EXPRESS TOUR

45 min

If you're short on time, get the most out of your visit by taking in a selection of the highlights on offer today.

1. Atrium
2. Riverfront Terrace
3. Richard Serra's The Matter of Time (1994-2005)
4. L'Art en guerre. France, 1938 – 1947: From Picasso to Dubuffet
5. Riotous Baroque. From Cattelan to Zurbarán- Tributes to Precarious Vitality

1. Atrium

Measuring 50 meters in height, the Atrium is located in the heart of the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao and is a critical feature of Frank Gehry's architectural design. (Floor 1, Atrium)

2. Riverfront Terrace

From the riverfront terrace, next to the Atrium, you can see how well the museum is integrated into its urban setting, due to the materials from which it was constructed (titanium, glass, and limestone) and to its relationship with surrounding buildings and structures (such as La Salve Bridge). The museum's exterior is also the venue for site-specific works from the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao collection, such as Jeff Koons's Tulips (1995-2004), Louise Bourgeois's Maman (1999, cast in 2001), and Daniel Buren's Arcos rojos (2007), among others. (Plaza, Riverfront Terrace)

3. Richard Serra's The Matter of Time (1994-2005)

Take the glass elevators to the balcony on the second floor for a panoramic view of Richard Serra’s permanent installation The Matter of Time (1994–2005), one of the most emblematic works in the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao collection. (Floor 2, Balcony)

4. L'Art en guerre. France, 1938 – 1947: From Picasso to Dubuffet

On the second floor visit the exhibition L'Art en guerre. France, 1938 - 1947: From Picasso to Dubuffet, featuring significant works such as Farm Work (Les Travaux de la terre) (1932) by Marcel Gromaire (Gallery 208), The Conqueror (Le Conquérant) (1942) by Josep Steib (Gallery 207), and Woman Sitting in an Armchair (Femme assise dans un fauteuil) (1941) by Pablo Picasso (Gallery 209) (Floor 2)

5. Riotous Baroque. From Cattelan to Zurbarán- Tributes to Precarious Vitality

Visit the exhibition on the third floor, Riotous Baroque. From Cattelan to Zurbarán- Tributes to Precarious Vitality, which features significant works such as The Rape of Europa (ca. 1640) by Simon Vouet (Gallery 304), Paradis XII (2009) by Juergen Teller (Gallery 305), and Untitled (2007) by Maurizio Cattelan (Gallery 306). (Floor 3)

A DAY AT THE MUSEUM

5 h

Spend an unforgettable day at the museum visiting all the exhibitions currently on view and exploring Frank Gehry's exceptional architecture. Be sure to take advantage of all the services and resources available to make your visit as complete as possible.

1. History of the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao
2. Atrium
3. Richard Serra's The Matter of Time (1994-2005)
4. Indoor Site-Specific Works
5. The Exhibitions
6. Outside the Museum

1. History of the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao

Designed by the architect Frank Gehry, the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao is an outstanding example of groundbreaking 20th-century architecture. We recommend that you begin your visit by browsing through the materials on the history of the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao project and the construction of its building available on the Guggenheim Institutions video screens and at the computer stations in this room. (Floor 1, Zero Espazioa)

2. Atrium

Measuring 50 meters in height, the Atrium is located in the heart of the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao and is a critical feature of Frank Gehry's architectural design. (Floor 1, Atrium)

3. Richard Serra's The Matter of Time (1994-2005)

Richard Serra's permanent installation The Matter of Time (1994-2005) is one of the most emblematic works in the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao collection. The artist recommends the following itinerary:1. Pause right after you enter Gallery 104 ArcelorMittal for a partial view of the installation. 2. Take the glass elevators to the balcony on the second floor for a panoramic view of the entire group of sculptures. 3. Return to the first floor and stroll around the sculptures as you like, choosing your own path. (Floor 1, Gallery 104 ArcelorMittal)

4. Indoor Site-Specific Works

Site-specific works by contemporary artists engage in dialogue with spaces both inside and outside the museum's Frank Gehry building, and are an important component of the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao collection. Jenny Holzer's Installation for Bilbao (1997) is located on the first floor, between the Atrium and Gallery 103A. (Floor 1)

