Bilbao is Vueling's Basque base, so the cheap fares cluster on Spain, the Maghreb and the Caucasus — and the cheap airport bus into town is one of the best-value rides in Spain.
Bilbao (BIO), the Basque Country’s main airport, runs its budget map on Vueling (the dominant carrier here), easyJet, a thinner Ryanair presence and Wizz Air. It isn’t a long-haul hub, so the further routes below — Delhi, Douala, Nairobi, Johannesburg, Cape Town, Jakarta, Entebbe — run as one-stops through Madrid, Istanbul or the Gulf. The European, Maghreb and Caucasus value, though, is real and often direct.
The fares below are real prices aifly has tracked leaving BIO, cheapest first. Bilbao’s strengths are the Maghreb (Tangier), Turkey and the Caucasus (Antalya, Istanbul, Armenia, Georgia, Kutaisi), Cape Verde, and a surprising bench of long-haul Africa and Asia via the hubs. Learn the season, set an alert, and book to the target.
When fares from Bilbao actually drop
The cheapest windows are the shoulders — late spring (May–June) and September–October — plus the deep-winter lull of January–February. The Basque coast is wettest and quietest in winter, which keeps fares low, while peak summer (July–August) and Easter are the expensive stretches. On the connecting long-haul, the value follows the hub carrier’s calendar.
Lead time beats day-of-week. Short-haul European and Maghreb fares price best around 30 days to 8 weeks out; connecting long-haul rewards booking 2–3 months ahead with a fare alert. Given BIO’s thinner route list, comparing the same trip via Madrid or even nearby Santander/Vitoria sometimes surfaces a cheaper option.
Which airlines keep Bilbao cheap
Vueling is the name that matters from Bilbao — it bases aircraft here and sets the floor on the Spanish domestic, European and Mediterranean routes. easyJet, Ryanair and Wizz Air compete on the city-break and eastern map, and the North African carriers handle the Morocco routes, often with a checked bag at deal prices.
On the long-haul to Africa and Asia — Cape Town, Nairobi, Johannesburg, Jakarta, Delhi — Bilbao connects, so the price-setters are the hub carriers: Turkish Airlines via Istanbul, the Gulf carriers via Dubai and Doha, and Iberia via Madrid. These one-stops usually include a bag. Bag math: Vueling, easyJet, Ryanair and Wizz all sell a no-bag base fare — add the hold-bag fee before comparing to a bag-inclusive connection.
Getting to and from Bilbao Airport (BIO)
One of Spain’s best-value airport runs. The Bizkaibus A3247 goes straight from the terminal into central Bilbao — stopping near Plaza Moyúa and ending at the Termibus station — in about 25 minutes for roughly €3, running every 20–30 minutes. There’s no reason to pay more for the standard trip.
Taxis to the centre run about €25–30, fine split between a few people. BIO is a single striking terminal (the Calatrava-designed “La Paloma”) and easy to navigate — compact, modern and low-stress, with the bus stop right outside arrivals.
Cheapest destinations from Bilbao right now
Good-price round-trip targets from aifly’s own tracked fares — “good price” means book at or below this; nothing here is invented or scraped from third parties. The live deal page for each route shows the current fare.
| Destination | Good price | Why go |
|---|---|---|
| Tangier | €115 | Morocco's reinvented northern port, gateway to Chefchaouen and the Rif, with a buzzing modern seafront. |
| Antalya | €119 | Turkey's Mediterranean resort capital — beaches, Roman ruins and the Taurus mountains as a backdrop. |
| Armenia | €134 | Yerevan and the Caucasus beyond — ancient monasteries and mountain drama at value-for-money prices. |
| Georgia | €178 | Tbilisi's sulphur baths, wine country and Caucasus drama — a top-value adventure within reach. |
| Kutaisi | €181 | Georgia's low-cost gateway — cave monasteries, Imereti wine country and a cheap doorway into the Caucasus. |
| Boa Vista | €209 | Cape Verde's dune-and-beach island — Atlantic sun, wind and turtles, built for switch-off resort weeks. |
| Praia | €219 | Cape Verde's hilly capital on Santiago — the real, lived-in islands of markets and morna, not the resort strip. |
| Mindelo | €230 | Cape Verde's cultural heart on São Vicente — harbour town, carnival and live music, the islands' most soulful stop. |
| Istanbul | €239 | Two continents, layered empires and relentless food — one of the best-value city breaks from northern Spain. |
| Sal | €241 | Cape Verde's flat, arid beach island — constant Atlantic sun and kitesurf wind, an easy winter escape. |
| Dakar | €254 | West Africa's Atlantic capital — Gorée Island, a serious music scene and a fast-changing skyline. |
| Delhi | €489 incl. bag | India's vast, layered capital — Mughal monuments, street food and the gateway to the Golden Triangle (via a hub). |
| Douala | €633 incl. bag | Cameroon's steamy economic capital and main port — a workaday West-Central Africa gateway, flown via the hubs. |
| Nairobi | €679 incl. bag | East Africa's hub and safari springboard — Nairobi National Park sits on the city's doorstep. |
| Johannesburg | €751 incl. bag | South Africa's gateway — a serious food scene and the springboard to Kruger and the Cape. |
| Cape Town | €758 incl. bag | Table Mountain, winelands and two oceans — one of the world's great cities, best value in the European winter. |
| Jakarta | €793 incl. bag | Indonesia's vast capital and the gateway to the archipelago — the springboard to Bali and beyond. |
| Entebbe | €794 incl. bag | Uganda's lakeside gateway — gorilla trekking, the source of the Nile and Lake Victoria on the doorstep. |
Frequently asked questions
What's the cheapest month to fly from Bilbao?
The shoulders — May–June and September–October — plus the January–February winter lull are cheapest. Avoid peak July–August and Easter. Connecting long-haul follows the hub carrier's calendar, cheapest in the off-season.
Which airline is cheapest from Bilbao?
Vueling dominates BIO and sets the floor on Spanish, European and Mediterranean routes; easyJet, Ryanair and Wizz compete on the city breaks. For long-haul, which connects, Turkish and the Gulf carriers are usually cheapest with a bag. Add a hold bag to the budget fares before comparing.
How do I get from Bilbao airport to the city cheaply?
Take the Bizkaibus A3247 from outside arrivals to central Bilbao (Plaza Moyúa / Termibus) — about 25 minutes for roughly €3, every 20–30 minutes. A taxi is about €25–30.
How far in advance should I book a flight from Bilbao?
Short-haul European and Maghreb fares price best around 30 days to 8 weeks out; connecting long-haul rewards booking 2–3 months ahead with a fare alert.
Where can I fly cheaply from Bilbao right now?
The table above lists aifly's tracked good-price targets, cheapest first — Bilbao is strong on Morocco (Tangier), Turkey and the Caucasus (Antalya, Istanbul, Armenia, Georgia), Cape Verde, and long-haul Africa and Asia via the hubs.
Are the prices on this page guaranteed?
No — they're tracked good-price benchmarks (book at or below). Live fares move daily; the deal page for each route shows the current price. Treat the targets as your buy signal.
Seasons, carriers and airport details verified June 2026 and can change — confirm current conditions before you book.