Barcelona to Bilbao train with Renfe ALVIA

Thu, Sep 17
+ Add return
Renfe ALVIA
Renfe Viajeros
iryo
Renfe AVANT
Regionale
2,000+ travel companies
Renfe ALVIA
Renfe Viajeros
iryo
Renfe AVANT
Regionale
2,000+ travel companies
QR-Code
Scan to get our free app
Use our app to get live travel updates and book mobile tickets for trains, buses, flights, and ferries.
App Store
rate4.9
42K ratings
Google Play
rate4.6
136K reviews

The cheapest and fastest trains from Barcelona to Bilbao

Showing times, prices and bookable tickets for Sep 17

Cheapest price on Sep 17

€58

Average ticket price on Sep 17

€90

Fastest journey on Sep 17

7 h 3 m

Average journey duration on Sep 17

8 h 6 m

Trains on Sep 17

4

Distance

467 km

Cheap tickets

The best way to find a cheap train ticket from Barcelona to Bilbao is to book your journey as far in advance as possible and to avoid traveling at rush hour.

The average ticket from Barcelona to Bilbao will cost around €90 if you buy it on the day, but the cheapest tickets can be found for only €58.

Fast trains

On Thu, Sep 17, we found 4 trains from Barcelona to Bilbao, including 1 direct services.

On Thu, Sep 17 the direct trains cover the 467 km distance in an average of 8 h 6 m but if you time it right, some trains will get you there in just 7 h 3 m .

On Thu, Sep 17 the slowest trains will take 10 h 8 m and usually involve a change or two along the way, but you might be able to save a few pennies if you’re on a budget.

  • Renfe ALVIA00438
    8:50 AM7h03
    Barcelona Sants
    3:53 PMBilbao-Abando
    581One-way
    0 transfers
  • iryo06060+Renfe ALVIA00438
    5:45 AM10h08
    Barcelona Sants
    3:53 PMBilbao-Abando
    581One-way
    1 transfer
  • iryo06012+Renfe ALVIA00438
    8:45 AM7h08
    Barcelona Sants
    3:53 PMBilbao-Abando
    1191One-way
    1 transfer
  • iryo06080+Renfe ALVIA00438
    7:50 AM8h03
    Barcelona Sants
    3:53 PMBilbao-Abando
    1241One-way
    1 transfer

Travel Information

Compare train, bus, and flight for Barcelona to Bilbao

Omio recommends booking the bus as it is the most popular option from Barcelona to Bilbao among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price, take the bus, with an average ticket price of €66 For those with little time, consider booking a train, which has an average total journey time of 5h 1m. If you are seeking to minimise your carbon footprint, the train is your best option, with estimated CO2 emissions of 0.1 - 0.4kg. Average ticket prices depend on the travel mode: a bus costs an average of €66, while a flight costs an average of €103.

Distance: 467 km

Compare train with

Train
Most popular
Bus
Flight
Driving

€83

Average price

€66

Average price

Cheapest

€103

Average price

€97

Average price

(fuel + tolls)

5h 1m

Average total duration

Fastest

4h 31m

Onboard

+

30m

Additional time*

8h 6m

Average total duration

7h 36m

Onboard

+

30m

Additional time*

6h 7m

Average total duration

4h 7m

Onboard

+

2h 0m

Additional time*

6h 7m

Average total duration

(door-to-door)

0.1 - 0.4kg

CO2 emissions

Lowest

0.5 - 1.2kg

CO2 emissions

1.4 - 2.8kg

CO2 emissions

-

CO2 emissions

Renfe ALVIA

Most popular train company

Alsa

Most popular bus company

Vueling

Most popular airline

Your own car or car rental

Direct Options

Direct Options

Direct Options

Direct Options

Additional time: Average total travel duration to departure point, security checks and transfers.

The cheapest way to travel from Barcelona to Bilbao is a bus with an average price of €66.

This is compared to other travel options from Barcelona to Bilbao:

A bus is €17 less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Barcelona to Bilbao costing on average €83.

A bus is €37 less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from Barcelona to Bilbao costing on average €103.

The fastest way to travel from Barcelona to Bilbao is by flight with an average journey time of 4h 7m.

Other travel options to Bilbao take longer:

Train takes on average 4h 31m.

