Bilbobus
(Named after the Basque toponym for the city: Bilbo) is the urban public transport service of the city of Bilbao. The current service was established in 1988 as an initiative by the Bilbao City Council to unify and reorganize the city's transport, which until then had been managed by the company TUGBSA (Transportes Urbanos del Gran Bilbao S.A.). The history of its concessionaires reflects the evolution of the sector: TCSA (1988–2008): The first operator of the Bilbobus era, maintaining the legacy of the old red buses and the iconic blue microbuses known as "azulitos." Veolia (2008–2012): The French multinational took over the service in 2008, marking the first change in management in decades. BioBide (2012–Present): Since May 2012, the company (formed by Alsa and Transitia) has managed the service, consolidating its current modernization. As of early 2026, the network features a fleet of 143 vehicles with an average age of just 4.90 years, distinguished by their solid red color and the municipal logo (the letter B) above the doors. The service is in an advanced stage of transitioning to zero emissions, focusing on electric and hybrid technology to cover its 45 lines (28 regular, 9 Auzolineak, and 8 night or Gautxori lines). Although the service scope is municipal, it maintains excellent intermodality with Bizkaibus, the Bilbao Metro, Euskotren Trena, the Bilbao tram, and Cercanías Bilbao, even reaching neighborhoods in neighboring municipalities such as Ollargan (Arrigorriaga), Zubileta (Barakaldo), and Enekuri (Erandio). After overcoming the ridership crisis caused by the arrival of the Metro in 1995, Bilbobus reached a historic record in 2025 with nearly 30 million passengers, maintaining a citizen satisfaction rating of 8.07 points. Annually, its units travel over 6.3 million kilometers at an average speed of 14.7 km/h, establishing itself as the heart of urban mobility in the city.
History, Analysis, and Evolution of the Service
Since its municipalization in 1988, Bilbobus has been the heir to a transport tradition dating back over 130 years in the city. Under different names, TCSA (and formerly TUGBSA) operated pioneering milestones in Spain, such as the first electric tram in 1896, the first trolleybuses in 1940, and the emblematic blue microbuses or "azulitos" in 1960. After the unification of the brand, Bilbobus held the exclusivity of urban transport until the inauguration of the Metro in 1995, at which point the service began to evolve to complement the high-capacity network. The management and identity of the service have passed through several key stages: Management Evolution: TCSA operated the service under the Bilbobus brand until 2008, when the multinational Veolia took over the concession. In 2012, due to economic difficulties, Veolia transferred the contract to BioBide (Alsa and Transitia), which manages the service today. Operational Milestones: In 2013, advertising was introduced on buses for the first time (managed by Comunitat). In 2018, the "on-demand" intermediate stop service was implemented for Gautxoris (Night Service): Fridays: From 10:00 PM to 02:00 AM. Saturdays: From 10:00 PM to 07:00 AM (uninterrupted service). This measure was implemented to improve the safety of female users. Sustainability and Technology: The service currently highlights the Medusa Project, a pioneering system in Elorrieta that uses recovered energy from Metro Bilbao to charge electric buses, saving 426 tons of CO₂ annually. Between 2024 and 2025, a deep fleet renovation was completed, reaching 26 pure electric units.
Currently, Bilbobus guarantees that 99.8% of the population resides within 300 meters of a stop. With over 100,000 daily trips, the majority profile of the user is female (70%), and the primary reason for travel is work-related (44%). Lines 77 and 56 are established as the most used, each exceeding 2 million annual passengers. The service holds a high citizen rating (7.32/10), with the Gautxori being the best-rated, and remains competitive as the City Council subsidizes 70% of its cost. In 2025, the service reached its peak, hitting a historic record of nearly 30 million travelers.
