Study abroad in Bilbao
Housing, Erasmus groups, universities, costs and student life for exchange students in Bilbao.
Country
SpainStudent Budget
EUR 900 – 1,200/month
Transport Card
Barik card: metro trips cost about EUR 0.61 inside Bilbao (zone 1) and EUR 0.71 to the Leioa campus (zone 2) with the 2026 discount, against EUR 2.00 for a single ticket. Youth passes (Gazte) are half price until 31 December 2026 but need you to be registered (empadronado) in Bizkaia.
Population
346,933 residents (Eustat, 1 January 2025), at the centre of a metro area of about one million
Study abroad in Bilbao: student life
Studying in Bilbao means the University of Deusto or the UPV/EHU in a compact Basque city known for food, design and green hills.
Who loves this city?
Students who want a manageable, walkable city with serious food culture, mountains and beaches close by, and don’t mind the rain.
What makes it special
An old industrial port turned around by the Guggenheim, with bridges, the Casco Viejo’s Seven Streets and surf beaches 20 minutes away by metro.
Newcomer shocks
- It rains a lot; the city keeps working, and so should you.
- Basque (euskera) is everywhere on signs and in some classes, next to Spanish.
- Pintxos are cheap one by one but add up fast on a night out.
Student housing in Bilbao
Students rent in Deusto, Abando, Indautxu or near Sarriko and the Leioa campus; the deposit is one month by law.
Deusto
Medium-highWalking to the University of Deusto; a lively student district across the river from the Guggenheim.
Abando and Indautxu
HighCentral, well-connected flats near Gran Vía and Moyua.
Casco Viejo and Bilbao la Vieja
MediumOld-town flats among pintxo bars; Bilbao la Vieja is cheaper and more alternative.
San Ignacio and Sarriko
MediumCheaper flats near the UPV/EHU Economics faculty (Sarriko) and the metro line to Leioa.
Leioa and Getxo
Medium-highLiving next to the UPV/EHU Leioa campus and the beaches of Getxo.
Official contacts
UPV/EHU accommodation service (Bizkaia campus)
Room and flat listings (Ostatu), homestay and residence options for UPV/EHU students.
UPV/EHU list of other residences
Colegio Mayor Deusto, Micampus San Mamés, Livensa Living, Atalaia Claret and others, with contact details.
University of Deusto accommodation and welcome office (Bilbao)
Deusto Hall of Residence and Deusto’s own housing platform, open to Deusto students only (acogida@deusto.es).
Student residences
Micampus San Mamés
Private residence about 3 minutes from Sarriko and 9 from Deusto, on the bus line to Leioa.
Livensa Living Bilbao
Private residence about 500 m from the UPV/EHU Economics faculty (Sarriko).
RESA (Termibus and San Mamés)
Studios with kitchenette in the Termibus complex, near the UPV/EHU Engineering School and Deusto.
Private platforms
Student groups
ESN Bilbao (through the UPV/EHU International Welcome Centre)
Erasmus Student Network section for Bilbao: trips, buddy programme and events for both universities.
Documents to prepare
Passport or national ID card
Admission or Learning Agreement letter from the host university
NIE (foreigner identity number): EU citizens staying more than three months register for it; non-EU students get it with their student visa or TIE card
Proof of income, a scholarship letter or a guarantor if the landlord asks
A Spanish or EU bank account for direct debits, if possible
Timing
Look from June for September and from November for February.
University halls and residences fill first; apply as soon as you are nominated.
Foreign UPV/EHU students can apply for a Bilbao city council housing grant; check the yearly call on the UPV/EHU site.
Deposit & contract notes
Spanish law sets the deposit (fianza) for a flat at one month’s rent; the landlord may ask for an extra guarantee of up to two more months, so never more than three months in total.
Since the 2023 Housing Law, agency and contract fees for a long-term rental are paid by the landlord, not the tenant.
Get a written contract that says which bills (water, electricity, gas, internet) are included, and keep photos of the room on the day you move in.
