Santurtzi Itsasoa Museoa
Maritime museum of Santurtzi in the former fishermen’s brotherhood building next to the harbour, on the municipality’s relationship with the sea since 1600.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Santurtzi Itsasoa Museoa occupies the former building of the fishermen’s brotherhood (cofradía) in the fishing harbour, fully renovated. Santurtzi lies on the left bank of the Abra estuary, next to the port of Bilbao, and the museum aims to show the municipality’s ties with the sea in their professional, social, cultural and recreational dimensions.
The route, which uses audiovisual media, covers the period from 1600 to the present. It explains the work of the lemanes, who helped ships get past the feared sandbar at the mouth of the Bilbao estuary, and the solution found to that navigation problem. It also deals with corsairs and pirates, a smuggler from Santurtzi in the mid-16th century, the origins of regattas and the tradition of the traineras (rowing boats), and it devotes a space to the sardineras, the women who sold fish along the estuary as far as Plentzia and Balmaseda.
The museum is part of the Red de Museos de la Costa Vasca and organises thematic tours, theatrical visits that recreate a fish auction, guided tastings and seafaring workshops for all ages.
Highlights
- Maritime history of Santurtzi since 1600, with audiovisual resources
- The work of the lemanes and the sandbar of the Bilbao estuary
- Corsairs, pirates, regattas and traineras
- Space devoted to the sardineras
- Theatrical visits recreating a fish auction
Permanent exhibition
- Santurtzi y el mar, de 1600 a la actualidad – Audiovisual route through the municipality’s maritime history: lemanes, corsairs, regattas and traineras, and the sardineras.
- Operated by
- Ayuntamiento de Santurtzi
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €1.50 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €1People aged 5 to 17, people over 65 and students |
| Children & teens | €1free up to age 4 · Ages 5 to 17. |
| Seniors | €1Over 65. |
| Students & apprentices | €1 |
| Combined ticket Santurtzi Itsas Museoa + boat Agurtza | €2.50Reduced: €2; family (up to 2 adults and 2 children): €7. |
Free admission: Admission is free on Wednesdays.
Rates according to Euskadi Turismo; some activities (guided tours, theatrical visits, workshops) have their own reservation and rates.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible: no information
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom: no information
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome: no information
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
The space is adapted for people with physical, hearing, visual, intellectual and organic impairments. The museum holds the SICTED “Destino Seguro” seal.
Kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 4 |
|---|
- Family tours & workshops
- Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
Children can follow a playful route of searching for clues and completing tasks that ends with a surprise; there are also workshops and seafaring activities.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
From Bilbao: Metro Bilbao line 2, Cercanías Renfe line C1 (from Abando station) or Bizkaibus line A3151.
By car
In Santurtzi there is free on-street parking and an underground car park next to the marina.
The museum is in the fishing harbour of Santurtzi.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
Santurtzi Tourist Office in the same building.
Events & venue rental
- Spaces for rent
The space can be hired for events; there is a booking link on the museum’s page.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | There are general guided tours and group tours by arrangement, theatrical visits recreating a fish auction, educational visits and seafaring workshops, each with its own booking link on the Visit Santurtzi website. Tours are offered in Basque, Spanish, English and French. |
