The sea has long been central to Basque history, culture, industry, and cuisine, and the Itsasmuseum (“Itsas” means “sea” in Basque) explores these long-standing traditions, as well as Bilbao’s role as a major port. Designed by architect Juan Francisco Paz and opened in 2003, the museum displays historic ships and objects alongside multimedia exhibits and themed galleries that cover topics ranging from Basque surfing history and historical shipwrecks to piracy and shipbuilding.
Outside, visitors can explore the former shipyard, discover different boats, and admire the cherry-red Carola crane, which was used to build ships until 1984. The Itsasmuseum’s outdoor exhibitions can also be viewed on select bike tours of the city.
Children under six receive free entry to the museum, while students, seniors, and disabled visitors receive reduced rates (those on reduced rates also enjoy free entry on Tuesdays).
A free audio guide can be downloaded as part of your admission.
The Itsasmuseum is broadly accessible to disabled visitors, though there is a steep slope down to its entrance that may make access difficult for some.
The museum operates a gift shop and coffee shop in the lobby.
The Itsasmuseum is at 1 Muelle Ramón de la Sota, right below the Euskalduna Bridge. It’s just a few minutes from the San Mamés train station (on lines C1 and C2); the San Mamés metro station; and the Euskalduna tram stop (line 5); several bus lines also frequent the area.
The museum is open every day except Mondays, from late morning until evening. It’s advised to book tickets in advance and to set aside at least 2 hours to explore the wide-ranging exhibition spaces. The space is busiest during the summer and school holidays, and quietest in the winter and on weekdays.
The Itsasmuseum is one of Bilbao’s must-sees, and it’s accompanied by a range of other world-class institutions that are worth discovering. The best-known is the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, as iconic for its Frank Gehry design as for its modern art collection. Other highlights include the Bilbao Fine Arts Museum and the Euskal Museum (also known as the Basque Archaeological, Ethnographic, and Historical Museum).