Bilbao Airport Taxi — a price fixed before you fly

A metered taxi from the rank at Bilbao Airport to the city centre typically costs €25–€35, depending on traffic, the time of day and the day of the week. A pre-booked Global Airport Taxi transfer is a fixed €39 per car for up to 3 passengers, or €59 for a minivan carrying up to 7. The fixed fare includes tolls, luggage, the night rate and meet-and-greet, and it does not change after you book.

The airport is about 12 km north of the city in Loiu. The drive takes 15–20 minutes in normal traffic on the BI-631 and BI-20, and 35–55 minutes during the weekday rush (roughly 08:00–09:30 and 17:00–19:00).

No. There is no train or metro line connecting directly to Bilbao Airport. The only public transport option is the Bizkaibus A3247 airport bus to the city centre. Taxis, pre-booked transfers and hire cars are the other practical choices.

The official rank is on Level P0, directly outside the arrivals hall and signposted "Taxi". It operates 24 hours a day. Bilbao's licensed taxis are white with a red diagonal stripe on the front doors and a lit roof sign. Check the meter is reset to the base tariff before you pull away.

Most official rank taxis accept credit and debit cards, but card readers do occasionally fail, so carry some euros as a backup. Confirm with the driver before setting off. With a pre-booked transfer you can pay securely online in advance or settle in the car.

Yes. The Bizkaibus A3247 costs around €3 per person and is the cheapest way into Bilbao. It suits solo travellers and couples with light bags. It drops you at set stops such as Gran Vía or the bus station rather than your door, has no luggage hold, and does not run overnight. For two or more people with cases, a fixed-price transfer usually wins on both cost and time.

The Bizkaibus A3247 generally runs from roughly 06:15 until midnight. It does not operate 24 hours. For a late-night arrival or an early-morning departure, a taxi or pre-booked transfer is the reliable option.

Yes, Uber and Cabify operate in Bilbao and can pick up at the airport. Supply thins out late at night and surge pricing makes the fare unpredictable — typically €28–€50 into the centre. A pre-booked transfer guarantees the price and puts a named driver on your specific flight.

It depends on when you land. At midday with light traffic, the rank is usually a few euros cheaper. After 22:00, at weekends, on public holidays and in rush-hour traffic, a fixed fare is normally the cheaper of the two — and for any long run such as San Sebastián, Vitoria, Santander or La Rioja, the fixed price beats the meter by a wide margin. The other difference is certainty: the pre-booked number cannot move.

San Sebastián (Donostia) is 99 km from Bilbao Airport, about 1 hour 10 minutes on the motorway. Our fixed fare is €150 for a sedan carrying up to 3 people, or €195 for a minivan carrying up to 7. A metered taxi on the same run costs considerably more because the whole journey is on the clock.

Vitoria-Gasteiz is 75 km and about 55 minutes: €139 sedan, €175 minivan. Santander, including the Brittany Ferries terminal, is 105 km and about 1 hour 15 minutes: €179 sedan, €219 minivan. Both are fixed prices per vehicle with tolls included.

Yes. The Bilbao cruise terminal at Getxo is 18 km from the airport, roughly 25 minutes, at a fixed €49 for a sedan or €72 for a minivan. We watch ship schedules as well as flight numbers, so the return leg can be run early for a morning departure.

Yes. The official rank on Level P0 operates around the clock, and pre-booked transfers run 24/7, including night arrivals and public holidays. Note that rank taxis apply a higher night tariff after 22:00 and at weekends, while a pre-booked fixed fare already includes it.

In the arrivals hall on Level P0, just past the sliding doors from baggage reclaim. Your driver holds a name board and can show the booking reference. You will also get the driver's direct number before you land. Never accept a ride from anyone who approaches you inside the terminal — licensed drivers do not tout for business.

We track your flight live, so your driver adjusts to the actual landing time rather than the scheduled one. The first 60 minutes of waiting are free, measured from wheels-down, which covers a slow bag carousel or a queue at border control. If the airline cancels the flight, you get a full refund.

Yes. Infant carriers, child seats and booster seats are supplied free of charge and fitted before you arrive — just give us the children's ages when you book. Rank taxis in Bilbao rarely carry them, which is the usual reason families pre-book.

A standard sedan takes up to 3 passengers with 2–3 large cases. A minivan takes up to 7 with 5–7 large cases. A minibus takes 8–16 with a full luggage load. Boot space, not seat count, is what decides — four adults with four large cases need a minivan, not a sedan. Tell us the bag sizes and we size the vehicle at no extra charge.

Yes, with notice. Tell us the item and its length in the booking notes and we allocate a vehicle with the right load space — boards for Mundaka and Sopelana, golf bags, ski bags, prams and wheelchairs are all routine. Oversized items are not something the rank can promise.

Yes, a ramp-equipped vehicle can be arranged, but it must be requested at the time of booking and we ask for at least 48 hours' notice. Adapted vehicles at the rank are scarce and cannot be relied on. Bilbao Airport itself is fully step-free with PRM assistance available.

Yes. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before pick-up and changes to the time, flight number or address can be made through our 24/7 support team. If your airline cancels the flight, you receive a full refund.

Tipping is not expected in Spain. Rounding up to the nearest euro or two is the local habit for good service, and nothing more is needed. With a pre-booked transfer the fare is already settled, so a tip is entirely optional.

It depends where you flew from. Domestic and Schengen arrivals have no passport control at all and walk straight to baggage reclaim. Non-Schengen arrivals from the UK, Ireland, Turkey and elsewhere go through border control, commonly 10–25 minutes if your biometrics are already on file. A first registration under the EU Entry/Exit System takes longer — the kiosk itself is quick, but the queue can run to 30 minutes or more at peak.

No. The EU 100 ml limit is still enforced at Bilbao, whichever screening lane you are sent to. Liquids, gels and aerosols must be in containers of 100 ml or less inside a single transparent 1-litre resealable bag. Prescription medication and baby food are exempt if declared. Wine or txakoli should go in the hold, or be bought airside and kept sealed in the duty-free STEB bag with the receipt.