How to get to Bilbao

How to get to Bilbao

Bilbao is located in the north of Spain and is easily accessible through the following ways:

By air:

The easiest way to reach Bilbao from abroad is by plane through the Bilbao Airport (BIO) (located about 10 minutes from the city center). Some of the airlines offering flights to Bilbao are Iberia, Air Europa, Vueling, Ryanair, Air Nostrum or Lufthansa.

From the airport to the city center by public transport, use the green-colored Bizkaibus A3247 bus (one-way ticket costs 3€). Stops in Bilbao: Alameda Recalde 14 - Plaza Moyua – Gran Vía 47 – Bilbao Intermodal (Main Bus Station).

Or you can take a taxi (at “Arrivals”) from the airport (for ~30€).

Other nearby airports are Santander, Vitoria and San Sebastian.

By train:

All trains arrive at Abando Station (in the city center), which is connected to metro lines L1 and L2. https://www.renfe.com/es/es

By bus:

You can reach Bilbao by bus (it takes 5 hours from Madrid and 8 from Barcelona). All buses arrive at the “Intermodal/Termibus” station (San Mamés stop).

Santander-Bilbao: 1h 30min - 1h50min by Alsa bus (https://www.alsa.es/) 7-13 €. The bus can be taken to the airport.

Vitoria-Bilbao: ~1h by bus Autobuses La Union (https://www.autobuseslaunion.com/bilbao-vitoria-gasteiz/) . 7 €. The bus has to be taken in the Vitoria’s bus station (not in the airport)

San Sebastián: 1h:20m by Alsa bus (https://www.alsa.es/) 7 €. The bus has to be taken in the San Sebastián’s bus station (not in the airport).

Connected with this bus station are metro lines L1 or L2, streetcar line A, suburban lines C-1 and C-2 or bus lines 26, 38, 62 and 80.

By car:

The highway that reaches Bizkaia is the AP8 or AP68. Those starting with “AP” are toll roads (~ 6 €). The AP8 borders the Bay of Biscay and is the best option for touring the Basque coast by car. To get there from other cities, the most common road is the A-68.

Recommendations once you are in Bilbao

We recommend you to get around Bilbao by using the metro (open from 06:00 to 23:00, with a frequency of ~10 minutes) or by walking. To move by public transportation, the best is to buy a so-called Barik card that gives reduced prices, can be recharged (5 € minimum), and is used in all the public transport in Bilbao. To purchase it costs 3€, and each travel costs ~0.90 €. You can get this Barik card in the automatic ticket machines in every Metro stations, in Renfe, in the green cabins of Bilbobus and Bizkaibus, and in many commercial premises.

When driving or renting a car in Bilbao, you should keep in mind that it is almost impossible to find free parking in the city center (in the venue area). There are subway parking lots and parking areas all over Bilbao, but they are paid.