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SDR Santander Airport

Reviewed & updated by יהב עטיה · About the team

Santander Airport (SDR) serves Bilbao, about 75 km west of Bilbao. Below: trains and buses from the terminal, an estimated taxi fare to town and nearby cities, where you can fly from here, and hotels nearby.

IATASDR
ICAOLEXJ
ServesBilbao
From centre75 km
Non-stop17
Airlines3
TimezoneEurope/Madrid
Elevation5 m

See on map ↗

The airport in numbers

Santander Airport — facts & history

We pulled Santander Airport's numbers from the open aviation datasets — 1.1M passengers in 2022, against a peak of 1.2M in 2019.

Opened
1953
73 years ago
Passengers / year
1.1M
as of 2022
Peak traffic
1.2M
in 2019
Elevation
5 מ׳
above sea level
Operator
ENAIRE
Passengers per year, 2003–2022

Figures: Wikidata (CC0)

Airport to city

Getting from Santander Airport to Bilbao

The airport is about 75 km west of Bilbao, about 78 minutes by road in normal traffic.

Train & bus: Madrid (Metro line 8), Barcelona (Aerobús + rail + Metro L9), Málaga, Valencia, Palma are all well connected by public transport.

Taxi & apps: Madrid and Barcelona have a regulated flat fare to the centre (about €33 and €39). Uber, Bolt and Cabify are legal in most cities but not always allowed to pick up at the terminal. Estimated fare to the centre: €79–€125.

Tipping: Not required; round up.

Way inTime to centreCost
Train / bus~55 mincheapestCHEAPEST
Taxi~78 min€79–€125
Private transfer~78 minfixed upfront
Car rental~78 min + חניהfrom the terminal
Distances

From SDR to nearby cities

Estimated drive times in normal traffic, and an approximate taxi fare at the local tariff. A pre-booked transfer is usually cheaper.

DestinationDistanceDriveTaxi (est.)
Frias85 km90 min€89–€142
Choose and book

Which way suits you from Santander Airport

Taxi

Cheapest for a short trip, one or two people. ~€79–€125 to the centre.

Private transfer

Fixed price upfront, driver with a sign. For a late arrival, bags, kids or a group.

Car rental

If you're touring the region. Desks in the terminal, booking ahead beats the counter.

Train or bus is usually the cheapest — details above.

Book your airport transfer in Santander ahead, no terminal surprises.

Route network

Where you can fly from Santander Airport

Non-stop flights to about 17 destinations, operated by 3 airlines. The busiest routes:

Airlines here: Ryanair · Iberia Airlines · Vueling Airlines

At the airport

Left luggage & lost and found at Santander Airport

Most large airports offer left-luggage inside the terminal, usually by the hour or day and with a size limit. A common, cheaper alternative: in-city storage points near stations and sights — handy for an early arrival before check-in, or after check-out.

Something lost in the terminal is handled by the airport's lost-and-found office (usually near baggage claim); something left on the plane is the airline's responsibility. Keep your flight details, seat number and a description of the item.

Sleep nearby

Hotels near Santander Airport

For an early connection — a hotel by the terminal saves a taxi and a headache.

Rates in Santander shift daily. See what your night costs now.

Reviews — Santander Airport

No reviews yet — be the first to share.

Airports nearby

Other options near Bilbao

Same country

Other airports in Spain

Q&A

Answers to your questions

How do I get from Santander Airport to the centre of Bilbao?
Madrid (Metro line 8), Barcelona (Aerobús + rail + Metro L9), Málaga, Valencia, Palma are all well connected by public transport. The airport is about 75 km west of Bilbao, about 78 minutes by road.
How much is a taxi from Santander Airport to Bilbao?
Roughly €79–€125 (at the local tariff). Many airports have a regulated flat fare — ask at the taxi desk.
Can I use a ride app from Santander Airport?
Madrid and Barcelona have a regulated flat fare to the centre (about €33 and €39). Uber, Bolt and Cabify are legal in most cities but not always allowed to pick up at the terminal.
What's the cheapest way from Santander Airport to Bilbao?
Train or bus, almost always — usually a fraction of the taxi fare. Madrid (Metro line 8), Barcelona (Aerobús + rail + Metro L9), Málaga, Valencia, Palma are all well connected by public transport.
Can I get from Santander Airport into town without a car?
Yes. Madrid (Metro line 8), Barcelona (Aerobús + rail + Metro L9), Málaga, Valencia, Palma are all well connected by public transport. For a late arrival or a lot of bags, a pre-booked transfer is easier.
Where can I fly non-stop from Santander Airport?
About 17 destinations, including Barcelona, Edinburgh, Gran Canaria, Bergamo. 3 airlines operate here.
Can I leave luggage at the airport?
Most large airports have a left-luggage service, and there are also in-city storage points near stations and sights that are usually cheaper with no size limit.
Where is Santander Airport's lost and found?
Items found in the terminal (not on the aircraft) are handled by the airport's lost-and-found office — usually near baggage claim or the information desks, sometimes one office per terminal. Anything left on the plane is the airline's responsibility. Current contact details are on Santander Airport's official site.
How do I know which terminal my flight leaves from at Santander Airport?
The terminal is on your boarding pass and booking confirmation, and updates on the departure boards at the entrance. Rule of thumb: each airline works from a fixed terminal, and airlines in the same alliance are usually grouped together. With a connection, check whether you change terminals and how long that takes.
Santander city guide← Spain travel guideAll airports

About this page

Written and checked by the Around the World team. We compare prices across the major providers, cross-check official sources, and update when something changes. We have no stake in any one provider — links are affiliate links, and the price is the same for you.

Sources: Airport data: OpenFlights (ODbL) · Route network: OpenFlights routes · Getting-there notes: Around the World, checked 2026

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