By train
RENFE-- runs intercity trains to Madrid, Barcelona, Vigo Galicia. All Renfe trains leave from Abando Station.
FEVE -- runs regional trains to Santander 3 daily, and Leon 1 Daily. They are very slow, and make a stop in almost every single town they pass through. From Santander you can continue to Oviedo Asturias, and La Coruña Galicia. This journey has three legs, but it is only possible to do 2 legs in any one day. FEVE trains leave from Santander Station next to Abando Station
EuskoTren -- runs a local service to San Sebastian, with connection there for Irun on the Spanish-French border. It takes two hours to reach San Sebastian. Trains leave from Atxuri Station.
By plane
Bilbao Airport IATA: BIO is served by Lufthansa, Air France, Air Berlin, TuiFly, AerLingus, Iberia, Air Europa, Vueling and several other airlines. Easy Jet flies from London Stansted to Bilbao airport. You can also fly with Ryanair to Santander.
To get to downtown from the airport, take Bizkaibus from the arrivals sidewalk: there is no arrivals hall. The bus leaves every half hour at :15 and :45 past the hour from the airport to Bilbao bus terminal. The reverse journey is at :25 and :55 past the hour from the bus terminal to the airport, stopping at Plaza Moyua on the way. A single ticket costs â¬1.35.
Taxis to downtown Bilbao from the airport cost about â¬25-30.
By bus
All buses to other provinces leave from the TermiBus terminal. There are regular connections to Santander 75 minutes San Sebastian 60 minutes and Madrid arriving at Avenida de Las Americas bus station, 4-5 hours among others.
The bus companies connect Bilbao with many cities in Spain more cheaply and frequently than the rail companies.
The company linking Bilbao to Santander is ALSA (http://www.alsa.es) tel: +34 902422242, and in theory you can get info about buses from Santander to Bilbao at (http://www.santandereabus.com/). Be prepared for long waiting lines of half an hour as there are only two ticket offices. It's usually better to buy the ticket the day before or print your ticket on the company's website. Instead of printing, you can also use the text message they send to your mobile as proof of purchase.
For Vitoria-Gasteiz, take La Unión Alavesa buses.