And if you\u2019re talking to anyone from Bilbao, there are three sacred subjects<\/strong> that it\u2019s best not to make fun of: the Virgin of Bego\u00f1a, Athletic Bilbao football club and the Guggenheim.<\/p>\n Even without entering the museum you can enjoy the iconic works of art surrounding the Guggenheim.<\/p>\n You can meet Puppy<\/strong>, Jeff Koons\u2019 floral White Terrier puppy who greets visitors at the entrance or admire Mam\u00e1, the gigantic guardian spider (no less than ten metres!) by Louise Bourgeois, who protects the museum from the other side.<\/p>\n If the exterior inspires passion, the interior of the Guggenheim is equally impressive: the museum\u2019s own collection is the best reason to visit. Among well-known pieces such as Andy Warhol<\/strong>\u2019s One Hundred and Fifty Multicolored Marilyns and Yves Klein<\/strong>\u2019s iconic intense blue paintings, you\u2019ll find others that will amaze you such as Richard Serra<\/strong>\u2019s work The Matter of Time.<\/p>\n The Matter of Time<\/strong> is an installation formed by different toruses of steel, which form an almost labyrinthine circuit, which the sculptor invites you to enter and leave, discovering shapes, colours, sounds and nuances. Walking through it is one of the things you simply must do if you visit Bilbao.<\/p>\n Personally, if I had to choose just one of the museum\u2019s works, it would definitely be Anselm Kiefer\u2019s work Sunflowers<\/strong>. The flowers in this painting appear to be enormous, not only because of the size of the work but also because of the perspective: they are of gigantic dimensions that contrast with the lifeless body resting on the ground. The colour is also highly significant; the absence of light makes the work more intimate and makes you reflect about the vulnerability of the inert man.<\/p>\n Although, clearly, our response to each work is highly personal and can be different from what the artist was seeking to evoke, this is what makes it truly interesting. That\u2019s why the best thing to do is to come to the museum, let yourself be carried away and experience it all for yourself.<\/p>\n If you want to be up-to-date and know about the exhibitions that are currently on, it\u2019s always a good idea to look at the website. The programme of events is very dynamic and changes often, but whenever you come, I\u2019m sure there\u2019ll be something interesting on.<\/p>\n When the situation allows, an event called Art After Dark<\/a> is held. One Friday a month, the museum would open its door from 10 pm to 1 am for a night of art and music, during which you can admire the exhibitions with music from some of the best DJs in the country in the background.<\/p>\n Also on the agenda are contemporary art courses for adults, children\u2019s workshops with creative experiences, talks, guided tours and other events that will not only give you an in-depth knowledge of the museum but also help you see it from another perspective.<\/p>\n You can buy your tickets to the museum online by clicking on this link<\/a> so you don\u2019t have to queue to enjoy the Guggenheim.<\/p>\n I recommend you take a minimum of 3-4 hours to enjoy the museum experience to the full. Your visit will probably coincide with a meal time so here are my recommendations for where to go.<\/p>\n If you want to fill yourself with energy before your museum visit, I suggest a good brunch a stone\u2019s throw from the entrance to the Guggenheim. At Sua San you can enjoy some of the best eggs Benedict in the city<\/strong>, choosing between a classic version on an English muffin or more modern alternatives, like on a bagel with avocado and salmon. It\u2019s open every day and brunch is served until 10:30.<\/p>\n If you got up at the break of dawn to get to the museum early and fancy a drink when you get out, my recommendation is that you cross the river by the Deusto bridge and head to the Crazy Horse, which opens at noon. It has, without doubt, the terrace with the best views of the Guggenheim museum<\/strong> and you can choose from their large selection of beers and enjoy the city\u2019s most photogenic vistas.<\/p>\n La Despensa del Etxanobe is Michelin starred chef Fernando Canales\u2019 most informal offering in the centre of Bilbao. OK so maybe you came to Bilbao for its culture, but feast on its food too! This sophisticated restaurant serves up classic Basque meals with an original, avant-garde flair<\/strong> and you can sample Canales\u2019 most iconic dishes such as his famous lasa\u00f1a fr\u00eda de anchoas<\/em> (cold anchovy lasagne). You can choose from different menus<\/a> depending on your budget.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re longing for a glass of wine or a cocktail at a stylish venue<\/strong>, the Domine hotel bar is the perfect choice. A canny selection of drinks, exquisite service and super comfortable surroundings for after an intense day in the museum. The ideal location for chatting about your visit and the works that most appealed to you.<\/p>\n Finally, if you finish at the museum late and it\u2019s nearly time for dinner, I strongly recommend you head to Odoloste. Odoloste, which means black pudding in Euskera, specialises in pork. A lush menu at a very competitive price<\/strong> which offers super-tasty meals such as talo-tacos de carrillera<\/em> (pork cheek tacos), hongos y papada ib\u00e9rica a la carbonara <\/em>(mushrooms and Iberian pork dewlap carbonara) or croquetas de talos con txistorra <\/em>(corn tortilla croquettes with chorizo). To top it all off and cool down, don\u2019t forget to order an helado de lim\u00f3n y albahaca con pesto dulce <\/em>(lemon, basil and sweet pesto ice cream).<\/p>\n If these gastronomic suggestions have made your mouth water, we\u2019re waiting to welcome you with arms open wide. Our city is culture, spectacular food, stunning views, great people and lots of nature – one of the most complete getaways for 2021.<\/p>\n If that weren\u2019t enough, the folks at Volotea have made this hot Spotify playlist<\/a> to play while you\u2019re planning your adventure, on the road to our city or editing the photos you took during your break. Because travel is a full-on experience that you can enjoy before, during and after.<\/p>\n![\"panoramica](\"https:\/\/volare.volotea.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/panoramica-exterior-guggenheim-683x1024.jpg\")
<\/figure>\nEVERYTHING THAT LIES WITHIN THE GUGGENHEIM<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n
Outdoor art installations<\/h3>\n
A spectacular permanent collection<\/h3>\n
![\"detalle](\"https:\/\/volare.volotea.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/detalle-interior-guggenheim-1-min-576x1024.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n![\"los](\"https:\/\/volare.volotea.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/los-girasoles-Anselm-Kiefer-1-min-576x1024.jpg\")
<\/figure>\nA jam-packed calendar of temporary exhibitions<\/h3>\n
Other ways of enjoying the museum<\/h3>\n
DISCOVER THE BEST FOOD NEAR THE GUGGENHEIM<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n
Breakfast at Sua San<\/a><\/h3>\n
![\"plato](\"https:\/\/volare.volotea.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/plato-sua-san-2-min-576x1024.jpg\")
<\/figure>\nAn aperitif at Crazy Horse<\/a><\/h3>\n
Lunch at La Despensa del Etxanobe<\/a><\/h3>\n
A drink at Sixty One Lobby Bar<\/a><\/h3>\n
Dinner at Odoloste<\/a><\/h3>\n
![\"ato](\"https:\/\/volare.volotea.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/plato-odoloste-1-min-768x1024.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n