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BilbaoMuseums & exhibitions

Our most recommended Bilbao Museums & exhibitions

Bilbao: Guggenheim Museum Skip-the-Line Guided Tour

1. Bilbao: Guggenheim Museum Skip-the-Line Guided Tour

Meet your guide outside the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao to begin a guided tour of both the inside and the outside of the museum. Skip the ticket line and discover more about one of the foremost symbols of the city. Learn why Bilbao was chosen as the home for the stunning Frank Gehry-designed building, and discover the structure of the building and the outdoor sculptures that surround the museum.  Then, get to know the most important works of the Guggenheim's permanent and rotating collections as you wander through its galleries, atrium, and terrace in the company of your guide. Admire its undulating, serpentine forms, among large-scale works of art that will surprise you due to the material used.

Bilbao: Guggenheim Museum Private Guided Visit

2. Bilbao: Guggenheim Museum Private Guided Visit

Enjoy a guided tour of the world-famous Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao. Discover the temporary and permanent exhibitions in the museum during your 1.5 hour tour. Admire the work of artists such as Louise Bourgeois, Eduardo Chillida, Yves Klein, Jeff Koons, and Fujiko Nakaya. Be greeted by a local guide at the entrance to the museum which is surrounded by promenades, parks, and recently-built squares. Since opening in 1997, the museum's acquisitions have focused on works from the mid-twentieth century to the present day. Uncover the main attractions is the ArcelorMittal gallery, which is a large space where eight works by sculptor Richard Serra are permanently displayed. Of the 24,000 square meters occupied by the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, 11,000 are reserved for exhibition spaces. Stroll through the architectural heart of the museum which is comprised of 20 galleries that make up the museum. Enter the atrium, a large open space of curved volumes, surrounded by large glass curtain walls and crowned by a large skylight. 

Bilbao: Guggenheim Guided Tour with Skip-the-Line

3. Bilbao: Guggenheim Guided Tour with Skip-the-Line

Meet your guide outside the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao to begin your 120-minute guided tour of both the inside and the outside of the museum. Learn why Bilbao was chosen as the home for the stunning Frank Gehry-designed building, and discover the structure of the building and the outdoor sculptures that surround the museum. Then, get to know the most important works of the Guggenheim's permanent and rotating collections as you wander through its galleries, atrium, and terrace in the company of your guide. Your museum entry is good for the day, so at the end of the tour, you may continue to explore the modern art collections at your own pace.

From San Sebastian: Gaztelugatxe and Guggenheim Museum Tour

4. From San Sebastian: Gaztelugatxe and Guggenheim Museum Tour

Discover Biscay, the Basque region that surrounds Bilbao, on a full-day trip from San Sebastian. Fall in love with the charming 10th-century fortress of San Juan de Gaztelugatxe and climb its 241 stairs to get to the top. Explore the world-famous Guggenheim Museum with included tickets. Depart from San Sebastian after being picked up from your hotel. Arrive at San Juan de Gaztelugatxe and find yourself at Dragonstone, as the seventh season of Game of Thrones was shot here. Embark on a steep climb and be rewarded with fascinating views of nature. After recovering from the steep path, head to Bilbao, the financial capital of the Basque Country. Get a glimpse of the architectural and traditional beauties of this wonderful city, including the Guggenheim Museum. Step into the iconic museum and discover its exhibit before returning to San Sebastian.

Getxo and Bizcaya Bridge (UNESCO Site) Bike Tour from Bilbao

5. Getxo and Bizcaya Bridge (UNESCO Site) Bike Tour from Bilbao

Throughout this five-hour bike tour, starting in Bilbao, discover the maritime and industrial history of the villas. Explore the iron mines and learn about the way the citizens were able to transform the natural landscape into a place worth admiring. Begin your trip by visiting the new icons of the city, including the Guggenheim Museum, Euskalduna Congress Palace, and the Maritime Museum. Continue pedaling along the left bank of the estuary until it joins the open sea.  The Pendant or Bizkaia Bridge, which was declared a Unesco World Heritage Site in 2006, links the Portugalete's Villa with Getxo. Once there, continue to The Gold Mile of Biscay, among the outstanding palaces built by the aristocracy at the beginning of the 20th-century. Visit the Sailing Club and Ereaga beach. End your journey in the quaint and picturesque Algorta's Old Port.

Bilbao Highlights: Guggenheim and San Mamés with Lunch

6. Bilbao Highlights: Guggenheim and San Mamés with Lunch

Learn about the history that has shaped the great Bilbao city of today. Visit both the San Mames football stadium and the Guggenheim Museum. Learn about the 105 years of football played on the same site. Imagine yourself within the players shoes, looking up from the side of the field, hanging out in the locker room. Afterward visit the Museum of Aliron Athletic Club.  Spend the afternoon discovering the importance of the Guggenheim Museum as a worldwide institute. See the temporary and the permanent exhibitions. Finish the tour with a magnificent lunch at the Bistro Restaurant located within the museum. 

From San Sebastian: Bilbao & Guggenheim Museum Private Tour

7. From San Sebastian: Bilbao & Guggenheim Museum Private Tour

Discover the highlights of Bilbao on a private tour of major attractions such as the Guggenheim Museum and Ribera Market. Explore the Old Town quarter to see beautiful architecture and charming streets, and get a sense of how the locals live. Admire monuments such as City Hall and Santiago Cathedral, consecrated in honor of the apostle Saint James the Great. Look at the Gothic façade of the Church of San Antón, and discover off-the-beaten-path locations known only to the locals. Stroll through an old train station and window shop the fancy stores of the Gran Vía de Don Diego López de Haro avenue. Reach the magnificent Guggenheim Museum on the banks of the Nervion River, and take a fully guided tour outside to see the permanent collections of contemporary art. Take your time inside to enjoy the temporary exhibits.

