz and Urduña.

The tramway line operated by Euskotren Tranbia has seven stations in the district: Abando, Pío Baroja, Uribitarte, Guggenheim, Abandoibarra, Euskalduna and Sabino Arana.

Also in Moyua and by the train station there are Bizkaibus stops that include direct services to Bilbao Airport and other municipalities across Biscay.