Basque Country Transportation

There tow ways to arrive by ship in Bilbao,

1)the Portsmouth-Bilbao P&O Ferry terminal (in Santurzi) and
2) the Cruise ship terminal in Getxo.

For the Getxo terminal:

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. Fare approx: 15-20 euros. 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.

Basque Country Transportation

Visiting Basque Country?

Visiting Basque Country?