Airport arrival · BIO

BIO (Bilbao) Arrival Guide: Bizkaibus, Taxi & the San Sebastián Coach

Bilbao Airport (BIO) is small, modern, and close to the city. Taxis are metered and honest and the Bizkaibus into the centre is cheap and frequent, so arrival here is genuinely simple — just pick the bus or the taxi and go.

2026-08-27

The calm version

Bilbao Airport (BIO) is a small, modern airport ~12 km north of the city. Taxis are metered and honest and the Bizkaibus A3247 into the centre is cheap and frequent, so arrival is genuinely simple — pick the bus or the taxi and go. There’s no arrival-scam scene at all.

Getting to the city

Bizkaibus A3247. Frequent public bus to the centre (Plaza Moyua, Termibus) in ~20–25 min for a couple of euros — the best value.
Metered taxi. ~15–20 min to the centre, on the meter plus small official supplements — no haggling. Use the official rank.
Direct to San Sebastián? A Pesa/ALSA coach runs from the airport (~1h15) — the common route for the wider Basque coast.

The small habits that matter

Use the Bizkaibus or the official taxi rank — both honest; nothing to haggle.
Pay by card/contactless (universal) or euros; choose euros on terminals.
Onward: Bilbao’s one real risk is peak-season pickpocketing — read the city brief and keep your bag zipped in the old-town crush.

What it looks like

BIO is an easy Basque arrival — a cheap frequent bus, honest metered taxis, and a direct coach to San Sebastián. No hustle, no fare games. Pick the Bizkaibus or a taxi and go; the only thing to carry forward is normal old-town pickpocket sense in peak season.

Do this instead

Take the Bizkaibus A3247 or a metered taxi from the official rank into Bilbao — both honest, nothing to haggle — or the direct coach to San Sebastián. Pay by contactless or euros. That’s the whole BIO arrival, into one of Spain’s safest cities.

If something needs sorting

Info / lost item: the terminal is compact — staff and the info desk are easy to find.
Card issue: choose euros on terminals; card/contactless is universal.
Onward safety: the Bilbao city brief covers the one real risk — peak-season pickpocketing in the pintxos bars and on the metro.

Arrive prepared

The services this guide's advice points to — sorted before you land, not in the arrivals hall.

Airport transfer Welcome Pickups
A licensed, fixed-price driver waiting with your name — the pre-booked ride these guides recommend for late or first-time arrivals.
Pre-book a licensed transfer →
Arrival data Airalo eSIM
Working data the moment you land, so your map, ride app, and this guide all work before you leave the arrivals hall.
Get an arrival eSIM →
Travel insurance SafetyWing
The police report in these guides is for a claim — this is who you claim from. Covers theft, medical, and trip disruption.
Compare travel cover →
Anti-theft gear Anti-theft gear guide
The crossbody bags, RFID sleeves, door alarms, and hidden pockets behind the two-pocket system — what to look for, and where to get it.
See the gear guide →

Some links below are partner links: if you book or buy through them, Arrival Brief may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. We only list services that match the advice on this page, and money never changes what a brief recommends. More →

Quick answers

How do I get from Bilbao Airport (BIO) to the city centre?

Bilbao Airport (BIO, Loiu) is about 12 km north of the centre. The easiest and cheapest option is the Bizkaibus A3247, a frequent public bus from outside arrivals to the city centre (stops at Alameda Recalde/Plaza Moyua and the Termibus station) in about 20–25 minutes for a couple of euros — no booking needed, just pay onboard or tap. A metered taxi from the official rank is quick (~15–20 minutes) and honest, running on the meter plus small official supplements with no haggling. There's no train or metro directly to the airport. If you're heading to San Sebastián instead, a direct Pesa/ALSA coach departs from the airport (~1h15). Pay by contactless (universal) or euros, and you're in town with no hassle.

Are taxis at Bilbao airport metered and honest?

Yes — this is Spain's Basque Country, a safe, well-run region, and airport taxis are metered and trustworthy; the fare to the centre runs on the meter plus small official airport/luggage supplements, with no fare games or haggling. Use the official taxi rank outside arrivals or a taxi app. There's no arrival hustle to speak of — nobody legitimate will approach you inside the terminal offering a ride, so just head to the rank. For most solo or budget travelers the Bizkaibus A3247 is even cheaper and nearly as fast; a taxi makes sense for a group with luggage or a late arrival. Pay by card/contactless or euros, and choose euros on any terminal.

Can I get to San Sebastián directly from Bilbao airport?

Yes — a direct intercity coach (Pesa, part of ALSA) runs from Bilbao Airport to San Sebastián in about 1 hour 15 minutes, a comfortable and inexpensive ride that's popular with travelers whose flights land at Bilbao (which has far more international routes than tiny San Sebastián Airport). Buy a ticket at the airport counter, the app, or onboard. It's the common, easy way to reach San Sebastián and the wider Basque coast. If you're staying in Bilbao itself, take the Bizkaibus A3247 or a metered taxi into the centre instead. Either way, arrival at BIO is low-stress with no scams to navigate.