The capital of the Basques, Bilbao, is a completely different Spain. There is a lot of greenery here, no one is in a hurry, and it seems that no one is worried about anything. Therefore, if you happen to be in the Spanish capital, be sure to take the time to visit the city of Bilbao. Today we will tell you in detail how to get from Madrid to Bilbao by different types of transport.
Briefly about all methods
One of the cheapest ways to get from the Spanish capital to Bilbao is by bus. The ALSA carrier offers more than 25 direct flights to a given destination. There are also daily trains between Madrid and Bilbao. It is convenient to get to Bilbao from Madrid by car, along the way you can explore other Spanish cities.
If you do not want to spend a lot of time on the road, we recommend purchasing a ticket. The plane will take you to the Basque capital in just 1 hour, excluding check-in time and travel time to / from the airport.
| Way | Cost, EUR | Travel time | Notes (edit) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Train | from 19.6 | from 5 h 4 min | |
| Bus | from 20.35 | from 4 h 5 min | |
| Airplane | from 48 + (1.5 + 1.5) road to / from the airport | from 1 hour + 30 min drive to the airport + 1.5 hour registration | |
| Automobile | from 20 euro / day | 3 h 45 min | insurance costs from 80 to 200 euros; deposit on the card - from 500 euros; fuel - 1.35 euro / l + additional equipment |
| A fellow traveler | from 17 | 4 h 10 min |
Travel by train
Railways in Spain are a comfortable way to travel. There are 4 trains from Madrid to Bilbao on weekdays. The first leaves at 7:30, the second at 8:00, the next at 15:30 and the last at 16:05. There are three flights on Saturday and two on Sunday. The minimum travel time is 5 hours 4 minutes, the maximum is 6 hours 39 minutes.
Railway ticket prices start at € 19.6. In addition, RENFE provides discounts to certain categories of citizens:
- large families;
- small children;
- young people under 26;
- people over 60 years old.
In Madrid, trains leave from two train stations: Atocha and Chamartin. You can find out from which station a particular train departs by looking at the schedule on the carrier's official website in the Detalles section.
Atocha is the largest train station in Spain. The station is served by two metro stations - Atocha and Atocha Renfe. Chamartin station can be reached by buses 5 and T62, as well as by metro - L1 and L10.
In Bilbao, the train arrives at the Bilbao-Abando station. The railway station is located near the city center.
You can buy a ticket at the box office, at the ticket machine and on the RENFE website. The last method is the most convenient, since you can make a purchase at any time and in any place where there is access to the Internet.
To do this, go to the official website of the Spanish Railways (venta.renfe.com) and fill out a search form on the main page. For this:
- Enter the names of the cities of departure and arrival. Even those who do not speak Spanish can do this.
- From the list of offers for the specified date, select the appropriate departure time.
- Go to payment by clicking on the cost of the travel document.
- Fill in your personal information, do not forget to indicate the e-mail to which the ticket will be sent.
- Enter your payment card details and make the payment.
The travel document must be printed before boarding the train.
How to get there by bus
Buses in Spain are a popular form of transport due to their availability. ALSA operates 26 direct flights daily between Madrid and Bilbao. The first bus on this route departs at 7:00, and the last - at 22:00, there is also a night flight from Madrid at 22:00. The minimum travel time is 4 hours 5 minutes, that is, less than by train.
Upon prior purchase, the travel document will cost 20.35 euros.
If you buy a ticket just before the trip, its minimum price will be 31.68 euros.
The cost of the travel document depends on the service level: Normal or Premium. Moreover, all buses have a spacious luggage compartment. The salon has a TV and Wi-Fi. The chairs are quite comfortable, there is a footrest and a table.
From Madrid, buses leave from Avda de America Station or Barajas Airport. You can get to the Avda de America bus station by metro lines L7, L6, L9, L4. We will tell you how to get to the air station in the next section.
In Bilbao, buses arrive at the Termibus station, which is located in the city center.
A good knowledge of Spanish is required to purchase a ticket at the box office, as most of the employees do not even speak English.
The most profitable and convenient way to buy a ticket is on the carrier's website. Algorithm of actions:
- Go to the official website (alsa.com) and fill out a special form on the main page, indicating: cities of departure and arrival, date of travel, number and age of passengers.
- The system will suggest all available flights that match the request. Choose a bus that suits your time (price).
- On the next page, select a seat in the cabin and specify additional services. For example, you are planning to take a bike or a pet. In this case, the cost of the travel document will increase. But you can refuse insurance.
- On the next page, enter your personal information and email, to which the ticket will be sent, enter your bank card details and pay.
