Frank Gehry’s creation stands proudly next to the Nervion River. The shiny Guggenheim Museum Bilbao attracts thousands of visitors annually, both for its appearance and the innovative art exhibitions it hosts. Unlike its counterpart in Venice, there’s no strict Peggy Guggenheim story connected to it. However, from its inauguration in October 1997, the Bilbao Guggenheim became instantly an art institution.
On my recent journey to Bilbao, I decided to dedicate half a day to exploring its collection. Moreover, I chose an accommodation close to it because I wanted to feel its presence in the city and photograph it from various angles throughout the day. A large-scale building like this affects the city’s appearance and identity.
That said, in the following lines, you will read some interesting facts about the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao and see various photos. Let’s start.
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The Guggenheim Museum Bilbao
The Bilbao Guggenheim often feels bigger than the city itself. And that’s a certain problem, and most likely why the term Bilbao effect was coined. The “Bilbao effect” has several meanings: on one hand, it refers to the transformation the museum brought to the city. On the other hand, it became a motto for the subsequent gentrification that came along with it. My impression was that both explanations were valid.
The building
The museum seems to expand beyond its walls. The large-scale outdoor sculptures seem to invade the space and potentially aim to leave a mark on its identity. Louise Bourgeois’ iconic “Maman” spider appears ready to dive into the Nervion River, while Jeff Koons’ iconic “Puppy” seems to guard the building. The latter ranks among the most-photographed spots in town. Even people without much interest in entering the museum stop there for a selfie.
The building itself is impressive. While I’m not sure if you can call it a typical example of Deconstructivism, it’s definitely a building you want to see from every possible angle. The complete absence of harmony might feel irritating to some, but the truth is that the way it attracts the light is unique.
At different times of the day, you can see the windows reflecting the sun, and the light always finds its way into the atrium. Gehry called this atrium The Flower based on its shape. For a building like this, I find the term heartwarming, because overall I found the building a tad distant. But maybe that’s just me.
And here’s a tip for your visit to Bilbao: I believe the museum looks much more impressive from the river. Therefore, for a completely different angle, make sure to book a boat tour and see it appearing from the water.
The interior and the exhibitions
The Guggenheim Museum Bilbao is made of glass, stone, and titanium. Located in the old industrial part of the city and just off the center, it has a surface of 24,000 square meters. As you can easily imagine, there’s enough space for a variety of exhibitions, and it features nineteen galleries.
One of the most impressive exhibits is Richard Serra’s installation “The Matter of Time.” Located on the ground floor, “The Matter of Time” features massive steel sculptures. Visitors can walk through winding, maze-like paths created by curved steel walls, experiencing shifting spaces and perspectives. Serra is interested in the themes of space, time, and movement, and somehow invites visitors in a physical experience.
During my visit, and while strolling through Serra’s sculptures, I had to think of the expansion of the museum’s space. Exactly like with the vast outdoor sculptures I wrote earlier, I had the same feeling: I felt that the museum constantly tries to escape the building’s walls and expand towards the city.
My photos from the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao
In this section, you will see some photos I shot when I visited the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao. When I wrote this article, the exhibitions I saw had concluded. However, due to the innovative way of presentation and the museum’s fascinating interior, I believe they have value. That’s because they present artists with strong voices and visuals. Moreover, they will give you a good overview of how it feels visiting the Bilbao Guggenheim.
Yoshitomo Nara exhibition
At the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, I saw artworks by Yoshitomo Nara for the first time. Known for his distinctive cartoon-like portrayals of children with expressive, oversized eyes, Yoshitomo Nara captures complex emotions ranging from defiance to introspection. His characters symbolize his inner feelings, shaped profoundly by childhood memories, literature, music, art history, and personal encounters across various cultures.
Nara’s work has quiet yet powerful messages. Although there was resistance from critics when he first appeared in the art scene, Nara’s innovative style is now admired.
Anthony McCall: Split Second
I was very impressed by the exhibition Split Second. McCall created sculptural effects through projected beams of “solid light,” forming hypnotic shapes floating through darkened spaces. The exhibition debuted his latest work, Split Second (Mirror) IV (2024), alongside an early projection, Miniature in Black and White (1972), complemented by photographic prints, connecting visually and conceptually with works by Richard Serra and Lucio Fontana.
Practical information about your visit to the Bilbao Guggenheim Museum
In this short section, you will find information about your visit to the Bilbao Guggenheim.
The museum is open Tuesday to Sunday from 10 am to 7 pm. It remains closed on Mondays.
The tickets cost 15 euros for adults, but there are reductions for students and seniors. For more information, please visit the museum’s official website.
You can also book a skip-the-line ticket that comes with a guided tour by a certified art professional. If you are an art lover, here’s the best museum tour you can book right now.
Last but not least, here’s the museum’s address: Abandoibarra Etorb., 2, Abando, 48009 Bilbo, Bizkaia. You can see it on Google Maps here.
A visit to the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao: Final thoughts
A landmark for the city and an institution for the art world, the Guggenheim Museum of Bilbao is one of the must-see locations in town. As I wrote in my city guide, the Guggenheim is one of the best things to do in Bilbao due to its significance and how it reshaped the city. The museum hosts high-quality art exhibitions, and its permanent collection will showcase famous artists from the previous century.
Everything comes at a price, though, and voices raised concerns about gentrification early on. And these statements are valid for sure. Visiting the Guggenheim Bilbao also means balancing mixed feelings about how art is perceived and how museums can potentially reshape entire cities. There’s no easy reply, especially if you are an art lover.
However, I will insist on what I wrote earlier: I highly recommend visiting Bilbao’s Guggenheim due to its rich collection, impressive building, and unique exhibitions.
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Last Updated on April 26, 2025 by George Pavlopoulos