Spend hours wandering through the exhibition halls of this grand institution that is filled with works of art that span several hundred years.
Take a journey through hundreds of years of art history when you visit the Bilbao Fine Arts Museum. This prominent cultural institution is a treasure trove of more than 10,000 works from the 13th century to the present day. You’ll see paintings, sculptures, works on paper and more.
The museum's collections are spread across three floors. Browse the 20 exhibition rooms on the first floor for Baroque, neoclassical and Basque works, among others. This floor also hosts an ever-changing roster of temporary exhibitions. For details of the latest and upcoming shows visit the museum’s official website.
Go up to the second and third floors to study contemporary artworks and more pieces by a variety of Basque artists. Pay particular attention to the collection of notable masterpieces. These include Francis Bacon's Lying Figure in Mirror and Saint Sebastian Cured by the Holy Women by José de Ribera, Francisco de Goya’s Portrait of Martin Zapater and The Irons of Tremor II by Eduardo Chillida
If you speak Spanish or Basque go on a free guided tour of the fine arts museum. Tours are held on the last Sunday of every month.
Find the museum inside the Doña Casilda Iturrizar Park, a public park in central Bilbao that’s close to Plaza Euskadi. Arrive by bus, tram, metro or taxi. Drivers can park for a fee in the garage that is only a short walk away.
The Bilbao Fine Arts Museum is open every day except Tuesdays and a few days around Christmas and New Year. There is an admission fee, with reductions available for students, large families and visitors under the age of 25 and over the age of 65. However, visit in the early evening and enjoy free access to the permanent collection. Save money on the general admission by purchasing the Artean Pass, a combined ticket that includes access to the Guggenheim Museum.
