It is well worth spending time in Bilbao and its province, Bizkaia, to discover their many attractions, where their roots are combined with an unexpected cosmopolitan feel. The city, which has successfully re-branded itself and combines nature, a realm of cultural activities, excellent cuisine and a vibrant social life, is the ideal spot to enjoy many different experiences.
Why don’t you stay longer in Bilbao!
How to get there
By plane
Bilbao International Airport (BIO) is 15 km from the city centre. There is a bus service (Bilbao <> Airport: A3247) that runs every 15 minutes from 6.00 a.m. to midnight, with buses every 20 minutes. The buses leave from the arrival level at the airport and run to the Bilbao Intermodal Bus Station.
Route: Bilbao-Loiu Airport, Alameda Rekalde 14, Gran Vía 46, Gran Vía 74, Bilbao Intermodal (bus station).
Taxis are available at Bilbao Airport 24 hours. Click here for the fares and to book.
A journey from the airport to the city centre costs between €22 and €30 approximately.
By train
Bilbao has train connections operated by RENFE (Bilbao Abando Station) FEVE (La Concordia Station) and EUSKOTREN (Atxuri Station).
By Car
The AP8 is the main route into Bilbao from any city along the Basque coast.
The Vasco-Aragonesa motorway (AP-68) is the route from Zaragoza.
It takes roughly 4 hours and 15 minutes by motorway from Madrid, and costs €10.25 in tolls and around €33 in fuel.
Bilbao is 610 km (just over 6 hours) from Barcelona along the AP-68, and costs €66.30 in tolls and nearly €50 in fuel.
Bilbao is a compact city and it is easy to get around on foot. It also has a modern transport system, including one of the best subway networks of the world, frequent buses, trains and tramways, which not only connect different points of the city, but also the suburbs and the coast.
By tram
This means of transport is much more than a sustainable option and is also a way to enjoy a pleasant journey along the medieval streets of the Casco Viejo (Old Town) and the river bank.
By subway
Its three lines are not only the fastest way of getting around the city, but can also be used to get to the beaches and charming towns within the metropolitan area.
The service operates from 06.00 to 23.00 hours, with trains running every six minutes during peak times, except for Sundays and bank holidays, when they are every ten. There is also a night service, until 02.00 hours on Fridays into Saturday and the days before banks holidays, and all night on Saturdays into Sunday.
By train
You can use the Spanish National Railway Company (RENFE) suburban service for a trip out of Bilbao to the nearby towns. It also runs an intercity service to destinations including Madrid, Barcelona, Logroño, Zaragoza and Valladolid.
By bus
Bizkaibus buses run between Bilbao and the other municipalities of Bizkaia to tourist must-sees.
Here are nine bus routes to enjoy the landscape.
By Taxi
Radio Taxi Bilbao +34 944 448 888
Radio Taxi Nervión +34 944 269 026
Class Taxi Bilbao +34 944 445 050
Tele Taxi +34 944 102 121
By bike
The city is highly accessible and is an ideal spot to go sightseeing by bike.
Bilbao has a bike rental service.
For more information and maps on how to get around the city, click here.
Bilbao has undergone a spectacular conversion from an industrial to a service city. It is a leading example worldwide of urban transformation that has retained its culture and hallmark with the passing of the years. This makes it a unique and remarkable location.
Basque cuisine is world-renowned. Wherever you eat will be a culinary experience, thanks to the outstanding and wide range of local produce and ingredients. And you cannot leave without trying the famous “pintxos”, a delicious way of sampling Basque cuisine.
The city boasts every type of establishments, from fashion brands to older and more traditional stores.
When it comes to fashion, Bilbao has a wide variety of shops, with large and elegant premises with an extensive range of clothing firms, and stores of Basque designers, many of whom have made their mark on the international stage.
The Basque Country has two official languages, Basque and Spanish. We recommend learning a few of the most common words that you will hear in Bilbao.
Here is a short list of the most common phases.
| Euskera | Castellano | English |
|---|---|---|
| Egun on | Buenos días | Good morning |
| Gabon | Buenas noches | Good night |
| Kaixo | Hola | Hello |
| Agur | Adiós | Goodbye |
| Mesedez | Por favor | Please |
| Eskerrik asko | Muchas gracias | Thank you |
| Ongi etorri | Bienvenido | Wellcome |