Salamanca to Bilbao train with Renfe ALVIA

Sun 06 Sept
+ Add return
Renfe ALVIA
Renfe INTERCITY
Renfe Viajeros
Avanti West Coast
Great Western Railway
2,000+ travel companies
Renfe ALVIA
Renfe INTERCITY
Renfe Viajeros
Avanti West Coast
Great Western Railway
2,000+ travel companies
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The cheapest and fastest trains from Salamanca to Bilbao

Showing times, prices and bookable tickets for 06 Sept

Cheapest price on 06 Sept

£46

Average ticket price on 06 Sept

£47

Fastest journey on 06 Sept

6 h 54 m

Average journey duration on 06 Sept

9 h 54 m

Trains on 06 Sept

4

Distance

340 km

Cheap tickets

The best way to find a cheap train ticket from Salamanca to Bilbao is to book your journey as far in advance as possible and to avoid travelling at rush hour.

The average ticket from Salamanca to Bilbao will cost around £47 if you buy it on the day, but you can find cheap train tickets today for only £46.

Fast trains

To travel from Salamanca to Bilbao you need to make at least one change.

  • Renfe18302+Renfe ALVIA04267
    12:3010h32
    Salamanca station
    23:02Bilbao-Abando
    £461One-way
    1 change
  • Renfe MD18324+Renfe ALVIA04267
    9:5513h07
    Salamanca station
    23:02Bilbao-Abando
    £471One-way
    1 change
  • Renfe MD18306+Renfe ALVIA04267
    14:009h02
    Salamanca station
    23:02Bilbao-Abando
    £471One-way
    1 change
  • Renfe MD18314+Renfe ALVIA04267
    16:086h54
    Salamanca station
    23:02Bilbao-Abando
    £471One-way
    1 change

Travel Information

Compare train and coach for Salamanca to Bilbao

Omio recommends booking the coach as it is the most popular option from Salamanca to Bilbao among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price, take the coach, with an average ticket price of £32 For those with little time, consider booking a train, which has an average total journey time of 5h 32m. If you are seeking to minimise your carbon footprint, the train is your best option, with estimated CO2 emissions of 0.1 - 0.3kg. Average ticket prices depend on the travel mode: a coach costs an average of £32, while a train costs an average of £59.

Distance: 340 km

Compare train with

Train
Most popular
Coach
Driving

£59

Average Price

£32

Average Price

Cheapest

£72

Average Price

(fuel + tolls)

5h 32m

Average total duration

Fastest

5h 2m

Onboard

+

30m

Additional time*

5h 39m

Average total duration

5h 9m

Onboard

+

30m

Additional time*

4h 3m

Average total duration

(door-to-door)

0.1 - 0.3kg

CO2 emissions

Lowest

0.3 - 0.8kg

CO2 emissions

-

CO2 emissions

Renfe ALVIA

Most popular train company

Alsa

Most popular bus company

Your own car or car rental

Direct Options

Direct Options

Direct Options

Additional time: Average total travel duration to departure point, security checks and transfers.

The cheapest way to travel from Salamanca to Bilbao is a coach with an average price of £32.

This is compared to other travel options from Salamanca to Bilbao:

A coach is £27 less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Salamanca to Bilbao costing on average £59.

The fastest way to travel from Salamanca to Bilbao is by train with an average journey time of 5h 2m.

Other travel options to Bilbao take longer:

Coach takes on average 5h 9m.

It's helpful to compare your options as there are 2 ways to travel between Salamanca and Bilbao including taking a train and coach.
Take the train. It's the cheaper option, and the extra time on board is usually more relaxing than driving it.

Tickets start at around £59 compared to roughly £72 in fuel and tolls — a saving of about £13. The journey takes 5h 2m versus 4h 3m by car, so you'll arrive a bit later, but you can work, read, or sleep along the way rather than spending the time behind the wheel. You'll also save the hassle of parking at the other end.

Driving is worth it if you're on a tight schedule, travelling as a group, or want to stop somewhere en route.

Live departures

Salamanca to Bilbao train times

The table below shows live departures for Salamanca to Bilbao trains for tomorrow, Sunday 6 September. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated train journeys.

Last updated at
ProviderDepartsDurationArrivesChanges
Tickets
Renfe MD18324+Renfe ALVIA04267
On time
9:55 Salamanca station
13h07
23:02 Bilbao-Abando
1 change
Renfe18302+Renfe ALVIA04267
On time
12:30 Salamanca station
10h32
23:02 Bilbao-Abando
1 change
Renfe MD18306+Renfe ALVIA04267
On time
14:00 Salamanca station
9h02
23:02 Bilbao-Abando
1 change
Renfe MD18314+Renfe ALVIA04267
On time
16:08 Salamanca station
6h54
23:02 Bilbao-Abando
1 change

This is the last train of the day.

