Guggenheim Museum Bilbao

If there is one place that symbolises Bilbao’s transformation over recent decades, it is the Guggenheim Museum. Opened in 1997 and designed by the Canadian architect Frank Gehry, its spectacular titanium building is a work of art in its own right. Its curved shapes are reminiscent of a ship or a fish, paying homage to the city’s seafaring past. Even if you don’t go inside the museum, it’s well worth taking a leisurely stroll around it to appreciate its different views and see some of its most famous sculptures.

Outside, you’ll find two of Bilbao’s most photographed works: Jeff Koons’s gigantic floral dog, ‘Puppy’, and Louise Bourgeois’s enormous spider, ‘Maman’. Inside, the museum showcases international contemporary art, with temporary exhibitions and some large-scale permanent installations, such as Richard Serra’s ‘The Matter of Time’.

A visit usually takes between one and two hours. Even if contemporary art isn’t your thing, the building and the museum’s surroundings make it well worth a stop.

Address: Abandoibarra Etorb., 2, 48009 Bilbao
Telephone: +34 944 35 90 00
Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 10.00–19.00