There are 9 ways to get from Bilbao to Gelsenkirchen by plane, train, bus, car, or train (TGV, Eurostar)
Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.
Fly to Düsseldorf International Airport, train
best- Fly from Bilbao Airport (BIO) to Düsseldorf International Airport (DUS)plane BIO - DUS
- Take the train from Duesseldorf Flughafen to Gelsenkirchen Hbftrain
5h 20m€77–250Bus, train via Paris
- Take the bus from Bilbao Intermodal to Saint-Jean-de-Luzbus
- Take the train from St Jean De Luz Ciboure to Paris Montparnasse 1 Et 2train Tgv
- Take the train from Paris Nord to Koeln Hbftrain
- Take the train from Köln Hbf to Gelsenkirchen Hbftrain 43 / ...
13h 28m€328–583Bus, train
- Take the bus from Bilbao Intermodal to Brussels - Midi Train Stationbus
- Take the train from Bruxelles Midi to Aachen, Hbftrain 79
- Take the train from Aachen Hbf to Gelsenkirchen Hbftrain Re
22h 49mDrive 1,428.8 km
- Drive from Bilbao to Gelsenkirchencar 1,428.8 km
13h 43m€233–336Fly to Cologne Bonn Airport, train
- Fly from Bilbao Airport (BIO) to Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN)plane BIO - CGN
- Take the train from Köln Hbf to Gelsenkirchen Hbftrain
8h 25m€94–263Fly to Frankfurt, train
- Fly from Bilbao Airport (BIO) to Frankfurt (FRA)plane BIO - FRA
- Take the train from Frankfurt to Gelsenkirchen Hbftrain
7h 5m€137–327Fly to Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, train
- Fly from Bilbao Airport (BIO) to Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS)plane BIO - AMS
- Take the train from Schiphol Airport Train Station to Utrecht Centraaltrain
- Take the train from Utrecht Centraal to Oberhausen Hbftrain
7h 36m€103–351Train
- Take the train from Zazpikaleak/Casco Viejo-Bilbao to Amara-Donostiatrain E1
- Take the train from Hendaye to Massy Tgvtrain Tgv
- Take the train from Paris Nord to Koeln Hbftrain
- Take the train from Köln Hbf to Gelsenkirchen Hbftrain 43 / ...
14h 57m€337–564Bus
- Take the bus from Bilbao Intermodal to Vitoria-Gasteizbus A/3714 / ...
- Take the bus from Vitoria-Gasteiz to Essen central train stationbus FlixBus N1153
26h 14m€127–224
Bilbao to Gelsenkirchen by bus, train, foot, and subway
Comparing Your Travel Options
The cheapest way to get from Bilbao to Gelsenkirchen is to fly and train which costs €75 - €250 and takes 5h 20m.
The fastest way to get from Bilbao to Gelsenkirchen is to fly and train which takes 5h 20m and costs €75 - €250.
No, there is no direct bus from Bilbao to Gelsenkirchen station. However, there are services departing from Bilbao Intermodal and arriving at Essen central train station via Vitoria-Gasteiz. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 26h 14m.
No, there is no direct train from Bilbao to Gelsenkirchen. However, there are services departing from Zazpikaleak/Casco Viejo-Bilbao and arriving at Gelsenkirchen Hbf via Amara-Donostia, Hendaye, Massy - Palaiseau, Paris Nord and Köln Hbf. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 14h 57m.
The distance between Bilbao and Gelsenkirchen is 1203 km. The road distance is 1428.8 km.
The best way to get from Bilbao to Gelsenkirchen without a car is to bus and train via Paris which takes 13h 28m and costs €320 - €600.
It takes approximately 5h 20m to get from Bilbao to Gelsenkirchen, including transfers.
Bilbao to Gelsenkirchen bus services, operated by Autobuses La Union, depart from Bilbao Intermodal station.
Bilbao to Gelsenkirchen train services, operated by Euskotren, depart from Zazpikaleak/Casco Viejo-Bilbao station.
The best way to get from Bilbao to Gelsenkirchen is to train which takes 14h 57m and costs €330 - €600. Alternatively, you can bus, which costs €120 - €230 and takes 26h 14m.
What companies run services between Bilbao, Spain and Gelsenkirchen, Germany?
You can take a train from Zazpikaleak/Casco Viejo-Bilbao to Gelsenkirchen Hbf via Amara-Donostia, Hendaia, Hendaye, Massy Tgv, Massy - Palaiseau, Paris Nord, and Köln Hbf in around 14h 57m. Alternatively, you can take a bus from Bilbao Intermodal to Gelsenkirchen Hbf via Vitoria-Gasteiz, Essen central train station, and Essen Hbf in around 26h 14m.
- Website
- lufthansa.com
Flights from Bilbao Airport to Düsseldorf International Airport via Frankfurt
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 51m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- €60–320
Flights from Bilbao Airport to Cologne Bonn Airport via Munich
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 17m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- €100–360
Flights from Bilbao Airport to Frankfurt
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 10m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- €50–280
- Phone
- +49 221 13 999 444
- Website
- National Express
Train from Duesseldorf Flughafen to Gelsenkirchen Hbf
- Ave. Duration
- 27 min
- Frequency
- Every 30 minutes
- Schedules at
- National Express
Train from Köln Hbf to Gelsenkirchen Hbf
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 23m
- Frequency
- Every 30 minutes
- Schedules at
- National Express
Train from Aachen Hbf to Gelsenkirchen Hbf
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 5m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Schedules at
- National Express
Train from Köln Hbf to Gelsenkirchen Hbf
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 23m
- Frequency
- Every 30 minutes
- Schedules at
- National Express
Train from Köln Hbf to Gelsenkirchen Hbf
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 23m
- Frequency
- Every 30 minutes
- Schedules at
- National Express
- Phone
- +3 318 576 2228
- Website
- BlaBlaCar Bus
Bus from Bilbao Intermodal to Saint-Jean-de-Luz
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 5m
- Frequency
- 5 times a day
- Estimated price
- €9–15
- Website
- BlaBlaCar Bus
Bus from Bilbao Intermodal to Brussels - Midi Train Station
- Ave. Duration
- 18h 10m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- €80–140
- Website
- BlaBlaCar Bus
Want to know more about travelling around Germany
Rome2Rio's Travel Guide series provide vital information for the global traveller. Filled with useful and timely travel information, the guides answer all the hard questions - such as 'How do I buy a ticket?', 'Should I book online before I travel? ', 'How much should I expect to pay?', 'Do the trains and buses have Wifi?' - to help you get the most out of your next trip.
Related travel guides
Heading to Europe? Read this before you buy a Eurail Pass
Read the travel guide
5 delightfully under-the-radar French towns you need to visit
Read the travel guide
Train travel in France: A guide to SNCF
Read the travel guide
Booking & Getting There
Bilbao to Gelsenkirchen bus services, operated by Autobuses La Union, arrive at Vitoria-Gasteiz station.
Bilbao to Gelsenkirchen train services, operated by Euskotren, arrive at Amara-Donostia station.
Yes, the driving distance between Bilbao to Gelsenkirchen is 1429 km. It takes approximately 13h 43m to drive from Bilbao to Gelsenkirchen.
Book your Bilbao to Gelsenkirchen bus tickets online with Omio.
There are 1992+ hotels available in Gelsenkirchen.