+ Annual passenger evolution (Official CTB data) Year Passengers % Var. Historical Context 1988 31,300,000 — Pre-metro historical peak 1995 29,150,000 2.1% Opening of Metro Line 1 2002 27,100,000 1.4% Opening of the Tramway 2017 25,480,000 1.6% Opening of Metro Line 3 2020 13,600,000 44% COVID-19 pandemic 2023 25,900,000 23% 50% fare discount 2025 29,554,323 13% 2025 annual closing data
Daytime Lines
Currently, the network consists of 37 daytime lines, divided into 28 regular lines (identified by numbers) and 9 Auzolinea lines (identified by the letter A). Most main lines start staggered between 05:15 AM and 07:00 AM, with A8 being the last to start at 08:00 AM. Daytime service mostly ends between 10:00 PM and 11:00 PM. However, Line 30 is the latest to finish, extending its last trip until 11:40 PM. Line Route Weekday Freq. Holiday Freq. Duration Type (Length) 01 Arangoiti - Plaza Circular 15 min 30 min 25 min Standard (12m) 03 Plaza Circular - Otxarkoaga 10 min 15 min 20 min Standard (12m) 10 Elorrieta - Plaza Circular 15 min 30 min 30 min Standard (12m) 11 Deusto - Bilbao La Vieja 20 min 30 min 25 min Midibus (8.9m) 13 San Ignacio - Txurdinaga 15 min 30 min 40 min Standard (12m) 18 San Ignacio - Zorroza 15 min 30 min 35 min Standard (12m) 22 Sarrikue - Atxuri 15 min 20 min 20 min Midibus (10.6m) 27 Arabella - Betolaza 15 min 30 min 45 min Standard (12m) 28 Uribarri - Altamira 15 min 20 min 35 min Standard (12m) 30 Txurdinaga - Miribilla 15 min 20 min 30 min Standard (12m) 34 Otxarkoaga - Santutxu 30 min 30 min 15 min Midibus (10.6m) 38 Otxarkoaga - Intermodal 15 min 20 min 40 min Standard (12m) 40 La Peña - Plaza Circular 15 min 20 min 20 min Standard (12m) 43 Garaizar - Santutxu 30 min 30 min 15 min Midibus (8.9m) 48 Santutxu - Lezeaga 15 min 20 min 40 min Standard (12m) 50 Buia - Plaza Circular 60 min 60 min 15 min Midibus (10.6m)Accesses Buia via the Arrigorriaga road. It also stops in the Ollargan neighborhood; frequencies are reduced on holidays. 55 Miribilla - Mina del Morro 60 min 60 min 25 min Midibus (10.6m) 56 La Peña - Sagrado Corazón 10 min 15 min 25 min Standard (12m) 57 Miribilla - Basurto Hospital 60 min - 20 min Midibus (10.6m) 58 Monte Caramelo - Atxuri 15 min 20 min 35 min Standard (12m) 62 Sagrado Corazón - Arabella 20 min 30 min 25 min Standard (12m) 71 Miribilla - San Ignacio 15 min 20 min 35 min Standard (12m) 72 Larraskitu - Castaños 15 min 20 min 30 min Standard (12m) 75 San Adrián - Atxuri 15 min 20 min 20 min Midibus (10.6m) 76 Artazu/Xalbador - Plaza Elíptica 20 min 30 min 25 min Midibus (8.9m) 77 Peñascal - Mina del Morro 12 min 20 min 35 min Standard (12m) 85 Siete Campas - Atxuri 20 min 40 min 35 min Standard (12m) 88 Castrejana - Indauchu 60 min 60 min 25 min Standard (12m)In Castrejana, it enters the Zubileta neighborhood in Baracaldo. A1 Asunción - Plaza Circular 60 min 60 min 15 min Microbus (8m) A2 Solokoetxe - Plaza Circular 30 min 30 min 10 min Microbus (8m) A3 Olabeaga - Plaza Elíptica 30 min 60 min 15 min Microbus (8m) A4 Zorrotzaurre - Deusto 20 min 20 min 15 min Microbus (8m) A5 Prim - Plaza Circular 30 min 30 min 15 min Microbus (8m) A6 Arangoiti - Deusto 15 min 30 min 20 min Standard (12m) A7 Artxanda - Arenal 60 min 60 min 20 min Midibus (10.6m)The Artxanda section is performed via the Enekuri highway, partially entering Erandio; it is the only Bilbobus line to travel at 80 km/h. The 30' frequency only applies if the Artxanda funicular is out of service and shuttle E5 is running. A8 San Justo - Amezola 60 min 60 min 15 min Microbus (8m) A9 Santa Marina Hospital - Abando 60 min 60 min 15 min Standard (12m)
Gautxori (Night Services)
