Basque Country, Spain · From Portsmouth and Rosslare
Bilbao Ferry Port
The terminal is not in Bilbao. It sits on the Abra bay at Zierbena, roughly 21 kilometres from the city centre, which changes how you plan the first hour after you dock.
Address and the city
Bilbao is Spain’s tenth largest city, around 345,000 people in the city itself and close to a million across the metropolitan area, built along the River Nervión in the Basque Country. The Guggenheim and the Gothic streets of the Casco Viejo are the draw, and Norman Foster’s metro makes the city easy to move around once you are in it.
The ferry terminal, though, is out on the coast where the river meets the sea.
| Detail | Puerto de Bilbao |
|---|---|
| Terminal address | Muelle A-3, Zierbena 48508, Bizkaia |
| Region | Basque Country, northern Spain |
| Operator | Brittany Ferries |
| Port authority | Puerto de Bilbao, bilbaoport.eus |
| To Bilbao city centre | About 13 miles (21 km), 15 to 30 minutes by road |
| Access | 24 hours, year round |
| Check-in | 45 minutes before departure, 90 with a pet |
The terminal has air-conditioned waiting areas, dining, shops, cash machines, luggage storage, free wifi, information desks and accessible facilities throughout.
You cannot walk into Bilbao from the terminal
At 21 kilometres it is a road journey, not a stroll along the river. Foot passengers need the bus, the train via Santurtzi, or a taxi. Budget 15 to 30 minutes depending on traffic, and more if you land at rush hour.
Parking at Bilbao
Two car parks serve the terminal. You can pre-book online through the port website, or pay by cash or card on arrival.
P1, next to the terminal
- The larger of the two
- Open 24 hours
- Takes cars and trucks
- Around €13 per 24 hours, roughly £11
P2, further out
- Smaller
- Open 08:00 to 20:00 only
- Cars only
- Around €9 per 24 hours, roughly £8
P2 closing at 20:00 matters on this route, because the Bilbao departures leave at 13:00 and the Rosslare sailings at 11:00 and 18:00. If your timings fall outside those hours, P1 is the only option.
Ferry routes from Bilbao
Two direct crossings leave Bilbao, one to England and one to Ireland. Between them they carried around 141,000 passengers over the last twelve months, and both are growing: Portsmouth up ten per cent and Rosslare up eighteen.
| Route | Departures from Bilbao | Crossing | Ship |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bilbao to Portsmouth | Tue 13:00, Sat 13:00 | 29 to 33 hours | Galicia |
| Bilbao to Rosslare | Thu 18:00, Sun 11:00 | 27 to 28 hours | Santoña |
The Rosslare service is the only direct ferry between Spain and Ireland. Around one in six of its passengers start their journey in Spain rather than Ireland, which is the highest share of any Brittany Ferries route.
Driving on from Bilbao
Bilbao is the better arrival port if you are heading east or south-east. The A-8 runs along the coast to the French border in 90 minutes to two hours, and Barcelona is around six hours away.
| Destination | Approximate road distance |
|---|---|
| Biarritz, France | 91 miles |
| León | 196 miles |
| Madrid | 245 miles |
| Salamanca | 247 miles |
| Barcelona | 376 miles |
| Vigo | 435 miles |
| Alicante | 496 miles |
Remember you will be driving on the right, and the port exit puts you onto the A-8 quickly. Work out your first junction before you disembark.
Getting to the port
By car
From the A-8, take exit N-644 towards Santurtzi and Portua, then follow signs for the port.
By public transport
Direct buses run from central Bilbao to the port. Alternatively take the train to Santurtzi station and change to bus 33.
By taxi
Roughly 15 minutes from central Bilbao in light traffic.
By air
Bilbao Airport (BIO) is the nearest, with buses and taxis to the port.
Sailing to or from Bilbao?
Direct to Portsmouth and Rosslare with Brittany Ferries.
Book your tickets →Port authority: Puerto de Bilbao, bilbaoport.eus
