Guggenheim Museum Bilbao

Guggenheim museum is awesome. Should be on everyone's bucket list. The building is stunning and takes your breath away. I couldn't stop taking photographs. Some of the exhibitions are beyond my understanding and too modern and abstract for my taste. It takes time to understand the concept of some of the exhibits.

A truly remarkable place with a wide variety of exhibitions to explore. In addition to its impressive permanent collection, the museum regularly hosts both large-scale and smaller temporary exhibitions—there’s always something new to discover. You can easily spend an entire day here, or split your visit over two half days to take it all in without feeling overwhelmed. But it’s not just the exhibitions that make this museum special—the architecture itself is a masterpiece. It has become an iconic landmark, not only in Bilbao but also among Europe’s most celebrated museums.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ The Guggenheim Museum Bilbao is without a doubt one of the most iconic spots in the city. 🚶‍♂️🌍 But be ready — it’s a classic tourist magnet: lots of people everywhere, cameras flashing, long lines of visitors circling around. The architecture is stunning — futuristic, shiny, and unlike anything else you’ll see in Europe. ✨ The massive spider 🕷️ “Maman” stands right in its place, dramatic and a bit eerie, while the reflective silver spheres and the giant floral dog 🐶🌸 add a playful, surreal vibe. It’s worth visiting once in a lifetime — for the atmosphere, the art, and the unique feeling of being inside a modern icon of design. Just don’t expect calm contemplation — it’s vibrant, crowded, and buzzing with energy. ⚡️

Guggenheim Museum Bilbao – An Architectural and Artistic Masterpiece As photographers for Photolator, visiting the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao was a feast for the eyes and the lens. Designed by Frank Gehry, this world-renowned museum is as much a work of art as the masterpieces it houses. Its sweeping titanium curves, shimmering in the sunlight, change character with the time of day, offering endless photographic possibilities from every angle. The surrounding area adds to the magic — from the playful “Puppy” flower sculpture to the striking riverside setting, each step offers a new composition. Inside, the museum’s spacious, light-filled galleries are home to exceptional contemporary art, thoughtfully displayed to inspire both art lovers and photographers alike. Service is impeccable, the layout is intuitive, and the atmosphere encourages both contemplation and creativity. For photographers, the Guggenheim is not just a cultural stop, but a dynamic canvas where light, form, and art converge. For Photolator, it stands as a prime example of architecture and art harmonizing to create an unforgettable visual experience. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

It’s world-famous for a reason! I am in no way well-versed in art but I really enjoyed all 3 floors of the museum. I appreciated the variety of media, artists, eras, and kind of art featured here. I think what made it more fun was how interactive some of them are, and some exhibitions were also larger than life. It featured both big and rising, international and local names in the industry which was a great way to highlight other people in the industry. I appreciated how organized the museum was as well. There was a Yayoi Kusama exhibition, which would normally take forever to see but they planned it very well. It was a really quick few seconds to see it but this made the line go faster and didn’t hold up anyone who wanted to see it. The featured artist at that time was also very talented and fun to see! Lots of interactive and dynamic art featured that changed the experience for the viewer every room we visited. We also didn’t buy tickets ahead and I really thought we missed our chance, but the museum allotted tickets for walk-in visitors. The line went so fast as well which we appreciated a lot. So it was a very pleasant experience!!

Well, what can I say about the amazing Guggenheim museum, that hasn't already been said? I visited the wonderful city of Bilbao especially to visit the Guggenheim. I booked my tickets in advance so I knew I'd get inside. The architecture of this museum is art in itself 👏. The scale of the building is awe-inspiring. Especially inside, it's vast, huge spaces to display the huge artwork pieces and there are smaller rooms which are more intimate, as well as audiovisual art. It's hard to describe how fantastic this museum is, and it's very affordable to enter. It's an ideal place for families to explore, you could spend a whole day inside viewing the artwork 😀 . The building is wheelchair ♿️ accessible with elevators 🛗 to all floors. And there are plenty of toilets 🚻 available on each floor. There's a large gift shop with lots to buy, although a little bit expensive. Overall I had a wonderful day exploring the Guggenheim and if you're in Bilbao or the region you must visit the Guggenheim Museum, it's a 5 star 🌟 experience 😀 🎉

Finally made it to the 'Gug' and it exceeded our expectations. The puppy sculpture greets patrons with its playful presence visible streets away. Crowd gluts are avoided by online ticketing at set entry times. The sleek building offers new visual angles around every corner. We loved the special exhibitions...just enough commentary to keep viewers engaged. The Guggenheim successfully brings art to everyday people and is worth about 2-3 hours of your time.

