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.

Avenida Abandoibarra 2
Tel: (94) 435 9080.
Website: www.guggenheim-bilbao.es

Bilbao Fine Arts Museum
Celebrating its 100-year anniversary in 2008, the Bilbao Fine Arts Museum 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.

Museo Plaza 2
Tel: (94) 439 6060.
Website: www.museobilbao.com

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, voted the best in the world in 2003, and a magnificent auditorium. There are guided tours every Saturday at noon.

Avenida Abandoibarra 4
Tel: (94) 403 5000.
Website: www.euskalduna.net

The Old Town (Casco Viejo)
The 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 (tel: (94) 415 3627) 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.

The Ría de Bilbao Maritime Museum
Situated in the docks of the old Euskalduna shipyard in Abandoibarra, and opened in 2004, 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 cafe. Outside you can visit the old docks of the Euskalduna Shipyards, where the you can find shelter for vessels, the pump house and the unique Carola crane. There are several permanent and temporary exhibitions. Closed Monday.

Muelle Ramón de la Sota 1
Tel: 902 131 000.
Website: www.museomaritimobilbao.org