The Brittany Ferries sailings linking Bilbao with Portsmouth (England) and Rosslare (Ireland) don't leave from the city centre. They dock at the outer port in Zierbena, about 20 kilometres from Bilbao. If you're arriving by plane or train without a car, a taxi is the most direct way to get there.
How much it costs
- From the airport: on weekdays and at night, at weekends or on public holidays.
- From central Bilbao: during the day and at night or at weekends.
It's a fixed price: you pay when you book and it doesn't change even if there's traffic on the motorway.
How long it takes
From the airport, about with no traffic. From the centre, about . Early in the morning and in the late afternoon, the A-8 around Barakaldo tends to be busier.
How much time to allow
Each ferry company sets its own check-in deadline for foot passengers. Check your ticket and book the taxi to arrive with that margin plus an extra half hour to spare. If in doubt, ask us when you book and we'll tell you what time to leave.
Arriving by ferry
If you disembark at Zierbena and are heading to the airport, Bilbao or anywhere in the Basque Country, book your taxi in advance: we'll be waiting at the terminal exit. If the ship is delayed, let us know and we'll wait at no extra cost.
