Guggenheim Museum Bilbao
Guggenheim Museum Bilbao things to do, attractions, restaurants, events info and trip planning
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I am an architect, so visiting this museum has been a dream come true for me. There were so many stories and mysteries I wanted to discover about it. I was fascinated by what I saw and for some part of my visit, I felt that I was in tune with the whole experience. But soon, there was no connection anymore! I think the building itself is a museum of art, light, curves, history, technology, texture, etc. The building with all its underlying meanings could be the sole voice of a well-curated guided tour unfolding what it holds, how it connects to the past, present and future of Bilbao and its people. I believe it did not need to be filled with too many different unrelated voices. Sure, one enters a cubical building and expects to be entertained and amazed by temporary and permanent exhibitions but Guggenheim building is ENOUGH. Actually it is more than enough! Surely, all the giant sculptures and exhibitions inside and outside of the complex are so meaningful and worthy but they create too much noise, in a way that the voice and story of the building itself get lost. And to me it seemed that these voices were not even connected together. After spending 1.5 hours in the museum, I felt physically and mentally tired. There were too many disconnected stimuli. And this was shocking because I am a person who can spend 8 hours visiting museums nonstop without getting bored or tired! This is just my personal honest opinion, but I had this feeling that the accumulation of all these different voices was a sign that Bilbao thought the museum was not enough! I could feel a lack of confidence. The spaces of your museum are not empty, they are full of the story of your city portrayed by the building on its walls, ceilings, and its curves. Please do not oversaturate it with sculptures and exhibitions… I hope you consider making a better-curated guided tour on the building, connecting it to the story of Bilbao like a treasure map with different stages. Let people soak in the magic of space and Bilbao. Let them remember its strong magical voice♥️. Bring music and live performances into these giant entities that the building creates and let this marvelous wonder ship of Bilbao roar into the waters🤩
Marjan KhaleghiMarjan Khaleghi
00
The Guggenheim in Bilbao is a world-renowned piece of deconstructivist modern architecture designed by Frank Gehry. The museum was constructed between 1993 and 1997 and was originally proposed to combat economic decline in the post-industrial city of Bilbao. The museums bold design and never before seen architectural style was an instant success in rebranding the cities image and encouraging tourism in the city and area. The Guggenheim was a lot of fun to visit and certainly a very interesting building in the city of Bilbao. Inside the museum there was a nice variety of artworks and sculptures on display in a wide range of creative mediums. I felt some of the gallery spaces lacked synergy with the exaggerated curved forms visible from the outside which meant some rooms for me felt like wasted opportunities/ some spaces felt under-utilised. Despite this, I still thought there were some cool architectural moments inside too: One such highlight architecturally was the central atrium space which had a pretty great sense of space and had suspended pathways on all three main levels allowing a range different views and perspectives of the space itself. I also really loved exploring Gallery 104, which is the long gallery on the ground floor stretching to the side of the museum underneath the Puente de la Salve bridge. This space I felt had a purpose to his scale and it was super fun to explore the large geometric sculptures inside too. Overall visiting the Guggenheim Bilbao was a lot of fun and a must for those visiting such an amazing city. There are a lot of different viewing angles of the museum from different point around the city so I would certainly recommend trying to get around the to different points of the river or even the surrounding city to have a look.
Rohan HearnRohan Hearn
00
My monday morning visit to the Guggenheim Museum left me with mixed feelings, leaning towards disappointment. Despite its fame and reputation, the experience was underwhelming for several reasons. Firstly, the art itself didn’t resonate with me. Many of the pieces felt abstract to the point of detachment, leaving me questioning their significance rather than appreciating their depth. Perhaps I was expecting something more engaging, but much of the collection felt inaccessible or, frankly, forgettable. As for the building, I found the architecture more distracting than inspiring. The structure seemed overly frantic, with twists and turns that didn’t enhance the viewing experience but rather detracted from it. While I understand that unconventional design may have been the intention, it felt more chaotic than cohesive. It almost seemed as though the building was trying too hard to be the centerpiece. To make matters worse, I kept getting lost inside. The layout felt confusing and disorienting, with spaces blending into one another without a clear sense of direction. I spent more time trying to figure out how to navigate the building than actually enjoying the art. That said, two things stood out. First, the installation with massive steel sculptures could have been even more engaging had it embraced a maze-like structure, using separate levels and connecting the parts into one or two larger pieces to create an intense, even more immersive experience. The vastness of the museum’s space could have been used more effectively, enhancing the feeling of disorientation and interaction. I would have preferred to experience a sense of tension within the art itself rather than feeling it in the building's layout design. Secondly, the quirky exhibition by Japanese artist Yoshitomo Nara was amusing and refreshing. His art is a compelling blend of humor and darkness, featuring playful characters that often carry an underlying sense of melancholy.
