How to travel from Cuenca to Bilbao, Spain

The distance between Cuenca and Bilbao is around 536km (333 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to take the train and then fly which takes around 2h 50m.

8 routes found

We've found 8 different ways to get from Cuenca to Bilbao by train, bus, car and plane. The recommended routes, which include information on duration, ticket price, and level of difficulty, can be found below.

👋 Also check out BilbaoCuenca if you're planning a return trip.

🚀 Fastest
1
train
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plane
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Train and Plane

Take the train to Madrid-Chamartin then fly from Madrid (MAD) to Bilbao (BIO).

  • Duration2h 50m
  • Flight time1hr
  • Typical cost
    €89($89)
Operated by

Multiple operators

3 similiar routes

We’ve grouped similar routes together, click the arrows to see the other options.

2
train
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train
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Train

Take the train to Madrid-Chamartin and then to Bilbao-Abando.

  • Duration5h 50m
  • Departstwice daily
  • Typical cost
    €58($58)
3
bus
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bus
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Bus

Take the bus to Madrid and then to Bilbao.

  • Duration6h 55m
  • Departs4 times a week
  • Typical cost
    €29($29)
Operated by

Multiple bus operators

1 similiar route

We’ve grouped similar routes together, click the arrows to see the other options.

4
car
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Drive

Drive to Bilbao.

  • Duration5h 20m
  • Distance552km (343 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Cuenca and Bilbao

There are several options for getting from Cuenca to Bilbao by train, bus, car and plane. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around €11 ($11) and will take around 10hrs. If you need to get there more quickly, you can take the train and then fly and arrive in approximately 2h 50m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately €89 ($89).

The distance between Cuenca and Bilbao is around 536km (333 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 361km (225 miles)

It takes around 5h 50m to get from Cuenca and Bilbao by train. If you are travelling by car it will take around 5h 20m to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Cuenca to Bilbao is to take the train and then fly which takes around 2h 50m and will set you back approx €89 ($89).

The cheapest way to travel between Cuenca and Bilbao, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus which will typically cost around €11 ($11) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

Yes there is a train service that runs between Cuenca and Bilbao. It typically takes around 5h 50m and departs twice daily.

There are no direct train services that runs from Cuenca to Bilbao. However, you can instead can take several connecting trains with a changeover in Madrid-Chamartin. These services run twice daily and will take a minimum of 5h 50m.

Renfe AVE and Renfe run train services between Cuenca and Bilbao. Trains depart twice daily and will take around 5h 50m, however, this may vary depending on the particular service and whether it runs express or stops all stations.

Bus travel

Yes there is a bus that runs regularly from Cuenca and Bilbao. It typically takes around 6h 55m and departs 4 times a week.

There are no direct bus services that runs from Cuenca to Bilbao. However, you can instead can take several connecting buses with changeovers in Madrid. These services run 4 times a week and will take a minimum of 6h 55m.

Avanza Grupo, Blablabus, Autocares Grupo Samar and Bilman run regular bus services between Cuenca and Bilbao. Buses run 4 times a week and take around 6h 55m on average but will vary depending on you book with.

Flights and Airlines

It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Cuenca to Bilbao. We recommend that you take the train to Madrid-Chamartin then fly from Madrid (MAD) to Bilbao (BIO). instead which will take 2h 50m.

The closest major airport to Bilbao is Bilbao Airport (BIO) (BIO) which is approximately 5km (3 miles) from Bilbao. Vitoria Airport (VIT) (VIT) and Santander Airport (SDR) (SDR) are also nearby and might be a better alternative airport depending on where you are flying from.

Drive yourself

Yes it is possible to drive from Cuenca and Bilbao. The distance is around 552km (343 miles) by road and it will take around 5h 20m in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Cuenca to Bilbao is to take the train which takes, on average, 5h 50m and will usually cost around €58 ($58).

How do I get from Cuenca to Bilbao

Compare travel optionsbetween Cuenca and Bilbao

Transport options from Cuenca to Bilbao
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Train and Plane + 3 similar
2h 50m
€89($89)
every 4 hours536km (333 miles)
Train to Valencia Joaquin Sorolla, Fly3hrs
€105($105)
5 times a day694km (431 miles)
Train to Madrid-Chamartin, plane and bus3h 40m
€165($165)
once daily634km (394 miles)
Train, Plane and Bus4h 5m
€145($145)
every 4 hours681km (423 miles)
Train
5h 50m
€58($58)
twice daily686km (427 miles)
Bus + 1 similar
6h 55m
€29($29)
4 times a week568km (353 miles)
Bus via Teruel10hrs
€11($11)
4 times a week645km (401 miles)
Drive
5h 20m
€100($100)
on demand552km (343 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Cuenca and Bilbao

Bus companies

Airports near Bilbao

The following major airports near Bilbao offer regular flights to various popular destinations within Spain and internationally.

BIO
Bilbao Airport (BIO)
International Airport
Distance
5km (3 miles) from Bilbao
VIT
Vitoria Airport (VIT)
Domestic Airport
Distance
46km (28 miles) from Bilbao
SDR
Santander Airport (SDR)
Domestic Airport
Distance
74km (46 miles) from Bilbao