Overview
Bilbao's public transport system provides convenient access to the city and surrounding region through an integrated network of metro, tram, buses, and regional trains. As a visitor, you will primarily use the Bilbao Metro, the Euskotren Tranbia (tram), and city buses (Bilbobus) for moving around central Bilbao. For trips beyond the city, you can access regional trains and provincial buses. Most services accept the Barik reloadable card, which is highly recommended if you plan to make more than a couple of journeys. Stations are generally close together, particularly on the metro, and the system is clean, efficient, and well-regarded internationally for its design.
The network
Metro Bilbao
The Bilbao Metro is a rapid transit system serving the city and Greater Bilbao on a 51-kilometre network with 48 stations as of 2021. All three lines use metre gauge. The system was inaugurated in 1995 and is the third-busiest metro in Spain after Madrid and Barcelona.
Lines 1 and 2 form a "Y" shape, both transiting the banks of the river Ibaizabal before combining into a single line that ends in the south of Bilbao. Within the city centre, the two lines run together until splitting at San Ignazio station. Line 3 connects higher neighbourhoods to the east of Bilbao. All three lines meet at Zazpikaleak/Casco Viejo station, the main hub of the network.
- Line 1 (L1): Runs from Etxebarri to Plentzia, serving the northern bank. The line partially took over Euskotren's existing Bilbao–Plentzia suburban railway (first opened in 1887) and was inaugurated on 11 November 1995 with 23 stations between Zazpikaleak/Casco Viejo and Plentzia.
- Line 2 (L2): Runs from Etxebarri to Santurtzi, serving the southern bank of the river. The first five stations opened on 13 April 2002, and the line was extended northwards to Sestao and eastwards in early 2005.
- Line 3 (L3): Runs between Matiko and Kukullaga-Etxebarri, connecting to the other two lines at Zazpikaleak/Casco Viejo. This line opened in 2017 and is operated by Euskotren as part of the wider Euskotren Trena commuter railway network, unlike Lines 1 and 2 which are operated by Metro Bilbao.
Key interchange stations include Abando (connections to Cercanías commuter rail and Renfe long-distance services) and San Mamés (connections to Cercanías and the main bus terminal). Trains run every couple of minutes at peak hours. The distinctive station entrances, designed by architect Sir Norman Foster, are marked by a recognisable symbol often mounted on a tall pole.
Euskotren Tranbia (Tram)
The Euskotren Tranbia is a single tram line running from La Casilla to Bolueta (also called Bolurta), with 16 stops. The green tram runs along the river and passes the Bilbao Guggenheim Museum, serving major stations including San Mamés and Abando, which have connections to the bus station (Bilbao Intermodal). You must validate your ticket on the validator next to the ticket machine before boarding.
Commuter and Regional Rail
Several rail operators serve Bilbao with connections to surrounding towns and regions:
- Euskotren Trena: Commuter rail services with three lines departing from Zazpikaleak/Casco Viejo station in the old town. Line E1 runs to Amara-Donostia (San Sebastián), Line E3 to Lezama, and Line E4 to Bermeo. There is also a shuttle line E3a between Lutxana and Sondika.
- Renfe Cercanías (Basque: Aldiriak): Four suburban commuter lines departing from Abando station (serving Santurtzi, Muskiz, and Orduña/Llodio) and Bilbao Concordia station (serving Balmaseda). Regional trains also connect Bilbao to San Sebastián (16 daily services), Santander (3 daily), and León (1 daily).
- Feve and Renfe long-distance trains: Regional and long-distance services are available, with Renfe long-distance trains departing from Abando station.
Buses
Bilbao's bus network comprises two main services:
- Bilbobus: Red city buses providing inner-city service with a flat fare and no requirement to tap out when exiting.
- Bizkaibus: Green buses serving provincial routes and surrounding towns.
The main bus station is Bilbao Intermodal (also called TermiBus), located in the San Mamés neighbourhood. This is the terminus for long-distance intercity buses to Madrid (4–5 hours), Santander (75 minutes), San Sebastián (60 minutes), Vitoria-Gasteiz (60 minutes), and many other Spanish cities. Major bus companies serving Bilbao include ALSA, La Unión Alavesa, RB, and Pesa.
Ferry Services
Brittany Ferries operates a direct car ferry between Bilbao and Portsmouth, England, landing at Zierbena approximately 15 km from the city centre.
Tickets & fares
Ticket Types
You can purchase single journey tickets or use the reloadable Barik card, which is recommended if you plan to travel more than a couple of times.