4.5 / 5 Buy tickets in advance. Regardless of the exhibitions shown, the architecture in and of itself justifies spending some time here. If you are short in time an hour and a half is sufficient, but if you can spend approximately 3 hours, you'll probably make the most out of it. 20 euro entrance fee is relatively high -- but you get value for money! Really high-end exhibitions, staff is pleasant, and despite high volume of visitors, everything still feels very spacious.

It's around €30 to get in. For me art is like faith - if one has faith - it's deeply personal and private and that's how it will remain. I prefer paintings to sculpture and I'm not a fan of animals chainsawed in pieces, bathed in formaldehyde, and put on display. Nor un-made beds lauded as such. I have seen art that has just stopped me in my tracks and for years I enjoyed visiting museums but as my already poor sight diminishes it's not as rewarding as it once was. What was annoying around this museum were the beggars - mobile phones and cigarettes in hand - and they are aplenty around the centre of Bilbao too. One young guy had it well sussed as when people said they only had credit cards and phones to pay he escorted victims into local cafes for food and coffee. He even helpfully knew the locations of bank cash machines. Oh I had a friend who went insane progressively and is now dead but as he sunk into insanity he became more and more convinced that formaldehyde (pH3, -92c melting point and -19c boiling point) was responsible for all human disaster including wars, cancers and he set about writing to politicians, Royalty and the media to alert them to this world-ending threat. I only remembered this triggered by the formaldehyde animals.

I am not a big modern art aficionado, but it was the Guggenheim and I happened to be there during International Museum Day, where many of the museums offered free entrance. I decided to check it out. The inside is kind of overwhelming with many floors and many angles and sections within each floor to get lost into, if you would like. Many of the most famous modern art masters have pieces displayed here. I could not stop chuckling when I saw the upside down floating Pinocchio on a pool of water.....that's art for you !!!!

An evening stroll amongst the Guggenheim museum. Fun facts: Jeff Koons sculpture Puppy sits 12 metres high. He built this sculpture for the Documenta in Kassel 1992. Nowadays its place is permanently at the front of the Guggenheim museum in Bilbao

The highlight of the lovely city of Bilbao is the Guggenheim, and I spent two lovely hours here today with friends. I got a free pass from the conference I'm in Bilbao for, but the admission price is not too high (€16). My top five: (1) Torqued Ellipses, Snake, and other massive sculptures by Richard Serra - which take up an enormous space on the ground floor (2) Tulips and Puppy - both by Jeff Koons (3) The outdoor area - especially Anish Kapoor's "Tall Tree & The Eye" (4) Eduardo Chillida's alabaster and pink granite sculptures (5) Head of a Woman - by Pablo Picasso There was plenty more to see and admire, but that's what museum guidebooks are for. Enjoy!

What a wonderful museum! Everything from the architecture to the unique pieces selected to represent contemporary art are very special. Highly recommend visitors minimally utilize the audio tour, but if possible, contract, and art expert to accompany you through the Museum. Suggest you start outside and take a look at the art installations and the unique design of the building. You can easily cover the Museum in two hours if you're on a fast track but suggest you get a wristband take a break come back and revisit so that you can cover the things you love or anything that you missed. There is delightful coffee bar, outdoor seating where you can grab refreshments. Also, on the premises is a Michilin star restaurant that does require reservations. Bilbo is a lovely city, and this museum is a must see when you're in the area.

An experience, for sure. Perhaps better appreciated by someone with a more complex palate for modern art. The cafe was quite good, though!

Aloha, when trekking through Europe, the Bilbao Museum is a fun modern designed exhibition of great art. I so enjoyed wondering through the floors of art. Some interactive too! There's a huge "puppy" that greets you upon arrival, LOL. You can't help but start to smile, as you know you'll be entertained. Reasonably priced, great art. Loved the Miro's, so cool! Enjoy!

