Bizkaia Bridge (Puente Colgante): How to Visit It from Bilbao, and Is a Tour Needed?
Updated October 22, 2026 · 5 min read
The answer first. You do not need a tour. The Bizkaia Bridge sits on the Metro network, crossing it costs well under a euro, and the whole visit takes an hour or two. A tour makes sense only if you want it as one stop in a longer ride, and the one built around it is the coastal bike tour in Getxo with the Bizkaia Bridge and a pintxo stop, rated 4.8 from 46 reviews.
What it is
The bridge, known locally as the Puente Colgante, links Portugalete and Getxo (Las Arenas) across the mouth of the Nervión. It opened in 1893 and was designed by Alberto de Palacio, a collaborator of Gustave Eiffel. UNESCO added it to the World Heritage List in 2006. It is a transporter bridge: instead of a road deck, a gondola hangs from the high girder and carries people and cars from one bank to the other.
Two ways to experience it
Crossing in the gondola. The crossing takes about a minute and a half, and a pedestrian fare is reported at well under a euro. You cross, look back, and cross again if you like.
Walking the high walkway. A lift takes you up to the walkway along the top, with views of the estuary and the port. It is a separate ticket and costs several euros. The lift runs only in set hours, so check the bridge’s own website before building a plan around it.
Getting there
The Metro serves both banks. Areeta station on Line 1 is on the Getxo side and Portugalete station on Line 2 is on the other, so you can approach from either bank and walk across or take the gondola. Because both ends are on the Metro, a car is unnecessary.
The tours that include it
| Tour | What the listing says | Duration | From | Rating · reviews |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Getxo coastal bike tour with Bizkaia Bridge and a pintxo stop | Cycle through Getxo, where the estuary meets the sea | 2.5 hours | €60 | 4.8 · 46 |
| Getxo seaside e-bike tour | A 4-hour e-bike tour in the morning, free afternoon on the coast and old port | 4 hours | €74 | 4.7 · 22 |
| Biscay Bridge, Gaztelugatxe and txakoli winery | The suspension bridge, Gaztelugatxe, a txakoli winery and Bermeo | 5 to 7 hours | €75 | 4.7 · 6 |
The last has only six reviews, so the rating tells you little yet. The boat is another way to reach the area: the Bilbao city boat tour or two-hour cruise to Portugalete sails from the Pío Baroja Pier, and Portugalete is where the bridge stands. The listing does not say whether the route passes the bridge, so ask before you book if that is your reason for going. Our estuary boat guide covers the longer cruise.
Our recommendation
Go independently by Metro, cross once in the gondola, and add the walkway if the lift is running and you like heights. Book the bike tour if you would rather cycle the Getxo waterfront with a guide. For other water-based options see boat tours on the Bilbao estuary, or browse things to do in Bilbao.