From Bilbao: Day Trip to San Sebastián with Guided Tour

8. From Bilbao: Day Trip to San Sebastián with Guided Tour

Discover the town of San Sebastián on this full-day trip from Bilbao. Ride in a comfortable car, van, or bus that suits the size of your private group. Uncover why this area attracted the European high-class tourism during the Belle Epoque period on a guided tour. Enjoy being picked up from the comfort of your accommodation in the city of Bilbao. Kick back and relax on the scenic drive through the countryside on the way to San Sebastian in Basque Country. Meet your guide and begin your tour of the town. Capture pictures of the smooth curve of the bay of La Concha and of the island of Santa Clara. See Ondarreta beach which is located next to the Peine del Viento sculptural ensemble. View the modernist architectural development. Make your way to the city center to see the Gothic Revival architecture of the Cathedral of the Good Shepherd and appreciate the Eclecticism of City Hall. Travel through the Old Town to see the  baroque Roman Catholic parish of Santa Maria and the San Telmo Museum. Have the chance to savor local flavors with access to the bars in the Old Town where you can purchase some pintxos (small dishes) before heading back to your accommodation in Bilbao.

From San Sebastian: Guggenheim and Basque Coast Day Trip

9. From San Sebastian: Guggenheim and Basque Coast Day Trip

A day trip in a van through back roads of the Basque coast, visiting historic town and unique natural landscapes, ending up in the most cosmopolitan city in the Basque Country. The road has curves (a few) but there will be plenty of stops to breathe the sea air and contemplate the horizon. The French philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau wrote: “Gernika is the happiest town in the world. Their affairs are governed by a board of peasants that meets under an oak tree and always makes the fairest decisions ”. And here we go, to the city bombed by Nazi planes in 1937 that inspired one of the most well-known paintings in the world, Picasso’s mural-sized “Guernica”. We will visit the city and, of course, the tree under which the (we hope) “fairer decisions” are made. Memorize this name: ‘Urdaibai’ and try to pronounce it well (it’s not easy, we know) because you won’t forget it. Declared a Biosphere Reserve by Unesco, Urdaibai is a large estuary at which mountains, rivers, the sea and large stretches of sand come together. Depending on the tide and time of day, the landscape (and the dozens of birds that inhabit it) may be radically different. We’ll also stop at Mundaka, a hot spot on the world's ‘surfaris’ routes: its beach has one of the most (possibly the most) perfect waves on the planet, with a left-hand break. Some call it “Dragonstone,” but its name is San Juan de Gaztelugatxe, an islet connected to the ground by a line of 241 stairs and crowned by a hermitage. Gaztelugatxe became ultra-famous after appearing in the Games Of Thrones series disguised as Dragonstone: Though the 'castle' is a cgi effect, everything else (dizzying cliffs, sharp rocks, flocks of birds, the noise of the sea ...) is rabidly real . The people of Bilbao have always claimed that their city was the capital of the world. When the Guggenheim museum opened in 1997, that prophecy came true and the building became an architectural phenomenon whose influence has spilled over into the rest of the city. The people of Bilbao say that the museum is actually the “doghouse” of Puppy, the iconic statue that welcomes you at the entrance (Basque ironic mode on). We’ll get to know the building and its main works of contemporary art.

Bilbao: Guggenheim Museum Visit & Private Walking Food Tour

10. Bilbao: Guggenheim Museum Visit & Private Walking Food Tour

Enjoy a Bilbao adventure that combines two of life's greatest pleasures: food and art. Become mesmerized by the asymmetrical shapes of the Guggenheim Museum's titanium facade and visit its diverse modern art exhibits. Join a guided walking tour through local hotspots to try some traditional pintxos. Step into the Guggenheim with your included admission ticket and browse through the iconic masterpieces of Andy Warhol, Anselm Kiefer, and Jean-Michel Basquiat. Get to know the work of Basque artists, such as sculptors Eduardo Chillida and Jorge Oteiza. As you walk through a selection of Impressionist, Modern, and contemporary art pieces, learn why the museum was constructed and how it has impacted Bilbao's prosperity in recent decades. Learn some more about the city's history on a leisurely stroll around the Old Town after your museum visit. Visit Europe's largest covered food market to see the ingredients used in typical cuisine. Stop at a couple of popular bars to taste local craft beers and 'pintxos'. Finally, head over to Plaza Nueva for lunch and have a glimpse into the lifestyle and culture of the city.

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What people are saying about Bilbao

It was worth every single euro for this private tour with Santiago. His explanations and tour made this wonderful museum come even more alive. Patient with our relentless questions we thoroughly enjoyed our 90 minutes with him. His knowledge and story telling was engaging and made our tour really special

Our guide (name?) was enthusiastic and very knowledgeable. We engaged in stimulating conversation about the various pieces of art and the wonderful building. We knew very little about contemporary and pop art but came away with considerable knowledge and appreciation.

Gara was an excellent tour guide. She was very engaging and knowledgeable. She also gave us recommendations for other things to do around the city. I would highly recommend.

Excellent private guided tour - we enjoyed it a lot and learned a lot about the museum but also about the city of Bilbao

Javier was terrific, the tour experience was lovely.