Search Flights from Bilbao to Madrid

Among the alternatives you can prefer to reach the airport from Bilbao city center are very easy and comfortable transportation options, especially buses and taxis. In Bilbao, if you want, you can also rent a car to get to the airport from the city center; in this way, you can also explore the surrounding area while driving the car between the city center and the airport.

The airport is only 13 kilometers away from Bilbao city center. Thanks to its close location to the center of the city, the prices of transportation alternatives between the airport and the city center are not too high. However, if you want to travel by a much more economical means of transportation, you can take the buses departing from the city center and from other places in the immediate vicinity of Bilbao.

If comfort and speed are your priorities instead of affordable prices for transportation, taking a taxi or the shuttle services provided by hotels would be a much more accurate decision in this sense. Renting a car in Bilbao is a great option that allows you to arrive at the airport from the city center as well as to explore the different parts of the city around Bilbao.

You just need to have a valid driver's license to rent a car in the city. It is also possible to reach many points in and around Bilbao by your own car. However, if you are going to drive the car, you will find it extremely helpful in the city to travel with a local guide or with the help of a navigator to get directions properly. You can also easily get a taxi at many points in the city center and take the advantage of taking a taxi on your journey to the airport.

Taxis in the city run with the taximeter system and generally there is no chance to bargain with the driver over taxi fare. However, the distances within the city are very close to each other. So, the taxi fare you need to pay is not very high.

Bus

Bilbao city center is 13 kilometers away from Bilbao Airport. The first alternative you can prefer is to take a bus, which is also the most economical transportation option in the city. You can reach the airport from Bilbao city center by bus for approximately 1.40 Euros.

If you want to get to the airport from the nearby places such as San Sebastian, Zarautz, Arrasate, Bergara and Eibar, you can consider transportation by bus as the first among your alternatives.

It is possible to reach the airport by taking the advantage of the buses running from early morning until night, even if their departure times vary during weekdays, weekends and holidays. The frequency of bus services varies depending on passenger density; the buses depart from Bilbao city center every 30 minutes and usually depart hourly from other central places in the city.

You can pay for the ticket in the bus and you need to make sure you have Euros with you. Although it is possible to pay for taxi in dollars, only euro is accepted for bus transportation.

Taxi

You can also get to the airport from Bilbao city center by taxi. Moreover, taxis are one of the most preferred options in the city. Taxi stands out as the most convenient alternative in airport transportation, especially for foreign tourists visiting the city for the first time. The fact that the airport is located 13 kilometers away from the city center makes it possible for taxis to stand out as a generally affordable option.

You can also prefer to take a taxi as a shared car if there are other passengers going to the airport from the hotel where you stay in the city, and so you can decrease the taxi fare. However, please keep in mind that taxi drivers may charge a little more for taxi service if you want to take advantage of this option.

Rent a car

Among transportation alternatives, renting a car in and around Bilbao is a popular option preferred by passengers. In the city, there are the offices of a number of international car rental companies, mainly AVIS, Europcar and Hertz. You can choose the car you want by visiting one of these offices and you can continue your journey by the car you have rented in only a few minutes. If you book your car online, you can save time and choose from more rental car options.

Private Shuttle Services

One of the most comfortable and practical transportation option is the shuttle services provided by large hotels in the city. You can make a reservation in advance to take the advantage of the "pick-up" from the hotel and arrive at the airport terminal building in about 15 minutes. If your hotel does not provide such a service, you can also take advantage of the services provided by private shuttle companies. However, the taxis in the city are generally more economical and practical compared to shuttle services. Even so, if you are traveling with a crowded group, private shuttle services can be considered both as a comfortable and an economical option.

Limousine and Luxury Cars

You will have a chance to get to the airport from Bilbao city center by taking advantage of the luxury cars offered by limousine companies. Luxury cars and limousines serving in Bilbao can be provided by the hotels as well as other private companies providing this service independently. The fees for these vehicles are generally higher than taxis and public transportation such as bus. If you want to reach Bilbao Airport by luxury transfer vehicles, you can contact your hotel to make a reservation and you can reach the airport by the luxury car, which is almost as fast as taxi, by getting on the car in front of the hotel where you stay.