I honestly was underwhelmed by the musem. Don't get me wrong, the outside surrounding area is definitely worth a visit; however, the inside felt like a void of space with minimal art. Highlights: + General admission was €16. Though Seniors (65+ ) and students had reduced rate of €8, and kids under 18 were free + It is recommended to purchase time tickets through their website. I would go earlier or later in the day, especially when cruise ships are in town + There were 3 floors accessible via stairs or by elevator. One important note is that there are actually two elevator areas (opposing sides) that service the floors. If one is crowded, head over to the other one. + Due to covid, there are no physical maps; however, there is the option to scan a QR code to get to the museum audio guide. If you don't have international data, make sure to take this into account and try to download it prior to going there. + The architecture and sculptures are spectacular. While their permanent collection was relatively small that was on display, the pieces were interesting . +Richard Serra's La Materia del tiempo was an interesting interactive maze + Anselm Kiefer's works on the top level are stunning + Andy Warhol's 100 Madonnas was what you would expect of his work + Even Robert Indiana had a spot in the collection Overall, it was a nice one and done visit unless they had some specific exhibit that I would want to visit. Honestly, just spending time outside of the museum and looking at the sculptures and bridge from a distance would be a nice way to spend some time. There is a fountain that was enjoyed by those wishing to cool off and a cafe nearby outside as well.

The most famous building in Bilbao and rightfully so. I spent a lot of time just staring at it and taking it all in. It's a stunning, creative and wild piece of architecture which is totally worth the hype. Make sure to check out the puppy in the front which is the largest flower sculpture in the world. The art inside was awesome. My favorite which was a surprise to me were all the classic cars they had on display. I am not a car person but these were beautiful.

A massive, beautiful building next to the river with hardly any art, very disappointing! A gargantuan hall on the ground floor is dedicated to just a few massive cement 'art' structures that lead you on a long maze-like walk inside only to find nothing at the end. What a waste of space. Half of the museum was closed and the other half had very few objects of art on the walls, unless the white walls are considered art of course. The sole highlight was a huge Andy Warhol with dozens of Warhol's iconic Marilyn Monroe image, each with various colorings integrated into a continuous whole across the entire piece. Otherwise, it was a lot of walking and big letdown, do not waste your money. CombatCritic Gives Museo Guggenheim Bilbao 3 Bombs Out Of 10 ... More Bombs Are Better!

Finally made it to the Museo Guggenheim Bilbao one of the architectural marvels in the world by Frank Gehry. Take your time walking the grounds outside enjoying the stainless steel. The flower Puppy, the Louise Bourgeois spider Book your tickets ahead online pull up the tickets on your phone and you just walk into the museum skipping the long lines. The highlights of the collection are on the 3rd floor Rothko, Warhol, Basquiat,, 2nd floor has special exhibition Also great gift shop to bring a little something, me a tshirt & glass back home

Even though I thought modern art wasn't my thing, I was blown away by this place and it's collection. It alone is a reason to put Bilbao on your bucket list of travel recommendations. We spent a couple hours taking it in but didn't feel at all overwhelmed or intimidated. Our private guide Sergio took us to all the best viewpoints ensuring we took in all the iconic pieces from the puppy to the tulips to the spider. We also really enjoyed the newly opened exhibition on the design of cars featuring dozens of fanciful vehicles and concept cars. The Frank Gehry designed building is an amazing work itself with a soaring atrium and eye catching angles of titanium, limestone and glass. In the evening we wandered back by and took in the flames that shoot out of the reflecting pool at 5-minute increments as well as the the hauntingly beautiful fog machine that goes off at the top of each hour. The combination was electrifying. The top site in Bilbao for a reason.

Ever since I read Dan Brown's book, Origin, released in 2017, I knew I had to check out the Guggenheim museum in Bilbao! I was able to see it recently and I was blown away. The exterior is obviously mind-blowing and I thoroughly enjoyed the giant spider and puppy. Unfortunately, I cannot say the same about the interior. I did explore the inside of the museum but honestly, it was not really worth it and I do not recommend going in unless you really have nothing better to do. I would just hang around the bridge and watch the fire, fog, or whatever other crazy thing happens! Bilbao is the best!