Bus takes on average 7h 36m.

It's helpful to compare your options as there are 3 ways to travel between Barcelona and Bilbao including taking a train, bus, and flight.

Live departures

Barcelona to Bilbao train times

The table below shows live departures for Barcelona to Bilbao trains for tomorrow, Thursday, September 17. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated train journeys.

Last updated at
ProviderDepartsDurationArrivesTransfers
Tickets
iryo06060+Renfe ALVIA00438
Delayed
5:45 AM Barcelona Sants
10h08
1:53 PM 1:53 PMBilbao-Abando
1 transfer
iryo06080+Renfe ALVIA00438
Delayed
7:50 AM Barcelona Sants
8h03
1:53 PM 1:53 PMBilbao-Abando
1 transfer
iryo06012+Renfe ALVIA00438
Delayed
8:45 AM Barcelona Sants
7h08
1:53 PM 1:53 PMBilbao-Abando
1 transfer
Renfe ALVIA00438
Delayed
8:50 AM Barcelona Sants
7h03
1:53 PM 1:53 PMBilbao-Abando
0 transfersDirect

This is the last train of the day.

Find all the dates and times for this journey

Compare prices and tickets Barcelona to Bilbao by train, bus, or flight

Compare train, bus, and flight prices over the next three weeks. See the best deals at a glance, find the lowest fares, and choose the option that fits your budget.

Thu
Sep 17
Fri
Sep 18
Sat
Sep 19
Sun
Sep 20
Mon
Sep 21
Tue
Sep 22
Wed
Sep 23
Thu
Sep 24
Fri
Sep 25
Sat
Sep 26
Sun
Sep 27
Mon
Sep 28
Tue
Sep 29
Wed
Sep 30
Thu
Oct 01
Fri
Oct 02
Sat
Oct 03
Sun
Oct 04
Mon
Oct 05
Tue
Oct 06
Wed
Oct 07

Why should you book Barcelona to Bilbao trains with Omio?

Renfe ALVIA as well as Renfe Viajeros or iryo offer trains services from Barcelona to Bilbao.
Omio is the only official third party seller for Renfe ALVIA tickets.

Why book with Omio vs Renfe ALVIA?

  • Compare with other providers: On Omio, you can not only buy tickets for Renfe ALVIA, but also compare tickets for the likes of Renfe Viajeros or iryo to find the best option for your trip from Barcelona to Bilbao.
  • Designed for International Travelers: Omio is in your language including 24/7 customer service and offers multiple payment options, including PayPal, credit cards, and bank transfer, in your preferred currency.
  • Compare all your options: Omio allows you to compare Renfe ALVIA with all available travel options, which are train, bus and flight to ensure you get the best deal for traveling from Barcelona to Bilbao.

How far in advance should I book train tickets from Barcelona to Bilbao?

The best time to book your train from Barcelona to Bilbao is 70 days before departure. See how prices for trains change on the Barcelona to Bilbao route.
Prices are for one-way tickets for one passenger from Barcelona to Bilbao per month. Insights are sourced from fares found by Omio users in the last 12 months. Current prices may differ as prices vary depending on the time of day, class or how far in advance you book your train from Barcelona to Bilbao.

Journey information

Overview: Train from Barcelona to Bilbao

SpainSpain
SpainSpain
Icon of train

Trains from Barcelona to Bilbao run on average 1 times per day, taking around 4h 31m. Cheap train tickets for this journey start at €26 if you book in advance.

There are 1 trains per day. The earliest train runs at 05:45, the last at 21:07. The fastest train covers the 467 km distance in 7h 3m.

Fares are the lowest economy prices found on Omio. Early booking often means lower prices. Prices change daily and are subject to availability. Discount cards, coach trips, and booking fees are not included.
Price information
Distance
467 km
Average train duration
4h 31m
Cheapest ticket price
€26
Trains per day
1
Direct trains
1
Fastest train
7h 3m
First train
5:45 AM
Last train
9:07 PM
Cheapest Month
Mar
Cheapest Day
Tue
High Season
Jul - Sep
Low Season
Jan - Mar
Busiest Day
Thu
Least Busy Day
Sun
Best time to book
70 days
Fares are the lowest economy prices found on Omio. Early booking often means lower prices. Prices change daily and are subject to availability. Discount cards, coach trips, and booking fees are not included.
Price information

Train companies: Renfe ALVIA, Renfe Viajeros, iryo from Barcelona to Bilbao trainsRenfe ALVIA, Renfe Viajeros, iryo trains will get you between Barcelona and Bilbao from €26. With over 1000 travel companies on Omio, you can find the best train times and tickets for your trip.

