There are 12 ways to get from Cardiff to Bilbao by train, plane, car, car ferry, bus, or car train
Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.
Train to Bristol Airport, fly
best- Take the train from Cardiff Central to Bristol Temple Meadstrain
- Fly from Bristol Airport (BRS) to Bilbao Airport (BIO)plane BRS - BIO
5h 31m€86–186Fly from Cardiff Airport
cheapest- Fly from Cardiff Airport (CWL) to Bilbao Airport (BIO)plane CWL - BIO
7h 48m€74–253Drive, car ferry
- Drive from Cardiff to Plymouthcar
- Take the car ferry from Plymouth to Santandercarferry
- Drive from Santander to Bilbaocar
24h 7m€159–787Train, car ferry
- Take the train from Cardiff Central to Frattontrain
- Take the car ferry from Portsmouth International Port to Le Havrecarferry
- Take the train from Le Havre to Massy - Palaiseautrain Tgv
- Take the train from Massy Tgv to Hendayetrain Tgv
- Take the train from Amara-Donostia to Zazpikaleak/Casco Viejo-Bilbaotrain E1
24h 23m€331–716Bus
- Take the bus from Park Place to London Victoria Coach Station Arrivalsbus 507 / ...
- Take the bus from London Victoria to Doverbus 700
- Take the bus from Dover to Paris, Quai de Bercy (Bercy Seine)bus 700
- Take the bus from Paris to Bilbaobus
25h 20m€130–248Train, train to London Gatwick Airport, fly
- Take the train from Cardiff Central to Readingtrain
- Take the train from Reading to Gatwick Airporttrain
- Fly from London Gatwick Airport (LGW) to Bilbao Airport (BIO)plane LGW - BIO
8h 9m€116–309Train to London Heathrow Airport, fly
- Take the train from Cardiff Central to London Paddingtontrain
- Fly from London Heathrow Airport (LHR) to Bilbao Airport (BIO)plane LHR - BIO
7h 6m€126–381Train to Manchester Airport, fly
- Take the train from Cardiff Central to Wilmslowtrain
- Fly from Manchester Airport (MAN) to Bilbao Airport (BIO)plane MAN - BIO
8h 22m€141–279Train, car ferry, bus via Bristol
- Take the train from Cardiff Central to Bristol Temple Meadstrain
- Take the train from Bristol Temple Meads to Plymouthtrain
- Take the car ferry from Plymouth to Santandercarferry
- Take the bus from Santander E.A. to Bilbao Intermodalbus
27h 37m€192–890Train, car ferry, bus
- Take the train from Cardiff Central to Plymouthtrain
- Take the car ferry from Plymouth to Santandercarferry
- Take the bus from Santander E.A. to Bilbao Intermodalbus
27h 38m€197–891Train, car ferry, bus #2
- Take the train from Cardiff Central to Portsmouth Harbourtrain
- Take the car ferry from Portsmouth International Port to Santandercarferry
- Take the bus from Santander E.A. to Bilbao Intermodalbus
39h 43m€173–764Drive, Eurotunnel
- Drive from Cardiff to Folkestonecar
- Take the car train from Folkestone to Calais-Fréthuncartrain
- Drive from Calais-Fréthun to Bilbaocar
15h 55m€379–497
Cardiff to Bilbao by train, foot, and car ferry
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Cardiff to Bilbao is to train and fly which costs €85 - €190 and takes 5h 31m.
The fastest way to get from Cardiff to Bilbao is to train and fly which takes 5h 31m and costs €85 - €190.
No, there is no direct bus from Cardiff to Bilbao. However, there are services departing from Park Place and arriving at Bilbao via London Victoria, Dover and Paris. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 25h 20m.
The distance between Cardiff and Bilbao is 986 km.
The best way to get from Cardiff to Bilbao without a car is to train and car ferry which takes 24h 23m and costs €330 - €750.
It takes approximately 5h 31m to get from Cardiff to Bilbao, including transfers.
Cardiff to Bilbao bus services, operated by National Express, depart from Park Place station.
The best way to get from Cardiff to Bilbao is to bus which takes 25h 20m and costs €130 - €250. Alternatively, you can fly, which costs €70 - €260 and takes 7h 48m.
Cardiff to Bilbao bus services, operated by National Express, arrive at London Victoria Coach Station Arrivals.
Bilbao is 1h ahead of Cardiff. It is currently 8:37 AM in Cardiff and 9:37 AM in Bilbao.
What companies run services between Cardiff, Wales and Bilbao, Spain?
You can take a bus from Park Place to Bilbao via London Victoria Coach Station Arrivals, London Victoria, Dover, Paris, Quai de Bercy (Bercy Seine), and Paris in around 25h 20m. Alternatively, KLM, Vueling Airlines, and Ryanair fly from Cardiff Airport (CWL) to Bilbao Airport (BIO) 3 times a day.