Red flags
Asking for a deposit or “reservation” before you have seen the room or a video call of it.
Payment by Western Union, gift cards or crypto.
No written contract, or a contract that does not name the landlord.
Agency fees charged to you for a long-term flat (the landlord pays them by law).
A rent far below similar rooms on Idealista or Fotocasa.
Before you rent: practical guides
- Student Accommodation Abroad 2026: Types, Costs and How To Avoid Scams
- Erasmus Student Residences 2026: Prices by City and How to Get a Place
- Room, Residence or Shared Flat: What to Choose for an Exchange
- When to Look for Student Housing Abroad: Month by Month
- Where to Live on Exchange: How to Choose a Neighbourhood (with City Examples)
- Before You Sign: 12 Questions and the Student Rental Contract Checklist
Weather in Bilbao & what to pack
Bilbao is mild and wet: about 14°C by day in January and 25°C in July, with rain all year.
| Month | Conditions | Note |
|---|---|---|
| January 14° / 5° | 🌤️ 130 mm of precipitation130 mm of precipitation, mild | |
| February 14° / 5° | 🌤️ 109 mm of precipitation109 mm of precipitation, mild | |
| March 17° / 7° | 🌤️ 98 mm of precipitation98 mm of precipitation, mild | |
| April 18° / 8° | 🌤️ 97 mm of precipitation97 mm of precipitation, mild | |
| May 21° / 11° | 🌤️ 76 mm of precipitation76 mm of precipitation, warm | |
| June 24° / 14° | 🌤️ 58 mm of precipitation58 mm of precipitation, warm | |
| July 25° / 16° | 🌤️ 52 mm of precipitation52 mm of precipitation, warm | |
| August 26° / 16° | 🌤️ 53 mm of precipitation53 mm of precipitation, warm | |
| September 25° / 14° | 🌤️ 75 mm of precipitation75 mm of precipitation, warm | |
| October 22° / 12° | 🌤️ 112 mm of precipitation112 mm of precipitation, warm | |
| November 17° / 8° | 🌤️ 171 mm of precipitation171 mm of precipitation, mild | |
| December 14° / 6° | 🌤️ 127 mm of precipitation127 mm of precipitation, mild |
Mild but very wet: about 14°C by day in January and 25°C in July, with rain spread over the whole year.
Packing checklist
- A good raincoat and waterproof shoes; an umbrella alone is not enough in the wind.
- Warm layers for damp winters (flats often have weak heating).
- Hiking shoes for the hills around the city.
Cost of living for students in Bilbao
Plan on about EUR 900–1,200 a month with a room in a shared flat.
| Category | Range / mo | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Shared room - private market | EUR 461 – 610 | A room in a three-bedroom flat: Numbeo lists EUR 1,383 (outside the centre) to EUR 1,831 (centre) for a 3-bedroom in November 2026, divided by three. |
| Private Apartment 1bed | EUR 982 – 1,224 | One-bedroom outside vs. in the centre, Numbeo, November 2026. |
| Utilities And Mobile | EUR 60 – 80 | Your share of utilities for an 85 m² flat (about EUR 127 in total, split three ways), a phone plan (about EUR 18) and your share of broadband (about EUR 27), Numbeo, November 2026. Heating can push winter bills up. |
Private-market baseline
Use the standard student budget as a private-market planning range. Shared housing can cost less than a private apartment, especially outside the centre.
University and public housing
Campus halls, CROUS or an equivalent public option may cost substantially less. Prices, shared-room conditions and eligibility depend on the institution, and availability is never assumed in the standard range.
Going out & dining
Source: Numbeo · Prices approximate, updated periodically.
Is Bilbao safe for students?
Bilbao is one of the safest big cities in Spain.
Bilbao is one of the safest big cities in Spain. Take normal care with phones and bags in the Casco Viejo at night and during Aste Nagusia.
Top risks
- Phone and bag theft in crowded bars of the Casco Viejo and during Aste Nagusia.
