Recognized worldwide as ‘a masterpiece of the twentieth century’, the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao is a monumental landmark by the edge of Nervion River in Basque City, Spain. Conceptualised and created by renowned designer Frank Gehry in 1997, this art museum is one of the largest in Spain. Housing over 600 pieces of art from all over the world, the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao is a gold standard in contemporary art; it hosts work by celebrated artists like Pablo Picasso, Andy Warhol, Richard Serra and several others. Over the last two decades, the Guggenheim in Bilbao has risen to be recognized as a prominent name in the global art landscape.

Our guide on the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao will give you details on buying tickets, what to expect, featured artwork and more.

History of Guggenheim Museum Bilbao

Bilbao, located at the edge of Basque City, was a prominent port and industrial town. After an economic decline in the 70s, the government led a period of planned urban and economic development. It was at this stage that officials suggested the possibility of building a Guggenheim museum in Bilbao.

In collaboration with the Guggenheim Foundation -- a not-for-profit dedicated to art -- the agreement was signed in 1991. Experimental designer Frank Gehry, a Canadian-American architect, was selected to lead this project, catapulting him to worldwide fame. 
Gehry’s innovative design is inspired by historical and geographical context; from Bilbao’s fishing ports to the shipping industry, the Guggenheim museum features unique titanium-laden structures that perfectly encapsulate the city’s -- and Gehry’s -- life and culture.

In just twenty years, the Guggenheim Museum has rapidly reshaped the cultural topography of Bilbao, placing it on the global map as a nerve center of visual and sensory art and economic growth.

What to Expect at Guggenheim Museum Bilbao

The Guggenheim Bilbao is one of the largest Guggenheim museums in the world. A series of art galleries, mixed media projects like interactive exhibits involving film technology and soundscape innovations await visitors at the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao.

Spread across three floors housing twenty galleries, the Guggenheim boasts a whopping 11,000 sq. ft. of exhibition space that features contemporary art. Exhibits are usually on display for a period of about six months; they are curated by both the Guggenheim Foundation and the Museum.

With the museum’s celebrated success, the ‘Guggenheim Effect’ -- eponymously named -- was born. It refers to a phenomenon where a large-scale architectural project transforms the economy of a town or city. The museum commands a footfall of over a million visitors each year and has been labelled as a must-see attraction by art connoisseurs and travel writers around the world.

Guggenheim Museum Bilbao Tickets

Since the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao is one of the world's most popular art museums, expect large crowds through the year. To avoid waiting in line or missing out on the various exhibits, we recommend opting for skip-the-line tickets to the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao.

Guggenheim Museum Bilbao tickets cost €13 for visitors above the age of 12 and €7.50 for senior citizens and students. Those under the ages of 12 can enter the museum for free and would have to be accompanied by an adult.

If you're travelling in a group of between 20 to 50 persons, a group booking can be made for €12 per person.