Never been a fan of modern art and this is no exception. Bland mediocre pieces that mimic trite graffitti from across the globe. The building itself had more thought than ANY of the pieces contained within it. The oversized badminton shuttlecock was the largest piece and was yawn-evoking. I guess I lack sophistication, but I'm okay with that.

I remember looking at Frank Gehry's work when I was in architecture school and thinking, what the hell drugs is this guy on? So when I had an opportunity to travel to Spain, you can bet on it that I was gonna see this museum. I have already been to the Guggenheim in New York and Venice, so going to not just the museum but an architecturally interesting building was an added plus. And to add to all of that, there was an exhibition of Sir Norman Foster! Yes!! We walked to the museum so approaching the building is part of my architectural experience. Entering the building and any other museum for that matter, you must check in large bags and what not. But once you are in that space, how it open up, is amazing. The way you approach the exhibition you are led from one room to another. It really was quite amazing to experience the openness of the room, yet if felt intimate. After touring the museum and the exhibits, one must stop at the museum shop for souvenirs. And then you need to stop at the museum cafe. I really enjoyed this museum and out of the three Guggenheim museums I have been to, this is my favorite.

There are some major highlights to this museum, but outside of those, the museum is actually quite underwhelming. If you have never been to Bilbao before, this is definitely a destination, but I feel like it's not quite worth returning after you've seen it once. I personally believe that all the highlights can be see from outside the museum, no purchase necessary: -Puppy by Jeff Koons - this is really cute to see, and nothing I've seen anywhere else in the world!!! -Building itself by Guggenheim - quite beautiful to see. -Tulips by Jeff Koons - I have seen this in other locations such as the Broad Museum in Los Angeles, but nice to see it here too. This is technically inside the museum, but on the outdoor patio, which can be viewed from outside -Maman Spider by Louise Bourgeois - this is another one that is quite cool to see, a massive spider!!!! I hate spiders by all means, but this is one you don't want to miss. There are other locations of it around the world too, I've been lucky to see it in Japan. And honestly, that's about it. I can't remember anything I saw on the inside that genuinely impressed me - all skippable. It was super hot inside, made me sleepy. Also, the museum itself was quite small in terms of quantity of works - we finished the whole museum in about 30 mins. Worth to see once in your lifetime, but not any more times than that!

If you are traveling through Northern Spain, the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao is a museum that one should visit. This museum is similar to the modern and contemporary art museum in NYC. We had a private tour which provided us an efficient and timely way to enjoy the museum. My favorite part of my visit was all of the contemporary art paintings and architecture

I'm not a big museum guy, but when in Bilbao and a 15 minute walk from the Guggenheim, you go. My friend and I enjoyed the museum for about an hour and a half, so I felt we got our money's worth. They had some augmented reality app that didn't quite work right, and the audio guide is on your phone so make sure you bring headphones... we didn't know so we didn't. Felt like I missed out there.

Ease of getting in. Modern art collection. They have themes. I like the outdoor collection. I did not see the bear with flowers

Was left totally in awe after my visit.While, yes, Gehry's work is amazing, it was the Jenny Holzer exhibition that will bring you to your knees. I had to take a break in the afternoon to grab some air and regroup. The whole experience was unparalleled. Truly a feast for the senses. The way this titanium masterpiece of architecture captures the light is ridiculous. Some say you can visit in a few hours, but do yourself a favor and block off an entire day or two for this magnificence.It's massive and mind-blowing. Be sure not to miss the outdoor light show right on the Nervion. Stunning!

There are two things to do in Bilbao. Eat pinxtos and visit the Guggenheim. It's an excellent museum, inside and out. Structurally unique and worth photographing all over. The art? Amazing. Lots of sculptures. I was particularly impressed with the massive installation by Richard Serra, "Torqued Spiral" which is fine to photograph from ground level but not from above? There are Bill Viola advertisements all around Bilbao, so I did have to look at some of his art. The one with the people in water? Didn't get it at all. Same with the Schwarz (Remix) paintings. What I did like was the pointilism paintings, especially Signac's "Mont Saint-Michel". You can easily spend two or three hours here. Well worth it.

