How can I travel from Santander to Bilbao without a car?

Taking the bus is the best way to travel to Bilbao without a car. Traveling by bus offers a budget-friendly, secure, and easy way to go between the two cities. Taking a ride with other travelers through carpool services is an additional option to consider.

How long does it take to get to Bilbao from Santander by bus?

On average, the trip from Santander to Bilbao takes around 1h 45m, although the minimum time it takes to get there is 1h 15m with the fastest bus. This is the time it takes to travel the 47 miles (75 km) that separate the two cities.

What is the travel distance from Santander to Bilbao?

The distance separating Santander and Bilbao is 47 miles (75 km).

What are the departure and arrival stations when taking the bus from Santander to Bilbao?

The majority of buses traveling from Santander to Bilbao start their journey at Calle Navas de Tolosa, 2 and wind up at Estación Autobuses. These are the most popular pick-up and drop-off locations on this route, but you could find others that could be a better fit for your travel plans.

What is the most cost-effective way to go from Santander to Bilbao?

Go for the bus if you want the most cost-effective way to travel this route. With prices starting at $13, you won't find a cheaper way to get there.

How much are the bus tickets from Santander to Bilbao?

You can expect to pay around $13 for a bus ticket. Over the last 30 days, the prices ranged between $13 and $27, so make sure to compare them to get the best option.

Is it possible to take a day trip from Santander to Bilbao?

Yes, a day trip from Santander to Bilbao is definitely doable. The total time it takes to make a round-trip between Santander and Bilbao is about 2h 30m. So you'll have plenty of time to discover Bilbao before making your way back to Santander.

What are the best sights and things to do in Bilbao?

Once in Bilbao, you can start exploring the city and discover its surroundings. The top sights and things to do are The Old Port - Algortako Portu Zaharra, Arriaga Theatre, Artxanda Viewpoint, Plentzia and Day Trip to Donostia - San Sebastián.

Santander to Bilbao Bus Tickets

TodayMay 9

from $10

TomorrowMay 10

from $10

SunMay 11

from $10

MonMay 12

from $10

TueMay 13

from $10

WedMay 14

from $10

ThuMay 15

from $10

FriMay 16

Cheap buses leaving tomorrow

One passenger / one way

This trip is recommended because it is: Cheapest
Departure time: May 10 at 2:45am
Departure city: Santander
Departure location: Santander (Estacion de Autobuses)
Arrival time: May 10 at 4:30am
Destination city: Bilbao
Destination location: Estación Autobuses
Operated by: ALSA
Vehicle: BusDuration: 1h 45m
This trip is recommended because it is: Fastest
Departure time: May 10 at 8:05am
Departure city: Santander
Departure location: Santander (Estacion de Autobuses)
Arrival time: May 10 at 9:20am
Destination city: Bilbao
Destination location: Estación Autobuses
Operated by: ALSA
Vehicle: BusDuration: 1h 15m
Departure time: May 10 at 7:30am
Departure city: Santander
Departure location: Santander (Estacion de Autobuses)
Arrival time: May 10 at 9:10am
Destination city: Bilbao
Destination location: Estación Autobuses
Operated by: ALSA
Vehicle: BusDuration: 1h 40m
Departure time: May 10 at 10:00am
Departure city: Santander
Departure location: Santander (Estacion de Autobuses)
Arrival time: May 10 at 11:30am
Destination city: Bilbao
Destination location: Estación Autobuses
Operated by: ALSA Supra
Vehicle: BusDuration: 1h 30m
Departure time: May 10 at 8:05am
Departure city: Santander
Departure location: Santander (Estacion de Autobuses)
Arrival time: May 10 at 9:20am
Destination city: Bilbao
Destination location: Estación Autobuses
Operated by: ALSA
Vehicle: BusDuration: 1h 15m

Accepted payments

Compare 2 ways to go from Santander to Bilbao.

	Average Price	Average Duration	CO₂ emissions
Bus	Average Price$13 - $27	Average Duration1h 45m	CO₂ emissions 2kg CO₂e5 out of 5 stars	Most eco-friendly
Carpool	Average Price$4 - $121	Average Duration1h 10m	CO₂ emissions 3kg CO₂e4 out of 5 stars	CheapestFastest

Busbud recommends carpooling from Santander to Bilbao

Among the sustainable travel choices, the carpool stands out as the good way to reach Bilbao. The journey takes about 1 hour 10 minutes and with fares starting at just $4, it presents an excellent value for a comfortable ride.

18carpool per day

1h 10mAverage Duration

$4Cheapest ticket

3kgCO₂ emissions

Bus Santander to Bilbao: Trip Overview

Average ticket price$13

Average bus trip duration1h 45m

Number of daily buses42

Earliest bus departure2:45am

Distance46 miles (73 km)

Latest bus departure10:30pm

Compare bus companies

ALSA

4.5/559,170 reviews

Staff4.7

Timeliness4.4

Cleanliness4.7

Wifi3.5

Users have shared positive experiences with this bus service, highlighting the clean and comfortable buses equipped with WiFi, USB charging points, and friendly staff. Ticket purchasing is straightforward, ensuring a smooth journey overall. However, some users mentioned issues such as seat allocation conflicts on board and the absence of onboard toilets for longer trips.

ALSA Santander Bilbao recent customer reviews

Excellent service!bus on time!easy boarding!can't fault it!polite and professional drivers!clean!all round a gd trip

Ray F.

May 2, 2024

A clean bus sit comfy seats and charger for phones as well as a lovely and polite driver checking our tickets. Even the bus wheels were spotlessly clean.

Dympna C.

