Starting from Bilbao?

[FlyingBarney]

I am arriving to Bilbao on September 15 on a train from Madrid, in the afternoon. I will be cycling... and am looking for the initial starting point, of leaving Bilbao, and connecting to the route.

What is the easiest/fastest route to get out of the city and get started?

Kindly,
Simon

 

[Deleted member 397]

Two things I remember from Bilbao this year were the confusion leaving it due to to new road works and the 350+ steps to get out of the city. Bilbao is a good place to start as you avoid the very step climbs encountered from Irun.

 

[Dave]

I really advise not following the yellow arrows out of Bilbao. The waymarked route from Bilbao to Portugalete is significantly longer and uglier than the other options, never mind all of those steps!

If you're starting from central Bilbao, your best bet is probably to cross to the northern side of the Nervion River on Euskalduna Zubia and then proceed straight on Calle Morgan. This will eventually become the BI-711; while its name will change many times, continue to proceed straight, right along the river. Finally, when you reach Lamiako, you will take the odd Portugalete transporter bridge back across the river to Portugalete. Once there, you'll find the yellow arrows easily enough.

All told, this is around 11km, as opposed to the nearly 18km of the waymarked route.

 

[Bridget and Peter]

Finally, when you reach Lamiako, you will take the odd Portugalete transporter bridge back across the river to Portugalete.

Can one take bikes over this 'odd bridge'?

 

[Dave]

One can even take a car on it.

More info, including a sweet animation, here: http://www.puente-colgante.com/

Also, wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vizcaya_Bridge

Dave

 

[Deleted member 397]

The transporter is the only one in the world and is quite a curious sight