Biscay · Ría de Bilbao
Boat rental in Bilbao
Boat rental in Bilbao: 4 companies registered, 2 with boat rental as their main business, on the ría, and the main fleet 11 km away at the Getxo marina, with 12. With phone, website and Google rating. No commission.
- Companies
- 4 (2 with boat rental as main business)
- 12 in Getxo
- Price
- €250 – 1,500 / day
- indicative
- Licence
- No licence needed up to 5 m and 15 hp
- Season
- June – September
- peak July and August
The 2 boat hire companies in Bilbao
Hiring a boat in Bilbao
Bilbao is 15 km from the sea up the ría, and its rental fleet is small: 4 registered companies, with sailing boats and skippered trips from the yacht club and the river. The real base is Getxo, 11 km away at the mouth: 12 companies in the marina, with sailing boats, skippered hire and motorboats for the Abra, the sheltered bay between Getxo and Santurtzi. What has most demand in Bilbao is the river cruise, with scheduled boats from the Guggenheim and the Arenal down to the Vizcaya Bridge.
The season runs from June to September. Outside the Abra there is Cantabrian swell and a tide of more than four metres; inside the ría you sail in any weather, with port traffic.
Ports and departure areas
Club Náutico de Bilbao
Club on the ría, base of the trips from the city. 3 companies within 500 m.Getxo marina
Marina at the mouth of the Abra, 11 km away; the area's main base.Types of boat you can hire in Bilbao
Sailing boat
- Requirement
- ICC / RYA Day Skipper, or a skipper
- Companies
- 1 advertises them
- Price
- €400 – 1,500 / day (indicative)
Skippered
- Requirement
- None: the skipper is in charge
- Price
- boat price plus €50 – 250 per day (indicative)
Motorboat or RIB
- Requirement
- ICC or a Spanish PNB/PER licence
- Price
- €250 – 650 / day (indicative)
How much does it cost to hire a boat in Bilbao
Indicative high-season prices from the directory's reference table, reviewed September 2026: a no-licence motorboat costs €120–250 a day; a RIB of 6–8 m, €250–650; a 10–12 m sailing yacht, €400–900 bareboat or €600–1,500 skippered; a catamaran, €1,000–2,500; a skippered motor yacht, from €900. Expect 20–40% less outside July and August. Deposits run from €300 to €2,000 and fuel is extra. Each company sets its own prices.
They also hire boats
Companies whose main activity is something else (school, chandlery, trips) but which also offer hire.
El Bote Tours Bilbao
Despedidas VIP Bilbao | Barco + Cena + Drag Queen
Boat trips and excursions
Bilboats
BILBAO BOAT EXPERIENCE
Paseos en barco Bilbao - Sailing and Wine
Bilbao River Company
Maldives Surf 360
Travel Air
W2M Sede Central
Frequently asked questions
Can I rent a boat in Bilbao?
There are 4 companies on the ría, with sailing boats and skippered trips. The main fleet is in Getxo, 11 km away, with 12 companies in the marina at the mouth.
Do I need a licence?
The Bilbao and Getxo fleet is mostly sailing boats and skippered trips, so no. Motorboats up to 5 metres and 15 hp can be driven without a licence inside the Abra; one company in Biscay advertises them.
How much does a boat cost in Bilbao?
A sailing boat, €400–900 a day bareboat or €600–1,500 skippered; a RIB with licence from Getxo, €250–650. Indicative high-season ranges; fuel and deposit are extra.
Where can I sail from Bilbao?
Down the ría to the Vizcaya Bridge and the Abra, sheltered water, and outside, in good weather, to Sopela and Plentzia or to Santurtzi and Zierbena.
Are there river cruises in Bilbao?
Yes, and in high demand: scheduled boats from the Guggenheim and the Arenal down to the Vizcaya Bridge. They are listed under the boat trips category.