5. The Exhibitions

You may currently visit the following temporary exhibitions: Gallery 103B is the site of an exhibition of works by children aged 6 to 12 who took part in the museum's educational Learning Through Art program during the 2012-13 school year. On the second floor visit the exhibition L'Art en guerre. France, 1938 - 1947: From Picasso to Dubuffet, featuring significant works such as Farm Work (Les Travaux de la terre) (1932) by Marcel Gromaire (Gallery 208), The Conqueror (Le Conquérant) (1942) by Josep Steib (Gallery 207), and Woman Sitting in an Armchair (Femme assise dans un fauteuil) (1941) by Pablo Picasso (Gallery 209). Visit the exhibition on the third floor, Riotous Baroque. From Cattelan to Zurbarán- Tributes to Precarious Vitality, which features significant works such as The Rape of Europa (ca. 1640) by Simon Vouet (Gallery 304), Paradis XII (2009) by Juergen Teller (Gallery 305), and Untitled (2007) by Maurizio Cattelan (Gallery 306). (Gallery 103B, Floors 2 and 3)

6. Outside the Museum

From the riverfront terrace, next to the Atrium, you can see how well the museum is integrated into its urban setting, due to both the materials from which it was constructed and to its relationship with the surrounding buildings and structures. The exterior of the museum serves as the venue for site-specific works from the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao collection, displaying works by artists Louise Bourgeois, Daniel Buren, Eduardo Chillida, Yves Klein, Jeff Koons, and Fujiko Nakaya. (Plaza, Riverfront Terrace)

ARCHITECTURE

90 min

Enjoy a unique experience exploring Frank Gehry's innovative Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, a groundbreaking work of 20th-century architecture.

1. History of the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao
2. Inside the Museum
3. Site-Specific Works
4. Outside the Museum
5. Bilbao's New Urban Layout

1. History of the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao

Designed by the architect Frank Gehry, the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao is an outstanding example of groundbreaking 20th-century architecture. We recommend that you begin your visit by browsing through the materials on the history of the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao project, as well as the construction of its building, available on the “Guggenheim Institutions” video screens and at the computer stations in this room. (Floor 1, Zero Espazioa)

2. Inside the Museum

Explore Frank Gehry’s intriguing architecture by touring the museum’s wide variety of galleries, strolling along its walkways, and discovering the magnificent outdoor views. (Atrium)

3. Site-Specific Works

Site-specific works by contemporary artists, which engage in dialogue with spaces inside and outside the Frank Gehry building, are an integral component of the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao collection. Between the Atrium and Gallery 103A is Jenny Holzer’s Installation for Bilbao (1997), and located in Gallery 104 ArcelorMittal is Richard Serra’s installation The Matter of Time (1994–2005). Outside the museum are site-specific works from the collection by Daniel Buren, Louise Bourgeois, Eduardo Chillida, Yves Klein, Jeff Koons, and Fujiko Nakaya. (Atrium, Gallery 104 ArcelorMittal, and Outside the Museum)

4. Outside the Museum

From the riverfront terrace, note how well the museum is integrated into its urban setting due to the materials used in its construction (titanium, glass, and limestone), as well as its relationship with surrounding buildings and structures such as La Salve Bridge. From here, you may also notice that the exterior of the museum serves as a venue for site-specific works from the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao collection, displaying works such as Jeff Koons’s Tulips (1995–2004), Louise Bourgeois’s Maman (1999, cast in 2001), and Daniel Buren’s Arcos rojos (2007), among others. (Floor 1, Riverfront Terrace)

5. Bilbao's New Urban Layout

From the riverfront terrace, we recommend that you stroll around the exterior of the building, before venturing further. In recent years, the city of Bilbao has undergone an astounding transformation. In addition to Frank Gehry, other internationally acclaimed architects such as Santiago Calatrava, Arata Izosaki, and Rafael Moneo have designed buildings and structures that have contributed to this transformation. Walk underneath La Salve Bridge, cross over the Calatrava Bridge, and climb the stairs between the Isozaki Towers to discover the city from other perspectives. (Outside the Museum)

FAMILY TOUR

For children and accompanying adults. 90 min

Visit the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao with your family! A wide variety of activities, services, and materials designed specifically for children are available to help you enjoy the museum together.

