Transfers to/from Bilbao

When you are planning a trip to the Basque Country, it is very likely that you will be interested in knowing what are the best things to see or do in Bilbao, as these are the fun and entertaining aspects of the trip. However, it is also true that it is imperative that you know what transfers are available to you so that you can get from the airport to the centre of this beautiful city quickly. This way you are guaranteed not to waste your time looking for means of transport that do not really exist.

So I invite you to continue reading this informative compilation that I have prepared for you, as I have taken it upon myself to find out which are the different transfers that you could pay for to get comfortably and quickly to the centre of Bilbao. This is after landing your flight at the airport which is located to the north of the city.

Comfort, exclusivity and speed are characteristics that can be found in the same service. If there is one place that knows how to group these three distinctions together, it is Bilbao Airport, as it has facilities designed by Santiago Calatrava, in the best style of this city that balances modernity and antiquity throughout its entire length. It is therefore quite appropriate that you can arrive at your hotel in a vehicle that will be waiting for you at the departure gate to take you directly to your destination with the privacy you need.

These types of private transfers work in a standardised way, as they have a fixed rate for 4-seater cars and also have specific prices for larger vans that could transport up to 7 people. That means that you could very well book a private transfer from the airport to the centre of Bilbao for your entire family group of 5 or 6 people. All this while the price would be fixed on a per trip basis and not per passenger as in the case of public transport.

At the same time, you should know that this alternative is available to you from 6 am to 11 pm. This means that you could book a direct transfer from the airport to your hotel in the centre of Bilbao so that you can quickly take advantage of your arrival to join some of the things to do in Bilbao at night. You should also bear in mind that these types of transfers are suitable for the whole of the Basque Coast region and a couple of other cities in this Spanish autonomous region.

And if you wanted to, you could book these private transfers for other places such as the city of Vitoria, San Sebastian, Pamplona and even the north of La Rioja. Although clearly a car trip to these places, which are also ideal places for day trips from Bilbao, are more expensive than a simple transfer to the centre of Bilbao. Which is a scant 12 kilometres from the airport terminal.

Details of interest:

• Price: the approximate price of a private transfer from the airport to the centre of Bilbao varies according to the type of car offered. In most cases, a 3-passenger car is priced at 90 euros, while a 4 to 7-passenger car is priced at 150 to 160 euros each way.
• Duration: taking as a reference the famous Plaza Moyua in the centre of Bilbao as your destination, it can be calculated that a transfer by private car usually takes between 15 to 18 minutes. Sometimes a route is chosen that goes exclusively along motorways, while others combine streets, avenues and motorways. It all depends on the exact address of your accommodation.
• Advantages: With a private transfer there is no waiting time, as you book the pick-up at the airport gate for the approximate time you would be leaving your flight. This means that your driver will be waiting for you for a short journey that is characterised by security, privacy and exclusivity like no other alternative.
• Disadvantages: This type of travel can be a bit more expensive than the other alternatives and that could be a real drawback when you have financial constraints.

Bilbao's public bus system is also a good alternative for getting from the airport to the city centre. Of all the options available, it is the cheapest, the most environmentally friendly and also the most practical from a tourist perspective. The truth is that it is a first encounter with the public transport system that you will surely continue to use throughout your trip to get from one point to another within the city.

To get by bus from the airport to the city centre you will have to take the A3247 line that belongs to the Bizkaibus, the name given to the bus network of the entire region of Vizcaya. This vehicle connects you to the centre of Bilbao in a relatively direct way in about 25 minutes. Keep in mind that a ticket costs €3 and that makes it an extremely economical journey. However, the luggage issue can make this option inconvenient if you are travelling with too much luggage.

Please note that a bus runs from Bilbao to the airport every 15 minutes from 5:15am until 11pm. In turn, from the airport to the centre of Bilbao there is another bus every 15 minutes from 6:15 in the morning until around midnight. This is advantageous, as you have an economical and safe way to get to the city no matter what time your flight lands in Bilbao.

I would like to highlight the fact that this bus has four stops on its route, the first one being Alameda Recalde, there are another two on Gran Vía and the last stop is the Intermodal Station of Bilbao, formerly known as the Termibus of Bilbao. So if your hotel is not in these places you would have to take a taxi to get there directly from the bus stop, but you probably won't spend more than 10 euros extra if you are in the central part of the city.

Details of interest:

• Price: as I mentioned, this intercity ticket costs about 3 euros if you pay the single fare from the airport to Bilbao Intermodal Station. However, with the Barik public transport card, the fare drops to 1.14 euros. So you might be interested in buying it for the return trip to the airport and you could do so at any metro station in the city for as little as 3 euros.
• Duration: The average journey time is around 20 minutes. This means that within an hour you could be in your hotel room ready to head out on some of Bilbao' s best tours or even take an excursion to some of the best villages outside of Bilbao.
• Advantages: The low price of this public bus transfer makes getting to your accommodation area a money-saving experience. That money can be spent on other entertainment in the city or on a shopping spree in some of the shops in the centre of Bilbao.
• Disadvantages: Being on a bus with several suitcases and a whole family group can be a chaotic experience for most people. In fact, this option is really only recommended if you are someone who travels with hand luggage or with suitcases that are manoeuvrable.