WRONG HOURS ON YELP! Closed Mondays Good thing I'm in town Tuesday and Wednesday as well See photos. Yelp says open. Museum entrance says closed. Museum is correct. --- Added after visiting on Tuesday. The Bilbao Guggenheim is an amazing complex. I recall reading that back in the day (1959), when the first NY Guggenheim was built, the artists were worried that it would over shadow the art, which I don't think was going on when I used to go there often. It is totally happening here. Between the building being utterly on a huge and different scale than Frank Lloyd Wright's building in NY, and the Guggenheim becoming a chain museum (how many now? NY, Bilbao, Venice, Dubai, Orlando?, Anaheim?, Dollywood?) they have to rummage around in the basement to put stuff on the walls. The spaces are so vast that smaller works get lost. The building itself is an awesome walk-in sculpture. The rest seems pretty vanilla.They've got one of those big permanent Serra installations, that are also being stamped out somewhere. FIve stars for the building alone. Go here.

It has made the renaissance of Bilbao the city that was rebuilt from chaos, pollution and poverty. And while the museum itself is bah-humbug, its contribution to this LOVELY LOVELY LOVELY city can't be overlooked. A must quick tour on the outside. Not much to see inside unless you are a modern art lover (which I am not) with very limited collection. But it sets the pace for the city that has become a place that welcomes you with open arms! I LOVE BILBAO!

The museo is really stunning from afar...and it gets even more beautiful as you approach it and notice all the different art pieces surrounding it. I had a great time here, wandering outdoors and indoors! The price for admission is fair and you can purchase tickets online beforehand. There are also free audio guides and a few levels to discover! Sure some of the art may not be to everyone's taste, but that's art right? It's supposed to make you feel something, no matter what feeling that may be! Anyway, I certainly enjoyed my time here and ended up spending a few hours exploring around. Go here if you can...the drive is worth it!

I guess I expected a lot more. I'm not a museum goer but the Guggenheim? Ya gotta go, right? And it's 10 euro admission fee isn't a killer so we decided to give it a go. I regret my decision. The best part of this museum is the building itself and the artwork on the outside. So save yourself some euro and walk around the building and up and down the steps. You can enter and use the bathroom without paying the entrance fee.

An absolutely stunning structure in and of itself -- there's nothing else like it. Even empty, this building would be worthy of awards. Add in the exhibits and it becomes a fantastic museum of art. If you are in or near Bilbao, you owe it to yourself to visit.

I arrived in Bilbao a day early, which allowed me to adjust to the time difference. The hotel staff recommended the Guggenheim, which was about a 10 minute walk from the hotel. What an impressive museum! I must have spent at least 5 hours exploring the museum and it's many works of modern art. The staff was friendly and incredibly helpful. From the moment I arrived and throughout my experience, I felt welcomed by the museum staff. I had plenty of questions about the physical structure of the museum - staff were enthusiastic and willing to share. It was obvious that they were proud of their museum, which they explained was a big part of Bilbao. I hope to return at some point with my children so that they explore this amazing museum.

Thank goodness for Frank Gehry as the building and the outside art was the only thing I liked about the Guggenheim in Bilbao. The whole second floor was dedicated to anti-American and anti-men rhetoric. The first floor has very expensive mazes and the top floor had third rate portrait and still-life art. Save 17€ and just walk around the building as there are great photos to be had.

Four star is the average of the 5 star building and 3 star artwork. Getting from each piece of art was confusing when following the guides on your phone. There was a few wonderful pieces, but as a whole it was a bit underwhelming. Take your time to appreciation the design and construction which is stellar.

I loved it here. It's not the biggest of museums but it has some of the best pieces, Rauschenberg, Warhol, Ruscha, and cool installations. It's kinda packed, so if its too crazy, just enjoy the art that's outside!

