Destination guides > Europe > Spain > Basque Country (Euskadi, País Vasco) & Navarre (Navarra, Nafarroa) > Bilbao (Bilbo)
Bilbao (Bilbo)
Bilbao (Bilbo in Basque) has long been an industrial city of little interest to the budget traveller, however the recent addition of the spectacular Museo Guggenheim has spearheaded the city's renaissance.
With a spectacular building and an impressive collection of contemporary art, the Museo Guggenheim is the city's big attraction. However the nearby Museo de Bellas Artes is also worth a visit.
The Casco Viejo neighbourhood across the river from the train station is the place to head to at night. This region is home to the city's main concentration of bars and restaurants.
Practical information
Bilbao Turismo
Paseo del Arenal 1, Bilbao
Tel 944 795 760
Coming & going
Bilbao is well connected to the rest of Spain and there is also a variety of bus and train services to France and ferries to Portsmouth in the UK.
Long-distance buses use two different bus stations. Buses to Barcelona and Madrid depart from the bus station (Avenida de la Autonomía 17, Bilbao). Bus to destinations closer to Bilbao including San Sebastián and buses to destinations in France depart from the Termibus station near San Mamés metro station.
Three railway companies operate trains between Bilbao, San Sebastián and other parts of the Basque country: EuskoTren, FEVE and the national rail operator, Renfe. It would be best to stick with the Renfe trains if you're travelling with a rail pass, otherwise you may be able to get a better deal by shopping around.
Renfe trains run to destinations throughout Spain with direct trains to Alicante, Barcelona, Madrid and destinations in Galicia. Renfe services use Abando station.
EuskoTren operate regional train services from Atxuri station with services to San Sebastián and Hendaye on the French border.
FEVE trains depart from Corcordia Station and run along the north coast stopping at Santander, Oviedo and Ferrol.
P&O Ferries to Portsmouth in the UK depart from Santurtzi which is 14km from the centre and conveniently situated on the Renfe suburban rail line. There are two sailings a week and the journey takes around 30 hours. The ticket prices can be quite confusing as fares vary depending on the season. Because the fares are subject to change, it's best to check the P&O web site for the latest prices.
Local transport
Bilbao has a comprehensive transport network comprising a metro, trams, buses and three different suburban train systems.
The Cercanías (Aldirikoak in Basque) suburban train network operated by Renfe is comprised of three lines. The Santurtzi line is the busiest with trains every 10 minutes, while the Orduña line only has a half-hourly service. The fare structure is broken into a zone system with central Bilbao in zone one. Like other suburban rail networks operated by Renfe, fares are cheaper on weekdays. Single tickets start at €1.35 for trips within zones one and two and are priced at €1.60 for trips to zone three.
EuskoTren operates two suburban train lines with trains running every 15-20 minutes.
The narrow gauge FEVE (Ferrocarriles de Via Estrecha) railway operates a suburban line between Bilbao and Balmaseda.
Metro Bilbao is probably the most useful of the rail services. The metro runs through the city centre and connects with the beaches to the north-west of the city.
Metro tickets are priced according to a zone system. Single tickets cost €1.40 for one zone, €1.50 for two zones and €1.60 for travel in three zones. A day pass is available for €4, which covers travel in all zones.
Although there are four different rail systems, each service doesn't seem to acknowledge the others on their network maps although there is a combined network map on the Urban Rail web site.
Hostel accommodation
Albergue Bilbao Aterpetxea
Carretera Basurto Kastrexana 70, Bilbao, 48002
Tel 944 270 054
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