A Travel Price Comparison for Spain Alicante vs. Bilbao for Attractions, Nightlife, Families, and Couples

Should you visit Alicante or Bilbao?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Alicante and Bilbao can help you decide which place is right for you.

Alicante

Alicante is a colorful, authentic, and vibrant city. And you can't forget about the food, beaches, and shopping.

Bilbao

Bilbao is a colorful, friendly, and industrial city. It's a large city, so you'll find plenty of things to do around town. And you can't forget about the shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Alicante and Bilbao: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Alicante or Bilbao?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Bilbao. Although Alicante and Bilbao are about the same size, Bilbao has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Bilbao is better known for its nightlife, shopping, and big city activities, while Alicante is more popular for its food and beaches. Alicante is well known for its sandy beaches, vibrant nightlife, and authentic restaurants. Bilbao is well known for it's world-class culinary scene, its modern museums, and its lovely parks. Also, Bilbao is famous for The Guggenheim Museum.

How is Alicante different from Bilbao?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Bilbao and Alicante. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Alicante or Bilbao?

Plenty of people visit the high quality sights and museums in both Alicante and Bilbao.

Many visitors head to Alicante specifically to visit some of its top-rated museums and other sights. This port city has a number of cultural and historical sights that are worth checking out. Castillo de Santa Bárbara, Museo Arqueológico Provincial de Alicante, and Basilica de Santa María are among the most well known.

With a variety of museums, monuments, and historical sights, a trip to Bilbao can be an interesting and educational experience. A favorite museum in town is the popular Guggenheim Museum. From its iconic building to the unique exhibits, this is a must-see stop during your visit. Other highlights around town include the Museo de Bellas Artes de Bilbao, the Museo Vasco, as well as the city's unique bridges.

Is the Food Better in Alicante or Bilbao? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Alicante is well known for its restaurant scene. However, Bilbao is not a culinary destination.

Eating is part of the travel experience when you visit Alicante. It's by the sea, so you'll find plenty of seafood. Rice is the main staple for many dishes in town. This is also a vegetable growing region, so many recipes incorporate fresh vegetables. Popular dishes include arroz a banda, arroz con costra, and olleta alicantina.

Bilbao is not a culinary destination. The food scene is among the best in Spain. The city has several world renowned restaurants, including a few Michelin-starred restaurants, but there are also smaller eateries that cater to the locals and tourists alike. Make sure you try the pintxos, which are small dishes that are the Basque region's answer to tapas. Many include seafood and are cooked with olive oil and garlic.

Is Alicante or Bilbao Better for Nightlife?

Bilbao is well known for nightlife and partying. Also, Alicante is still popular, but not quite as popular for its evening party scene.

Bilbao is a popular destination for visitors looking to party into the night. There's a great late night scene that centers around eating and drinking. There are lively nightclubs, a good live music scene, and no shortage of people heading out on the town.

If you're looking for night time activities Alicante has a few options to choose from. For the city's best nightlife, head to El Barrio Antiguo, which is the old district. This is where you'll find the highest concentration of bars and clubs, many of them having live music.

Is Alicante or Bilbao Better for Beaches?

Alicante is a good destination for the beache. However, Bilbao is not a beach destination.

Alicante offers a nice beach destination. If you step away from the touristy areas, you'll find some nice sandy beaches with blue water. Playa la Fustera is northeast of the city and popular with families and couples. If you have a car you can drive to the town of Moraira, which is near several nice beaches as well.

Bilbao is not a beach destination.

Is Alicante or Bilbao Better for its Old Town?

Alicante and Bilbao are both popular destinations with charming historical areas.

Many people head to Alicante to see the old town. The old district is filled with charming streets and some interesting museums. There are also a number of good restaurants in the area.

Bilbao has an old town worth visiting. The old town, often called Casco Viejo, is filled with historic architecture, great local bars, and some interesting shopping.

Is the Shopping Better in Alicante or Bilbao?

Bilbao is well known for its shopping opportunities. Also, Alicante is still popular, but not quite as popular for its shopping areas.

Bilbao is a popular shopping destination with plenty of stores. Gran Vía is the most popular shopping street in town. There are also historic boutique shops around the old town.

Alicante has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. The city is known for its leather goods, but you'll also find international brands and shopping streets with fashion and different European names.

Is Alicante or Bilbao Better for Families?

Alicante is well known for its family-friendly activities. Also, Bilbao is still popular, but not quite as popular for its kid-friendly activities.

Alicante is a very kid-friendly city. This seaside city has many kid-friendly resorts, long sandy beaches, and adrenaline-filled theme parks. There's the Terra Mitica Park as well as a waterpark - Aqua Natura. Tabarca Island is also well worth a visit.

Bilbao offers lots of family activities. The city offers some great museums such as the Guggenheim Museum. Families will also enjoy taking a ride of the Artxander Funicular, and exploring Mercado de la Ribera. You can also enjoy walking around Park Abandoibarra and exploring the creative sculptures.

Is Alicante or Bilbao Better for Couples?

Alicante is well known for its romantic activities. Also, Bilbao is still popular, but not quite as popular for couples.

Couples visit Alicante frequently as it offers plenty of romantic activities. Nice resorts, long sandy beaches, and nearby vineyard tours make this a wonderful place for a couple's getaway. There are good restaurants and nice places where couples can take a stroll, hand in hand.

