Transportation in Bilbao

Bilbao's metro is the simplest way to move through the city, two lines cover the main areas visitors care about, the trains run frequently, and fares are cheap enough that you'll barely notice them. Pick up a Barik card at any station. It works across metro, tram, and city buses, and the per-ride cost drops compared to buying single tickets. The stations themselves are worth a glance, Norman Foster designed them, and the glass entrance canopies (locals call them "Fosteritos") have become landmarks in their own right. For the old town and the Guggenheim stretch, though, don't bother with transit at all. The center is compact and walkable along the river, and the tram that traces the waterfront is more useful for reaching the further ends of the route than for hopping between the main sights. From Bilbao Airport, the direct bus into the city center is the move, it's a fraction of a taxi fare and runs throughout the day. A cab from the airport isn't outrageous by European standards, but it's several times the bus cost for a ride that's only marginally faster. Don't let a tout at arrivals steer you toward an unlicensed car. Stick to the official taxi rank or the clearly marked bus stop. One thing to watch: if you're arriving late, check current schedules for the last airport bus before you fly, miss it and the taxi becomes your only option, with less use on timing. Skip the hop-on-hop-off tourist buses. The city is too small to justify the markup, and the metro and your own feet will get you to every major attraction faster. If you're heading out of the city, San Sebastián, Guernica, the coast, the regional bus and rail connections from Abando and Atxuri stations are affordable and generally well-run, though checking current timetables before you commit to a day trip saves the surprise of an awkward gap in service.