Airport Information

The airport is located 13 kilometers away from the city center in Bilbao, which is situated in the north of Spain and considered as one of the most important cities of the country. Bilbao Airport, which is one of the most important transportation hubs for the region in which Bilbao and its surroundings are located, has lounges specially designed for the passengers in the city, a big duty-free and other shopping stores where you can enjoy your time by doing shopping, and the restaurants where you can taste delicious Spanish cuisine and the delicacies from different parts of Europe.

There is also a private passenger lounge among the services and privileges you can take advantage of at Bilbao Airport. Here you can read your magazines and newspapers while relaxing in the extremely comfortable area provided for you, as well as you can enjoy the special food and beverage service prepared for you.

There are also special charging stations where you can charge your electronic devices and ATMs where you can make money transfers by carrying out your simple banking transactions in the airport terminal building.

You can also benefit from the baby care rooms specially designed for the parents traveling with children at Bilbao Airport. You can follow the signs at the airport or get information from the airport staff, especially if you want to take advantage of these rooms which make travels easier for families with young children. If you want to spend your time by looking at the books and magazines while waiting for your flight, you can find and buy Spanish and English publications at the airport's kiosks. You can also benefit from the city and country guides that you can find at the airport, as well as you can find out about Bilbao and other cities of Spain.

Sibarium Delicatessen, Derio Cafe and Pans & Company are among the places you can prefer to eat or drink at Bilbao Airport.

If you want to do shopping and buy some souvenirs, you can also take a glance at Las Lilas, which is one of the stores you can visit at the airport.

The Adolfo Suarez Madrid-Barajas Airport, also referred to as Madrid-Barajas Airport, is located 12 km from Madrid’s city center. There are a variety of transportation alternatives to get to the city center from the airport including the metro, trains, buses, taxis, or rental cars.

Metro

Madrid’s metro system is a modern, clean, and quick transportation alternative to get to the city center from the airport. There are two metro stations at the airport that provide convenient transportation to the city’s metro system. There is a station located in Terminal 2, which is accessible from the other terminals using the airport’s inter-terminal transportation system. The other station is located in Terminal 4. Metro Line 8 runs through both stations. Departing from Terminal 4, Metro Line 8 runs to the following lines respectively, Barajas, Airport T1-T2-T3, Campo de las Naciones, Mar de Cristal, Pinar del Rey, Colombia, all the way to the Nuevos Ministerios Station in only 12 minutes. At the Nuevos Ministerios Station you can transfer to Metro Line 10 and Metro Line 6, depending on your destination in the city. You can also transfer to Line 4 at the Mar de Cristal Station.  

We recommend taking a look at the Madrid Metro System online beforehand, or getting a map at the airport, to find out which metro line you should take depending on your final destination in the city. The metro is an affordable and convenient method of transportation to get to the city center. However, you might have to transfer at multiple locations depending on your final destination. So if you have a lot of luggage then taking the metro can be a bit troublesome. The Madrid metro system runs from 6 am to 2 am. Metro Line 8 operates every 5 minutes. If you purchase a Madrid Tourist Travel Pass then you will be paying less for public transportation and won’t have to deal with purchasing separate tickets for each ride. These cards are valid on the metro, buses, and trains.  

Train

Another convenient method of transportation to get to the city center from the airport is by using the RENFE trains. There is a station located in Terminal 4, which is accessible from the other terminals using the airport’s inter-terminal transportation system. From this station you can get to stops in the city like Chamartin, Nuevos Ministerios, Atocha, and Principe Pio by taking the C1 trains. The total train ride from the airport station to Chamartin Station takes 11 minutes and the total train ride from the airport station to Principe Pio Station takes 38 minutes. The C1 trains operate from 5:15 am to 12:15 am and run every 30 minutes.