The Bilbobus night service, known as Gautxori, ensures mobility in the city during weekend nights. It is one of the highest-rated services by citizens, achieving a score of 7.4/10 in satisfaction surveys. Its operations follow these schedules: Fridays: From 10:00 PM to 02:00 AM. Saturdays: From 10:00 PM to 07:00 AM (uninterrupted service). A fundamental feature of this service is that cash payments (single tickets) are not accepted; access must be made exclusively via the barik smart card. All Gautxori lines have their terminus or hub at Plaza Circular, facilitating connections between the city center and the neighborhoods. Line Route Friday Freq. Saturday Freq. Vehicle Type G1 Arabella - Plaza Circular 30 min 30 min Standard (12m) G2 Otxarkoaga - Plaza Circular 30 min 30 min Standard (12m) G3 Larraskitu - Plaza Circular 30 min 30 min Standard (12m) G4 La Peña - Plaza Circular 30 min 30 min Standard (12m) G5 San Adrián/Miribilla - Plaza Circular 30 min 30 min Standard (12m) G6 Altamira/Zorroza - Plaza Circular 30 min 30 min Standard (12m) G7 Mina del Morro - Plaza Circular 30 min 30 min Standard (12m) G8 Arangoiti - Plaza Circular 30 min 30 min Standard (12m)
Special Services and Lines
Bilbobus activates specific transport protocols to respond to mass events, sports competitions, or transport network contingencies. These lines, generally identified by the letter E (Especial), connect the city's key points with the main leisure and sports venues.
Aste Nagusia (Great Week)
During the city's patron saint festivities, the service adapts to absorb high night mobility demand (with peaks of up to half a million trips during the festive period): Continuous Gautxori: The night service operates uninterrupted (from 10:00 PM to 07:00 AM) from the first Saturday to the second Saturday of the festivities. On the final Sunday, the night service ends at 02:00 AM. Payment Restriction: Following night service regulations, payment is made only via the barik card; cash is not accepted.
Sports and Cultural Events
The deployment of special lines ensures the orderly exit of the city's major venues: Football (Athletic Club): When matches at the San Mamés Stadium conclude after 10:00 PM, reinforcement lines E38, E56, E57, and E62 are activated, along with E28 (in both directions). This special operation manages an approximate flow of 45,000 annual users. Bilbao Arena (Basketball and Concerts): For events at the Miribilla venue, line E7 establishes a direct shuttle with Abando station. Additionally, conventional lines 30, 71, 75, and 76 enable a temporary stop next to the arena. Frontón Bizkaia: During Basque pelota festivals, line E2 connects the center (Abando) with the Miribilla facilities.
Funicular Contingencies Technical Substitution: During periods of scheduled maintenance or breakdown of the Artxanda Funicular, the special E5 comes into operation. This service runs the route between the Castaños neighborhood and Mount Artxanda.
Payment System and Fares
The Bilbobus payment system is fully integrated into the Consorcio de Transportes de Bizkaia (CTB). Since February 1, 2026, fares remain subsidized to encourage public transport use, with the barik smart card as the primary medium.
+ Official Bilbobus Fares (Feb. 2026 Update) Transport Title Medium Base Fare Subsidized Fare Observations Single Ticket QR / Paper €1.70 — No transfers allowed. barik Card (Creditrans) Barik Card €0.73 €0.44 Allows free transfer (45 min). Bilbotrans / Gizatrans Personalized Barik €0.36 €0.22 Specific groups and social profile. Hirukotrans (F20) Personalized Barik €0.58 €0.35 General category large family. Hirukotrans (F50) Personalized Barik €0.36 €0.22 Special category large family. Under 15s Personalized Barik Free Free Measure in effect since July 2025. On-board fine — €50.00 — Penalty for traveling without a valid title.
Payment Considerations
Transfers: Transfers between two Bilbobus lines are free as long as they are made within 45 minutes and using a Barik card.