Renfe ALVIA

About
Renfe Alvia are high-speed trains with top speeds of up to 250km/h operated by Renfe, Spain’s national railway company. Alvia trains cover most cities in Spain, including Madrid, Barcelona, Bilbao, Valencia, Alicante, Zaragoza and Cadiz. They are somewhat slower than Renfe AVE and AVLO (high-speed and low cost) but cover more destinations and are a comfortable and effective way of travelling around Spain. Onboard facilities include free WIFI, bike storage and luggage allowance. Alvia trains have two seat classes – Estándar and Confort. Top routes for Renfe Alvia include Barcelona to Pamplona, Madrid to Cádiz and Alicante to Gijón.
Luggage & cancellation policy
Average Renfe ALVIA Duration
7h 3m
Cheapest Renfe ALVIA Price
€26
Luggage included
1 piece of hand luggage and 3 pieces of luggage included
Luggage storage
Overhead racks, end of carriages, and designated luggage areas
Cancellation Policy
According to ticket conditions
Refund
Full refund if train is canceled by Renfe
Amenities on board the train
Wifi
Food sold onboard
Cafeteria car with drinks, snacks, and hot meals. At-seat service in Preferente class
Seat reservation
Included in Preferente (First) class. Optional extra cost in Turista (Second) class
Toilets
USB plugs
Accessibility
Wheelchair spaces available, accessible toilets, and staff assistance for boarding/alighting
Pets
Small pets in carriers travel free. Dogs must be muzzled and leashed, require paid ticket. Guide dogs travel free
Quiet zone

iryo

About
iryo is a new brand from railway operator ILSA operating in Spain since 2022. iryo uses Frecciarossa 1000 trains which are modern, can travel at up to 360km/h and have a minimal environmental impact. iryo’s Frecciarossa trains have different classes, all of which come with free unlimited WiFi, power sockets, toilets and an onboard entertainment portal where you can watch films and TV series. The main classes are: Infinita Class, Singular Café Class, Singular Class, Inicial Class. These new trains take 2 hours and 30 minutes to travel between Madrid and Barcelona. They depart from Madrid Atocha and Barcelona Sants stations, and stop in Zaragoza along the way. iryo services also cover Madrid, Cuenca, Valencia, Alicante, Córdoba, Seville and Málaga.
Luggage & cancellation policy
Average iryo Duration
9h 2m
Cheapest iryo Price
€83
iryo frequency
1 a day
Luggage included
1 cabin bag (36x56x26cm) and 1 handbag (36x30x10cm)
Luggage storage
Overhead compartments and designated luggage areas
Cancellation Policy
According to fare conditions
Refund
Full refund provided
Amenities on board the train
Wifi
Food sold onboard
Restaurant car with Mediterranean cuisine, at-seat service in both classes
Seat reservation
Included in ticket price
Toilets
USB plugs
Accessibility
Wheelchair spaces and assistance available
Pets
Small pets in carriers allowed free. Large dogs need paid ticket
Quiet zone

Renfe Viajeros

Luggage & cancellation policy
Average Renfe Viajeros Duration
7h 3m
Cheapest Renfe Viajeros Price
€50
Renfe Viajeros frequency
2 a day

FAQs: Trains from Barcelona to Bilbao

Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from Barcelona to Bilbao by train. From journey times and ticket prices to direct connections, first and last departures, and even whether the route is scenic, our FAQs cover everything you need to plan your trip. Whether you’re looking for the fastest train, the cheapest option, or tips for making the most of your visit at Bilbao, this guide helps you travel smarter and with confidence.