Bus

Buses are another form of transportation to get to the city center and its surrounding areas from the airport. Airport Express buses provide transportation along Plaza Cibeles to the city’s main railway station, Atocha Station. This station is also quite close to the city’s main bus stop. These buses operate 24 hours a day and run every 15 minutes during the day and every 35 minutes at night. These yellow buses also let off passengers at the junction of O’Donnell and Doctor Esquerdo and stops along Plaza de Cibeles before arriving at Atocha Station. The ride from the airport to the last stop takes about 40 minutes under normal traffic conditions. In addition, there are regular public bus services that provide transportation to various locations in the city. Bus line 200 runs from each terminal to the Avenida de America Station, where you can connect to other major bus routes. Bus line 200 operates from 5 am to 11:30 pm and runs every 12 to 15 minutes during rush hour.

Taxi

Another transportation alternative to get to the city center from the airport is by taxi. Taxis are easily accessible outside of the arrivals hall. Since the airport is located in such close proximity to the city center, only 13 km away, taking a taxi is a comfortable option. Official taxicabs in Madrid are colored white with a red stripe on them. Taxis operate using a taximeter but also use maximum and minimum flat rate fares. For example, if you are traveling 10 km away then the minimum fare will be 20 euros. But if you are traveling to specific sections in the city then your maximum fare will be 30 euros. These prices can vary over time and taxi fares are higher over the weekend, during public holidays, and at night between 9 pm and 6 am. For more detailed information on taxi fares and services please take a look at Madrid-Barajas Airport’s website.  

Rental Car

Renting a car is another alternative to get to the city center from the airport, especially if you’re planning on exploring areas surrounding the city. However, if you plan on only staying in the city then keep in mind that parking and traffic can be a problem. It might not be worth renting a car considering the fact that public transportation is so convenient. Regardless, there are various rental car companies that have offices at the airport, such as Sixt, Avis, Budget, Europcar, Hertz, Enterprise and ATESA. Rental car offices can be found in the arrivals hall of terminals 1 and 4.

Airport Information

Located 12 km from the city center,  Adolfo Suarez Madrid-Barajas Airport, also referred to as Madrid-Barajas Airport, is the main airport in Madrid, serving both international and domestic flights. Madrid-Barajas Airport consists of 4 terminals, Terminal 1, Terminal 2, Terminal 3, and Terminal 4, which was built in 2006. Terminal 4 is the largest terminal in the airport and operates flights for many major airlines such as Turkish Airlines and American Airlines. It is an impressive structure with modern architecture that also features a satellite building, TS4. Terminal 1 is the airport’s oldest building and another major terminal. Many airlines take off and land at Terminal 1. Terminal 2 and Terminal 3 are smaller in comparison to the others. Terminal 3 is dedicated to flights operated by Lagun Air. There is an airport shuttle bus that runs 24 hours a day, providing inter-terminal transportation.

Internet at the airport is free for the first 15 minutes. In Terminal 4 you can connect to the internet by paying a fee. In Terminal 1, Terminal 2, and Terminal 3 you can connect to the internet in the departure lounges, VIP lounges, and restaurant area.

There are various VIP lounges located at the airport. The La Revoltosa and Premium lounges at Terminal 4, La Revoltosa lounge in Terminal 4S, Cibeles lounge in Terminal 1, Puerta de Alcala lounge in Terminal 2, and Puerto del Sol lounge in Terminal 3 are accessible for those with a Priority Pass card. Apart from those there are 3 VIP lounges in Terminal 4 belonging to Iberia Airlines. Madrid-Barajas Airport offers passengers a rich variety of stores where they can go shopping. If you weren’t able to do as much shopping as you would have liked during your time in the city, you can easily make up for it at the airport.

There are many stores at the airport where you can buy various products such as duty free items, food, cosmetics, gifts, electronics, clothing, jewelry, and accessories. While the majority of the stores are located in Terminal 1 and Terminal 4 there are plenty of options in the other terminals as well. The airport is home to many brand name stores such as Adidas, Carolina Herrera, Sunglass Hut, Hugo Boss, Burberry, Massimo Dutti, Zara, and Michael Kors.  

Madrid-Barajas Airport also offers passengers a range of eateries aimed at meeting their pre-flight and post-flight needs. If you want to get a bite to eat or something to drink before or after your flight you can go enjoy familiar venues such as Starbucks, Mc Donald’s, Burger King, Paul, and Lavazza. The airport also features various cafes and restaurants that serve delicious examples of international cuisine.