October 13, 2023

Ticket vsay departure... Santander Airport ... Arrival Bilbao, I waited from a.m inALSA AUTOBUS STAND in front of Santander Airport and no bus came untill 12.40 when one bus came and told me that my bus is at the bus station and it has gone . So I had to pay my way to the bus station and buy another ticket again for 2p.m to arrive 15.30p.m The question everyone is asking is that my ticket says SANTANDER - BILBAO. .. Departure .. Santander Airport. .. Arrival .. Bilbao.

Success B.

October 1, 2023

ES bus companies: FlixBus, BlaBlaCar Bus, ALSA, Rede Expressos, Sindbad, Grupo Samar, Infobus

Santander to Bilbao Bus

Busbud shows you the best bus ticket fares and bus schedules so you can easily plan and book a trip by bus from Santander to Bilbao.

We make it our job to connect you with the most dependable bus companies that cover bus service from Santander to Bilbao.

From cheap bus tickets to more luxurious buses traveling from Santander to Bilbao, we offer a wide range of bus services to best suit your needs depending on how much your budget is.

Where are the popular stops in Santander and Bilbao?

Stops in Santander

A - Calle Navas de Tolosa, 2

B - Santander Airport

C - Av. de los Castros 43A

D - Calle Camarreal-Ojaiz

E - Av. de Pontejos

F - Estación Marítima

Stops in Bilbao

A - Estación Autobuses

B - Abaro Estrata

C - Basurtu Kastrexana Errepidea

D - Buenos Aires Kalea, 2

E - Hotel Carlton

F - Bilbao-Abando Geltokia

Frequently asked questions for your trip Santander - Bilbao

How can I travel from Santander to Bilbao without a car?
How long does it take to get to Bilbao from Santander by bus?
What is the travel distance from Santander to Bilbao?
What are the departure and arrival stations when taking the bus from Santander to Bilbao?
What is the most cost-effective way to go from Santander to Bilbao?
How much are the bus tickets from Santander to Bilbao?
Is it possible to take a day trip from Santander to Bilbao?
What are the best sights and things to do in Bilbao?

Find cheapest prices for buses

Price is for a one-way ticket for one passenger and based on past searches.

Best price found

05/07

$10

05/08

$10

Today

$10

05/10

$10

05/11

$10

05/12

$10

05/13

$10

05/14

$10

The cheapest trip from Santander to Bilbao was searched and found on May 9, 2025 with a price of $10

To save money and be sure you have the best seat, it's a good idea to buy your bus tickets from Santander to Bilbao, as early as possible.

You can expect to pay from $10 to $18 for a bus ticket from Santander to Bilbao based on the last 2 days. You can expect to find the cheapest price for the trip at $10 which is on 2025-05-10.

Usually ALSA Supra will charge you higher prices for tickets closer to the departure date. To find the best prices, you should be flexible on your date of travel.

About Bus Travel

Bus Travel Tips

If you're abroad, study some local language. Not only could it get you out of a pickle during your bus trip from Santander to Bilbao but it'll also be endearing to native speakers who will surely appreciate your effort.

From miles long of beauteous natural landscapes to impressive man-crafted sights, you're bound to be in for a visual treat on your bus trip from Santander to Bilbao.

Taking the bus creates the smallest carbon footprint compared to other modes of transport. Not to mention that buses will allow you to discover scenic gems from Santander to Bilbao that are otherwise impossible to come by with a plane.

Make a music playlist for your bus ride from Santander to Bilbao, and enjoy the scenery to tunes from your own personal soundtrack.

Did you know?

9.2% of ground transportation in Europe is done by bus versus 7.4% by train.

One of the longest bus route in the world goes all the way from Ontario to Alberta in Canada (with the same bus). This trip is 3,435 km or 2,135 miles long and the price is a bit under $100.

The Superbus, created by a Dutch engineer is the world's fastest bus with 250 km/h. Too bad it's only a prototype for now.

Will you be returning to Santander by bus?

Bus from Santander to Bilbao

Top traveled bus routes

Why choose Busbud?

The Best Way To Book Bus and Train Tickets

Busbud.com makes it easy for you to find, compare and book city-to-city bus tickets, all over the world. We save you the extra trip to the bus station. Use Busbud to book your trip online, in your own language and currency, wherever you are. Busbud prides itself on its worldwide partnerships. We make it possible for you to buy tickets with its large network of trustworthy bus partners like Greyhound, Eurolines, ALSA, OUIBUS (BlaBlaBus), National Express and many others.

One passenger / one way

Cheap buses leaving tomorrow

One passenger / one way

One passenger / one way

One passenger / one way

One passenger / one way

One passenger / one way

One passenger / one way

Compare 2 ways to go from Santander to Bilbao.

Bus Santander to Bilbao: Trip Overview

Compare bus companies

ALSA Santander Bilbao recent customer reviews

Santander to Bilbao Bus

Where are the popular stops in Santander and Bilbao?

Frequently asked questions for your trip Santander - Bilbao

How can I travel from Santander to Bilbao without a car?

How long does it take to get to Bilbao from Santander by bus?

What is the travel distance from Santander to Bilbao?

What are the departure and arrival stations when taking the bus from Santander to Bilbao?

What is the most cost-effective way to go from Santander to Bilbao?

How much are the bus tickets from Santander to Bilbao?

Is it possible to take a day trip from Santander to Bilbao?

What are the best sights and things to do in Bilbao?

Find cheapest prices for buses

About Bus Travel

Bus Travel Tips

Did you know?

Will you be returning to Santander by bus?

Top traveled bus routes

Why choose Busbud?

The Best Way To Book Bus and Train Tickets

People from around the world trust Busbud

Popular Buses Connecting Santander

Buses Leaving from Santander

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Popular Buses Connecting Bilbao

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Popular airport transfers