Founded in 1886, provides an outstanding venue for the WERA Congress 2027
The University of Deusto, founded in 1886, provides an outstanding venue for the WERA Congress 2027. With a long-standing commitment to social transformation through education, the University shares WERA’s mission of advancing educational research for the public good. Its historic campus, located along the Nervión River opposite the iconic Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, places participants at the heart of the city’s remarkable story of renewal.
The University of Deusto also has a special connection with WERA, serving as the home of the WERA Secretariat Office since 2022. The Congress therefore represents not only an opportunity to bring together education researchers from around the world, but also to welcome the global WERA community to the Secretariat’s home institution.
A vibrant city where culture, cuisine and nature come together.
Located on the northern coast of the Basque Country, Bilbao is a vibrant, walkable city where culture, cuisine, and nature come together. Once a major industrial port, it has undergone a remarkable transformation—so much so that urban planners coined the term the “Bilbao Effect” to describe its successful urban renewal. Today, the city is internationally renowned for its cultural attractions, world-class gastronomy, and welcoming atmosphere. From lively pintxos bars to Michelin-starred restaurants, beautiful nearby beaches, and the surrounding Basque mountains, Bilbao offers an exceptional setting for connection, collaboration, and reflection.
Bilbao is easily accessible by air, coach, train and road.
BY PLANE
Bilbao International Airport (BIO)
15 km from the city centre
Airport bus
A3247 · Every 15–20 minutes
06:00–00:00
Route: Bilbao-Loiu Airport, Alameda Rekalde 14, Gran Vía 46, Gran Vía 74, Bilbao Intermodal (bus station)
Taxi
Approx. €22–30 to the city centre.
BY COACH
International and intercity coaches arrive at the Bilbao Intermodal Bus Station.
BY TRAIN
Bilbao has train connections operated by RENFE (Bilbao Abando Station) FEVE (La Concordia Station) and EUSKOTREN (Atxuri Station).
BY CAR
The AP8 is the main route into Bilbao from any city along the Basque coast.
The Vasco-Aragonesa motorway (AP-68) is the route from Zaragoza.
It takes roughly 4 hours and 15 minutes by motorway from Madrid, and costs €10.25 in tolls and around €33 in fuel.
Bilbao is 610 km (just over 6 hours) from Barcelona along the AP-68, and costs €66.30 in tolls and nearly €50 in fuel.
Bilbao is a compact city and it is easy to get around on foot. It also has a modern transport system, including one of the best subway networks of the world, frequent buses, trains and tramways, which not only connect different points of the city, but also the suburbs and the coast.
BY TRAM
This means of transport is much more than a sustainable option and is also a way to
enjoy a pleasant journey along the medieval streets of the Casco Viejo (Old
Town) and the river bank.
BY SUBWAY
Its three lines are not only the fastest way of getting around the city, but can also be used to get to the beaches and charming towns within the metropolitan area.
The service operates from 06.00 to 23.00 hours, with trains running every six minutes during peak times, except for Sundays and bank holidays, when they are every ten. There is also a night service, until 02.00 hours on Fridays into Saturday and the days before banks holidays, and all night on Saturdays into Sunday.
BY TRAIN
You can use the Spanish National Railway Company (RENFE) suburban service for a trip out of Bilbao to the nearby towns. It also runs an intercity service to destinations including Madrid, Barcelona, Logroño, Zaragoza and Valladolid.
BY BUS
Bizkaibus buses run between Bilbao and the other municipalities of Bizkaia to tourist must-sees.
Here are nine bus routes to enjoy the landscape.
BY TAXI
Radio Taxi Bilbao +34 944 448 888
Radio Taxi Nervión +34 944 269 026
Class Taxi Bilbao +34 944 445 050
Tele Taxi +34 944 102 121
BY BIKE
The city is highly accessible and is an ideal spot to go sightseeing by bike.
Bilbao has a bike rental service.
University of Deusto
Bilbao, Spain
For more information and maps on how to get around the city