Ordering a taxi at the airport exit is also a traditional formula that could work depending on how comfortable you feel using this means to get to your accommodation in an unfamiliar place. For your peace of mind you should know that during most of the day, i.e. from 7 or 8 am until 10 or 11 pm there are usually taxis from the airport line waiting for passengers arriving without any alternative transport. This is much more likely to happen during the high season.

On the other hand, you also have the alternative of ordering an Uber or any other transfer on a private platform that would take you to your hotel just like a conventional taxi. In this case you could order the transfer from your smartphone, you also have the alternative to choose the style of car you prefer and you have some data checks. Such as the driver's information, his car and the use of security codes to guarantee that this is a viable alternative for your personal integrity.

In the case of a taxi there is no guarantee of how much you could pay for the transfer, as it all depends on what the taximeter indicates. On average, a taxi transfer from the airport to the centre of Bilbao usually costs between 20 and 25 euros. On the other hand, with Uber and other similar applications, the fare is adjusted according to the number of available drivers and the number of people requesting a ride at the same time as you.

Bear in mind that with both options you will be at the entrance of your accommodation in about 20 minutes at the most if it is in the central area of Bilbao. However, the waiting time will always depend on the number of tourists who have also had the same idea as you. Either way, waits are not usually significant at any time of the year and therefore in a maximum of 35 minutes you will be able to get ready to go out to participate in the best wine tasting in Bilbao as well as to start the search for the best pintxos in Bilbao.

Details of interest:

• Price: on average, a taxi or Uber transfer from the airport to the centre of Bilbao will always be around €25 to €35 at most. Although high season demand may adjust the rates and you may find yourself paying a couple of euros extra.
• Duration: In both options the journey will take 25 minutes maximum. This would be under circumstances with significant vehicle traffic. In the case of a shared journey with another passenger, this would be different and would depend on the route planned by both of you.
• Advantages: A journey in this type of vehicle is more intimate than a bus and is still cheaper than a private transfer with advance booking. In addition, taxis are always the best mobility alternative in many people's perspective for asking for recommendations about a new place they are getting to for the first time in their lives.
• Disadvantages: having to wait for an Uber that is willing to take you or having to queue for a taxi can be nerve-wracking after a long journey of several hours without sleep. Especially as there is never any certainty as to when these waits will end.

Renting a car on your own is the last alternative you have at your disposal if you want to get from Bilbao airport to the city centre. Just like all other airports in the world, there is a car rental centre at Bilbao airport. This is very convenient for the region knowing that this is an important tourist destination in the north of Spain and knowing that a car means that the visitor will be mobile beyond Bilbao.

This airport has 6 different car rental companies and they are all located in the lobby of Parking P1 on floor 0. This place is accessible without having to go outside the building, as you can reach it from an underground gallery that is already outside the baggage reclaim area. This means that you can get straight to the car without having to walk around too much carrying all your luggage and without having to call a taxi to a car rental centre on the outskirts of the city.

Also, for your convenience, this car rental centre has a large enough fleet of vehicles for you to find an alternative that suits your needs. Whether it's a car for 4 or 6 people, an electric car or a car with off-road traction. If you rent the car on this site, you will have the possibility to return it at the end of your trip under the pre-established conditions of the contract you will sign.

Having a car will be convenient as you will be able to visit other tourist sites in the region and you could organise a short trip from Bilbao to San Juan de Gaztelugatxe and other nearby destinations on the Basque Coast. In addition, having a car will allow you to move from one place to another in the Basque Country with your family comfortably and safely. Which means you'll be able to enjoy some of the activities to do with kids in Bilbao just outside the city without any logistical inconvenience.

Details of interest:

• Price: the airport transfer ceases to have a specific price, as the amount will now have to do with the daily rate of the car rental. The average daily rate for this service is usually around 30 euros minimum for a modest and conventional car, but you must add to this the fees for any refuelling that may be necessary throughout the trip.
• Duration: driving will take you the same time as the taxi driver and the Uber, so you should be in the centre of Bilbao in about 25 minutes at the most. As you will be driving, you are likely to drive more cautiously, while keeping an eye on the GPS, and this may give you a few minutes delay.
• Advantages: A car is an extremely useful resource if you intend to leave Bilbao to tour the surrounding area, which is advisable knowing that the Basque Country is one of the most beautiful regions in Spain. Getting around the city would be impractical, as public transport is very good, there are not many parking spaces and walking is the best idea to admire the beauty of Bilbao.
• Disadvantages: The main problem with hiring a car to get from Bilbao airport to the city centre is that you will need a car park, which is a scarce resource in this part of the city. Therefore, it is only advisable if your accommodation has one available and you should bear in mind that the average cost of parking a car in private facilities is around 18 euros per day.