Business Class Flights to Bilbao, Spain

Flights to Bilbao, Spain, arrive at Bilbao International Airport (BIO), located about six miles north of the city. Although it is a smaller airport, Bilbao International Airport serves more than 5.4 million passengers each year. The airport’s main terminal, which has a sculptural look and feel, was designed by renowned Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava.

Direct flights to Bilbao are available from several cities in Europe and North Africa including Frankfurt, Lyon, Lisbon, Munich, London, Brussels, and Amsterdam. Cheap flights to Bilbao are available on a number of low-cost carriers including Volotea, Ryanair, easyJet, and Wizz Air. Some flights to Bilbao are seasonal, operating only during the busy summer travel season.

Business travelers who fly to Bilbao often work in the financial industry as the city is home to the main offices of many large Spanish banks. Bilbao is also home to a large commercial seaport. More than 31 million tons of cargo pass through the Port of Bilbao each year. The port is also a popular destination for cruise ships.

Perhaps Bilbao’s most popular tourist destination is the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, a contemporary and modern art museum that opened in 1997. Located on the waterfront, the glass, titanium, and limestone museum building was designed by American architect Frank Gehry, who is known for his striking and iconic structures. Many visitors book tickets to Bilbao just to visit this museum.

Other popular Bilbao sites for visitors include the 14th-century Bilbao Cathedral; the medieval Casco Viejo neighborhood; the Mount Artxandan funicular; and the Arriaga Theater and Opera House, built in the late 19th century.

Near the Caso Viejo neighborhood, many visitors who fly to Bilbao love to explore the Mercado de la Ribera (or La Ribera Market). One of the biggest covered markets in Europe, La Ribera features 110,000 square feet of butchers, grocers, fish markets, and other vendors, each offering a beautiful flavor of the region. For foodies, a stop at La Ribera Market can make for quite the excursion, as they can stock up on meat, fruit, cheese, foraged foods, and more.

For those who aren’t afraid to voyage outside of the city limits, the Basque coast offers stunning views, sun, and beautiful landscapes. Just under an hour’s drive from Bilbao, the San Juan de Gaztelugatxe is one of these famous scenic spots, and its famous for serving as the exterior filming location of Dragonstone from HBO’s Game of Thrones.

Tourists who love taking in the sun from the urban sprawl of a historic city can enjoy walking along the Estuary of Bilbao. This mouth of the Nervio, Ibaizabal, and Cadagua rivers flows into the Bay of Biscay. Within the city, it’s an eye-catching stroll with beautiful trees and class architecture certain to warm the hearts of those who have booked tickets to Bilbao.

Held in late August, Bilbao’s Aste Nagusia festival attracts more than 1.5 million people each year. The festival, which is rooted in Basque culture, includes concerts, fireworks, parades, bullfights, and traditional Basque cuisine which is centered on seafood such as salt cod, eels, and squid.