Sey Ha SokSey Ha Sok
00
A Dazzling Fusion of Art, Architecture, and Innovation – Guggenheim Bilbao is a Must-See The Guggenheim Museum Bilbao is nothing short of spectacular. From the moment you arrive, you're greeted by one of the most breathtaking buildings in the world—Frank Gehry’s architectural masterpiece, with its undulating titanium curves, is as much a work of art as anything housed inside. The museum perfectly blends contemporary art with bold, innovative design. Inside, the galleries are spacious, beautifully lit, and thoughtfully curated. The collection spans a diverse range of modern and contemporary art, featuring both international icons and groundbreaking Spanish artists. The permanent installation of Richard Serra’s The Matter of Time is an absolute marvel—immersive, monumental, and unforgettable. Outside, the public artworks make the visit feel even more special. Jeff Koons' Puppy and Louise Bourgeois' Maman are whimsical, monumental, and iconic—perfect photo moments that still manage to feel deeply artistic. The riverside location only adds to the beauty, making it easy to spend hours just soaking it all in. We did a private tour with Eva. She was so knowledgeable, friendly and helpful. The entire experience was seamless and welcoming. Whether you're an art lover, an architecture enthusiast, or simply someone looking for inspiration, Guggenheim Bilbao delivers on every level. It’s not just a museum—it’s an experience, a destination, and a cultural landmark. Absolutely worth the trip—this is a place that stays with you long after you’ve left.
AR AvalosAR Avalos
00
We recently visited the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao as a morning stopover during a drive between Salamanca, Spain and France. This was the first visit to the museum in nearly 20 years and we found the experience to be as similarly impressive as the Guggenheim Museums in NYC and Venice. Opening hours are 10am to 7pm daily (closed on Mondays). We purchased time slot tickets the day before our visit for midweek morning entry. There are lockers, gift shop, restaurants, public toilets on various floors within the museum. Note for drivers, while there is no parking directly at the Guggenheim Bilbao, there is public underground parking less than 10 minutes walk from the museum. Directions and information is provided directly on the Guggenheim Museum website. Museum permanent collections are impressive if you enjoy viewing modern and contemporary art. We also enjoyed the Lynette Yiadom-Boakye ,Oskar Kokschka and Joan Miro temporary exhibitions on the day and greatly appreciated the outstanding architectural features of the building itself. Most enjoyable and memorable on the day were the large scale ground floor installation called 'The Matter of Time' by Richard Serra and Yayoi Kusama's Infinity Room. These were outstanding works that are almost worth the price of admission on their own. In the end, this was a very good museum experience that made for several hours of nice art and architecture viewing. We'd gladly return for another visit the next time we are in our around Bilbao.
BradBrad
00
One of the most emblematic cultural temples of the Iberian Peninsula. Designed by the architect Frank Gehry and one of the best-known museums belonging to the Solomon R. Guggenheim foundation in the world, Guggenheim Bilbao is located by the river in the distinctive region of Bilbao. And both inside and outside, we have art for all tastes: from the Puppy at the northern top of the building to the giant spider and the flowers full of colour right next to the river, the museum arouses our curiosity and all the good it brings. Inside the building we were greeted by several very friendly and helpful staff, who made our visit even more enjoyable. On the ground floor, several LED were spawning multiple message regarding love, hate, fears and everything that life is all about. Fascinating. The existing temporary exhibition had cars for all tastes and shapes, ranging from space cars to the famous cars from the 007 series, which so well motivated the secret agent within us. The store has a lot of wonderful memorabilia, from cups to art books. Recommendation for visitors: we noticed that tickets were cheaper when bought online (about 50% off). Before entering, we bought the tickets, via mobile phone, to access the museum about an hour after we bought them. As there are many things to do around the museum, we decided to go this way and saved 50% on the purchase of the tickets. Guggenheim Bilbao is a must-see when visiting Bilbao - and I would recommend it all the time!
Tomás MirandaTomás Miranda
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Nearby Attractions Of Guggenheim Museum Bilbao
Zubiarte merkataritza-zentroa
Parque de Doña Casilda de Iturrizar
Museum of Fine Arts of Bilbao
Fnac
Puppy
Palacio Euskalduna
Albiako Lorategiak
Furnicular bottom station
K-tuin Bilbao Apple Premium Reseller y Servicio Técnico Oficial
Mercadona
Zubiarte merkataritza-zentroa
4.0
(6K)Click for details
Parque de Doña Casilda de Iturrizar
4.5
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Museum of Fine Arts of Bilbao
4.5
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Fnac
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(3.8K)Click for details
Nearby Restaurants Of Guggenheim Museum Bilbao
Café Iruña
El Globo tavern
Restaurante Amaren
GOIKO
Restaurante Viña del Ensanche
Hambueysería Amaren
El Eme
Restaurante Abando
Restaurante Sua San
COPPOLA & SOLOMONK (NON STOP KITCHEN)
Café Iruña
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El Globo tavern
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Restaurante Amaren
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GOIKO
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Learn more insights from Wanderboat AIBasic Info
Address
Abandoibarra Etorb., 2, Abando, 48009 Bilbao, Bizkaia, Spain
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+34 944 35 90 80
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Website
guggenheim-bilbao.eus
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4.5
(28.7K reviews)
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The Guggenheim Museum Bilbao is a museum of modern and contemporary art designed by Canadian-American architect Frank Gehry, and located in Bilbao, in Basque Country, Spain. The museum was inaugurated on 18 October 1997 by King Juan Carlos I of Spain, with an exhibition of 250 contemporary works of art.
attractions: Zubiarte merkataritza-zentroa, Parque de Doña Casilda de Iturrizar, Museum of Fine Arts of Bilbao, Fnac, Puppy, Palacio Euskalduna, Albiako Lorategiak, Furnicular bottom station, K-tuin Bilbao Apple Premium Reseller y Servicio Técnico Oficial, Mercadona, restaurants: Café Iruña, El Globo tavern, Restaurante Amaren, GOIKO, Restaurante Viña del Ensanche, Hambueysería Amaren, El Eme, Restaurante Abando, Restaurante Sua San, COPPOLA & SOLOMONK (NON STOP KITCHEN)
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