5 destinations accessible by subway from Bilbao [2024]

5 destinations accessible by subway from Bilbao

Article updated in May 2025

I lived in Bilbao for 4 years, and although it’s a city I loved with so many things to do, I always enjoyed exploring the surrounding areas.

What’s great about this city is that you can reach many tourist destinations by taking the metro.

And the cherry on top? In just a few stops, you end up at the beach!

If you’re passing through the Basque city, discover where you can go by subway from Bilbao!

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Where to go by subway from Bilbao?

Plentzia — The furthest beach.
Neguri — The closest beach.
Portugalete — Known for its suspension bridge.
Sopelana — Nudist beach and surf spot.
Algorta — Fishermen’s village.

Useful information for using the Bilbao metro:

How much does a metro ticket cost?
Where can you buy transport tickets?
Is it possible to travel with a dog?
Is it possible to travel with a bike?
Is it possible to travel with a surfboard?
Is it allowed to eat on the metro?

Bilbao and its metro in a few words

Thanks to the Guggenheim effect, which has revitalized the city from its industrial ashes, Bilbao has become a popular destination for tourists visiting the north of the country.

Unfortunately, most of them limit their stay to one or two days before heading off to San Sebastian or Santander, or they go directly home.

This is a shame, as the area around Bilbao is dotted with beautiful beaches and charming, lesser-known villages that are just as interesting.

Bilbao has 3 metro lines, serving a total of 49 stations. Opened in 1995, it is chronologically the fourth metro network in the country, after those in Madrid, Barcelona, and Valencia.

The various lines connect several neighborhoods and towns along the banks of the Nervion River, which leads to the sea.

It’s a very convenient mode of transport, as it allows you to go directly to the beach, and that’s pretty cool!

ALSO READ: 38 things to do in Bilbao

Where to go by subway from Bilbao?

Given that there are 49 stations, there are certainly 49 possible destinations.

However, I will focus on 5 perfect destinations for a short tourist getaway.

1. Plentzia — The furthest beach

This small village is located 25 km from Bilbao, on the coast.

You get there by taking Metro Line 1, the one that has Plentzia as its final stop — exclusively that one!!!

There are other final stops on Line 1, but they won’t take you to the right place.

The trip takes about 45 minutes. It’s a bit long, but most of it is outdoors, so you can enjoy the scenery along the way.

Anyway, even if it takes a while, it saves you from spending 30 minutes driving around looking for parking, especially in summer.

Once you arrive, you can follow the river. This path is really beautiful — you’ll see small, colorful fishing boats before finding some shade offered by the village houses.

You’ll also pass by the small plaza del Astillero before reaching the beach, where you can relax to the sound of the waves.

Plentzia is my favorite beach from Bilbao. It’s clearly the prettiest and the most peaceful. I recommend avoiding weekends if you want to fully enjoy it, because it gets crowded!

👉🏽LINE 1, TOWARD PLENTZIA, TERMINUS PLENTZIA

2. Neguri — The closest beach

Still on Metro Line 1, you can get off at Neguri. The trip takes about 20 minutes from downtown Bilbao.

Once you exit the metro, just leave the station and continue to your right until you see the sea.

Here, you can enjoy the beach as well as the harbor and admire the boats.

There’s also a small shopping center where you’ll find a cinema, an aquarium, and various restaurants.

Neguri is also a great place for a stroll to admire the luxurious mansions of the bourgeoisie. It’s perfect for a leisurely walk in the late afternoon when the sun slowly sets and casts a golden light on the facades.

👉🏽LINE 1, TOWARD PLENTZIA, URDULIZ, SOPELA & LARRABASTERRA, TERMINUS NEGURI

ALSO READ: Best free tours in Bilbao

3. Portugalete — Known for its suspension bridge

You can get to Portugalete by walking from Neguri or by taking Metro Line 2 (about a 20-minute ride).

The main tourist attraction of the town is the Puente Colgante, the oldest hanging bridge in the world, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, which connects the two banks of the river.

Online, you might also find this bridge called the Vizcaya Bridge. To visit it, you have two options:

Take the gondola, which costs around €0.55. You can pay with the Barik card (Bilbao’s transport card) as well as the tourist card.
If you’re not afraid of heights, you can climb all the way to the top for €10.

Even though most tourists come to see the bridge, Portugalete also offers many beautiful places to discover.

It’s also a lively town, perfect for having a drink and enjoying pintxos.

👉🏽LINE 2, TOWARD KABIEZES, TERMINUS PORTUGALETE

4. Sopelana — Nudist beach and surf spot

Still on Line 1, you can get off at Larrabasterra station.

From there, you’ll need to walk about 25 minutes to reach Sopelana beach. So, avoid going during midday when the sun is at its peak.

Sopelana beach is kind of split in two. One part is the most traditional beach, while the other part is reserved for naturism enthusiasts. You’ve been warned—don’t act surprised 😉

It’s also a popular surf spot for athletes who come to ride the Basque waves. Here, you have two choices: join them and try to tame the waves or lay down your towel and admire their skills.

👉🏽LINE 1, TOWARD PLENTZIA, URDULIZ, SOPELA & LARRABASTERRA, TERMINUS LARRABASTERRA

5. Algorta — Fishermen's village

I’ll wrap up this list of places to visit by metro from Bilbao with my favorite spot. You can walk there from Neguri or take metro Line 1, direction Plentzia, Urduliz, Sopelana, or Larrabasterra for about 25 minutes.

You’ll obviously get off at Algorta station. The town of Algorta has some buildings worth seeing. So, when you exit the metro, you might want to wander around the streets before heading to the fishing village.

Otherwise, right after leaving the metro, take a left. If you get lost, ask someone where the Puerto Viejo (Old Port) is or use Google Maps.

You’ll reach the old part of Algorta, a charming little fishing village by the sea.

It’s honestly my favorite day trip from Bilbao: pretty houses with lots of green, a village vibe, and the smell of the ocean. I recommend coming around lunchtime to fully soak up the most authentic atmosphere.

From this area, you can access Ereaga beach.

👉🏽LINE 1, TOWARD PLENTZIA, URDULIZ, SOPELA & LARRABASTERRA, TERMINUS ALGORTA

ALSO READ: Where to sleep in Bilbao?

How much does a metro ticket cost?

The Bilbao metro is divided into 3 zones.

The price of a single ticket ranges from €1.75 to €1.95 depending on the zone. It allows you to travel from point A to point B.

You can also use the Barik card, the metro card for Bilbao. You load a certain amount of money onto it, and it deducts from your balance with each journey.

Multiple people can travel with the same card. This is a more economical solution if you plan to travel regularly during your stay.

There is also a personalized version that can only be used by the cardholder.

As a tourist, you can also choose to purchase the Bilbao Bizkaia Card, which includes unlimited transport for 1, 2, or 3 days. Its price? Between €10 and €20.

Where to buy the different transport tickets?

A single metro ticket can be purchased from the machines located in each station.

As for the Barik card, you can also buy it from these machines, at the Puente Colgante facilities, the funiculars, or in stores that display the Barik logo.

For the Bilbao Bizkaia Card, you can purchase it at various tourist offices or on this website.