Madrid to Bilbao flights
Bilbao lies 323 km (201 mi) north of Madrid, in the same time zone. What the numbers say about getting there, and where to book.
A nonstop flight would take about 1 h 10 min gate to gate, based on the distance and typical cruise speed with taxi and climb allowed for; connecting itineraries add the layover on top.
| Madrid | Bilbao | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Spain | Spain |
| Population | 3.3 million | 347,342 |
| Elevation | 665 m (2,182 ft) | 20 m (66 ft) |
| Time now | UTC+2 (Europe/Madrid) | UTC+2 (Europe/Madrid) |
| Nearest large airport | MAD, 14 km out | BIO, 4 km out |
| Postal codes | 04810–28087 | 48001–48080 |
Airports at each end
Leaving Madrid
Madrid is served by one airport with scheduled flights. The closest large one is Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport (MAD), 14 km (9 mi) from the centre, whose 14,271-ft runway is long enough for long-haul wide-body aircraft.
Arriving in Bilbao
Bilbao is served by 4 airports with scheduled flights within 100 km. The closest large one is Bilbao Airport (BIO), 4 km (2 mi) from the centre, with a longest runway of 8,530 ft, which limits it to short and medium-haul aircraft. The alternatives are Vitoria Airport (VIT, 45 km), Seve Ballesteros-Santander Airport (SDR, 75 km), San Sebastián Airport (EAS, 92 km).
| Airport | Code | From centre | Longest runway | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bilbao Airport | BIO | 4 km (2 mi) | 8,530 ft | 138 ft |
| Vitoria Airport (regional) | VIT | 45 km (28 mi) | 11,483 ft | 1,682 ft |
| Seve Ballesteros-Santander Airport (regional) | SDR | 75 km (47 mi) | 7,612 ft | 16 ft |
| San Sebastián Airport (regional) | EAS | 92 km (57 mi) | 5,755 ft | 16 ft |
Book a flight to Bilbao
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Staying in Bilbao
Live rooms and prices for Bilbao are in the search below.
Book a hotel in Bilbao
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Common questions
How far is Bilbao from Madrid?
323 km (201 mi) in a straight line, north of Madrid.
How long does it take to get from Madrid to Bilbao by air?
About 1 h 10 min, estimated from distance and typical speeds for a nonstop flight. Timetables and traffic decide the real figure.
Is there a time difference between Madrid and Bilbao?
No, both are on Europe/Madrid at the moment.
Which airports are used for Madrid to Bilbao flights?
Typically Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport (MAD) to Bilbao Airport (BIO); Bilbao also has VIT, SDR, EAS.
Where these facts come from
- GeoNames (CC BY 4.0): population, elevation, time zone, postal codes
- Wikidata (CC0): area, sister cities, visitor numbers, heritage listings, stations and ports
- OurAirports (public domain): airports, runways
- Natural Earth (public domain): map outlines
Data compiled 14 September 2026. Hotel and hostel figures are from our booking partner’s catalogue on that date. Journey times on this page are estimates from distance, not timetables; check the operator before you rely on one.