Flying from Madrid Airport (MAD) to Bilbao Airport (BIO): what you need to know
Around 1 hour 5 minutes is how long you'll be travelling on a direct flight from Madrid Airport to Bilbao Airport.
Madrid and Bilbao are in the UTC+1 timezone. This means you won't have to adjust your watch after you land.
Take your pick of 56 weekly Madrid Airport to Bilbao Airport flights. The 06:30 departure with Air Europa is the earliest you can take. Iberia operates the last service of the day at 22:10.
Leave enough time to catch your MAD to BIO flight. Generally, it's best to arrive at least two hours before international departures and an hour ahead for domestic flights.
Flying during a peak month such as July? School holidays and other high seasons can mean longer lines and delays at security. Play it safe and get there up to four hours before an international flight and two hours before a domestic departure.
Flying into Bilbao (and then exploring more of Spain!) is a cinch with Iberia. This popular carrier offers direct flights from Madrid Airport to Bilbao Airport.
The airline with the highest booking volume on this route is Iberia.
Iberia is the most punctual carrier offering MAD to BIO flights. An exceptional 84.23% of its services on this route arrive as planned.
If you want to break up your flight, just deselect 'Direct flights only' when searching for your ticket from Madrid Airport to Bilbao Airport. Here are the most popular stopovers between MAD and BIO:
Barcelona Airport
Malaga Airport
Alicante Airport
How to find the cheapest flights from Madrid Airport (MAD) to Bilbao Airport (BIO)
The cheapest price we've found for a one-way Madrid Airport to Bilbao Airport flight is $74. A return ticket is currently $125. Depending on the availability and when you book, these fares could change.
It's usually smart to book ahead of time if you want to find cheap tickets from MAD to BIO. That's because flight prices are based on demand, which tends to rise closer to departure.
Plan your trip for May. That's the cheapest month for flights from Madrid Airport to Bilbao Airport. If your travel dates are flexible, try out the 'Whole month' tool to find the lowest airfare across every month.
You don't need to check back in every day to find out if fares have gone down when you set up a Price Alert. We'll let you know as soon as there's a better deal on cheap flights from MAD to BIO.
Find the right flight for you with the help of the filters. To see the 'Best,' 'Cheapest' or 'Fastest' flights from Madrid Airport to Bilbao Airport, use the 'Sort by' tool. You can also filter results by departure and arrival times, airline, and journey duration.
Handy information about Madrid Airport (MAD)
77% of flights that leave from Madrid Airport land at their destination on schedule.
Central Madrid to Madrid Airport is around 13 kilometres. Depending on traffic, it'll take you about 20 minutes to get there if you're driving, ride-sharing or catching a taxi.
Planning to take public transport? Expect a trip time of around 30 minutes.
Need a handy hotel near MAD? If you're boarding an early flight from Madrid Airport to Bilbao Airport, these accommodation options will have you moments from your departure gate:
Arriving at Bilbao Airport (BIO)
If you're getting in on a late Madrid Airport to Bilbao Airport flight, few things top the convenience of staying near the terminal. Grab your bags from the carousel and then be tucked up in bed soon after at one of these options near BIO:
Pick up a Bilbao Airport rental car and discover Bilbao and beyond with your own wheels. Record Go, Click and Rent and Goldcar are popular outlets you can book with here.
To get the lowest price, book your vehicle from Bilbao Airport around four weeks before travelling.
Getting from Bilbao Airport (BIO) to central Bilbao
From Bilbao Airport, Bilbao is approximately 11 kilometres away. It takes around 15 minutes to reach the centre driving.
When travelling on public transport, expect a journey of roughly 30 minutes.
When to fly to Bilbao Airport (BIO)
It's time to pick your dates for your flight from Madrid Airport to Bilbao Airport. June is the most popular month to head to Bilbao. If you like a more laid-back vibe, go in March.
Before locking in your flight from Madrid Airport to Bilbao Airport, think about the type of weather you like. August is the warmest month in Bilbao, with the temperature ranging from 16ºC to 26ºC.
January sees average temperatures of between 5ºC and 13ºC. Look for cheap tickets from MAD to BIO sometime then if you want to travel in cooler conditions.
Explore more of Spain
You've visited Bilbao, now it's time to discover more of Spain. Journey around 241 kilometres south-east to Zaragoza to tick off its popular sights. From Plaza del Pilar to La Seo del Salvador and Basílica de Nuestra Senora del Pilar, your itinerary will be busy.
If you're interested in discovering another well-known destination in Spain, consider Salamanca, about 338 kilometres south-west of Bilbao. Catedral de Salamanca, Salamanca, Casco Historico and Plaza Mayor are highlights.