Guggenheim Museum Bilbao
Guggenheim Bilbao Museoa
A titanium-clad building by Frank Gehry, often credited with transforming a city's fortunes. It's the origin of the 'Bilbao Effect'.
The Guggenheim Museum Bilbao opened in 1997. Its twisting titanium panels, glass and limestone form a 'metal flower' on the banks of the Nervión River. Outside, you can see Jeff Koons' giant flower-covered terrier Puppy, Louise Bourgeois' spider sculpture Maman, a fog sculpture on the river and a flame fountain. All of these are free to view. Inside, the permanent collection includes Richard Serra's monumental weathering-steel sculpture The Matter of Time, and the rest of the space is used for rotating special exhibitions.
Admission is €18 for adults, €9 for students and visitors over 65, and free for under-18s. It includes an audio guide. Booking online in advance is recommended. Opening hours are generally 10:00 to 19:00 from Tuesday to Sunday. The museum is closed on Mondays, though it opens on some Mondays in summer.
Getting there: take a Pesa or Lurraldebus bus from San Sebastián, which takes about 1 hour 15 minutes to Bilbao.
Opening hours
Tue–Sun 10:00–19:00 (until 20:00 in summer); usually closed Mon
Nearby sights
- Euskalduna Conference Centre and Concert Hall
- Itsasmuseum Bilbao
- Doña Casilda Iturrizar Park
- San Mamés Stadium & Athletic Club Museum
- Bilbao Fine Arts Museum
- Azkuna Zentroa
- Zubizuri
- Arriaga Theatre