1. The Building
2. Site-Specific Works
3. The Exhibitions
4. Other
5. Café and Restaurant
6. Educational Resources

1. The Building

Exploring the building designed by architect Frank Gehry can be a fun-filled adventure as you discover the materials that were used in its construction (titanium, glass, limestone, and plaster), and search for places where you can view the inside and outside of the museum at the same time. (Floor 1, Atrium)

2. Site-Specific Works

Site-specific works by contemporary artists are an integral component of the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao collection. These are located both inside and outside the museum. During your tour, you will find a puppy, a spider, some tulips, and a snake whose materials and size may surprise you. (Plaza, Riverfront Terrace)

3. The Exhibitions

On the first floor, in the exhibition Learning Through Art, you can see works created by children who participated in the museum’s Learning Through Art program during the 2012–13 school year. On this floor you may also walk around the installation The Matter of Time (1994–2005) by Richard Serra (Gallery 104 ArcelorMittal) to view the unique interactions between the artwork and the space. On the second floor, you can see how Pablo Picasso created a bullhead (Gallery 208), and on the third floor, discover the animals in Maurizio Cattelan’s work (Gallery 306). (Galleries 103 B and 104 ArcelorMittal; Floor 2; and Floor 3)

4. Other

The coatroom has baby strollers, available free of charge with admission, to make your visit more comfortable. (Floor 1, Coatroom)

5. Café and Restaurant

Sandwiches, canapés, pastries, and drinks are available for purchase all day in the museum café, which also serves a prix-fixe lunch menu. The restaurant serves gourmet cuisine by chef Josean Martínez Alija. (Floor 1, Restaurant and Café)

6. Educational Resources

The museum offers families the following educational resources, free with admission: · Children's audio guide for Richard Serra's The Matter of Time (1994-2005)· Guided tours and workshops (Floor 1, Information Desk)

GUGGENHEIM COLLECTIONS

90 min

The permanent collections of the Guggenheim Museums comprise works belonging to the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation, including the holdings of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York, the Peggy Guggenheim Collection in Venice, the works commissioned by Deutsche Guggenheim in Berlin, as well as the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao collection.

1. Videos on the Guggenheim Museums
2. Selections from the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao Collection III
3. Richard Serra's The Matter of Time
4. Site-Specific Works

1. Videos on the Guggenheim Museums

Start your visit by watching a three-minute video on the history of the Guggenheim Museums and their collections, on view in this room. (Floor 1, Zero Espazioa)

2. Selections from the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao Collection III

On the first floor you may visit the exhibition Selections from the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao Collection III, featuring significant works such as Jean-Michel Basquiat's Moses and the Egyptians (1982), located in Gallery 105, and Alex Katz's Ada Smiles (1994), located in Gallery 103A. (Floor 1, Galleries 103A and 105)

3. Richard Serra's The Matter of Time

Richard Serra's permanent installation The Matter of Time (1994-2005) is one of the most emblematic works in the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao collection. The artist recommends the following itinerary: 1. Pause right after you enter Gallery 104 ArcelorMittal for a partial view of the installation. 2. Take the glass elevators to the balcony on the second floor for a panoramic view of the entire group of sculptures. 3. Return to the first floor and stroll around the sculptures as you like, choosing your own path. (Floor 1, Gallery 104 ArcelorMittal)

4. Site-Specific Works

Site-specific works by contemporary artists that engage in dialogue with spaces inside and outside the Frank Gehry building are an important part of the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao collection. Located on the first floor, between the Atrium and Gallery 103A is Jenny Holzer’s Installation for Bilbao (1997), and located in Gallery 104 ArcelorMittal is Richard Serra’s installation The Matter of Time (1994–2005). Outside the museum are site-specific works from the collection by Louise Bourgeois, Daniel Buren, Eduardo Chillida, Yves Klein, Jeff Koons, and Fujiko Nakaya. (Atrium, Riverfront Terrace, and Outside the Museum)

TEMPORARY EXHIBITIONS

40-60 min

The Guggenheim Museum Bilbao's dynamic program of temporary exhibitions featuring modern and contemporary art, as well as its periodic exhibitions of art from earlier centuries, offers a sweeping view of international art over the course of art history.