Find all the dates and times for this journey

Compare prices and tickets Salamanca to Bilbao by train or coach

Compare train and coach prices over the next three weeks. See the best deals at a glance, find the lowest fares, and choose the option that fits your budget.

Sun
06 Sept
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Journey information

Overview: Train from Salamanca to Bilbao

SpainSpain
SpainSpain
Icon of train

Trains from Salamanca to Bilbao run on average 2 times per day, taking around 5h 2m. Cheap train tickets for this journey start at £53 but you can travel from only £29 by coach.

The earliest train runs at 06:00, the last at 17:35. The fastest train covers the 340 km distance in 5h 42m.

Fares are the lowest economy prices found on Omio. Early booking often means lower prices. Prices change daily and are subject to availability. Discount cards, coach trips, and booking fees are not included.
Price information
Cheapest alternative travel mode
Coach from £29
Distance
340 km
Average train duration
5h 2m
Cheapest ticket price
£53
Trains per day
2
Fastest train
5h 42m
First train
6:00
Last train
17:35
High Season
Jul - Sept
Low Season
Jan - Mar
Busiest Day
Tue
Least Busy Day
Wed
Best time to book
7 days
Fares are the lowest economy prices found on Omio. Early booking often means lower prices. Prices change daily and are subject to availability. Discount cards, coach trips, and booking fees are not included.
Price information
Cheapest alternative travel mode
Coach from £29

Train companies: Renfe ALVIA, Renfe INTERCITY, Renfe Viajeros from Salamanca to Bilbao trainsRenfe ALVIA, Renfe INTERCITY, Renfe Viajeros trains will get you between Salamanca and Bilbao from £29. With over 1000 travel companies on Omio, you can find the best train times and tickets for your trip.

Renfe ALVIA

About
Renfe Alvia are high-speed trains with top speeds of up to 250km/h operated by Renfe, Spain’s national railway company. Alvia trains cover most cities in Spain, including Madrid, Barcelona, Bilbao, Valencia, Alicante, Zaragoza and Cadiz. They are somewhat slower than Renfe AVE and AVLO (high-speed and low cost) but cover more destinations and are a comfortable and effective way of travelling around Spain. Onboard facilities include free WIFI, bike storage and luggage allowance. Alvia trains have two seat classes – Estándar and Confort. Top routes for Renfe Alvia include Barcelona to Pamplona, Madrid to Cádiz and Alicante to Gijón.
Luggage & cancellation policy
Luggage included
1 piece of hand luggage and 3 pieces of luggage included
Luggage storage
Overhead racks, end of carriages, and designated luggage areas
Cancellation Policy
According to ticket conditions
Refund
Full refund if train is canceled by Renfe
Amenities on board the train
Wifi
Food sold onboard
Cafeteria car with drinks, snacks, and hot meals. At-seat service in Preferente class
Seat reservation
Included in Preferente (First) class. Optional extra cost in Turista (Second) class
Toilets
USB plugs
Accessibility
Wheelchair spaces available, accessible toilets, and staff assistance for boarding/alighting
Pets
Small pets in carriers travel free. Dogs must be muzzled and leashed, require paid ticket. Guide dogs travel free
Quiet zone

What's included in each class

Compare Renfe ALVIA classes and the amenities included in each one.

1st Class
  • Power plugs
  • Wide seats
  • Food available
  • Extra legroom
  • Newspapers and magazines
  • Air-conditioned
2nd Class
  • Power plugs
  • Food available
  • Air-conditioned

Renfe INTERCITY

About
Renfe Intercity is a high-speed train service operated by the Spanish national railway company, Renfe. It operates throughout Spain, connecting major cities and towns with frequent departures throughout the day. The Intercity service offers a variety of train types, including the Alvia and Talgo, all of which offer comfortable seating and modern amenities. Alvia and Talgo offer fast trains but not as fast the high-speed trains like AVE, offering more stops. Passengers can choose from a range of ticket types, including Economy, Business, and First Class. Onboard facilities include Wi-Fi, power outlets, and a selection of snacks and drinks. The most popular routes for Renfe Intercity include Madrid to Barcelona, Madrid to Seville, and Barcelona to Valencia.
Luggage & cancellation policy
Luggage included
1 piece of hand luggage and 2 pieces of checked luggage
Luggage storage
Overhead racks and designated luggage areas at the ends of carriages
Cancellation Policy
According to ticket conditions and fare type
Refund
Full refund if train is canceled by Renfe
Amenities on board the train
Wifi
Food sold onboard
Cafeteria car with drinks, snacks, and hot meals. At-seat service in First Class
Seat reservation
Optional seat reservation with additional fee. Included in some premium tickets
Toilets
USB plugs
Accessibility
Wheelchair spaces, accessible toilets, and assistance for boarding/disembarking
Pets
Small pets in carriers travel free. Dogs must be leashed and muzzled, require paid ticket
Quiet zone

What's included in each class

Compare Renfe INTERCITY classes and the amenities included in each one.

