Bilbao Travel Forum

My husband and I will be arriving by cruise ship in May, and like to tour on our own. How far is the cruise terminal to the city, and what is the transportation and cost?

Hi!
There is 22 km from Bilbao Port in Santurtzi and up to Bilbao town according to Google Maps http://maps.google.co.uk /

This year is the metro line Portugalete - Santurtzi in construction.
The link to above-mentioned page: http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/L%C3%ADnea_2_%28Metro_de_Bilbao%29

Metro Bilbao: http://www.metrobilbao.net/eng/home.jsp

Regards Jesper

Hi!
Here is a map of Santurtzi: http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?country=ES&addtohistory=&address=&city=Santurtzi&zipcode=48980
Regards Jesper

If the ferries from England do call at the terminal in Santurtzi, there is a new cruise liner terminal on the opposite side of the estuary, in Getxo. I presume that it is there that you will be landing. If the ships are large enough, there are usually shuttle buses to downtown Bilbao from the terminal. Otherwise, you can take a cab (it is less than 20 km) or the metro (Lamiako or Areeta stations) or the Bizkaibus.

Las Arenas area is a suburb of Bilbao with some attractions you can reach on foot, including the UNESCO listed Vizcaya Bridge.

Have a nice stay in Bilbao.

Hi!
Renfe Cercanias runs from Santurtzi to Bilbao-Arando.
The website of Renfe Cercanias: http://www.renfe.es/cercanias/bilbao/index.html

Bilbao Metro and another transportation: http://www.urbanrail.net/eu/bil/bilbao.htm
Regards Jesper

Hi!
South east of Santurtzi and Penota is found there a suspension bridge (in Spanish: Puente colgante) according to this map http://www2.bilbao.net/bilbaoturismo/ingles/cllegar/planosa4.htm

Online -Spanish -English Spanish dictionary: http://www.freelang.net/online/spanish.php?lg=gb
Regards Jesper

Hello,

A map of Santurzi won't help at all, as that is where the P$O car-truck ferry from UK docks: (Portsmouth-Bilbao), on the so-called west-bank of the Nervion estuary.

Cruise ships dock at the opposite bank (the right bank), at new cruise port in Getxo, next to the Marina. Most cruise ships offer their own tours: usually either to the Guggenheim in the city or to Gernika/Bizkaia. To translate 20kms distance, it is about a 20 minutes drive from the docking port to the city centre in Bilbao, increase time for times of heavy traffic.

If you want to do it on your own, the quickest and most expensive would be to take a cab, which may await the cruise ship docking. From the port you can walk it to the Marina area (5-7 minutes), here there are some traditional and some international chain restaurants.

People who have mentioned Bizkaibus and Metro, should warn you that it is at least a good 20 minutes walk to the nearest station, which would be Neguri. Bizkaibus can be caught along the main Inner road that borders the coast to the right of the port. About 200 hundred metres past the Marina area, on the left you have a beach with a few hotels and restaurants lining some of it, and a road that goes all along it. On the very far end, you will see the old fishing village of Algorta (now giving the name to all the apartment blocks/houses lining the cliff that borders the beach. This is now home to a few popular restaurants and bars and is pretty well-preserved. Some people from the cruises just stick to this area. You can go up to the town proper either through steep paths, or there is a lift about 3/4 of the way round the beach that will take you up.

If you want to go into Bilbao, you don't turn on to this beach, but carry straight on past the Marine Red Cross building on the right. You will have sea on your right and some imposing villas on the cliff to your left. You will then reach a main road with traffic lights. Along this road are the bus stops of the Bizkaibus to take you into Bilbao. You will need a map to find the nearest metro station as you can't see it from where you are, although it is pretty close by (Neguri), beyond the main road where you are now standing.

The whole area is really popular with locals, especially if it is fine or at the weekends, so don't feel you will be out in a lonely dock somewhere.

Hope this helps and feel free to ask any other questions.

The location of Bilbao Port: http://www.directferries.co.uk/bilbao.htm
Regards Jesper

The anchorage for the cruises lies opposite to Santurtzi in Getxo according to this page http://www.bilbaoport.es/aPBW/web/en/port/location/docks/index.jsp
Regards Jesper

Hi!
I did mean the berth for cruisers.
Regards Jesper

Yes, Jesper. That is where the cruise ships dock now. The place is Getxo.
Getxo is made up of various areas like Las Arenas, Neguri, Algorta, Santa Maria de Getxo, in this order from right to left, if you are standing at the Cruise Port looking towards the shore.

More bus information: the buses you can catch are the A3413 (Getxo-Bilbao, every 30 minutes) or the A3411 (Aizkorri-Getxo-Bilbao: every hour). Both will go via the river route, i.e. follow the Nervion estuary into Bilbao and go past the Puente Colgante in Las Arenas. The last but one stop is in front of the Bilbao Fine Arts museum, and you can walk to the Guggenheim also from there. You see more but buses are slower.

Metro trains are very frequent, from Getxo max 10 minutes at off-peak hours and every 4-5 mins during peak times.

Hi
I could have written your question myself as we too are going to Bilbaoon on a P & O cruise in May and hadn't ralised the distance involved from the Port.

I couldn't understand why there were no organised trips to the Guggenheim and have just found out why. Looking on the museum's website, they are closed on Monday - only open in July & August on that day.
We are going to be there on a Monday so no guggenheim for us. I suspect it will just have to be another visit at some time!