Bilbao travel guide
Bilbao Tourism | Bilbao Guide
You're Going to Love Bilbao
With a population of 354,860, Bilbao is a must-see destination in Basque Country, Spain. It is one of the most popular cities to visit in the country. Bilbao deserves at least 2 full days for you to see its main sights.
Where to Eat in Bilbao
If you’re looking for affordable options, URREGIN (K. Barria 4) and Le Café (Mazarredo Zumarkalea 61) are great picks.
When to visit Bilbao
Looking for warm weather? Then head to Bilbao in July, when the average temperature is 20 °C, and the highest can go up to 25 °C. The coldest month, on the other hand, is January, when it can get as cold as 5 °C, with an average temperature of 9 °C. You’re likely to see more rain in November, when precipitation is around 141 mm. In contrast, July is usually the driest month of the year in Bilbao, with an average rainfall of 62 mm.
How to Get to Bilbao
Plane
When flying to Bilbao, you’ll arrive at Bilbao Airport (BIO), which is located 3 miles from the city centre The shortest flight to Bilbao from Canada departs from Montreal and takes around 10h 55m.
Train
Renfe is the most popular train carrier serving Bilbao, followed by iryo. The train journey from Bilbao to Madrid takes 4h 32m and costs around C$ 45 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Barcelona, expect to pay about C$ 73 for a 6h 30m trip. The train station in Bilbao is called Bilbao Abando, and is located 0.4 miles from the city centre.
Car
Another option to get to Bilbao is to pick up a car rental from Burgos, which is about 73 miles from Bilbao. You’ll find branches of Budget and Europcar, among others, in Burgos.
Bus
Several bus lines operate bus routes to Bilbao, including ALSA, FlixBus and BlaBlaBus. From San Sebastian, the bus ride to Bilbao takes 80 miles and will cost you around C$ 22. From Santander, the ticket costs about C$ 11 for a journey of 95 miles. The most popular bus station is Bilbao Intermodal, located 0.7 miles from downtown Bilbao. Bilbao Kastrexana is also a commonly used station, and is 1.9 miles from the city centre.
Airlines serving Bilbao
Where to stay in Bilbao
From 5-star hotels such as the Radisson Collection Bilbao to great affordable options like the Hotel Conde Duque Bilbao, Bilbao offers a range of accommodations for every taste. Average rates range from around C$ 174 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to C$ 233 and up for a 5-star experience. If you’re on a budget, well-reviewed accommodations include Poshtel Bilbao - Premium Hostel and All Iron Hostel.
Where to stay in popular areas of Bilbao
Most booked hotels in Bilbao
Renting a car in Bilbao
Renting a car in Bilbao costs C$ 51 per day, on average, or C$ 101 if you want to rent it for 2 days.
You’re likely to save money by renting your car at the airport: locations in the city are, on average, 20% more expensive than at Bilbao.
Expect to pay C$ 2.47 per litre in Bilbao (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between C$ 29.56 and C$ 39.41. The most frequently booked car type in Bilbao is Intermediate (Kia Sportage or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Mini rental cars (Citroen C1 or similar) are, on average, 75% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.