The 19 most important museums in the Basque Country.

Get to know the most important museums in Euskadi, ideal places to enjoy the culture and history of the Basque people.

The most important museums of Euskadi count by millions the visits they receive throughout the year. A fact that makes clear the importance that the culture and history of the Basque Country has for the people who visit us. Many of you will have in mind the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, the most international museum of all. Well, you should know that, in our opinion, there are museums that are just as interesting and important. In the list of Basque museums that we show you today, we prioritize spaces that show authentic aspects of our land. Today is a great dose of Basque culture and history. Are you ready? The museums that we show you tell with great passion the history of our land, an example of this are projects such as Albaola, La Encartada or Mater, spaces that surprise us with the construction of a Basque whaler of the sixteenth century, the launching of a factory of “txapelas” of the nineteenth century or sail in the last wooden fishing boat of Pasaia. Places full of history, which are waiting for us to transmit their passion for Euskadi. It is not the first time that we talk about the museums of the Basque Country, in fact, we have in our newspaper library with 2 other articles in which we recommend you to visit the most important museums of Bizkaia and the most important museums of Gipuzkoa. These publications, supported by the more than 50 museums that we have visited throughout the Basque Country, allow us to make a small selection of all of them.

Many of you who visit our website ask us the same question. Which museums to visit in the Basque Country? Well, it’s time to answer that question, pay attention to the following lines because we are sure that more than one of the museums we mentioned will catch your attention. Otherwise, if you are looking for a specific museum, we encourage you to leave us a comment in this article, we will try to answer you as soon as possible.

In this case, we wanted to order the different museums that we recommend you to visit in the Basque Country according to our own opinion. We are sure that many of you will be surprised that the Guggenheim Museum is at the bottom of this list, but in our opinion, although it has contributed greatly to form the new Bilbao, we believe that visiting its permanent collection does not contribute more than the other museums that we put before it. Moreover, we like much more its exterior architecture (Puppy, the tulips or the big tree), than its permanent exhibition. For tastes the colors. What is clear is that the museum offer in Euskadi is as varied as its quality. We have museums for all tastes and colors. Now it is up to you to choose.

Albaola: In our opinion, Albaola is one of the most important cultural projects in the Basque Country. A museum and factory, in which a 16th century Basque whaler is being built with the same resources that were available at the time. To see how each piece is molded by the hands of expert shipwrights and volunteers is simply amazing. A project that hides a great history behind it, and you should know that, with the construction of this giant, many aspects that we did not know have been discovered. Did you know that the tar used to waterproof the Basque whalers was created in Quintanar de la Sierra, Burgos? Did you know that historically the Sakana Valley of Navarre has supplied all the wood needed to build the Basque ships? These are just two small pieces of the enormous puzzle that makes up Albaola. A project that has risen to the top of our list thanks to the love of its manager, Xabier Agote, for the sea and the passion of a town to recover its legacy, Pasaia. A space that has us in love.

Igartubeiti Museum: The lord of the Basque farmhouses. This baserri (farmhouse in Basque) of the XVI century, shows us the rural way of life of that time. An aspect that, together with the small museum that accompanies it, makes it one of those obligatory visits in Euskal Herria. To all the above, we must add the fact that Igartubeiti has a winepress, an apple press. An element, which makes that year after year the apple press is recreated to obtain its precious juice, the Basque cider, “sagardoa”. In addition, the space in which it is located, in a high place, in the gipuzkoan locality of Ezkio – Itsaso, provides us with a natural environment of great landscape value. To take away the hiccups.

Boinas La Encartada Museum: In Balmaseda we find the beret factory La Encartada, a place where part of the txapelas of Euskadi were made. Although today this factory does not manufacture txapelas, its doors are still open to all those who want to know one of the best preserved industrial complexes of the nineteenth century in the Basque Country. It is a reference in the Basque industrial panorama. Nowadays, the only active txapelas factory is located at TolosaBoinas Elosegui. By the way, if you are interested in getting a good txapela or beret, you can buy it in the museum itself, although we recommend you to visit the 7 streets of Bilbao, the Casco Viejo, and visit the Gorostiaga hat shop, a place where they will recommend you very well when it comes to making your purchase.