1. Learning Through Art
2. L’Art en guerre. France, 1938 – 1947: From Picasso to Dubuffet
3. Riotous Baroque. From Cattelan to Zurbarán- Tributes to Precarious Vitality

1. Learning Through Art

Gallery 103B is the site of an exhibition of works by children aged 6 to 12 who took part in the museum’s educational Learning Through Art program during the 2012–13 school year. (Gallery 103 B )

2. L’Art en guerre. France, 1938 – 1947: From Picasso to Dubuffet

On the second floor visit the exhibition L’Art en guerre. France, 1938 – 1947: From Picasso to Dubuffet, featuring significant works such as Farm Work (Les Travaux de la terre) (1932) by Marcel Gromaire (Gallery 208), The Conqueror (Le Conquérant) (1942) by Josep Steib (Gallery 207), and Woman Sitting in an Armchair (Femme assise dans un fauteuil) (1941) by Pablo Picasso (Gallery 209) (Floor 2)

3. Riotous Baroque. From Cattelan to Zurbarán- Tributes to Precarious Vitality

Visit the exhibition on the third floor, Riotous Baroque. From Cattelan to Zurbarán- Tributes to Precarious Vitality, which features significant works such as The Rape of Europa (ca. 1640) by Simon Vouet (Gallery 304), Paradis XII (2009) by Juergen Teller (Gallery 305), and Untitled (2007) by Maurizio Cattelan (Gallery 306). (Floor 3)

WE RECOMMEND

90 min

Discover details about the museum and get the inside scoop on various aspects of the exhibition program, the building, and the project itselfeven if you're a frequent visitor. Maider López Recommends. The artist recommends places, works, and details that you shouldn't miss during your visit to the museum.

1. Floor 2 Balcony overlooking Gallery 104 ArcelorMittal
2. Architectural Detail: Columns
3. Enjoying the museum from the inside, looking out, or sitting on a bench to chat or reador read
4. Fujiko Nakaya, Fog Sculpture #08025 (F.O.G.) (1998)

1. Floor 2 Balcony overlooking Gallery 104 ArcelorMittal

Maider López: "One of the key spots in the museum is the balcony from which you can see all of Richard Serra’s works and the Gallery 104 ArcelorMittal. You become aware of the room’s spatial distribution; you have a bird’s-eye view of what you have already experienced spatially. You discover how different it is from the experience of walking through the gallery itself." ()

2. Architectural Detail: Columns

Maider López: "As you stroll along the walkway on the first and second floors, you can see how Frank Gehry’s huge columns lean against the building. I have always enjoyed this, just walking and coming across hidden architectural details, discovering the building, seeing more than what is apparent at first glance." ()

3. Enjoying the museum from the inside, looking out, or sitting on a bench to chat or reador read

Maider López: "The museum, in addition to offering us a chance to see exhibitions and artworks, is a place in its own right. I am interested in the ability that we as visitors have to transform the museum through our own ways of experiencing it, of relating to and experimenting in it." ()

4. Fujiko Nakaya, Fog Sculpture #08025 (F.O.G.) (1998)

Maider López: "This work generates an experience, a change in the landscape, that transforms the public space. What interests me about this piece is the chance factor: you could leave the museum and never know it was there, or you could find it when it is turned on, generating new situations and a kind of complicity, like believing for one moment that fog has suddenly rolled in." ()

Routes

EXPRESS TOUR

A DAY AT THE MUSEUM

ARCHITECTURE

FAMILY TOUR

GUGGENHEIM COLLECTIONS

TEMPORARY EXHIBITIONS

WE RECOMMEND

1. Atrium

2. Riverfront Terrace

3. Richard Serra's The Matter of Time (1994-2005)

4. L'Art en guerre. France, 1938 – 1947: From Picasso to Dubuffet

5. Riotous Baroque. From Cattelan to Zurbarán- Tributes to Precarious Vitality

1. History of the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao

2. Atrium

3. Richard Serra's The Matter of Time (1994-2005)

4. Indoor Site-Specific Works

5. The Exhibitions

6. Outside the Museum

1. History of the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao

2. Inside the Museum

3. Site-Specific Works

4. Outside the Museum

5. Bilbao's New Urban Layout

1. The Building

2. Site-Specific Works

3. The Exhibitions

4. Other

5. Café and Restaurant

6. Educational Resources

1. Videos on the Guggenheim Museums

2. Selections from the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao Collection III

3. Richard Serra's The Matter of Time

4. Site-Specific Works

1. Learning Through Art

2. L’Art en guerre. France, 1938 – 1947: From Picasso to Dubuffet

3. Riotous Baroque. From Cattelan to Zurbarán- Tributes to Precarious Vitality

1. Floor 2 Balcony overlooking Gallery 104 ArcelorMittal

2. Architectural Detail: Columns

3. Enjoying the museum from the inside, looking out, or sitting on a bench to chat or reador read

4. Fujiko Nakaya, Fog Sculpture #08025 (F.O.G.) (1998)