Single Journey Fares (without Barik card)
Metro fares depend on the number of zones your journey covers. Approximate fares are:
- One zone: €1.70
- Two zones: €1.90
- Three zones: €1.95
Bilbobus (city buses) charge a flat fare, and you do not need to tap out when exiting. The Euskotren Tranbia (tram) single tickets cost approximately €1.50 from machines at tram stops.
Barik Card
The Barik is a reloadable smartcard that works on the metro, tram, urban buses (Bilbobus), provincial buses (Bizkaibus), Euskotren services, and local Renfe trains within Bizkaia. The card costs €3.00 to purchase, and you add credit at the time of purchase. You can reload credit at machines in metro and train stations or via the Barik NFC phone app in €5 increments.
Fares with the Barik card are significantly cheaper than single tickets. Approximate metro fares with the Barik card are:
- One zone: €0.48
- Two zones: €0.57
- Three zones: €0.62
Bilbobus and tram rides charge a flat fare when using the Barik card. The card can be used by multiple people on the same journey—for example, a family can swipe the card once for each person. To use the metro or tram with the Barik card, place it over the reader to enter at the automatic gates; for the metro, do this again when exiting. For the tram, tap in once per passenger before boarding, but do not tap out (the flat fare is debited automatically).
The Barik card is valid throughout the province of Bizkaia and works on a zonal basis for the metro and provincial services. It is also valid on Euskotren to San Sebastián and on trams in Vitoria-Gasteiz.
Where to Buy Tickets
Barik cards and ticket machines are available at all metro and train stations. You can purchase single journey tickets from ticket machines at metro stations and tram stops. At long-distance bus stations, ticket machines are located behind the escalators to the departure floors, allowing you to avoid queuing at the ticket window.
Operating Hours
The metro operates until approximately 23:15 Sunday through Thursday, until 02:00 on Friday, and runs all night on Saturday (times vary by station).
From the airport
Bilbao Airport (also called Bilbao–Loiu Airport) is served by several European airlines and low-cost carriers including Vueling, Volotea, British Airways, easyJet, Air France, Lufthansa, and KLM.
To reach downtown Bilbao from the airport by public transport, take the Bizkaibus A3247 from the arrivals hall. There is a ticket booth at the far right end of the floor. As of 2025, a single ride costs approximately €4.50 and takes about 20 minutes. This bus is the only airport service where you can pay by tapping a credit or debit card without needing to tap out. The bus stops at Alameda Recalde (near the Guggenheim), Plaza Elíptica, and Gran Vía (both in the city centre) before terminating at Bilbao Intermodal interchange station. The bus runs frequently at around 4 departures per hour.
Alternatively, a taxi from the airport to downtown Bilbao costs approximately €25–30.
If arriving at Santander Airport instead, a coach service to Bilbao costs approximately €15 and takes about 1 hour 15 minutes.
Etiquette & customs
Bilbao's public transport system is generally orderly and well-maintained. The metro is clean and efficient, with security guards regularly present to reassure passengers. When boarding the tram, remember to validate your ticket on the validator next to the ticket machine before boarding—this is required even if you are using a Barik card for tram travel.
On buses, there is no requirement to tap out when exiting—your fare is charged only once per journey. Passengers using Barik cards can board with multiple people swiping the card in sequence for each traveller. Bilbobus operates on a first-come, first-served basis for seating, and you should be prepared for crowding during rush hours.
At long-distance bus stations such as Bilbao Intermodal and TermiBus, queues can be lengthy, particularly for major carriers. It is often quicker to purchase tickets in advance online or via automated machines rather than at the ticket window. When using ticket machines, be aware that you may need a Barik card or ticket to access certain departure levels.
The metro, tram, and bus network are reliable as long as you remain within a single operator. If transferring between different operators (for example, from metro to Cercanías or from Bilbobus to Bizkaibus), you will incur separate fares, and coordinated schedules are not guaranteed. Journey-planning apps such as Moovit or Google Maps can help with multi-operator trips.
Official links
Survival terms
- Metro de Bilbao / Bilboko metroa: Subway / metro
- Sarrera: Entrance
- Irteera: Exit
- Txartela / Barik: Ticket / Barik card
- Lerroa: Line
- Transferentzia: Transfer
- Biajarako txartela: Single journey ticket
- Egunaren txartela: Day pass
Download a journey-planning app such as Moovit or Google Maps before you arrive, as they will help you navigate transfers between different transport operators and provide real-time information when coordinated schedules are not obvious.