El Pobal Forge: The El Pobal Forge shows us in a practical way how the ore obtained in the different mines of Euskadi was shaped. A master class that we recommend to all the people who visit us. Highly recommended. During the guided visit, it is usual that they elaborate a nail of those of before, a small jewel, which, in our case, we took home as a souvenir. Remember that you can also buy one at the reception of the forge itself. We recommend visiting this Basque museum after visiting the Mining Museum of the Basque Country, a perfect complement to have a global version of the mining industry in the Basque Country.

San Telmo Museum: The San Telmo Museum houses a beautiful permanent collection on Basque culture and history. You should know that San Telmo is the oldest museum in Euskadi, housing pieces of the old project of the Real Sociedad Bascongada del País. A museum in which we can enjoy a good review of the evolution of our people through ethnographic and artistic elements. Its location, in the center of Donostia San Sebastian, under the protection of Mount Urgull, allows us to know this Gipuzkoan museum while we enjoy the incredible new promenade of the city, the old part of Donostia San Sebastian or Mount Urgull.

Basque Railway Museum: The Basque Railway Museum is one of the most demanded by families who visit us. And the fact is that, thanks to the different trains and the practical demonstrations, this experience has become one of the star plans to do with children in the Basque Country. As if the locomotives and other machinery they have are not enough argumentation, we must say that they have a small museum of 2 floors in which they keep clothes and many other historical objects of the same theme. A museum, different, that we recommend you to visit in Azpeitia, near the Sanctuary of Loiola.

Boat Museum Mater: The last wooden fishing boat of Pasaia has been converted into a museum. A boat, which wants to make us aware of the importance of the sea and in which we are invited to learn about the different fishing techniques. This itinerant museum is based in the port of Pasaia, but, from time to time, it goes out to sea and other ports to spread its message. Its proximity to Albaola and the impressive views of Pasai Donibane are two of its allies. And the fact is that, all of them together, we obtain a very complete plan. Visit Albaola, visit Mater Museoa, take the motorboat to Pasai Donibane and enjoy the Basque gastronomy in one of its many restaurants. A plan to take off your hat. What do you think?

Salt Valley of Añana: The Salt Valley of Añana is one of the great treasures of Araba. A natural space of great value, which shows us how our ancestors obtained the salt by means of the springs of salty water that sprout in the valley. The different plots or threshing floors in which this water is stored, made the water evaporate by the sun and thus obtaining the salt in a completely traditional way. In addition, after the guided tour, between the months of April and October, we have the opportunity to put our feet in a small outdoor salt spa to test the effects of hypersaline water. Finally, you should know that this museum also offers different experiences around salt. Activities, which, we propose to know each and every one of the aspects of salt. Finally, it is possible to buy Añana salt in a small store.

Bilbao Fine Arts MuseumOne of the most important art museums in the Basque Country. A space, which surprises us with Basque artistic works of different periods, styles and artists. Located in the center of Bilbao, next to the park of Doña Casilda Iturrizar and the Iberdrola Tower, this museum invites to know an important part of the Basque culture from some of the most famous works of art. Its location, close to the estuary of Bilbao, encourages us to walk along the waterway of the city by one of its two banks.

Mining Museum of the Basque CountryThe mining industry was of great importance in the industrial and economic evolution of the Basque Country. A sector that, in Bizkaia, had a great presence in Gallarta, the municipality where the museum that we present to you today is located. Its installations are located on the edge of the Concha II mine, an open-pit mine that represents one of the last iron exploitations in the Basque Country. A visit, which, it seems essential to make before entering the beautiful and historic mining landscape of La Arboleda.

Salt Museum of Leintz Gatzaga: The salt museum of Leintz Gatzaga, like the Salt Valley of Añana, shows us how salt can be obtained as our ancestors obtained it. In this case, the geography and climate are totally different from those found in Añana, so the differences in the way of obtaining salt are very visible. And, in addition to the unique mechanism with which water is extracted from the spring, we should also mention that evaporation is not done by the sun, but by fire. Curious, isn’t it?