FAQs
Cheap train tickets from Barcelona to Bilbao can start from as little as €26 when you book in advance. The average train ticket price for Barcelona to Bilbao is €83; however, prices vary depending on the time of day and class and they tend to be more expensive on the day.
The average journey time by train from Barcelona to Bilbao is 7h 3m to travel the 467 km long route. Journey times can vary on weekends and holidays, so use our Journey Planner to search for a specific date.
The earliest train from Barcelona to Bilbao leaves at 5:45 AM. Plan your trip with the Journey Planner   from Omio.
The latest train from Barcelona to Bilbao leaves at 9:07 PM.
Yes,there are 1 direct trains a day from Barcelona to Bilbao with Renfe ALVIA, Renfe Viajeros. Schedules can vary on holidays or weekends with fewer direct trains.
Yes, there are multiple high-speed train options for your journey from Barcelona to Bilbao. You can choose between iryo. iryo trains take around 9h 2m
When taking a train from Barcelona to Bilbao, you can count on Renfe ALVIA, Renfe Viajeros, iryo for the best way to get you to Bilbao. You can also check all possible train companies who offer a service between Barcelona and Bilbao and compare the amenities they offer before buying a train ticket.
A trip to Bilbao from Barcelona is worth doing but not as a day trip with a journey time of 7h 3m each way. Check with Omio app the best way to travel.
The cheapest month for a train from Barcelona to Bilbao is March.
It's helpful to compare your options as there are 3 ways to travel between Barcelona and Bilbao including taking a train, bus, and flight.

popular train stations

Popular train stations from Barcelona to Bilbao

Most Barcelona to Bilbao trains use the Barcelona Sants to Bilbao-Abando station pair. Use this guide to compare Barcelona and Bilbao train stations on this route, check city-centre transport, alongside checking practicalities like train station facilities and services.

Departure train stations in Barcelona
Arrival train stations in Bilbao

Which Barcelona station do trains to Bilbao leave from?

Trains from Barcelona to Bilbao leave from Barcelona Sants. The station is 2 km from Barcelona city centre at Plaça dels Països Catalans, 1, 7, 08014 Barcelona, Spain.
Barcelona SantsPlaça dels Països Catalans, 1, 7, 08014 Barcelona, Spain+34 934956020WifiLockersParkingDiningATMTaxisAccessibilityWCHotelLost and Found OfficeTicket OfficeBike ParkingBike RentalCar RentalInformation Desk
City-centre transport

Getting to Barcelona Sants from Barcelona city centre

Barcelona Sants is 1 km from Barcelona city centre. Public transport options include:

TrainR1, R4 · 4m · €1 · every ~15 min
Re, 15254, 15710, 15760, 15762, 15770, 15772, 15774, 15778, 15780, 15782, 15784, 15786, 15788, 15792, 15850, 15860, 15868, 15874, 15878, 15886 · 5m · €1
BusN28 · 20m · every ~3 min
D20 · 21m · €3 · every ~12 min
SubwayL3 · 16m · €3 · every ~26 min

Barcelona Sants train station facilities and services

Barcelona Sants has practical services for this route, including Wifi, Lockers, Parking, Dining, ATM, Taxis, Accessibility, WC, Hotel, Lost and Found Office, Ticket Office, Bike Parking, Bike Rental, Car Rental, and Information Desk.

Food and drink

Food options include: McDonald’s, Caffe di Fiore, Ars Café, Café de l'Estació, Café de l’Estació Deli, Lavazza, Como, Peter's, Tutti Frutti, Enrique Tomás, & many more

Wi-Fi and ATMs

Hotspots in and near restaurants. ATMs are in the central part of the station.

Tickets and information

The ticket office is open Mon - Sun: 06:00 - 22:00. Information desks are located in various locations inside the station.

Luggage and lost property

Luggage storage is staffed and automatic. Open daily from 05:30 to 21:00. Lost and found is available at the station.

Parking, taxis and toilets

Available at Barcelona Sants: Parking, Taxis, WC.

Bike and car services

Available at Barcelona Sants: Bike Parking, Bike Rental, Car Rental.

Accessibility

Accessibility facilities are available at Barcelona Sants: All areas of the station have full disability access facilities.

Shops, hotels and contact

Nearby hotels include Apartments Eixample, Apartment Guell, Sweet Inn Callao.

The Omio App Makes Travel Planning Easy

We’ll get you where you want to go. From live train updates to mobile tickets, our innovative app is the ideal way to plan and keep track of your travel.

ios-badge
android-badge
Hand With Phone