Air traffic
Iberia offers passengers 6 direct flights a day from Madrid to Bilbao. The first plane leaves the Spanish capital in Bilbao at 6:30, and the last one at 19:50. The flight time is 1 h 5 min.
It is profitable to purchase an air ticket at least a month before the trip, then its minimum cost will be only 54 euros in the basic fare. You can buy a ticket on the official website of the carrier iberia.com.
Air Europa planes fly in a given direction. From Monday to Thursday, the carrier offers five flights a day, on Friday and Sunday - four, and on Saturday - three. The first flight to Bilbao from Madrid is at 6:50 am and the last is at 9:50 pm. You will spend exactly 1 hour in the sky.
The minimum price for a ticket purchased a month before travel is 48.43 euros. You can see a detailed timetable and buy a travel document on the website of the company aireuropa.com.
Barajas International Airport is located 12 km northeast of the center of Madrid. Taxis and buses run to the airport from the city, suburban trains run. Also, the airport terminal and Madrid are connected by metro lines.
For tourists who are visiting Spain for the first time, the easiest way is to take a taxi. Such a trip will cost about 33 euros.
For only 5 euros, express buses deliver passengers from the city to the airport. A ticket for a regular regular bus costs 1.5 euros.
If you decide to take the metro, you will need to buy two tickets: for 2 euros and 3 euros (airport tax). A travel document for a commuter train costs 2.6 euros. The road from the city to the airport will take on average half an hour.
In Bilbao, aircraft land at Bilbao Airport. There is a bus stop not far from the airport, from where a bus leaves every half an hour to the center of Bilbao. The cost of a travel document is 1.4 euros. It is convenient to order a taxi transfer, the price of which is 20 euros.
Car ride
The distance between Madrid and Bilbao is about 400 km. The road by car without stops will take 3 hours 45 minutes. With short stops, the trip will last for four and a half hours.
Most of the way, you need to drive along the E-5 and AP-68 highway. Dividing lines and guardrails make the ride safe. Road signs and signs will help you stay on track. The only caveat is that many gas stations work until 20:00.
For the entire journey, an average of 40 liters of gasoline will be required, one liter of which in Spain costs 1.35 euros. Therefore, a minimum of 54 euros will have to be spent on fuel.
You can rent a car in Spain for at least 20 euros.The exact cost depends on the class of the car. Expenses include insurance, deposit and additional equipment.
There are offices of car rental companies at the airport, but rent is always more expensive there. You can also rent a car at the rental offices. However, the most convenient and profitable option is to rent through the website.
Reasonable prices and good vehicles are offered by the popular Spanish company Centauro. The well-known firms Europcar and Hertz also operate in Madrid.
To rent a car, you must have at least one year of driving experience and be over 26 years old. Otherwise, the rental price may increase. International rights are not required.
At the same time, the potential client must have a valid bank card with a sufficient amount on the account. Most companies block a deposit (minimum 500 euros) and a certain amount for gasoline. All money is returned in full if the car is returned intact and with a full tank.
It is important to know that the following speed limits apply on the roads of Spain in 2021:
- in the village - 50 km / h;
- outside the city - 90 km / h;
- on the road - 100 km / h;
- on the highway - 120 km / h;
- on the autobahn - at least 60 km / h.
According to the rules of the road, the car must have an emergency stop sign, and the car must have a mark of nationality. Children under 12 years old must sit in a special seat, and all passengers must wear seat belts.
Note that cars are prohibited from entering the lanes provided for public transport and taxis. Imposing fines are imposed for traffic violations.
As a travel companion
For only 17 euros, you can get to Bilbao from Madrid by car, becoming a travel companion. You can find a passing car on the popular BlaBlaCar website. The exact cost of the trip depends on the route the driver chooses. There are also other services in Spain where you can find great deals:
- Amovens is a site where you can not only find a ride, but also rent a car.
- There are no commission payments on the Amicoche service, but keep in mind that you can only pay the driver in cash.
- Compartir is a local service with many loyal drivers.
Summarize
Bilbao and Madrid are 400 km away. This distance can be covered by different types of transport. The best option is to travel by bus. The journey will take a little more than four hours, the ticket price is reasonable.
Tourists who do not want to depend on the timetable choose to travel by car. High quality roads make the trip safe and comfortable.
The Madrid-Bilbao route is served by two airlines that offer several direct flights daily. You will spend only an hour in the sky, but in total, the road to / from the air station, check-in and flight will take almost as long as a bus ride.
The train travels from Madrid to Bilbao for the longest time - about 5 hours.