Bilbao is a good city for couples to visit. The city is filled with a vibrant enjoy with parks and outdoor strolls that couples will enjoy. There are also many great museums and romantic restaurants as well as some great shopping streets.

Is Alicante or Bilbao Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Alicante and Bilbao are notable places to visit for backpackers and budget travelers.

Alicante is popular with backpackers and budget travelers. There are hostels around town, as well as many budget-friendly hotels, so this is an affordable oceanfront destination for the budget-minded.

It's common for backpackers to visit Bilbao. There are plenty of hostels to choose from and a good social scene that makes it easy to meet other backpackers.

Is Alicante or Bilbao Better for Students?

Alicante and Bilbao are notable places to visit for students.

Alicante is popular with students. It's by the water and it's an affordable city, making it a good option for students. The beaches and active nightlife will keep you entertained when you take a break from your studies.

It's common for students to visit Bilbao. This is a popular study abroad destination with many great museums and educational opportunities for international students.

Is Alicante or Bilbao Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Bilbao is well known for its public transit. Also, Alicante is still popular, but not quite as popular for times when you don't have a car.

Bilbao has some very good public transit options. The metro system has three lines. There is also a tram and bus system.

While Alicante offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. There's a comprehensive bus system through the city and region.

Is Alicante or Bilbao a more walkable city?

Alicante and Bilbao both are notable when exploring on foot.

Alicante is a somewhat walkable place. There are many parts of the city that can be explored on foot.

Bilbao is a somewhat walkable city. It's a fairly walkable city with several pedestrian-friendly areas.

For even more information, also check out Is Alicante Worth Visiting? and Is Bilbao Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Bilbao or Alicante?

How long in Alicante or Bilbao?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Alicante and Bilbao. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Alicante than in Bilbao. Usually, 2-4 days is a good amount of time for Alicante, and 2-3 days is enough time in Bilbao.

Families should spend more time in Alicante than Bilbao. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Alicante, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Alicante than Bilbao. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Alicante that are great for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Bilbao than Alicante if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Bilbao.

One day in Alicante or Bilbao?

Many travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Alicante. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

The city of Bilbao offers nightlife and shopping. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

A weekend in Alicante or Bilbao?

Alicante is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Bilbao is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have a weekend, this city makes for a great vacation. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Bilbao, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Five days in Alicante or Bilbao?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Alicante. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

Bilbao is a popular choice for travelers. Five days is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

A week in Alicante or Bilbao?

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the colorful destination of Alicante. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

Bilbao is a great place to explore. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. This city offers something for everyone.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 3-Week Tours in Spain, The Best Bicycle Tours in Spain, The Best Adventure Tours to Spain, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in Spain.

When comparing the travel costs between Alicante and Bilbao, we can see that Bilbao is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Europe, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Alicante Expensive? and Is Bilbao Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Alicante or Bilbao?

Bilbao has a larger population, and is about 11% larger than the population of Alicante. When comparing the sizes of Alicante and Bilbao, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.

When is the best time to visit Alicante or Bilbao?

Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Alicante or Bilbao in the Summer?

Both Bilbao and Alicante are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Alicante in the summer for the beaches and the family-friendly experiences. Also, most visitors come to Bilbao for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences during these months.

Alicante is a little warmer than Bilbao in the summer. The daily temperature in Alicante averages around 25°C (77°F) in July, and Bilbao fluctuates around 20°C (68°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Alicante. Alicante usually receives more sunshine than Bilbao during summer. Alicante gets 341 hours of sunny skies, while Bilbao receives 188 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Alicante usually receives less rain than Bilbao. Alicante gets 4 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Bilbao receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Alicante or Bilbao in the Autumn?

Both Bilbao and Alicante during the autumn are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Alicante for the shopping scene during these months. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Bilbao because of the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene.

In the autumn, Alicante is a little warmer than Bilbao. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Alicante in October average around 20°C (68°F), and Bilbao averages at about 16°C (62°F).

It's quite sunny in Alicante. In the autumn, Alicante often gets more sunshine than Bilbao. Alicante gets 225 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Bilbao receives 125 hours of full sun.

Bilbao gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Alicante usually gets less rain in October than Bilbao. Alicante gets 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Bilbao receives 111 mm (4.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Alicante or Bilbao in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Alicante and Bilbao. The winter months attract visitors to Alicante because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, the museums and the shopping scene are the main draw to Bilbao this time of year.

In January, Alicante is generally a little warmer than Bilbao. Daily temperatures in Alicante average around 11°C (52°F), and Bilbao fluctuates around 9°C (48°F).

Alicante usually receives more sunshine than Bilbao during winter. Alicante gets 178 hours of sunny skies, while Bilbao receives 77 hours of full sun in the winter.

Bilbao receives a lot of rain in the winter. In January, Alicante usually receives less rain than Bilbao. Alicante gets 20 mm (0.8 in) of rain, while Bilbao receives 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Alicante or Bilbao in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Alicante as well as Bilbao. The beaches are the main draw to Alicante this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Bilbao for the activities around the city.

Alicante is a little warmer than Bilbao in the spring. The daily temperature in Alicante averages around 16°C (60°F) in April, and Bilbao fluctuates around 12°C (54°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Alicante this time of the year. In the spring, Alicante often gets more sunshine than Bilbao. Alicante gets 243 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Bilbao receives 117 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Bilbao. Alicante usually gets less rain in April than Bilbao. Alicante gets 34 mm (1.3 in) of rain, while Bilbao receives 129 mm (5.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Bilbao and Alicante