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Basque Museum

Euskal Museoa

Established in 1921 to focus on the prehistory, archaeology, ethnography and history of Euskadi (Basque homeland). Not a particularly well laid out museum. It will be of passing interest to people who study Basque culture.

Address: Plaza Unamuno, 4
Hours: Mon Wed-Fri 10:00-19:00; Sat 10-13:30,16:00-19:00; Sun 11:00-14:00. Tue and public holidays: closed
Price: Adults: €3.5; +65 12-26 and groups €2. Children under 12 & everyone on Th: free
Website: euskalmuseoa.eus (opens in a new tab)

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Listing from Wikivoyage: Bilbao, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Updated 28 Sept 2026. Something wrong? Tell us.

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Plaza Nueva
Bilbao's Plaza Nueva was first named Plaza de Fernando VII. Construction began on the plaza on December 31, 1829 and finished exactly 20 years later on December 31, 1849. This plaza was the seat of the Diputación de Vizcaya until July 1900 when the Diputación moved to its new home on the Gran Vía. The Academy of the Basque Language (Euskaltzaindia) occupies the old Diputación building in the Plaza Nueva. There is a market of used books, stamps, coins, and other small items in the plaza every Sunday morning. The Plaza Nueva is surrounded by buildings and only has entrances on some sides.
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Cathedral of St. James (Santiago)
Gothic-style 14th-century cathedral, named after Bilbao's official patron saint. Three naves and small Gothic cloisters. The building was designated a cathedral in 1949. Its neo-Gothic tower and main façade were designed by Severino de Achúcarro in the 1800s. The adjoining square (Plaza de Santiago) boats a fountain designed by Luis Paret during the reign of Carlos III with the inscription Por el bien público (For the good of the people).
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Guggenheim Museum
Frank Gehry's spectacular twisting titanium-clad modern art museum is perhaps the most celebrated building of the 1990s, even starting what would be called the 'Bilbao-effect': The idea in urban planning that a star-quality building can single-handedly change the entire image of a city. Although this effect is unproven in its pure form, the Guggenheim nevertheless changed the world wide perception of Bilbao. The graceful, sensuous curves, evocative of the ships that used to be ubiquitous along the docks of Bilbao, are covered in titanium squares, which resemble the scales of a fish and shimmer in the sunlight. In keeping with the maritime theme, appropriate for the setting, the skylights of the largest gallery (formerly known as the Fish gallery) are designed to look like the fins of fish. Many parts of the building are purely decorative, and don't serve any purpose. The permanent collection is not particularly impressive, but the museum always hosts at least one interesting temporary exhibit, frequently comprised of masterpieces from the other Guggenheim collections.
Tue-Sun 10:00 to 20:00; Jul and Aug: daily 10:00 to 20:00. Closed Jan 1 and Dec 25Adults €18.00; +65, students, -26: €8; -18 free (online prices, door prices €1-2 higher)
Eat
Malatesta
Malatesta Kultur Lubakia
A place where you can have a drink, snack on pinchos and eat in the heart of Bilbao's Siete Calles. Vegetarian and vegan options. There is always an exhibition on, and cultural events are held here.
From 11:00 to 22:30, Fri and Sat until 02:00. Mon closed for rest