Getting There and Away

Stunning view of the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao reflecting in the Nervion River at dusk.
David Vives, Pexels

Bilbao's main transport hubs include Bilbao International Airport (BIO), the Bilbao Intermodal Bus Station (Termibus), and Bilbao Abando Station, which serves as the central railway hub.

By Air:

Bilbao International Airport (BIO) is located approximately 12-15 km from the city center, handling numerous domestic and international flights. The airport is known for its efficiency in security and immigration procedures. Indicative one-way flight costs from major cities such as New York (JFK) can be around $325, while round-trip flights from Boston (BOS) may be found for approximately $167.

By Bus:

The Bizkaibus line A3247 offers frequent service between Bilbao Airport and the city center, with buses departing every 15-20 minutes. The journey typically takes 20-30 minutes and a single ticket costs around €3.00, or €0.99 with a Barik card. For intercity travel, Alsa operates an extensive network from Bilbao Intermodal (Termibus) to various Spanish cities like Madrid, Barcelona, and San Sebastian. A bus from Bilbao Airport to San Sebastian takes approximately 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 20 minutes and costs around €17.

By Train:

Bilbao Abando Station is the central train station for long-distance and suburban routes, connected to the city's metro system. Renfe is the primary train operator. A train journey from Madrid to Bilbao can take between 4 hours 32 minutes and 5 hours 6 minutes, with prices starting from approximately €13.74. Travel from Barcelona to Bilbao takes around 6 hours 36 minutes, with ticket prices typically higher.

By Ferry:

Brittany Ferries provides services connecting Bilbao with Portsmouth, UK, and Rosslare, Ireland. There are generally two weekly sailings between Portsmouth and Bilbao, with the crossing taking about 24 hours. Return fares for the Portsmouth-Bilbao route range from approximately £388.00 to £1,311.00.

Car Rental:

Car rental services are available at Bilbao Airport and within the city. Economy car rentals average around $41 per day, though deals can be found for as low as $10.85 per day, especially when booking about seven days in advance.