Logroño to Bilbao transfer, door to door
Our Logroño to Bilbao transfer is a car with a driver that picks you up in Logroño and drops you at the exact Bilbao address you need: museum, hotel, office, station or port.
Quick answer: the Logroño to Bilbao transfer is roughly 130 km on the AP-68 and around 1 h 30 to the city centre. With Rioja Transfer you book at a fixed price, at any hour, and we drop you at the Guggenheim, Abando station, your hotel or the port, with the option of waiting time and a return trip.
This page covers the transfer between Logroño and Bilbao city. If you need to get to or from Loiu airport, you'll find the specific information on our Bilbao Airport to Logroño transfer page. Here we cover other destinations: museums, hotels, business meetings, train and ferry connections.
Why book a Logroño to Bilbao transfer?
There's a fast motorway between the two cities, but public transport doesn't link your door in Logroño well with your destination in Bilbao. By bus, after an hour and a half or more on the road, you still have to get from the intermodal bus station to where you're going. By car, you have to find parking in the centre and pay for it. A private transfer removes both of those steps.
These are our clients' most common reasons:
- Meetings and business visits to offices in the centre, around Abandoibarra or at the BEC exhibition centre in Barakaldo.
- Culture and leisure: the Guggenheim Museum, the Fine Arts Museum, a match at San Mamés or a concert.
- Connections: a train at Abando station, a long-distance coach or a ferry at the port.
- Changing base: visitors who finish their wine route in La Rioja and continue their trip through the Basque Country.
Where in Bilbao do we take you, and how long does it take?
The time varies with the exact destination within the metropolitan area. As a guide, from central Logroño:
| Destination in Bilbao | Approx. time from Logroño | Practical detail |
|---|---|---|
| Guggenheim Museum / Abandoibarra | ~1 h 30 | We drop you next to the entrance; ideal for arriving on time for your booked visit. |
| Bilbao-Abando station | ~1 h 30 | To connect with long-distance or commuter trains. |
| Hotels in the Ensanche and Casco Viejo (Old Town) | ~1 h 30 | Door-to-door access as far as the street allows vehicles. |
| BEC exhibition centre (Barakaldo) | ~1 h 25 | Reached without crossing central Bilbao; useful on trade fair days. |
| Getxo cruise terminal | ~1 h 45 | Pick-up or drop-off coordinated with boarding or disembarkation times. |
| Santurtzi port (ferries) | ~1 h 40 | For foot passengers boarding or leaving the ferry. |
All figures are approximate and rounded. When quoting, we take into account the time you need to arrive and suggest a departure time.
Logroño — Bilbao city
Tell us the exact address in Bilbao and the time you need to be there: we'll give you a fixed price.
How is the Logroño to Bilbao transfer organised?
- Tell us your plan: pick-up address in Logroño (or any village in La Rioja), address in Bilbao, date, desired arrival time and number of people.
- Choose the type of service: one-way, return on different days, or a same-day return with the driver waiting.
- Receive your fixed price with the proposed vehicle: a Rioja Standard saloon, an electric Rioja Executive car or a 7-seat van.
- On the day, the driver arrives at the agreed address with a few minutes to spare.
- Arrival in Bilbao at the door of your destination. If there's waiting time, we'll tell you where the car will be for the return.
Is a same-day return trip worth it?
Yes, and it's one of our most common bookings. With an hour and a half each way, you can leave Logroño first thing, spend the day in Bilbao and be back for dinner. For a full sightseeing plan, you can combine the estuary, the Casco Viejo and the Guggenheim in a day trip to Bilbao from Logroño.
For businesses, the return-with-waiting format lets executives work in the car during the journey and forget about parking. We issue invoices in the company's name and can group several trips a month; see the terms of our executive transport for businesses. If you need the car at your disposal for several hours, the right option is our hourly chauffeur.
"An hour and a half on the AP-68 and not a minute spent looking for parking: you step out of the car at the door of your destination in Bilbao."
And the other way, from Bilbao to La Rioja?
It works the same way. We pick you up at your hotel in Bilbao, Abando station or the port and take you to Logroño, Haro, Laguardia or any other destination in La Rioja. It's a very popular option with travellers who have spent a few days in the Basque Country and are moving on to wine country. If you're coming from Bilbao just for the day, have a look at our day trip to La Rioja from Bilbao.
And if your trip continues to other cities in the north, you can chain transfers together. For example, Bilbao and then Donostia, with our Logroño to San Sebastián transfer, or an arrival via Cantabria with the transfer from Santander Airport.
Private transfer, bus or your own car?
| Option | Advantages | Drawbacks |
|---|---|---|
| Private transfer | Door to door, your own schedule, fixed price, you can work or rest | Must be booked in advance |
| Bus | A budget option for solo travellers | Fixed timetables and arrival at the intermodal station, not at your destination |
| Your own car | Total flexibility | Parking in the centre, tiredness on the way back, no drinking if you're meeting for lunch |
For one person on their own with no rush, the bus may be enough. For two or more people, for business trips or when timing matters, a private transfer is usually the most practical option. If it's your first time booking this kind of service, read what a private hire driver (VTC) in Logroño is and how it differs from a taxi.
Which vehicle is best for going to Bilbao?
It depends on who's travelling and why. If you're going to a meeting and want to arrive fresh, with Wi-Fi to review documents and water on board, the electric Executive range is the best fit: the Mercedes EQ and Tesla cars are quiet on the motorway and let you make calls without noise. For a couple or a family going to the museum or catching a train, a saloon from the Rioja Standard range is more than enough. And if you're a group of friends going to a match or a concert, the 7-seat van lets you travel together and split the cost of the service.
On big event days in Bilbao, such as a match at San Mamés or a major fair at the BEC, traffic into and out of the city increases. On those dates we recommend booking ahead, and we'll suggest a departure time with extra margin.
What do you need to have ready before booking?
- Exact destination address in Bilbao (or the name of the hotel, museum or company).
- The time you need to be there, not just the departure time.
- For a return trip, how long you'll be in Bilbao.
- Number of passengers and suitcases.
- Train or ferry number, if you're connecting with other transport.
A same-day return?
We can wait for you in Bilbao and bring you back to Logroño. Ask us on WhatsApp.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Logroño to Bilbao?
Around 1 h 30, roughly 130 km on the AP-68, to central Bilbao. At rush hour, getting into the city can add a few minutes.
Can you drop me at the door of the Guggenheim or my hotel?
Yes. The transfer is door to door: we drop you at the museum, your hotel, an office or any address in Bilbao and its metropolitan area.
Do you do the transfer from Bilbao to Logroño?
Yes, it works both ways. We collect you from your hotel, Abando station, the port or wherever you tell us and take you to Logroño or any village in La Rioja.
Can the driver wait for me while I'm in a meeting?
Yes. You can book a return service with waiting time. We'll give you a fixed price based on the hours you need.
Is there a direct train from Logroño to Bilbao?
The rail connection is neither direct nor frequent, and by bus you depend on timetables and getting to the intermodal station. With a private transfer you leave from your door at whatever time you like.