How to travel from Málaga to Bilbao, Spain

The distance between Málaga and Bilbao is around 924km (574 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to take the train and then fly which takes around 4h 25m.

5 routes found

We've found 5 different ways to get from Málaga to Bilbao by train, plane, bus and car. The recommended routes, which include information on duration, ticket price, and level of difficulty, can be found below.

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

🚀 Fastest
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Train and Plane

Take the train to Sevilla-Santa Justa then fly from Sevilla (SVQ) to Bilbao (BIO).

  • Duration4h 25m
  • Flight time1h 25m
  • Typical cost
    €140($140)
Operated by

Multiple operators

2
train
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train
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Train

Take the train to Madrid-Puerta De Atocha and then to Bilbao-Abando.

  • Duration8h 15m
  • Departstwice daily
  • Typical cost
    €105($105)
Operated by

Multiple train operators

3
bus
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bus
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Bus via Granada

Take the bus to Granada and then to Bilbao.

  • Duration12h 45m
  • Departsonce daily
  • Typical cost
    €95($95)

1 similiar route

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

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car
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Drive

Drive to Bilbao.

  • Duration9h 5m
  • Distance924km (574 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Málaga and Bilbao

There are several options for getting from Málaga to Bilbao by train, plane, bus and car. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around €95 ($95) and will take around 13h 15m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can take the train and then fly and arrive in approximately 4h 25m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately €140 ($140).

The distance between Málaga and Bilbao is around 924km (574 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 738km (459 miles)

It takes around 4h 25m to get from Málaga and Bilbao by train and plane. If you are travelling by car it will take around 9h 5m to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Málaga to Bilbao is to take the train and then fly which takes around 4h 25m and will set you back approx €140 ($140).

The cheapest way to travel between Málaga and Bilbao, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus which will typically cost around €95 ($95) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

Yes there is a train service that runs between Málaga and Bilbao. It typically takes around 8h 15m and departs twice daily.

There are no direct train services that runs from Málaga to Bilbao. However, you can instead can take several connecting trains with a changeover in Madrid-Puerta De Atocha and Chamartin. These services run twice daily and will take a minimum of 8h 15m.

Renfe AVE and Renfe run train services between Málaga and Bilbao. Trains depart twice daily and will take around 8h 15m, 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 Málaga and Bilbao. It typically takes around 13h 15m and departs 4 times a week.

Yes there is a direct bus service that runs between Málaga and Bilbao with no changeovers required. The bus runs 4 times a week and takes 13h 15m.

Socibus, ALSA, Avanza Grupo and FlixBus run regular bus services between Málaga and Bilbao. Buses run 4 times a week and take around 13h 15m on average but will vary depending on you book with.

Flights and Airlines

It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Málaga to Bilbao. We recommend that you take the train to Sevilla-Santa Justa then fly from Sevilla (SVQ) to Bilbao (BIO). instead which will take 4h 25m.

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 Málaga and Bilbao. The distance is around 924km (574 miles) by road and it will take around 9h 5m in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Málaga to Bilbao is to take the train and then fly which takes, on average, 4h 25m and will usually cost around €140 ($140).

How do I get from Málaga to Bilbao

Compare travel optionsbetween Málaga and Bilbao

Transport options from Málaga to Bilbao
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Train and Plane
4h 25m
€140($140)
every 3 hours1,019km (633 miles)
Train
8h 15m
€105($105)
twice daily1,012km (629 miles)
Bus via Granada + 1 similar
12h 45m
€95($95)
once daily946km (588 miles)
Bus13h 15m
€95($95)
4 times a week1,010km (628 miles)
Drive
9h 5m
€110($110)
on demand924km (574 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Málaga and Bilbao

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