Car hire in Biscay
6 offices in Biscay · airport pick-up · Spain
Biscay packs a great deal into a small area: Bilbao's industrial estuary, cliffs like those at Barrika and green valleys rising towards the Duranguesado. The capital works well on foot and by metro, but the rest of the territory — San Juan de Gaztelugatxe, the Urdaibai Reserve, the fishing villages of the coast — deserves its own pace and its own stops.
With six pick-up points spanning Loiu airport, central Bilbao, the intermodal station and Barakaldo, you can start your route wherever the plane or train drops you. The corniche road, the BI-631 towards Bermeo or a hop across to the Gipuzkoa coast can all be done without depending on Bizkaibus timetables.
Car Hire at Bilbao Airport →Search cars in BiscayWhy hire a car in Biscay
- Gaztelugatxe, Bermeo and Mundaka are under an hour from Bilbao, but reaching the hermitage by public transport means slow connections.
- Direct pick-up at Loiu airport, the intermodal station or Barakaldo: six offices spread across the metropolitan area.
- The green interior — Urkiola, the Atxondo valley, Balmaseda and Las Encartaciones — has barely any train or bus coverage.
Day trips near Biscay
- San Juan de Gaztelugatxe — The islet linked to the mainland by 241 steps, about 40 minutes from Bilbao along the coast; arrive early to find parking.
- Urdaibai and Mundaka — A biosphere reserve with marshes, viewpoints and Europe's most famous left-hand wave, about 45 minutes from the centre.
- Getxo and the Hanging Bridge — The old harbour, mansions built by the industrial bourgeoisie and the transporter bridge listed as a World Heritage Site, about 25 minutes along the right bank.
- Urkiola Natural Park — Beech woods and the limestone crests of Anboto for a day's hiking, about 35 minutes away.
Where to pick up your car
- Bilbao Aeropuerto
- Bilbao Barakaldo
- Bilbao Centro
- Bilbao Ciudad
- Bilbao Estacion de Tren
Final prices in euros · book without paying · free cancellation up to 72 h before.
Frequently asked questions
Should I collect the car at Bilbao airport or in the centre?
If you land at Loiu, airport pick-up saves the bus transfer. If you're spending a few days in Bilbao first, it's more convenient to collect it in the centre or at the intermodal station just as you set off for the coast.
Do I need a car to get around Bilbao itself?
No: the metro and tram cover the city well, and parking in the Casco Viejo is difficult. The car pays off for excursions; many travellers hire one only for their touring days along the coast and inland.
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