Cheap flights from London to Bilbao

October is the cheapest month on this route, and the shoulder weeks either side of it usually come close. Summer is the busy stretch, when London school holidays push fares up and Bilbao's festival season fills the city. Midweek departures tend to cost less than Friday evenings and Sunday returns. Book a few weeks ahead for summer travel, and keep an eye on winter, when demand drops but the flights keep running. Leaving early and coming back late in the day often costs less than a midday slot.

Vueling, Easyjet, Jet2, Wizz Air UK and Wizz Air Malta are the low-cost carriers here: the fare buys a seat and a small cabin bag, and everything else, from checked luggage to a chosen seat, costs extra. Iberia, Iberia Express, Air Europa and TAP Portugal are the full-service options, where a hold bag and seat selection normally come with the ticket. Norwegian International sits somewhere in between. Not every fare is nonstop, so read the itinerary before you pay: a connection through a carrier's hub turns a short hop into a long day.

Bilbao airport is the one you land at, and it sits a short drive from the city centre. The terminal is compact, so you are usually outside within minutes of stepping off the plane. Buses run into town regularly and stop close to the centre, and taxis wait at the rank by arrivals for the ride in. If you are continuing to the coast, check the coach times before you land, because evening services thin out. Pack for rain: this corner of Spain is green for a reason, and a wet arrival is easier when you already know how you are getting to your hotel.

Currency

EUR (€)

Power sockets

Type C, F · 230 V

Language

Spanish

Emergency number

112, 061, 091

Driving side

right

Calling code

+34

Internet domain

.es

EU / Schengen

EU member, Schengen area

Population of Bilbao

351 k (2025)

Time zone

UTC+01 (Europe/Madrid)

Country facts: Wikidata

• Check which London airport your fare leaves from, since the city's airports are far apart and a switch between them costs you half a day.
• Add a checked bag to your low-cost fare when you book, not at the gate.
• If the itinerary is a connection rather than a nonstop, keep both legs on one booking so a delay stays the airline's problem.
• Make sure your passport or ID is valid for Spain and check the entry rules that apply to you.
• Compare October with the weeks either side before you fix your dates, as fares on this route are lowest then.
• Check the last bus time into Bilbao if your flight lands in the evening.