- Slippery streets and steep stairs in the rain.
- Strong waves on the Bizkaia beaches; swim where lifeguards are on duty.
Getting around Bilbao
Metro trips cost about EUR 0.61 with a Barik card in 2026, and line 1 reaches Deusto and the Leioa campus.
🚇 Metro Bilbao
Two lines along both banks of the estuary. Line 1 stops at Deusto, Sarriko and Leioa (UPV/EHU campus) and continues to the Getxo beaches.
Gazte passes for under-26s registered in Bizkaia, half price until 31 December 2026.
🚌 Bilbobus and Bizkaibus
Bilbobus covers the city; Bizkaibus runs to Leioa campus, the airport and the coast.
🚊 Tram and Artxanda funicular
The tram runs along the river past the Guggenheim and San Mamés; the funicular climbs to the Artxanda viewpoint.
Install a travel eSIM before departure and connect as soon as you land. Use code ODISEA10 for 10% off. Check Saily eSIM plans
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Things to do in Bilbao as a student
The Guggenheim, the Casco Viejo, Aste Nagusia in August and Bilbao BBK Live in July.
Guggenheim Museum Bilbao
Year-round
Paid entry; reduced for students
Frank Gehry’s titanium museum, Jeff Koons’s flower Puppy and the river walk around it.
Casco Viejo and the Seven Streets
Year-round
Free; pintxos about EUR 2–4 each
The medieval old town with pintxo bars around Plaza Nueva.
La Ribera Market
Monday–Saturday
Free to visit
One of Europe’s largest covered markets, with a pintxo food hall on the ground floor.
hype
Aste Nagusia (Bilbao’s Big Week)
Late August (22–30 August in 2026)
Free
Nine days of concerts, fireworks, txosnas (party stalls) and the giant Marijaia.
hype
Bilbao BBK Live
July (9–11 July in 2026)
Paid tickets
Big international music festival on Mount Kobetamendi above the city.
Artxanda funicular and viewpoint
Year-round
About EUR 0.44 with Barik
A short ride up for the best view over Bilbao, with picnic areas at the top.
medium
San Mamés and Athletic Club
Football season (August–May)
Paid tickets; free stadium area
Athletic Club only fields Basque-born or Basque-trained players, and match days fill the city.
Vizcaya Bridge
Year-round
Small fare for the gondola; walkway extra
The world’s oldest transporter bridge (1893), a UNESCO site at the mouth of the estuary, reachable by metro.
medium
San Juan de Gaztelugatxe
Year-round (booking needed in summer)
Free; summer access by reservation
A hermitage on a rock island reached by 241 steps, about an hour from Bilbao by bus.
Universities in Bilbao for exchange students
The University of Deusto and the University of the Basque Country both take exchange students in Bilbao.
University of Deusto
Private Jesuit university founded in 1886, with its main campus on the Bilbao riverside, about 12,600 degree students and roughly 1,000 incoming exchange students a year. Exchange students pay no Deusto tuition, get free Spanish courses and a buddy, but must bring private insurance and plan around January exams.
University of the Basque Country (EHU)
The Basque Country's large public university, spread over three campuses: for exchange students in Bizkaia that means either the Leioa campus outside Bilbao or city faculties such as Engineering and Economics. Teaching is mainly in Spanish and Basque, with faculty-by-faculty English options and free Spanish and Basque courses.
Student social life in Bilbao
Student life happens in the Casco Viejo, Indautxu and along the river, with ESN Bilbao trips most weekends.
What Students Usually Get Wrong
Student Associations
ESN Bilbao
Welcome events, buddy programme and weekend trips for Deusto and UPV/EHU students.
UPV/EHU International Welcome Centre
Year-round help for international students with housing, paperwork and practical questions (info.welcomecentre@ehu.eus).
Meeting Places 4
Public Groups 2
r/bilbao
Local forum, useful for housing and paperwork questions.
r/GoingToSpain
Forum for people moving to Spain: NIE, empadronamiento, renting and bank questions.