TOPIC, Tolosa Puppet International Center: The TOPIC museum, better known as the puppet museum, is one of the most curious spaces in the Basque Country. Located in the ancient capital of Gipuzkoa, in the beautiful TolosaTOPIC is one of those places that attracts attention for its subject matter and collection. At present, TOPIC is a member of UNIMA (Union Internationale de la Marionnette), the oldest theatrical association in Europe. But, besides being one of the most prominent members, it is also one of the most active. An aspect, which we can verify in person in each of the events it organizes.

Bibat MuseumBibat: The word Bibat, two in one in Basque, is the term used by this space to present the archaeology museum and the playing cards museum. Two spaces of great interest, which converge in the same museum complex in the historical center of Vitoria Gasteiz. Heraclio Fournier, one of the most important brands of playing cards, offers the visitor the opportunity to contemplate some of its historic machines and at the same time offers us the opportunity to visualize collections of playing cards from all over the world. For its part, the archaeology museum offers us the opportunity to learn about the history of our town, through the different elements found in archaeological sites throughout Araba.

Basque Museum: One of the museums that best exhibits the culture and history of the Basque people. Located in the Casco Viejo of Bilbao, in the center, this space invites us to know our legacy without wasting time in displacements. In a way, it reminds us of the San Telmo Museum, and, although both are totally complementary, its objective to show the identity of the Basque people makes their collections to be assimilated in a certain way.

Sagardoetxea: The museum of the Basque cider. A museum that highlights the value of apple culture in the Basque Country. Located in Astigarraga, mecca of the Basque cider and one of the towns with more sagardotegis (cider houses in Basque) per square meter, this museum is ideal to get into the world of cider in the Basque Country. We recommend visiting this Basque museum before going to a cider house, its different spaces give us an overview of this sector, essential to enjoy the experience of txotx with full knowledge.

Txakolingunea: The temple of txakoli. A space, in which they show us each one of the aspects related to this Basque wine. Its location, in Bakio, cradle of one of the most striking txakolis of all those that surround us, (the txakoli gorri) is ideal to walk among the vineyards while we enjoy the sea. A highly recommended visit for all those who want to visit a txakoli winery. Essential to know each of the curiosities that surround this Basque wine.

Gernika Peace MuseumGiven the history of the Basque people, repeatedly struck by violence, the existence of this space seems to us practically fundamental. The peace museum invites us to forgive from the memory. Its location, in the center of Gernika, one of the towns where the Franco regime and the Italian and German troops hit the hardest, seems to us perfect to be able to remember and forgive for the events that took place in this Basque town.

Guggenheim Museum Bilbao: The museum of museums. The great museum of Bilbao. The most international museum of Euskadi. An impressive architectural work, which, simulating a ship moored in the estuary of Bilbao invites us to know the history of Bilbao from the art. An impressive structure that has revolutionized the capital of Biscay. Its exterior, striking and welcoming, calls to its encounter. And it is that, to its spectacular architecture, works of art like Puppy, the great tree and the eye or the tulips, works of art to open sky that capture the attention of the people that I walk next to him.

Eureka! Museum Zientzia Museoa Science for all ages. This museum located in Miramon, just 10 minutes from the center of Donostia San Sebastian, invites us to learn about science through interaction. The science museum is one of the most dynamic museums we have known so far. A very appropriate space for all those people who travel with their families. A museum that has become a perfect complement to educational programs for the youngest members of the family. Learning through play: who’s in?

The museums of Euskadi that we have shown you in this article are those that, in our opinion, best represent the museum panorama of our land. A beautiful collection of spaces that we recommend you to visit during your trip to Euskadi. If you want to visit any other museum or you are simply looking for a museum of a certain theme or type, we invite you to leave us a comment in this article, we will try to answer you as soon as possible. We are sure that together we will find the museums that best suit your tastes and needs.

Videos: If you liked the museums of Euskadi that we have suggested, we recommend that you subscribe to our YouTube channel, where you will find multiple audiovisuals of Basque museums and many other spaces of Euskal Herria. We are sure that our audiovisual content will help you find your next destination in the Basque Country.

The most important museums of Euskadi, invite us to know the essence of the Basque people. A thematic route, that takes us to know corners of all Euskadi through its museums. Emblematic spaces that await your arrival. By the way, if you have any questions or suggestions, we recommend that you leave us a comment in this article. We will try to respond as soon as possible.