Bainbridge Island Museum of Art
BIMA is the free museum at the top of the hill from the ferry — 550 Winslow Way East, on the corner of Hwy 305. You cannot miss the building once you are up there. You will miss it if you look for a gallery on the dock. There isn’t one.
This is the walk-on indoor stop: rotating shows of Puget Sound artists, seats, restrooms, a store, a bistro. Rain backup. First sit if someone in your group is done with the hill. Town around it: Winslow.
At a glance
Address
550 Winslow Way E. Corner of Hwy 305 and Winslow Way. Not at the dock.
Admission
Free, every day, thanks to members and donors. Official site: biartmuseum.org.
Hours
Museum and store 10 a.m.–5 p.m. daily. Bistro 10 a.m.–4 p.m. daily.
From the ferry
About ten minutes on foot, uphill. Restroom in the terminal before you climb.
Time inside
45–90 minutes is a real visit. Do this before the shops if you like quiet galleries.
Directions
Address and map: BIMA listing. This page is how to visit.
An early boat does not mean BIMA is open at 8 a.m.
Doors at 10. If you walk off a 7:55, eat or sit at Waterfront Park first, then come up the hill.
The walk from the ferry
You come off the Seattle–Winslow boat into a terminal, not a waterfront mall. Restrooms as you land. Olympic Drive climbs. Rolling luggage is a slog. A stroller is fine. At the top, Hwy 305 meets Winslow Way. BIMA is the big building on that corner.
If you drove on for some other reason, do not leave the car in the WSF lot for a museum visit. That lot is for people walking onto Seattle. Park in town. Getting around has the parking rules.
Hours, admission, the bistro
Admission is free. You do not need a ticket. The museum and store run 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day. BIMA Bistro is 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Current exhibitions and events live on biartmuseum.org — we will not pretend this page is the calendar.
Phone if you need it: museum (206) 842-4451, bistro (206) 451-4011, store (206) 451-4009.
How long to spend
Forty-five minutes is a look. Ninety minutes is a visit. It is not an all-day museum. The point on a ferry day is: indoor, free, seats, then the street.
Kids: this works. It is not a children’s museum. Paid hands-on backup is KiDiMu — confirm those hours separately. Ice cream after is Island Cool on Madrone Lane.
What to pair it with
The rest of walk-on Winslow: Eagle Harbor Book Co. at 157 Winslow Way E, lunch, Waterfront Park for the harbor and playground. That loop is a complete first visit. Details: must-do.
Do not pair BIMA with Bloedel on a three-hour clock. Bloedel needs a ride and two hours on the grounds. The Exclusion Memorial is a different ride, on the south side of Eagle Harbor.
Rain: you are already in the right building. Jacket for the walk anyway. Last boat: ferry page. Do not book a tight Seattle dinner after a late gallery linger.
The Explore Bainbridge app
Live ferry, map from the dock, today’s events. Free. Download it on the boat. explorebainbridge.com.
FAQ
Is the Bainbridge Island Museum of Art free?
Yes. Admission is free every day, funded by members and donors. The store and BIMA Bistro are separate if you want to spend money.
What are BIMA hours?
The museum and store are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. The bistro is 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. An early ferry does not mean the doors are open at 8 a.m. Confirm at biartmuseum.org if you are coming for a specific exhibition.
How far is BIMA from the ferry?
A short walk up the hill, not at the dock. Come off the boat, restrooms in the terminal, then Olympic Drive climbs to Hwy 305 and Winslow Way. The museum is the big building at 550 Winslow Way E, on that corner.
How long should I spend at BIMA?
45 to 90 minutes is a real visit. It is the rain backup and the first sit if someone in your group needs a chair. Pair it with Winslow Way, not with Bloedel on a three-hour clock.
Do I need a car for BIMA?
No. This is the walk-on museum. If you drove onto the ferry for Bloedel, you can still park in town and walk here — do not leave the car in the WSF holding lot for a Winslow lunch.