Flying from Istanbul to Bilbao Airport (BIO): What you need to know
Istanbul has two main airports where you can kick off your trip. Check out your options for booking a flight from Istanbul to Bilbao Airport (BIO) heading out from Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST) or Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (SAW).
The average time for a direct Istanbul to Bilbao Airport flight is 4 hours 25 minutes.
Bilbao Airport is located in Bilbao. The city runs on the UTC+1 timezone and is two hours behind Istanbul.
Choose from 7 direct flights every week between Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST) and Bilbao Airport (BIO). This is the busiest route, with Turkish Airlines offering a 7:50am departure from IST to BIO.
Get to the airport on time so you don't miss your flight from Istanbul to BIO. Be there at least two hours ahead for international flights and an hour early for domestic departures to avoid the stress of rushing.
Peak travel periods mean busier airports, so be there even earlier. Give yourself at least two hours before a domestic flight and four hours for international journeys to stay on schedule.
Airports in Istanbul
Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST)
Take the express route from Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST). Nonstop flights from Istanbul to Bilbao Airport (BIO) can be booked from here.
Turkish Airlines is a leading airline that offers direct flights from Istanbul to Bilbao Airport taking off from IST.
Turkish Airlines ranks first in bookings for flights from IST to BIO.
We make it easy to find cheap flights from Istanbul to BIO with a stopover. To explore all your options departing from Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST), uncheck 'Direct flights only.' Then, select a flight offering a stop long enough to tour the city of your choice. Popular stopovers between IST and BIO include:
Barcelona-El Prat Airport (BCN)
Leonardo da Vinci-Fiumicino Airport (FCO)
Geneve Airport (GVA)
IST is about 30 miles from central Istanbul. If you're driving, ride-sharing or catching a cab from the center, it'll take 50 minutes or so to get there, depending on traffic. If you're taking public transport, expect the trip time to be around 1 hour 45 minutes.
Looking for a convenient hotel close to Istanbul Ataturk Airport? If you've booked an early flight from Istanbul to Bilbao Airport, these stays will have you sleeping moments from your departure lounge:
Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (SAW)
Cross another spot off your travel list or just take a moment to recharge with a stopover. If you'd like to break up your flight from Istanbul to Bilbao Airport, check out these options when taking off from Sabiha Gokcen International Airport:
Adolfo Suarez Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD)
Leonardo da Vinci-Fiumicino Airport (FCO)
Paris Orly Airport (ORY)
SAW is about 30 miles from central Istanbul. It takes 55 minutes or so to get to the airport driving from the city center. Public transport takes roughly 1 hour 30 minutes.
Got a crack-of-dawn departure? Think about checking in to one of these hotels near Sabiha Gokcen International Airport the day before your Istanbul to BIO flight:
Sabiha Gokcen International Airport has an on-time performance of 76.93%. This figure shows how often flights that take off from this airport land on schedule.
About Bilbao Airport (BIO)
The last thing you want is a long journey to your hotel if you're getting in late on a flight from Istanbul to Bilbao Airport. Make yourself comfy at one of these accommodation options near BIO instead:
Get on the fast track to adventure by picking up a Bilbao Airport rental car. Grab a set of wheels from Record Go, Click and Rent or Goldcar and explore beyond Bilbao's usual tourist stops.
Booking your vehicle around four weeks in advance of your Istanbul to Bilbao Airport flight can help you find the best deal.
Getting from Bilbao Airport (BIO) to central Bilbao
Bilbao Airport to the center of Bilbao is roughly 3 miles. If you're taking a cab or renting a car, do a little research to make your trip as easy as possible. Journey times vary based on traffic conditions and the time of day.
Traveling by public transport takes roughly 30 minutes.
How to find the cheapest flights from Istanbul to Bilbao Airport (BIO)
$70 is currently the lowest price for a one-way ticket from Istanbul to Bilbao Airport. Return flights start from $134. These fares can change based on demand and availability.
Book two months before your departure date. Research into pricing trends suggests this is the ideal window for finding cheap flights from Istanbul to BIO.
Plan your trip for July. That's the best month for scoring the biggest deals on Istanbul to Bilbao Airport tickets. If you're flexible with your travel dates, use the 'Whole month' tool to find the lowest price across every month.
Snapping up a cheap plane ticket from Istanbul to BIO is a piece of cake with Price Alerts. All you need to do is create one of these automatic alerts and we'll notify you as soon as there's a better deal.
Filters make it easier to find a bargain for your flight from Istanbul to Bilbao Airport. Pick the airlines, flight times and number of stops that make sense for you. Then sort the results by 'Cheapest' to bring up the lowest fares right away.
The best time to fly from Istanbul to Bilbao Airport (BIO)
February is the quietest month for flights from Istanbul to Bilbao Airport (BIO), while July is the busiest. Pick the best time to visit Bilbao based on whether you like a laid-back vibe or a more bustling atmosphere.
The warmest month in Bilbao is August, with temperatures ranging between 61ºF and 77ºF. Lock in your Istanbul to BIO plane ticket then if this is the type of weather you enjoy.
January has temperatures of between 41ºF and 55ºF. Look for cheap tickets from Istanbul to Bilbao Airport around that time if you like traveling in cooler conditions.
More about Bilbao
After booking your flight from Istanbul to Bilbao Airport, find a hotel that offers a good mix of location and comfort. Make one of these accommodation options your base for exploring Bilbao:
There are loads of awesome things to do in Bilbao when you're ready to sightsee. Kick off your itinerary at Guggenheim followed by Bilbao BBK Live and El gran Árbol y el Ojo (Museo Guggenheim).
Explore more of Spain
Bilbao has plenty to offer, but there are so many other corners of Spain waiting to be explored. About 150 miles south-east of Bilbao, a visit to Zaragoza will keep you busy. Start with leading attractions like Plaza España, Plaza del Pilar and La Seo del Salvador.
Arévalo is another standout destination in Spain and is around 180 miles south-west of Bilbao. No journey is complete without dropping by Plaza de la Constitución, Iglesia San Martin and Monasterio de Santa María la Real - Trapa Arévalo.
