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Museum · Bilbao, Basque Country
Museo Guggenheim Bilbao
Museum of modern and contemporary art by Frank Gehry, covered in titanium, opened in 1997 on the ria's bank, with works by Richard Serra, Jeff Koons's Puppy and the spider Maman.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
Discover
About Museo Guggenheim Bilbao
The Museo Guggenheim Bilbao was inaugurated in October 1997, as part of an agreement between the Basque government and the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation of New York. The building, by Canadian-American architect Frank Gehry, occupies a former industrial site on the banks of the Nervión ria and is covered with about 33,000 thin titanium panels, which change color with the light and the weather.
Inside, the galleries are organized around a central atrium 50 meters high. The largest of them, on the ground floor, is approximately 130 meters long and houses The Matter of Time, a series of eight large steel sculptures by Richard Serra that visitors can walk through. The other rooms host temporary exhibitions and works from the collection by artists such as Rothko, Warhol, Kiefer and Chillida.
Outside the building are some of the city's most photographed works: Puppy, Jeff Koons's giant dog covered in live flowers at the entrance; the spider Maman by Louise Bourgeois, next to the ria; the Tulips, also by Koons; and Fujiko Nakaya's mist sculpture in the reflecting pool.
The museum is considered the starting point of Bilbao's renewal, which came to be studied as the Guggenheim effect.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
2 to 3 hours.
Best time
At opening, to see the galleries with fewer people. It is closed on Mondays for part of the year; check the schedule. The exterior looks beautiful in the late afternoon and at night, with the titanium illuminated.
How to get there
It is on Avenida Abandoibarra, on the ria's bank, about 1 km from Abando station and 2 km from the Casco Viejo. The tram stops at Guggenheim, opposite, and Moyua metro station is a 10-minute walk away.
Tip
Buy the ticket in advance on the official website and pick up the audio guide, which is usually included. Cross the Puente de La Salve, with Daniel Buren's Arcos Rojos, for the best view of the building from above.
Official website
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Museo Guggenheim Bilbao
Who designed the Guggenheim Bilbao?
The architect Frank Gehry. The building opened in 1997 and is clad in titanium panels.
What is the Puppy?
A sculpture by Jeff Koons in the shape of a dog, about 12 meters tall, covered with living flowers that are changed throughout the year. It stands at the museum entrance.
Do you need to book the Guggenheim?
It is not mandatory, but buying tickets online avoids queues on the busiest days. Check the opening hours and closure days.