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Welcome to Bilbao: Spain’s 10th-largest city, and the heart of the Spanish Basque Country. The city is an eclectic mix of Baroque and futuristic architecture, making this an exciting place to soak up a unique and quirky atmosphere. Mountains and hills surround Bilbao, and the coast is just a short drive away, so scenic drives are in abundance. Exploring the city and its surrounding area on four wheels is an exciting and enjoyable experience, from easily exploring Bilbao’s attractions to cruising along the wild Atlantic coast. Search and compare cheap car hire in Bilbao, and pick up your vehicle from Bilbao Airport for a smooth sailing journey.
Bilbao Airport is a mid-sized airport, serving most of the Spanish Basque Country. It’s the largest airport in northern Spain, with a mix of international and domestic flights. The airport is known for its striking exterior, having been designed by Santiago Calatrava. The facilities match the modern exterior, making this a pleasant airport to fly into. There are also excellent car hire services, with a wide range of car hire suppliers. There is just one terminal, so most of the suppliers are located in the Arrivals hall. When you book your hire car with Holiday Cars, we’ll let you know exactly where your car hire supplier is located. After picking up your vehicle, getting to Bilbao’s centre is easy – it’s a short 10-minute drive away.
While Bilbao is one of northern Spain’s main cities, driving is a lot more fluid and traffic is less congested than other big cities. The road network has been designed to help drivers easily navigate the city. The main thing to bear in mind is that there are two road systems in Bilbao: inner and outer ring roads. The inner ring roads will take you to the city’s major sights and attractions, and they see less traffic than the outer ring roads. The two-tier system might seem confusing at work, but it is well-signposted.
A lot of the city’s main attractions are located outside of the Old Town, such as the Guggenheim Museum, which makes driving to these sights much easier than other city destinations. The roads are smooth and well-paved, and from Bilbao, you can easily explore the rest of the Basque Country. While driving in Bilbao is relatively straightforward, there are a few things to look out for. Here’s what to bear in mind before you get behind the wheel in Bilbao:
Visit the Guggenheim Museum: Take a short drive to this famous, futuristic museum. It was designed by Frank Gehry, and its titanium structure is sure to impress. There are over 20 galleries showcasing local Basque artwork, as well as changing exhibitions displaying international talent.
Explore Gaztelugatxe: From Bilbao Airport, a short drive up the rugged Atlantic Coast will land you by Gaztelugatxe. It’s a small yet atmospheric islet, famed for the chapel that sits atop the rocky terrain. You will have to park on the mainland and walk across a windy bridge to reach it.
Take a road trip to San Sebastián: The Basque city of San Sebastián is just an hour’s drive from Bilbao Airport, and a must-see on your visit. It’s considered one of the most beautiful cities in Spain, with incredible food, golden city beaches, a pretty promenade, and charming old streets.
Tuck into pintxos: While other parts of Spain have tapas, the Basque Country has pintxos. Bilbao is loved for its incredible food scene, so trying the local snack is a must. There are pintxos bars all over Bilbao. Pintxos are generally a small slice of crusty bread usually topped with a fresh ingredient, which could be tomatoes, goat cheese, anchovies, and much more. The food is served on a toothpick, or ‘spike’, which translates to pinxto.
Stroll through the Old Town: Bilbao’s Old Town, officially named Casco Viejo, is the perfect place to soak up the quirky atmosphere of Bilbao. It’s a pedestrianised zone, but you can park your car nearby and explore the independent shops, hole-in-the-wall bars, and the Las Siete Calles: Bilbao’s original seven streets, dating from the 1400s.
Enjoy a coffee in Plaza Nueva: Visit the neoclassical square in the city centre for a coffee or a cerveza (for the non-drivers!). The plaza is a charming place to sit back, relax, and watch the world go by. There’s also a good selection of restaurants in the square.
Bilbao Airport has a comprehensive selection of car hire suppliers, catering to various travel needs and budgets. You can choose from well-known car hire brands, such as Enterprise, or opt for a local car hire supplier, such as RecordGo. Use the Holiday Cars platform to search and compare the range of car hire suppliers available. Whatever your preferences are, you’ll find a car hire supplier to suit your individual needs, budgets, and preferences from the extensive selection of car hire suppliers at Bilbao Airport.
Bilbao Airport offers a wide range of car types – you can compare and select car types based on price, passenger numbers, electric/non-electric, automatic/manual, milage, and various other filters on HolidayCars.com. We carry a comprehensive selection of compact cars, economy cars, luxury cars, SUVs, and other car types. For zipping around the city, the most popular car type is a Volkswagen Up or a Fiat 500. For longer drives along coastal roads and through mountainous regions, customers love the Fiat Tipo Cross Station Wagon, the Volkswagen T-Cross, and the Citroen C3 Aircross.
Our customers rated Bilbao airport with an average of 9.5 based on 8 ratings, and these are the most recent tips, experiences and highlights.