- Website
- vueling.com
Flights from Cardiff Airport to Bilbao Airport via Alicante–Elche
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 10m
- When
- Wednesday and Tuesday
- Estimated price
- €75–260
Flights from Cardiff Airport to Bilbao Airport via Malaga
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 30m
- When
- Tuesday and Sunday
- Estimated price
- €80–270
Flights from London Gatwick Airport to Bilbao Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 4m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- €30–130
Flights from London Gatwick Airport to Bilbao Airport via Barcelona
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 32m
- When
- Friday, Wednesday, and Tuesday
- Estimated price
- €30–130
Flights from London Heathrow Airport to Bilbao Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 5m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- €35–160
- Website
- britishairways.com
Flights from London Gatwick Airport to Bilbao Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 4m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- €30–130
Flights from London Heathrow Airport to Bilbao Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 5m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- €35–160
Flights from Manchester Airport to Bilbao Airport via London Heathrow Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 20m
- When
- Tuesday and Friday
- Estimated price
- €65–150
- Website
- klm.com
Flights from Bristol Airport to Bilbao Airport via Amsterdam Schiphol
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 10m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- €70–320
Flights from Cardiff Airport to Bilbao Airport via Amsterdam Schiphol
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 7m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- €95–430
Flights from London Gatwick Airport to Bilbao Airport via Paris Charles de Gaulle
- Ave. Duration
- 4h
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- €50–270
Flights from Manchester Airport to Bilbao Airport via Amsterdam Schiphol
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 21m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- €70–330
- Website
- aerlingus.com
Flights from London Heathrow Airport to Bilbao Airport via Cork
- Ave. Duration
- 5h
- When
- Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- €75–370
Flights from Manchester Airport to Bilbao Airport via Dublin
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 17m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- €65–320
- Website
- easyjet.com
Flights from Bristol Airport to Bilbao Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 45m
- When
- Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- €65–130
Flights from Manchester Airport to Bilbao Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 10m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- €60–130
- Website
- airfrance.com
Flights from London Gatwick Airport to Bilbao Airport via Paris Charles de Gaulle
- Ave. Duration
- 4h
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- €50–270
- Website
- brusselsairlines.com
Flights from Manchester Airport to Bilbao Airport via Brussels
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 10m
- When
- Monday to Saturday
- Estimated price
- €70–260
- Phone
- +44 (0)345 7000 125
- gwr.feedback@gwr.com
- Website
- gwr.com
Train from Cardiff Central to Bristol Temple Meads
- Ave. Duration
- 48 min
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- €20–40
- Website
- https://www.gwr.com/
Train from Cardiff Central to Fratton
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 15m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- €70–150
- Website
- https://www.gwr.com/
Train from Cardiff Central to Reading
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 54m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- €55–120
- Website
- https://www.gwr.com/
Train from Reading to Gatwick Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 31m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- €27–55
- Website
- https://www.gwr.com/
Train from Cardiff Central to London Paddington
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 19m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- €75–150
- Website
- https://www.gwr.com/
Train from Cardiff Central to Bristol Temple Meads
- Ave. Duration
- 48 min
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- €20–40
- Website
- https://www.gwr.com/
Train from Bristol Temple Meads to Plymouth
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 4m
- Frequency
- 4 times a day
- Estimated price
- €65–130
- Website
- https://www.gwr.com/
Train from Cardiff Central to Plymouth
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 32m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- €85–170
- Website
- https://www.gwr.com/
Train from Cardiff Central to Portsmouth Harbour
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 23m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- €70–150
- Website
- https://www.gwr.com/
- Phone
- 03333 211 202
- Website
- tfw.wales
Train from Cardiff Central to Bristol Temple Meads
- Ave. Duration
- 57 min
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- €17–30
- Website
- https://tfw.wales/
Train from Cardiff Central to Wilmslow
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 54m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- €70–130
- Website
- https://tfw.wales/
Train from Cardiff Central to Bristol Temple Meads
- Ave. Duration
- 57 min