I remember what a big deal this museum was when it opened exactly twenty years ago in 1997 because nobody had seen a building so wildly out of the norm as Frank Gehry's architectural wonder of sweeping and curving titanium (photo: http://bit.ly/2zaJc3c). I was such a travel virgin that I was probably thinking it unlikely that I would ever see it up close since I had no idea where Bilbao was at the time. We all know the visual impact dramatically changed the city from a generically commercial urban center to a cultural mecca for contemporary art. But then something else happened in the meantime. Gehry started repeating his massive wavy-gravy design in locations closer to my home like in Seattle (Museum of Pop Culture opened in 2000 - review: http://bit.ly/2lkGq5q) and LA (The Walt Disney Concert Hall in 2003). That's no slight against Frank whose global reputation started with this groundbreaking building, but I have to admit it looked more familiar than dramatic when Jamie W. and I came upon it on our stroll along the Nervion River. I just wanted to have a taste of the Basque country and where else would we start but in Bilbao and at this museum? If you come by way of the riverwalk, you'll take in a couple of key public art pieces like Louise Bourgeois' "Maman", a thirty-foot-high bronze and stainless steel spider that was created as a tribute to motherhood as it holds 26 marble eggs in its sac (photo: http://bit.ly/2yPtmuw), and Anish Kapoor's "Tall Tree and the Eye", a tower of mirrored spheres by the same artist who made the classic Bean in Chicago's Millennium Park (photo: http://bit.ly/2gF0F8W). There was even a guy spray-painted silver in front of the Kapoor piece. No reason, just 'cause. Once you get around the perimeter of the building, you'll need to walk up a gradually upward sloping set of stairs in order to walk down to the front entrance. But first, take a gander of Jeff Koons' "Puppy", an anachronistic but lovable 43-foot-high topiary sculpture of a West Highland white terrier festooned with marigolds, begonias, and lobelias, that stands guard in front of the museum (photo: http://bit.ly/2zUvM8S). Once you enter the museum itself, you will be gobsmacked by the 150-foot-high atrium from which glass elevators and metal walkways lead to nineteen separate exhibition spaces (photo:http://bit.ly/2zQTFhr). Jenny Holzer's electronic LED sign, "Installation for Bilbao" in constant vertical motion (photo: http://bit.ly/2lhZuBe), and Richard Serra's massive sculptural maze of steel, "The Matter of Time" (photo: http://bit.ly/2yU2uJr) impress with their scale if not their respective visions. Mark Rothko's "Unititled" (1952) may be the oldest piece on display (photo: http://bit.ly/2gOPePN), but you can see large pieces by de Kooning, Picasso, Hockney, and a cool Warhol panorama called "150 Multicolored Marilyns" (photo: http://bit.ly/2zHeL10). There is also another colorful Jeff Koons piece out on the terrace called appropriately "Tulips" (photo: http://bit.ly/2hdGorB), but truth be told, the exhibits inside were on the lackluster side compared to the architecture of the building. Admission is a reasonable 13€, and it stays open until 8PM (closed on Mondays). If you are in need of caffeine, you may want to walk out and take advantage of the outdoor café across the plaza, which during our visit, featured a rockabilly-style musical duo of marginal talent as we sipped our café con leches (photo: http://bit.ly/2xqTYhA). Is it worth the trip? For the building itself and the public art, absolutely. For the art inside, well...

My goodness. The Guggenheim. I'm so not into modern art. But. This. Is. Out. Of. This. World. Crazy. Good! It's a bit like getting your first child. Nobody can tell you what it is really like even if they try. This building knocks you off your socks from the outside and once inside you start bleeding from your pores. With tears of joy. You feel instantaneous enlightenment, once you see right inside the bare mind of Frank O. Gehry, the architect. Titanium, stone, wood, glass, steel, marble, all in quantities that are sheer mind blowing. In shapes and forms that seem out of this world (and probably are). You can take all the pictures you want of the building itself, but not inside the exhibition rooms. That's a bit of a bummer. But it forces you to take a good look with your own eyes. There are some pretty fabulous art pieces there. One of my favorites is the VW Beetle hanging from threads every single part apart from the other. Still in the shape of a VW Beetle. Since my father used to have VW Beetles and my whole family of 9 fitted into one, I had to shed a little tear, imagining my siblings and parents between those plates, motor parts, lights, etc. Very alienating. The museum shop is big and spacious with lots of expensive stuff. I go for the postcards always :). The bar cafe on the 2d floor has a nice terras outside, on the street level side on the city side. You can also reach both without buying a museum ticket. But do buy a ticket. You will never regret it. Go Guugenheim.

