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Entrance of Guggenheim Museum, Bilbao, Spain

© Creative Commons / Dani_vr

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Things to see in Bilbao

Tourist information: 

Bilbao Turismo
Plaza Ensanche 11
Tel: (94) 479 5760.
www.bilbao.net/bilbaoturismo

Bilbao Turismo has several offices around town - at Plaza Ensanche 11, the airport, Plaza Arriaga and the Guggenheim Museum.

Passes: 

The BilbaoCard provides significant discounts at museums, shops, restaurants and shows, as well as on public transport. You can buy it at the following tourism offices: Plaza Ensanche 11, Avenida Abandoibarra 2, Bilbao International Airport and Plaza Arriaga. It's available for one, two or three days.

Bilbao Museum of Basque Archaeology, Ethnography and History

This Bilbao museum is well worth a visit. It features exhibits from the Basque region's prehistory, archaeology, ethnography and history. The permanent collection allows visitors to explore topics such as prehistorical Vizcaya, the maritime world in the region, fishing and trade, pastoral life, handicraft textiles, pottery, weapons and furniture.

Opening Times: Tues-Sat 1100-1700; Sun 1100-1400.
Admission Fees: Yes.
Disabled Access: Yes
Unesco: No
Address: Plaza Miguel de Unamuno 4, Bilbao, Spain
Telephone: (94) 415 5423.
Website: www.euskal-museoa.org
Euskalduna Palace

Considered to be among the most significant contemporary architectural works made by Spanish architects, Euskalduna Palace was designed by Federico Soriano and Dolores Palacios and represents the last ship built in the old Euskalduna shipyard. A symbolic representation of Bilbao's industrial heritage, this huge multifunctional complex, built in 1999 and located in the city centre, holds a renowned conference centre and a magnificent auditorium. There are guided tours every Saturday at noon.

Opening Times: Daily 1000-2000.
Admission Fees: Yes.
Disabled Access: Yes
Unesco: No
Address: Avenida Abandoibarra 4, Bilbao, Spain
Telephone: (94) 403 5000
Website: www.euskalduna.net
Fine Arts Museum Bilbao

Celebrating its 100-year anniversary in 2008, the Fine Arts Museum Bilbao features an extraordinary variety of artworks from the 12th century to the present. The collection includes more than 6,000 works of art, from paintings, sculptures and drawings to engravings and decorative objects. It is divided into three parts; one for classic European art, with works by artists like El Greco, Murillo, Goya and van Dyck; the second for contemporary art, including works by Gauguin, Bacon, Chillida and Barceló; and the third for Basque art, showing works by Regoyos, Zuloaga, Echevarría, Iturrino and Arteta among others.

Opening Times: Tues-Sun 1000-2000.
Admission Fees: Yes.
Disabled Access: No
Unesco: No
Address: Museo Plaza 2, Bilbao, Spain
Telephone: (94) 439 6060.
Website: www.museobilbao.com
Guggenheim Museum

Bilbao's greatest tourist attraction is without doubt the US$100-million Guggenheim Museum. Designed by architect Frank Gehry, it is a vast titanium-clad structure in the centre of Bilbao and has 11,000 sq m (118,403 sq ft) of exhibition space distributed amongst 19 galleries. It features the works of some of the most influential artists of the later half of the 20th century - Picasso, Motherwell, Rauschenberg, Still, Tàpies, Warhol, Klein and de Koonig.

Opening Times: Daily 1000-2000 (Jul-Aug); Tues-Sun 1000-2000 (Sep-Jun).
Admission Fees: Yes.
Disabled Access: Yes
Unesco: No
Address: Avenida Abandoibarra 2, Bilbao, Spain
Telephone: (94) 435 9000.
Website: www.guggenheim-bilbao.es
Old Town (Casco Viejo)

Bilbao's Old Town is a labyrinth of narrow pedestrian streets branching out from the Plaza Nueva. The area has an atmosphere all of its own, created by locals and tourists strolling the streets, nibbling on pintxos (the Basque version of tapas), drinking and enjoying the street life. The St James Cathedral has honoured Bilbao's official patron saint since 1643. Built at the end of the 14th century in gothic style, it has three naves with triforium and ambulatory. The building became a cathedral in 1949.

Admission Fees: No.
Disabled Access: Yes
Unesco: No
Address: Bilbao, Spain
Website: www.cascoviejobilbao.biz (Spanish only).
Ría de Bilbao Maritime Museum

Situated in the docks of the old Euskalduna shipyard in Abandoibarra, Bilbao Maritime Museum is dedicated to all things relating to the sea and navigation. The indoor section includes exhibitions, a media archive, an auditorium, a shop and a café. Outside you can visit the old docks of the Euskalduna Shipyards, where you can find shelter for vessels, the pump house and the unique Carola crane. There are several permanent and temporary exhibitions.

Opening Times: Tues-Sun 1000-2000.
Admission Fees: Yes.
Disabled Access: Yes
Unesco: No
Address: Muelle Ramón de la Sota 1, Bilbao, Spain
Telephone: (94) 608 5500.
Website: http://www.museomaritimobilbao.org
Vizcaya Bridge

The marvellous bridge of Puente Vizcaya spans the Nervión River from Getxo just to the north of Bilbao over to Portugalete on the west. More than 100 years old (it was built in 1893), it is 160m (524ft) long and 50m (164ft) tall and affords a superb view of the Bilbao Estuary and the Abra Bay. It transports cars and pedestrians across the river in a hanging gondola. It's also possible to take the lift up to the upper footbridge, from where excellent panoramic views can be enjoyed.

Opening Times: Daily.
Admission Fees: Yes.
Disabled Access: Yes
Unesco: Yes
Address: Getxo, Bilbao, Spain
Telephone: (94) 480 1012.
Website: http://www.puente-colgante.com
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