Travel tips
Bilbao airport to the city centre: bus, taxi and straight on to San Sebastián
You land in Loiu, twelve kilometres north of the city. How to reach the centre by airport bus or taxi, where the bus stops, and how to go straight on to San Sebastián.
This page contains affiliate links. If you book through them, Picolo earns a commission at no extra cost to you. Our picks are made independently by our editors.
In short: Bilbao airport to the centre
The A3247 airport bus runs from the arrivals hall to Gran Vía, Plaza Moyúa and the Bilbao Intermodal bus station by San Mamés. The ride takes 20 to 30 minutes, and buses run every 15 to 30 minutes. A taxi takes 15 to 20 minutes. For San Sebastián, a direct bus leaves from the airport.
Hotel by the airport bus: Check availability and prices at Hotel ILUNION San Mamés
Bilbao airport sits on a hill in Loiu, north of the city. The terminal was designed by Santiago Calatrava, the architect of the Zubizuri footbridge in the centre, and is nicknamed La Paloma, the dove. It is a small airport to walk through. From the baggage belt to the bus stop takes a few minutes.
By airport bus
Bizkaibus route A3247 is the easiest way into the city. The stop is right outside the arrivals hall.
Stops: The bus calls at Gran Vía and Plaza Moyúa and terminates at Bilbao Intermodal, by the San Mamés football stadium.
Journey time: About 20 to 25 minutes to Moyúa and about half an hour to Intermodal, depending on traffic.
Frequency: Every 15 to 30 minutes, from early morning until close to midnight from the airport.
Tickets: Pay on board. The Barik travel card makes the fare cheaper than cash, and works on the city's metro and tram too.
Last checked: October 2026. Check the timetable with Bizkaibus before you travel.
By taxi
The taxi rank is outside the arrivals hall. The ride to the centre takes 15 to 20 minutes. A taxi pays off when there are three or four of you, or when you land late. The fare depends on the time of day and where in the city you are going.
The steps to the Guggenheim
From Gran Vía and Moyúa it is a ten-minute walk down the steps to the Guggenheim. Photo: Adrian Leversby / Picolo.com
Straight on to San Sebastián
Many travellers land in Bilbao and head straight for San Sebastián. Pesa Lurraldebus runs direct from the airport about once an hour, and the ride takes about an hour and a quarter. The bus stops in Zarautz and ends at San Sebastián's main bus station, beside the railway station east of the river.
Your ticket is only valid for the departure you bought it for. Buy it online or from the machine in the arrivals hall. Read more in our guide from Bilbao to San Sebastián, and see our Bilbao and San Sebastián itinerary.
Car hire
If you plan to drive the coast, pick up your hire car at the airport. That way you avoid driving in the centre on your first day. Read our guide to car hire in Spain before you book.
Hotels near the airport bus
Stay by one of the airport bus stops and you walk straight from the bus to reception.
Hotel ILUNION San Mamés
Two minutes from the San Mamés tram stop and five minutes from San Mamés station. The airport bus and the buses to San Sebastián use Intermodal in the same area, so the hotel works well for late arrivals and early departures.
Best for: your first and last night in Bilbao, and football trips.
Good to know: On match days the area is busy. Book well ahead.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Hotel ILUNION San Mamés
Radisson Collection Bilbao
On Gran Vía, two minutes from Abando station. The airport bus stops on Gran Vía, and both the old town and the Guggenheim are close. An indoor pool and a spa wait after the journey.
Best for: staying central from the first evening.
Good to know: The BASQUE by Eneko Atxa restaurant is in the hotel.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Radisson Collection Bilbao
Vincci Consulado de Bilbao
From the Moyúa airport bus stop it is an eight-minute walk to the hotel, and the Guggenheim is five minutes away. The roof terrace is a good place to land after the flight.
Best for: staying near both the museum and the airport bus.
Good to know: The airport bus also stops on Gran Vía, close by.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Vincci Consulado de Bilbao
See the full selection in our Bilbao hotel guide.
Tips on arrival
Barik card: Buy the travel card if you will use the metro, tram and buses over several days.
Late arrival: The last airport bus leaves close to midnight. If you land later, take a taxi.
Car hire: Collect the car at the airport rather than in town.
Tourist tax from 2027: Bilbao introduces a tourist tax from 1 January 2027, per person per night. Under-18s are exempt. Last checked: October 2026.
Our pick by the airport bus
Hotel ILUNION San Mamés
It is easy to underestimate how good it feels to walk straight from the bus to bed. ILUNION San Mamés is in the area where the airport bus ends, two minutes from the tram and five from San Mamés station. The buses to San Sebastián leave from here too, so the hotel is a natural choice for your first or last night. Guests praise the staff and the location, and the tram takes you to the Guggenheim and the old town in no time. Book it for the night before an early bus or flight.
Frequently asked questions about Bilbao airport
How do you get from Bilbao airport to the city centre?
Take the A3247 airport bus from the arrivals hall. It stops on Gran Vía and at Plaza Moyúa and ends at Bilbao Intermodal by San Mamés. The ride takes 20 to 30 minutes, with buses every 15 to 30 minutes. A taxi takes 15 to 20 minutes from the rank outside the terminal.
How long does it take from the airport to central Bilbao?
By airport bus it takes about 20 to 25 minutes to Plaza Moyúa and around half an hour to Intermodal, depending on traffic. A taxi takes 15 to 20 minutes. The airport is in Loiu, about twelve kilometres north of the centre, and there is no metro or train link.
Is there a direct bus from Bilbao airport to San Sebastián?
Yes. Pesa Lurraldebus runs direct from the airport to San Sebastián's main bus station about once an hour. The ride takes around an hour and a quarter, with a stop in Zarautz. Tickets are only valid for the departure you bought, so buy yours once you know when you land.
Is there a metro from Bilbao airport?
No, there is no metro or train to Bilbao airport. The A3247 airport bus and taxis are the ways into the centre. From the bus stops at Moyúa and Intermodal you can change to the metro or tram, and a Barik card makes onward travel cheaper.