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4.6
Travel Information
Compare bus and flight for Cologne to Bilbao
Omio recommends booking the bus as it is the most popular option from Cologne to Bilbao among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price, take the bus, with an average ticket price of $120 For those with little time, consider booking a flight, which has an average total journey time of 7h 34m. Average ticket prices depend on the travel mode: a bus costs an average of $120, while a flight costs an average of $745.
Distance: 703 miles (1132 km)
Compare bus with
Most popular Bus | Flight | Driving |
|---|---|---|
$120 Average price Cheapest | $745 Average price | $409 Average price (fuel + tolls) |
20h 51m Average total duration 20h 21m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 7h 34m Average total duration Fastest 5h 34m Onboard + 2h 0m Additional time* | 15h 10m Average total duration (door-to-door) |
 Most popular bus company |  Most popular airline | Your own car or car rental |
Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options |
Compare ways to travel from Cologne to Bilbao
Compare the available ways to get from Cologne to Bilbao, with the key details around price, speed, convenience, and direct service.
This is compared to other travel options from Cologne to Bilbao:
A bus is $626 less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from Cologne to Bilbao costing on average $745.
Other travel options to Bilbao take longer:
Bus takes on average 20h 51m.
Tickets start at around $120 compared to roughly $409 in fuel and tolls — a saving of about $289. The journey takes 20h 21m versus 15h 10m by car, so you'll arrive a bit later, but you can use the time productively rather than spending it behind the wheel. No parking to sort, no fuel stops, and most coaches have Wi-Fi and power outlets.
Driving is worth considering if you're on a tight schedule, travelling as a group (where fuel costs split several ways), or want the flexibility to stop along the way.
Travel optionsfrom Cologne to Bilbao
How to get from Cologne to Bilbao by train, bus or flight.
Our recommendation
The best way to travel from Cologne to Bilbao is by taking a bus because it’s the best combination of price and speed.
- FlixBus · FlixBus · FlixBus
12:20 PM 22h30 Köln, Kennedystraße (Köln Bonn Flughafen) 10:50 AM Bilbao, Calle Luis Briñas / Basurtuko Kaputxinoen kalea $83 1 One-way 2 transfers
Cheapest
- FlixBus · FlixBus · FlixBus
12:20 PM 22h30 Köln, Kennedystraße (Köln Bonn Flughafen) 10:50 AM Bilbao, Calle Luis Briñas / Basurtuko Kaputxinoen kalea $83 1 One-way 2 transfers
Fastest
LH1985 · LH18305:40 PM 4h15 Cologne Bonn Airport 9:55 PM Bilbao Airport $317 1 One-way 1 transfer
Other options
- FlixBus · FlixBus
7:50 AM 22h35 Köln, Kennedystraße (Köln Bonn Flughafen) 6:25 AM Bilbao, Calle Luis Briñas / Basurtuko Kaputxinoen kalea $83 1 One-way 1 transfer - FlixBus · FlixBus · FlixBus
3:00 PM 24h05 Köln, Kennedystraße (Köln Bonn Flughafen) 3:05 PM Bilbao, Calle Luis Briñas / Basurtuko Kaputxinoen kalea $84 1 One-way 2 transfers 
FlixTrain+FlixBus · FlixBus12:14 PM 26h51 Cologne Hbf 3:05 PM Bilbao, Calle Luis Briñas / Basurtuko Kaputxinoen kalea $88 1 One-way 2 transfers
EW8051 · EW85528:45 AM 9h25 Cologne Bonn Airport 6:10 PM Bilbao Airport $148 1 One-way 1 transfer- LH1985 · LH1830
6:00 PM 5h05 Cologne Bonn Airport 11:05 PM Bilbao Airport $169 1 One-way 1 transfer 
LH4051+LH18281:20 PM 4h45 Cologne Bonn Airport 6:05 PM Bilbao Airport $205 1 One-way 1 transfer
Find all the dates and times for this journey by train, bus, flight, and ferry .
Compare prices and tickets Prices for trains, buses and flights
Compare bus and flight 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.
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FAQs: Travel from Cologne to Bilbao
Travel to Bilbao easily. Whether you want fast, cheap or something entirely different, our travel experts have collected everything you need to know so you can find the best option from Cologne to Bilbao.
This is compared to other travel options from Cologne to Bilbao:
A bus is $626 less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from Cologne to Bilbao costing on average $745.
Other travel options to Bilbao take longer:
Bus takes on average 20h 51m.
- Around 9 flights per day.
- Around 7 buses per day.
However, we recommend checking specific travel dates for your route between Cologne and Bilbao as scheduled services by bus and flight can vary by season or day of the week.
- Flights mostly depart from Cologne Bonn Airport and arrive in Bilbao Airport.
- Buses mostly depart from Köln, Kennedystraße (Köln Bonn Flughafen) and arrive in Bilbao, Calle Luis Briñas / Basurtuko Kaputxinoen kalea.
- Travel with FlixBus, BlaBlaCar Bus to go to Bilbao by bus.
- Travel with Turkish Airlines, Lufthansa, Malta Air, Lufthansa City Airlines, Edelweiss Air, Austrian Airlines, Air Baltic, Ryanair, Eurowings, Iberia, Brussels Airlines, Lufthansa Cityline to go to Bilbao by flight.
Travelling from Cologne to Bilbao: related information
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