Search Flights from San Francisco to Bilbao

Popular Airport

Bilbao Airport

Popular Airlines

Approximate Flight Duration

11 hour 20 min

Approximate Travel Distance

5678 Miles

Transportation to Airport from San Francisco City Center

San Francisco Intl. Airport

Located 21 km from the city center, San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is a major transit center for passengers, particularly those traveling from Asia. San Francisco International is the second busiest airport in California, following Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). Every year SFO handles a significant number of both domestic and international flights. There are a variety of transportation alternatives passengers can utilize to get to and from the airport.  

San Francisco International Airport stands out for the comfortable and exceptional services it offers. The airport features services aimed at meeting your every need, from comfortable passenger lounges, to restaurants that offer a wide variety of cuisines and a vibrant array of stores where you can go shopping.

San Francisco International Airport is accessible by taxi, bus, train, rental car, and personal car as the airport contains parking lots that offer short-term and long-term parking options.

Train

There are two rail systems that you can use to get to San Francisco International Airport from the city center. The first is the rapid-rail system, the BART. The BART starts running in the early hours of the morning, providing easy and fast transportation between SFO and the northern and southern parts of the city.

The other rail system that you can use to get to SFO is the CalTrain. This train departs on the hour, every hour, every day of the week, until 10 pm. This train provides transportation between San Francisco and San Jose and SFO.

Taxi

One of the most convenient and fastest transportation alternatives to get to SFO from the city center is by taxi. Taxi fares are calculated based on the kilometers traveled. A taxi from downtown San Francisco can cost between 42 and 62 dollars and takes about 20 minutes. For more information on taxi companies and their contact information please visit San Francisco International Airport’s website.

Bus

SamTrans buses provide transportation between the San Francisco city center and the airport. These public buses are operated by San Mateo County and run between San Mateo, various parts of San Francisco and San Francisco International Airport. SamTrans lines KX, 292, 397, and 398 run directly to the airport terminals. Buses stop at the arrivals and baggage claim level of Terminal 2 and Terminal 3 and at Level 1 of the International Terminal.

Rental Car

Renting a car is another transportation alternative to get to the airport. There are many rental car companies located in the city. You can drop off your rental vehicle at the Rental Car Center before your departure. From the Rental Car Center the AirTrain Blue Line provides access to the airport terminals and it operates 24 hours a day, every day of the week. Rental car companies that you can choose from include Alamo, Dollar, Hertz, Avis, Enterprise, National, Budget, Fox and Thrifty.

Bike

San Francisco International Airport contains bike assembly stations and parking areas for those who want to access the airport by bike. The BART and SamTrans rapid rail systems provide passengers with bike/transit options and the airport features marked bicycle routes. Bike lovers can easily access the airport by bicycle.   

Airport Information

San Francisco International Airport is located 21 km from the city center. The airport covers an expansive area and operates domestic and international flights out of 4 terminals, Terminal 1, Terminal 2, Terminal 3, and the International Terminal. The AirTrain automated system provides free transportation between each terminal, as well as the Rental Car Center and BART station. The AirTrain Red Line links all terminals, terminal garages and the BART Station. The AirTrain Blue Line links the Rental Car Center with all terminals, terminal garages, and the BART Station. SFO also contains a variety of services and amenities to meet passengers’ pre-flight and post-flight needs.

The airport features health services in the terminals, rental car offices, banks, a lost and found, wireless internet, charging stations, clothing stores where you can go shopping, restaurants and cafes, the Aviation Museum & Library, rotating exhibitions, spa services, children’s play areas, free yoga rooms, a market, and much more. 

Transportation to Bilbao City Center from Airport

Bilbao Airport

The airport is located 13 kilometers away from the city center in Bilbao, which is situated in the north of Spain and considered as one of the most important cities of the country. Buses, cars, taxi and car rental are among the various transportation alternatives to reach the city center from Bilbao Airport, which is one of the most important transportation hubs for the region, although it is not a very big airport.

In Bilbao, if you want to reach the central points in the city center from the airport, you can take advantage of the private shuttle services that serve within the city and you can also benefit from the shuttle service provided by your hotel (if any), or you can even rent a limousine as a more luxurious transfer service. Almost all of these options in the city are comfortable and practical. Moreover, the price of many transportation alternatives other than limousines and private shuttles is very affordable in the city.

If you want, you can easily reach from Bilbao Airport to the central places such as San Sebastian, Zarautz, Arrasate and Bergara in the immediate vicinity of the city. In Bilbao, it is possible to reach all of these places that are both in the city center and the surrounding area. At Bilbao Airport, almost all facilities are offered to the passengers to help them experience a comfortable flight experience.

Bilbao Airport has a big duty-free shopping store where you can do shopping after security control and the Sibarium Delicatessen where you can eat while you wait for your flight or after your flight. Those who don't want to compromise on comfort can enjoy their time on wide armchairs in the private passenger lounge that has been specially designed at the airport. Here you can read newspapers and magazines while enjoying the tastes specially prepared for you, as well as you can take advantage of the free internet service and carry out your online transactions.

