Bilbao Museums: Enjoy Fine Arts and learn about Basque history

This city is blessed with a rich cultural life. The Bilbao museums are a great treasure for rainy days (and sunny as well).

Guggenheim is obviously the most known art institution, but you would be surprised to find out that it is not the only one. Below you’ll find a list of several places that are well worth a visit.

If you are an art lover you must not miss this place, located a mere 5 minutes walk from the Guggenheim.

The museum displays the main schools and artists in western art. Here you will find works of El Greco, Goya, Van Dyck, Gauguin and Chillida amongst others.

It also contains an interesting collection of Basque art. More details here

Location: Museo Plaza, 2 (Gran Vía, close to Moyua square)

Paying a visit to the this place is definitely a good way to get to know the history of Bilbao and the Basque people. Exhibition starts at prehistory and cave paintings and up until our century.
More details here

Location: Plaza Miguel de Unamuno 4, Casco Viejo

Enjoy beautiful religious artwork, religious silverware and ancient holy vestments from as early as the 16th century. The building used to be a convent, founded by Dominican nuns, and is located in the Old Town of Bilbao.

Location: Plaza de la Encarnación, 9-B, Atxuri, Bilbao

This museum is a testimony to how The River Nervión has contributed to the life and wealth of Bilbao in many different ways. Here you get to know how the river has served as a sea port, as a center of commerce and as a location for a multitude of ship yards.

The museum brings you back to the roots of Bilbao, long before it turned into the cultural center it is today. More details here

Location: Muelle Ramón de la Sota 1

If you like bullfighting this is a great place to find out more. "El Museo Taurino" is located adjacent to the bullring. Her you can see swords, capes, original posters and costumes. It is located close to Zabálburu.

Location: Martin Aguero 1, Plaza de Toros de Vista Alegre Bilbao

If you can´t see the originals you can always come here and see the copies. This newly inaugurated place let you see full-scale reproductions of world famous sculptures.

Location: Conde Mirasol,Bilbao