Will be in Barcelona in July for 2 weeks, first time and just heard from 2 friends that Bilbao can be done in one day on the train from Barcelona. What train? What time? Buy tickets for museum ahead of time? I'd love to go to the Guggenheim. Does anyone know how long it takes and if it's doable? Any info would be greatly appreciated.

The train takes more than 6 hours. Check RENFE
Vueling has cheap flights..about 50 euros.

According to the RENFE website - http://www.renfe.com/EN/viajeros/horarios.html - it's 6 1/2 hours each way, so that would be a helluva day trip.

RENFE says it's €64 each way in second class. On the same day you can fly in one hour for €44 each way.

We were personally underwhelmed by the Bilbao Guggenheim, but opinions vary.

I found the museum a splendid building ( the art is so - so)
Bilbao is a nice town to visit.

agree on all counts above...a satisfying visit though.

One caveat. A flight might take an hour but there is more to flying than the time you spend in the air. All that schlepping to and from the airports, getting to the airports early so you do not miss your flights, the hanging around in the departure lounges...etc.

I'm pretty sure if you re-ask those two friends, they have never done this.

"just heard from 2 friends that Bilbao can be done in one day on the train from Barcelona"
That makes me wonder what your two friends mean by "done".

Maybe the travel from Barcelona to Bilbao, no visit of the town and return to Barcelona!

It had the best museum food.
We did not buy tickets in advance.

Yes one has to get to and from airports, but it may take a while to get to the train station -
depending where in Barcelona one is staying,
find the right train etc.
Jumping on the train as it is leaving may not be advisable.

Thank you all so much! I guess it would be another trip at another time. Want to spend more time in Barcelona and I don't want to travel that long or that hard. Too long of a journey for one day to be enjoyable.


Any other do not miss places to go that are really close to Barcelona, that are daytrips?

Sitges for the beaches...
Girona...nice, old town