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- €17–30
- Website
- https://tfw.wales/
- Phone
- +44 3447 369 123
- customer.relations@crosscountrytrains.co.uk
- Website
- crosscountrytrains.co.uk
Train from Cardiff Central to Bristol Temple Meads
- Ave. Duration
- 49 min
- Frequency
- Once a week
- Estimated price
- €23–35
- Website
- https://www.crosscountrytrains.co.uk/
Train from Cardiff Central to Bristol Temple Meads
- Ave. Duration
- 49 min
- Frequency
- Once a week
- Estimated price
- €23–35
- Website
- https://www.crosscountrytrains.co.uk/
Train from Bristol Temple Meads to Plymouth
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 4m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- €75–110
- Website
- https://www.crosscountrytrains.co.uk/
- Phone
- +33 1 84 94 36 35
- Website
- sncf-connect.com
Train from Le Havre to Massy - Palaiseau
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 21m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- €50–80
- Website
- https://www.sncf-connect.com/en-en
Train from Massy Tgv to Hendaye
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 37m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- €170–270
- Website
- https://www.sncf-connect.com/en-en
- Phone
- +34 944 333 333
- digitala@euskotren.eus
- Website
- euskotren.eus
Train from Amara-Donostia to Zazpikaleak/Casco Viejo-Bilbao
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 31m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- €5–10
- Website
- https://www.euskotren.eus/en
- Phone
- +44 (0) 8443 35 35 35
- Website
- leshuttle.com
Car train from Folkestone to Calais-Fréthun
- Ave. Duration
- 35 min
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- €137
- Website
- https://www.leshuttle.com/uk-en
- Standard fare
- €137
- Phone
- +44 (0)3717 81 81 81
- Website
- nationalexpress.com
Bus from Park Place to London Victoria Coach Station Arrivals
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 40m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- €30–80
- Website
- https://www.nationalexpress.com/en
Rome2Rio's guide to FlixBus
Contact DetailsContact Details
- Phone
- +49 30 300 137 300
- service@flixbus.com
- Website
- https://www.flixbus.fr
Bus from London Victoria to Dover
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 10m
- Frequency
- Every 2 hours
- Estimated price
- €9–16
- Website
- https://www.flixbus.co.uk
Bus from Dover to Paris, Quai de Bercy (Bercy Seine)
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 10m
- Frequency
- 5 times a day
- Estimated price
- €24–45
- Website
- https://www.flixbus.co.uk
Bus from Paris to Bilbao
- Ave. Duration
- 11h 20m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- €65–110
- Website
- https://www.flixbus.co.uk
- Phone
- +34 910 207 007
- Website
- alsa.com
Bus from Santander E.A. to Bilbao Intermodal
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 30m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- €7–17
- Website
- https://www.alsa.com/en/
Bus from Santander E.A. to Bilbao Intermodal
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 30m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- €7–17
- Website
- https://www.alsa.com/en/
Bus from Santander E.A. to Bilbao Intermodal
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 30m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- €7–17
- Website
- https://www.alsa.com/en/
- Phone
- +3 318 576 2228
- Website
- blablacar.co.uk
Bus from Santander E.A. to Bilbao Intermodal
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 15m
- Frequency
- Twice a week
- Estimated price
- €8–15
- Website
- https://www.blablacar.co.uk/bus
Bus from Santander E.A. to Bilbao Intermodal
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 15m
- Frequency
- Twice a week
- Estimated price
- €8–15
- Website
- https://www.blablacar.co.uk/bus
Bus from Santander E.A. to Bilbao Intermodal
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 15m
- Frequency
- Twice a week
- Estimated price
- €8–15
- Website
- https://www.blablacar.co.uk/bus
- Phone
- 0330 159 7000
- reservations@brittanyferries.com
- Website
- brittany-ferries.co.uk
Car ferry from Plymouth to Santander
- Ave. Duration
- 20h 15m
- Frequency
- Twice a week
- Estimated price
- €100–700
- Schedules at
- brittany-ferries.co.uk
- Book at
- brittany-ferries.co.uk
- Single Ticket
- €100–230
- Car Single Ticket
- €290–700
Car ferry from Portsmouth International Port to Le Havre
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 30m
- Frequency
- 4 times a week
- Estimated price
- €30–210
- Schedules at
- brittany-ferries.co.uk
- Book at
- brittany-ferries.co.uk
- Single Ticket
- €45–90
- Car Single Ticket
- €70–210
Car ferry from Plymouth to Santander
- Ave. Duration
- 20h 15m
- Frequency
- Twice a week
- Estimated price
- €100–700
- Schedules at
- brittany-ferries.co.uk
- Book at
- brittany-ferries.co.uk
- Single Ticket
- €100–230
- Car Single Ticket
- €290–700
Car ferry from Plymouth to Santander
- Ave. Duration
- 20h 15m
- Frequency
- Twice a week
- Estimated price
- €100–700
- Schedules at
- brittany-ferries.co.uk
- Book at
- brittany-ferries.co.uk
- Single Ticket
- €100–230
- Car Single Ticket
- €290–700
Car ferry from Portsmouth International Port to Santander
- Ave. Duration
- 33h
- Frequency
- Twice a week
- Estimated price
- €90–600
- Schedules at
- brittany-ferries.co.uk
- Book at
- brittany-ferries.co.uk
- Single Ticket
- €90–190
- Car Single Ticket
- €210–600
Want to know more about travelling around Spain
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