Gayle and I stopped at the Guggenheim as we were travelling from Santillana del Mar down to Santo Domingo de la Calzada. We had seem the pictures of this Frank Gehry designed building, listened to the hype, and since we were in the area, why not? And for a guy who get's really nervous driving within European Cities, the Museum is pretty easy to find. Nearby (and relatively inexpensive) parking at the nearby Mall helped too. We also visited on a Saturday that was some sort of Anniversary, so admission was free. The Building itself is the most notable modern art at the Guggenheim. It's cool, spacious, and stunning inside and out. As for the collections, I enjoyed the abstract paintings and had fun walking around Richard Serra's huge "Matter of Time" structures. Past that, I've seen better at both the Reina Sofia in Madrid and Museu Colecção Berardo in Belem (Portugal). As such, Gayle and I spent more time within and outside of the Building, than looking at the exhibitions. There's also a handsome 2-story gift shop and fine dining available on the premises. One of the most impressive features of Frank Gehry's curvy titanium design is how it interacts with the City (and in fluid harmony with the River), and how Bilbao has apparently interacted with the Museum since. Looking at the nearby La Salve Bridge is a case in point. Gayle and I got to see this again at the Marqués de Riscal "City of Wine" in La Rioja, also designed by Frank Gehry.

Every time I go it's more and more captivating. The Joan Miro exhibition was fascinating.

We have been waiting to visit this fantastic Guggenheim Museum for months. We finally made it just before our Mid-May El Camino Hiking trip which departing from Bilbao, Spain. This magnificent 20th Century avant-garde architecture did not disappoint us. The Architect Frank O. Gehry achieved a daring sculptural design and created a spectacular housing for this unique Museum. Once we arrived, we were able to attend immediately a short but free guided tour which gave us a great start. The self-guided headsets were excellent way to visit every part of the Museum. My most favorite sculpture was the Maman by Louise Bourgeois. The bronze, marble, and stainless steel, close to 9m tall Spider at the North side of the building. The Museum Gift Shop had many unique treasures for purchase and needless to say we could not resists leaving without a few keepsakes for our Condo. We were mesmerized by both, the outside and inside. We had a lovely time!!

It was underwhelming to say the least. Very small museum and I guess I'm not a fan of modern/contemporary art. It looks like anyone can create this stuff and although it can be pretty I can't appreciate it. Lot of it looks bizarre. The cat made of flowers on the front of the building was my favorite attraction. 3 floors and a lot of empty unused space. I wouldn't recommend it. You can't take pictures or video anything so leave you cameras at home or in the car.

Looks prettier in picture like everything else. I think just being outside is just as beautiful and enlightening. Take lots of pictures with the cute puppy in the front.

3.5 stars Pretty neat museum if you're into contemporaneity art. Personally, I am not a HUGE contemporary art person, so I wasn't really into it. We spent about 2.5 hours in the museum and spent some time taking photos of the gorgeous exterior of the museum. The exterior architecture is very unique. Great photo ops if you want to just come here and take photos and not go in!

One of my favorite museums! The whole experience of purchasing tix on line, punctual opening of the museum, amazing architecture of the bldg itself and to top it all off, the temporary & permanent exhibitions were stellar! Great ease to move around in the building, free flowing crowds all trying to view the 20 galleries. I spent 3 hrs here & had a blast! This is a must see while in Bilbao.

A spectacular building, housing a collection that's too avante garde for my taste. Richard Serra's monumental steel "Matter of Time" is awesome, and we enjoyed seeing the well-known pieces around the perimeter, such as Jeff Koons's huge "Puppy" covered in flowers, and Louise Bourgeois's gigantic spider, but that was about it, for us. Still, you need to go, if you're in Bilbao, because that's probably why you're there anyway. Get the audio tour gadget -- it's included in the price of admission, so you might as well. Just make sure you save a chunk of time to walk through the Richard Serra steel sculptures.

What a fantastic place! The sculptures outside and its architecture are terrific. See Maman the spider by the river and puppy up front. But the exhibits and collections are solid as well. You'll see a Warhol and more.