1st Class
  • Wide seats
  • Extra legroom
  • Newspapers and magazines
  • Meals to buy
  • Snacks to buy
2nd Class
  • Meals to buy
  • Snacks to buy

Renfe Viajeros

Luggage & cancellation policy
Average Renfe Viajeros Duration
5h 42m
Cheapest Renfe Viajeros Price
£53
Renfe Viajeros frequency
2 a day

Complete guide to Bilbao

Things to do in Bilbao

Discover the best of Bilbao — top attractions, local food, transport tips, budget advice, and currency essentials. Plan your perfect Bilbao trip today.

  • Must visit

Museo Guggenheim Bilbao

Globally known museum for contemporary art in a landmark riverside building. Go for the architecture, sculpture terraces and strong temporary shows.

  • Must visit

Bilboko Arte Ederren Museoa

Fine arts museum with collections from medieval works to modern painting and sculpture. A strong choice for a broader art visit beyond the Guggenheim.

  • Recommended

Euskal Museoa

Museum on Basque archaeology, ethnography and maritime life in the old quarter. A clear introduction to regional history and identity.

Euro (€)

Moderate for Spain: pintxos and transit are reasonable, but central hotels and dining cost more than in many inland Spanish cities.

Average meal costs

Budget
€8-15 for fast food or simple lunch.
Mid-range
€20-35 per person for a restaurant meal.
Fine dining
€60+ per person for upscale dining.
Coffee
€1.50-3 for coffee or cappuccino.

Tipping culture

Tipping is modest. Round up or leave 5-10% in restaurants for good service; round up in taxis; small change in cafés is enough.

FAQs: Salamanca to Bilbao train

Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from Salamanca to Bilbao by train. From journey times and ticket prices to direct connections, first and last departures, and even whether the route is scenic, our FAQs cover everything you need to plan your trip. Whether you’re looking for the fastest train, the cheapest option, or tips for making the most of your visit at Bilbao, this guide helps you travel smarter and with confidence.

FAQs
The cost of a train ticket from Salamanca to Bilbao can vary. The cheapest tickets are usually available from £53, while the average price tends to be around £59.
The train journey from Salamanca to Bilbao covers a distance of 340 km and takes approximately 5h 42m. Trains run 2 per day.
The train distance from Salamanca to Bilbao is 340 km.
The first train from Salamanca to Bilbao leaves at 6:00.
The last train from Salamanca to Bilbao departs at 17:35.
Trains from Salamanca to Bilbao run approximately 2 times per day.
Currently, there is no high-speed train service from Salamanca to Bilbao.
Unfortunately, there is no direct train service currently available from Salamanca to Bilbao.
To get from Salamanca to Bilbao, you can choose from several travel options including train and coach.
There is no night train service from Salamanca to Bilbao.
The cheapest way to get from Salamanca to Bilbao is by coach, costing approximately £29.
Booking trains from Salamanca to Bilbao in advance is advisable, especially during peak travel seasons or for long journeys, to ensure availability and secure better fares.
The train journey from Salamanca to Bilbao offers scenic views, particularly as it travels through the picturesque landscapes of the Castilian countryside and the rugged terrain of the Basque Country, showcasing lush greenery, rolling hills, and charming villages.
A day trip from Salamanca to Bilbao is not feasible due to a travel duration of 5h 42m and a distance of 340 km. There are 2 trains per day for this journey.
In Bilbao, you can visit Mount Artxanda for panoramic city views or explore La Ribera Market for fresh produce and local delicacies. Stroll along the Nervión River for beautiful cityscape views, and enjoy pintxos in local bars. Discover the Azkuna Zentroa, a cultural centre in a former wine warehouse. Don't miss the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao for contemporary art, or wander through Casco Viejo with its historic charm. The Bilbao Fine Arts Museum offers diverse artworks, while Santiago Cathedral provides a glimpse into Gothic architecture. Lastly, enjoy scenic views from the Zubizuri Bridge.
To fully experience Bilbao, plan for 2 to 3 days. This allows time to explore the Guggenheim Museum, stroll through the Casco Viejo, and enjoy the local cuisine and vibrant culture.
Yes, you can take the train from Salamanca to Bilbao.

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