TRAVEL, ACCOMMODATION & FOOD
ACCOMMODATION
Please notice that Bilbao is one of the most popular and touristic cities of Northern Spain, so we recommend to book the hotel as soon as possible in order to avoid availability issues.
For accommodation options you can check these website, where you can find the full list of hotels, hostels and also last minute offers:
- http://www.bilbaoturismo.net/BilbaoTurismo/es/turistas
- http://www.hotel.info/en/bilbao/hotels-70857/
The Secretariat has booked a significant number of rooms in different hotels in the city at special rates.
The prices given are per room and per night, breakfast and taxes included.
We recommend the followings:
1. Bilbao Hostel **
The Bilbao Hostel is a good quality accommodation where you will spend a good night in a cozy atmosphere at affordable prices. All the rooms are exterior, spacious and with wonderful views to the city.
30 minutes walk from Bizkaia Aretoa.
Olabeaga and Autonomía train stations are within 15 minutes' walk of the Aterpetxea, and connect you to the city centre in 10 minutes.
Single: € 26,35
2.Ibis Bilbao Centro Hotel*
The ibis Bilbao Centro hotel enjoys an excellent location at the heart of this great city, just 10 minutes' walk from the Guggenheim Museum and very close to the city's old quarter, the Arriaga Theater and the San Mamés soccer stadium. Its rooms are comfortable and fully equipped with air conditioning, heating and WIFI Internet.
20 minutes walk from Bizkaia Aretoa.
Single: €66,00 Double: €71,50
3.Ilunion Bilbao Hotel ***
A hotel in a class of its own, located right in Bilbao's lively shopping and business district. Services as solarium with panoramic views, fitness centre or free wi-fi access in the public areas are provided. 3 minutes walk from the Euskalduna Palace and Museo Marítimo.
15 minutes walk from Bizkaia Aretoa.
Single: €92,00 Double: €104,00
4.Hotel Hesperia Zubialde Hotel ****
Hotel is opposite the new San Mamés football stadium and close to the River Nervión. You can easily walk to the Guggenhein Museum from here and the local metro is just steps away for trips into the Old Town.
Inside the 1920s building there are 82 rooms, all of which have been renovated in the past 3 years. They're light and spacious with hardwood floors.
15 minutes walk from Bizkaia Aretoa.
Single: €100,00 Double: € 108,90
FOOD
The Basque Country is noted for its internationally renowned culinary heritage. Basque cuisine is wide-ranging and varied; it is based on ingredients sourced from the Cantabrian sea (fish and seafood) and from the local gardens and farms (vegetables, cereals, meat, etc.). But if any one feature stands out in our gastronomy, it has to be the use of seasonal, top quality produce.
In Bilbao, you will find a wide range of traditional cuisine and also nouvelle cuisine, based on innovation and creativity, to choose from.
HOW TO GET BILBAO
Its strategic situation and the fact that it's well provided with infrastructures have made Bilbao an easily accessible place, connected by every kind of transport to the rest of the world. Choose the one that suits you best and begin your journey to Bilbao!
GETTING TO BILBAO BY PLANE
Bilbao Airport is served by the most important airlines. To get to downtown from the airport, the best option is to take Bizkaibus A3247 from outside the arrivals hall. The bus leaves every half hour at: 15 and: 45 and takes about 25 minutes. The reverse journey is at: 25 and: 55 from the bus terminal to the airport.
Taxis to downtown Bilbao from the airport cost about €25-30.
Biarritz Airport is about an hour and half drive to the east of the city and is a popular airport for visitors from France. There are buses between Biarritz and San Sebastian. Once in San Sebastian you can take a PESA bus to Bilbao.
GETTING TO BILBAO BY TRAIN
RENFE-- runs intercity trains to Madrid, Barcelona, Vigo (Galicia). All Renfe trains leave from Abando Station.
FEVE -- runs regional trains to Santander (3 daily), and Leon (1 Daily). They are very slow, and make a stop in almost every single town they pass through. From Santander you can continue to Oviedo (Asturias), and La Coruña (Galicia). This journey has three legs, but it is only possible to do 2 legs in any one day. FEVE trains leave from Santander Station (next to Abando Station)
EuskoTren -- runs a local service to San Sebastian, with connection there for Irun (on the Spanish-French border). It takes two hours to reach San Sebastian. Trains leave from Atxuri Station.
GETTING TO BILBAO BY BUS
Bilbao has a sizeable bus station that connects the city with others throughout Spain, called Termibus.
Main bus lines companies from Bilbao:
- Alsa
- Pesa
- La union/ La Burundesa
- Bilman Bus
- Vibasa