Museo Marítimo Ría de Bilbao

We welcome you to the Ria de Bilbao Maritime Museum, a privileged overlook that will bring you closer to the thrilling adventure of the sea via the Bilbao Estuary and Port. This space is located on the former site of the outbuildings of the Euskalduna shipyard, on the left bank of the Bilbao Estuary.

he Euskalduna de Construcción y Reparación de Buques Corporation was established in 1900 and marked the beginning of modern civilian shipbuilding in the Basque Country. After a glorious past, Euskalduna announced its closing in 1984.

The Bilbao Estuary has undergone a spectacular change in recent years. It has once again become the centre of attention, this time as a space for leisure and entertainment. Aside from being an invigorating element of the city and the region, the Museum´s purpose is also to preserve and spread the history, culture and identity of the men and women that have lived on and from the Bilbao Estuary, which is closely bound to maritime tradition.

Come aboard with us!

RBMM Foundation

The Ria de Bilbao Maritime Museum is the result of the work performed by the private, non-profit Foundation that has the same name, and was founded in 1996. This organisation was created from the effort of a group of individuals bound to the sea, and more specifically, the Bilbao Estuary. The goal of establishing the Foundation and the future museum was to promote the research, preservation and diffusion of the cultural heritage created throughout history by the maritime activity of the Estuary, the Port of Bilbao and the Biscay province.

One year later, in 1997, its Board of Trustees was established, formed by representatives of the primary public and private entities of Bilbao. In 1999, the museum´s Patronage and Sponsorship Programme was started, to which the companies and institutions that were already members of the Foundation´s Patronage were already included.

The museum has a surface area of about 27,000 m2. The exhibition space is distributed between the outdoor area and inside the building. The vessels, which make up a significant portion of the exhibit, are located in the wide open dock area. In the museum´s interior, the exhibit is divided into three main subject areas: the physical environment of the Estuary, the evolution of commerce in Bilbao and its surroundings, and lastly, the evolution of naval construction on the Bilbao Estuary. Additionally, the Museum has a large area for housing temporary exhibits, which complement the exposition offerings.

Museum Guidelines

• Visitors must comply with instructions given by museum personnel at all times.
• We request that visitors notify any anomalies and incidents.
• If you are visiting the Museum accompanied by children, please try to keep them with you at all times. It is important that we should all make them understand the importance of not touching or playing with the exhibits.
• If visiting with a stroller, please keep a minimum safety distance from the museum exhibits.
• It is not permitted to take photographs inside the Museum building.
• Entry is not permitted with large bags, suitcases, and sharp objects, except for crutches and/or canes. The Museum offers a free cloakroom service where these articles may be left.
• Umbrellas are allowed only if they are folded and dry. Otherwise, please place them in plastic bags that are available from the machine provided by the Museum.
• For sanitary reasons, animals, food, beverages, plants, etc., are not permitted.
• Pets, except for guide dogs, are not allowed in the Museum.

Individual visits

The Museum offers the possibility of touring both the indoor and the outdoor (dock area) exhibition spaces.

Group visits

In order to facilitate group access to the Museum, we recommend that you keep in mind the following:

• To avoid crowds in the Museum galleries, groups will be distributed in the available time frames.
• Depending on the characteristics of the visit, the following procedure will apply: 

Reservation with guide:

• We offer the possibility of enjoying guided tours with qualified staff, which should be booked in advance. There can be a maximum of 20 people in each group.

Groups with their own guide:

• Should be booked in advance.

Groups of more than 20 without a guide:

• Groups of more than 20 people without a guide should also book their visit in order to guarantee all the visits in the established time frames.
• In all cases, payment should be made at the Ticket Desk.

We recommend booking reservations at least one week in advance.
If necessary, the Museum reserves the right to interrupt visits that have not been booked in advance in order to avoid crowds.

Booking hours: 
Monday to Friday:  9:00 am - 2:00 pm
Tel.: 94 608 55 00 / 94 608 55 06
E-mail:info@museomaritimobilbao.org

HOW TO REACH

The Ria de Bilbao Maritime Museum is located in Bilbao, in Muelle Ramón de la Sota, under the Euskalduna Bridge.

If you are coming by car, on highway A-8, we recommend you to take Bilbao-West exit (Sabino Arana). When you reach Sagrado Corazón roundabout, you must take the second exit and leaving behind the Euskalduna Bridge, you need to take the next exit (Olabeaga direction) and you will arrive at the Museum docks area.

Metro: San Mames station, Sabino Arana exit.
Tram (Euskotren): Euskalduna stop.
Bilbobus (City Bus): Sagrado Corazon stop, 56, 62, A3 lines.
Airport: 15km from the city centre, with bus service to and from the airport.
Parking Euskalduna: 50m from the Museum.

ADMISSION

INDIVIDUAL ADMISSION:
• Adult admission: 6 €.
• Admission for retirees, pensioners and over 65 years: 3.5 €
• Student admission (maximum 26 years): 3.5 €.
• Unemployed admission: 3.5 €.
• Children under 6 years: Free.
• Handicapped admission: 3.5 €.

Tuesday: free access (During the school year, from September to June)

GROUP ADMISSION:
Group admission with reservation (minimum 15 people):
• Schools (non-guided visit): 2 €.
• Educational workshops (workshop + visit): 3,5 €.
• Associations, foundations: 3 €.
• Groups that do not belong to an association: 4 €.

Group admission without reservation (minimum 15 people):
• Whether or not they belong to an association: 4 €.

OTHER GROUPS:
• Club Lector 10 (Reader´s Club): 4 €.
• Hirukide Association (large families): 4 €.
• BBK 26, Gazte txartela, Gazte txartela - Pack Txollo: 4 €.
• Bilbaocard: 4.60 €.
• Athletic fans: 4 €.
• Kulturtick: 4 €
• Nekatur: 4 €
• Eusko Ikaskuntza: 4 €.
• Betizu: 3 €.

*Free ticket does not include access to the dry dock.
**The ticket window will close 30 minutes before Museum closing time.
Galleries will begin closing 10 minutes before Museum closing time.

Accreditation (photocopy of registration or similar credential), along with the National Identity Card (DNI) or passport, are necessary in order to obtain discounts on admission rates.

Opening hours and admission rates may be subject to modifications depending on the activities carried out by the museum. However, visitors will be notified of such changes through various media.