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CTB Barik card in Bilbao, helpful info

Just left Barcelona, and San Sabastien, for a quick stop in Bilbao before heading off to Lagrono. Rick's instructions were a little vague picking up and activating a Barik (metro) card in Bilbao. This may help cuz we just spent too much time trying to figure it out. When you get off the bus, the CTB station is just north 1 block of the bus terminal, and completely obscured by construction. The metro is located directly below the eurotran CTB station. You have to go downstairs into the metro terminal, look for the renfe concession, to buy your Barik card. Once you have the card in hand, go back upstairs to activate and use the card. Back up stairs, there are two small kiosks left and right of the metro ticket dispenser. Scan your Barik card atop one of the kiosks, green light will display. Scan the card for each ride, each rider. Done. Go have fun. It positively wasn't as easy as Rick made it out to be.

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Two other tips:

Your hotel may have loaner cards so short-term visitors don't have to buy one of their own.

As of 2015 the Barik worked on the trams in Vitoria-Gasteiz (but not in San Sebastian, as I recall). That was a pleasant surprise.