The museum is gorgeous inside and out and it's a must-visit during a trip to Bilbao. A lot of art are in the "abstract" category, so if that's not your thing you might not enjoy as much and just walk thru a lot of things with a brief glance. There are some neat modern art installations that are worth checking out. The admission is 13 EUR but I went on a Sunday and it was only 10 EUR. Would be worth your while to check prices during your stay in Bilbao to see if you can get in cheaper.

Some good stuff but super pretentious and expensive entry price. Price includes the audio guide which takes some of the string out but it's is full of such arty-farty BS it just doesn't make any sense. Also, as usual, a very strong pro Jewish theme running through many of the works so it feels like you are in a Zionist propaganda film. A blank canvas with two colors was described as interpreting 'the reconstruction of Germany after the horrors of the nazis'. Bitch please.

For the building and architecture alone. It's magnificent. I can't say I understand about an hour, but I think if I did Teaira T amazing too. You love model or not, you'll absolutely love this place.

This has been on my museum bucket list for a long time and I finally got the chance to go in April. What was a wonderful experience. Affordable price and not overwhelming. Absolutely amazing architecture next to natural elements like the rolling hills & river that flows next to it - makes for such an interesting dichotomy. The free handheld guided tour is the perfect way to tour this museum. Can't remember the name of the exhibit - but I've attached photos - sort of like a maze that challenges your feelings of perspective of space & time is something you have to experience to really understand. Definitely a couple exhibits that were a little much for me but overall fun museum!

Absolutely stunning at sunset!! In truth, I found the exhibits in Bilbao's Guggenheim a little underwhelming... in a city full of so much art, there are better museums & galleries to poke your nose in. However, that doesn't mean this place should be a miss - for what it lacks in interior galleries, it more than makes up for with outdoor sculpture & sheer architectural genius! The space itself looks part spaceship, part puzzle - the mirrored exterior catches the light at any given point of the day and each hour looks a little different. Once inside, the curved walls, vaulted ceilings and giant windows don't look like they should fit together... remember that nursery rhyme: there was a crooked man, who lived in a crooked shoe? This is the museum the crooked man would have built after making his millions. Very cool. Beware of the giant spider though... if you're as oblivious as I am, it may cause you to have a heart attack.

Iconic sculptures by Serra and Koons here, and some amazing architecture. Close to a few other museums, kayaking/standup paddle boarding on the river, and loads of restaurants. Must see.

This is why you even know that Bilbao exists, right? Come here for the exterior. Come here for the interior. Come here for the art. You will get "museum fatigue" as the building is intense and so is some of the artwork.

If you come to Bilbao, you have to come to the Guggenheim, if not to go inside, then at least to see it from the outside and check out all the cool sculptures outside. The big spider is pretty cool and the big floral puppy is one of my favorites out in front of the entrance. If you have time, come walk by the museum at night also, as it's beautiful with all the lights and less crowded. We came on a Sunday around 12 pm and it wasn't very crowded which was nice. The price of the admission is 10€ which is not bad, and includes the audio guide - although I didn't find most of the audio guide useful or entertaining. Some of the audio explanations were very obvious and boring - I don't need someone to tell me that the canvas was painted all in one color (blue) with the corner left blank... that's obvious when you look at the painting. Maybe I'm not cultured enough to appreciate all the modern art, but some of the pieces I just didn't get. My favorites were the VW car that was suspended in space by clear wires so it looked like it was capturing an explosion as it happened. I also really liked the Richard Serra installation and thought the audio guide for that was really insightful and interesting. There was a room with Andy Warhol's Marilyn Monroe piece and a few other things in there that were interesting. Overall, I've been to other modern art museums (Tate Modern in London, the SFMoMa in San Francisco) and this particular museum seemed a lot smaller to me with less pieces of art. The building itself from the outside and inside was beautiful but I was not quite as impressed with the pieces inside as I thought I would be. If you love modern art, you'll love this place. For me, I'm glad I came once and loved the outside but probably wouldn't come back for a second time. Overall, it's a good way to spend 3 hours or on a trip to Bilbao, the price is not too expensive, and it's a cool place to check out. 3.5 stars from me.