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[tee_bee]

All,

I am going to a conference in an area just outside Bilbao next month, and have a few questions for you seasoned travellers:

1. The bus I a taking leaves Bilbao about 2 (1400, if you like). I arrive at the Bilbao airport around 10, should have my bags by 11, and will be at the Termibus station down town by 1130. Is there a seating/waiting area at the Termibus? I will not be real lively by that point, and just need a place to sit and chill and wait for my bus.

2. Should I take public transport from Bilbao airport to the Termibus (there's a bus every 20 minutes all day) or a taxi? I will be traveling light.

3. I will spend a day in Bilbao as a tourist before flying home. Other than the Guggenheim museum, what else might I want to see.

Thanks, travelers!

[mrbean]

There is some seating at the Termibus station, though I'm not sure if you can count on finding any of it available and it's not especially luxurious.  I wonder if you might find it more pleasant to hang out at the airport for an hour or two longer.  Or if you end up feeling more energetic than you're expecting to, you could take advantage of the left luggage office at Termibus and wander around town for a while.

I found the public transport from the airport to Termibus quite straightforward (and a fairly good deal at not much over a euro) so I would recommend that over a taxi.

Obviously the Guggenheim is the main attraction and probably the only one that I'd be inclined to really go out of my way to see.  But I remember also enjoying my visit to the cathedral, and there's a decent museum of older art (the Museo de Bellas Artes) to complement the Guggenheim's modern focus.  Also, while Bilbao is a bit upriver, the coast is fairly easily accessible by subway (IIRC a few years ago I went to a town called Getxo which had an interesting bridge and a nice beach).

[tee_bee]

Thanks for the tips! I think I caved in and decided to rent a car or share a cab--very expensive, but worth it for my sanity. But I like the idea of going to the beach on my one free day, so that was great!

I did find the Termibus web page and I rather agree--not much seating at the bus station. I heard there's not much seating at the arrivals area at the airport either, which is why I think I will either rent a car or share a cab. When I was young, I'd embrace the adventure, but at my age, I like the comforts a bit more.