Las Lilas shopping store is also available at the airport. Here you can buy various accessories and souvenirs. Derio and Pans & Company are among the places that serve for those who want to taste the delicious food from both Spanish and world cuisines at Bilbao Airport.

After getting some snacks here, you can board your plane or you can head for the city center after your flight. In Bilbao, the most economical option among the alternatives you can prefer to reach the city center from the airport is the bus. However, if you want to travel more comfortably and time-independently, you can also rent a car easily from the offices of car rental companies at the airport.

If you are planning to travel by car for transportation to the city center from the airport, you can follow the signposts that will take you towards the city center after you leave the airport. Bilbao Airport has available parking spaces special for the passengers who want to travel by their car from the airport to the city center.

Bus

It is possible to go from Bilbao Airport to the city center and other major central points around the city by taking the buses that wait the passengers in front of the airport terminal building. The buses that you can prefer to travel from Bilbao Airport to the central places run between 06:15 and 00:00 at the airport. The buses to the airport from the city center are available between 05:25 and 21:55 if you want to travel by these buses.

The buses in both directions depart every 30 minutes and they are one of the most economical option in Bilbao to reach the airport from the city center as well as you can get to the city center from the airport. The amount you need to pay to get on a bus is 1.40 Euros. Bus ticket costs only 0.57 Euro for the passengers over 65.

You can also take the buses to reach San Sebastian and Zarautz areas from the airport. The buses running on this route depart every hour. The buses on this route run between 07:45 and 23:45 on weekdays (except holidays) and they run between 06:45 and 23:34 in the weekend and on holidays. Ticket price per passenger to get on the buses running on this route is 16.45 Euros for San Sebastian and 14.25 Euros for Zarautz.

The third bus route departing from the airport is the route on Arrasate, Bergara and Eibar. The buses departing from the airport on this route first leave at 07:15. The last bus from Arrasate to the airport departs from the airport at 21:15. Ticket price you need to pay to take the advantage of this route is 11.90 Euros between Arrasate and Bilbao Airport. It costs 10.30 Euros from the airport to Bergara and 7.85 Euros from the airport to Eibar.

Car

You can reach Bilbao city center, which is 13 kilometers away from the airport, in about 20 minutes by driving through the N-637 highway. The highways in Bilbao are very well-maintained and tidy as they are in many other cities of Europe. Therefore, traveling by your cars in the city is extremely comfortable and enjoyable. However, if you don't know much about the city and the roads, it is advisable to get navigation before leaving the airport. In this way you can easily find your way around the city without having any difficulty.

Taxi

As another alternative, you can also reach the city center in 10-15 minutes by taking one of the taxis waiting at the terminal gates of Bilbao Airport. Taking a taxi in Bilbao is known as one of the best options for the visitors who have come to the city for the first time. You don't have a chance to bargain with the taxi driver in Bilbao, yet the taxi fare you need to pay does not cost that much for transportation to the city center. You need to pay taxi fare in Euros in Bilbao. For this reason, it would be a good idea to exchange your money into Euros at the airport if you haven't taken some with you.

Taxi drivers may also accept payment in US Dollars; however, you may have to pay a little more compared to paying in Euro due to the exchange rate differences. If you want to get information before your journey to the city on the phone, you can contact airport taxis by calling 944 448 888.

Private Shuttle Services

If this is your first visit to Bilbao, you can book your seat in one of the private shuttle services to make your transportation in the city much easier. Majority of these shuttle services, which pick their passengers up in front of the airport terminal, are provided by the hotels in the city. Before your journey to the airport, you can contact your hotel to get detailed information about the times and fees of shuttle services (if any) and make a reservation in advance.

Rent a car

Renting a car in Bilbao is one of the most frequently preferred options for transportation between the airport and the city center, just as in many other cities. Driving in Bilbao is also very enjoyable thanks to the well-organized routes of the city and the smooth traffic in the city. If you book a car before arriving in Bilbao, you can complete car rental procedures much more easily compared to renting a car upon your arrival in the city.

In the city, Europcar, AVIS, Hertz and Sixt are among the companies you can rent a car to take the road. You can also rent a car from Enterprise in the city after completing the short procedures. Please make sure you have a valid driver's license with you if you are planning to rent a car in Bilbao.

Limousine

Limousine and other luxury vehicles are also at the service of Bilbao passengers. This option is usually preferred by the travelers coming to the city for business trips, as well as by those who don't want to drive a car. There are not many options for renting luxury cars and limousines in the city, but you can make online reservation by contacting the companies providing this service and enjoy the luxury of these vehicles waiting for you in front of the airport terminal. Some hotels in the city also provide luxury car and limousine service to their guests. While planning your travel, you can get in touch with your hotel in advance to get information about luxury car or limousine transfer, and you can easily make your reservation if they provide such a service. By this means, you can get the car you have booked with or without a driver ready at the gate when you arrive at Bilbao Airport.

Weather in Bilbao

DayMin - Max
MondayMin 11ºC - Max 13ºC
TuesdayMin 11ºC - Max 14ºC
WednesdayMin 8ºC - Max 13ºC
ThursdayMin 6ºC - Max 14ºC
FridayMin 5ºC - Max 15ºC

More Information About Bilbao

Frequently Asked Questions

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