The most important thing to know before you sail: the Bilbao ferry terminal is not in Bilbao. It sits at Zierbena, on the Abra bay where the Nervión meets the sea, roughly 13 miles (21 km) from the city centre.
Plenty of pages describe it as a short walk along the river. It is not. If you are a foot passenger, this is a leg you need to plan before you arrive.
Where you actually arrive
Brittany Ferries docks at Muelle A-3, Zierbena 48508, part of the wider Port of Bilbao complex that spans Zierbena and neighbouring Santurtzi. The two names get used interchangeably online, which is where a lot of the confusion comes from, but the passenger terminal itself is at Zierbena.
Santurtzi matters because it is where the nearest metro station is, a few kilometres from the terminal.
With your own car: 15 to 30 minutes
Straightforward. Leave the port and follow signs for Bilbao Centro, joining the N-644 and then the A-8. Traffic decides whether it is 15 minutes or closer to 30.
- Underground car parks are the practical option in the centre, including near the Guggenheim and at Plaza Moyúa
- Street parking in central Bilbao is restricted and not worth the trouble
- If you are staying in the city for several days, consider parking it and using the metro rather than driving daily
Taxi: the simplest option on foot
Taxis generally meet arriving sailings. Expect roughly €20 to €25 into central Bilbao and about 20 minutes.
For ride-hailing, Cabify is the more dependable app in Bilbao. Uber coverage here is patchy compared with Madrid or Barcelona, so do not rely on it as your only plan, particularly on an early morning arrival.
If you are arriving on the Saturday sailing from Portsmouth, which docks at 08:00, or the Sunday one from Rosslare at 08:30, there will be a queue. Worth pre-booking if there are several of you with luggage.
Metro: cheapest, but you need to reach the station first
This is where the old advice on most sites falls down. The nearest metro station is Santurtzi, on Line 2, and it is a few kilometres from the terminal, not a short stroll. You need a bus or a taxi to cover that first stretch.
- Get from the terminal to Santurtzi station by local bus or short taxi hop
- Take Line 2 towards Basauri for central Bilbao
- Journey time roughly 25 to 30 minutes from Santurtzi
Useful stops: Abando for the main railway station and shopping, Moyúa for the centre and the walk to the Guggenheim, Casco Viejo for the old town.
Fares are a couple of euros at most, and considerably less with a Barik card, which is worth buying the moment you reach a station. It covers the metro, the tram, Bilbobus and the Artxanda funicular. See our guide to getting around Bilbao without a car.
Cycling: possible, not practical with bags
There is a riverside cycle path running most of the way in, and with a folding bike off the ferry it is a genuinely pleasant ride on a clear morning. But it is around 12 miles and it is no fun carrying a fortnight’s luggage.
Note that Bilbaobizi, the city bike share, is set up for residents with annual subscriptions rather than visitors, so it is not an option for this leg.
Which to pick
| Option | Rough time | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Own car | 15 to 30 min | Anyone driving on afterwards |
| Taxi or Cabify | ~20 min | Foot passengers with luggage, families |
| Bus plus metro | 45 min or so | Travelling light, on a budget |
| Bike | An hour plus | Folding bike, minimal luggage |
Transfer arrangements at the terminal do change, so it is worth confirming the current bus options with Brittany Ferries or the port when you book, especially if you are arriving early on a Sunday.
Going the other way
Same distance in reverse, but with a deadline. Check-in closes 45 minutes before departure, or 90 minutes with a pet, and northbound sailings leave Bilbao at 13:00 for Portsmouth and 11:00 or 18:00 for Rosslare. Build the 13 miles into your morning rather than discovering it on the day.
Parking at the terminal, full directions and the port address are in our Bilbao ferry port guide, and all northbound times are on the Spain to the UK page.
Bilbao is reached by ferry from Portsmouth and from Rosslare. Once you are in the city, see things to do in Bilbao, or head straight out with our road trip ideas from Bilbao.
