A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Beijing vs. Bilbao for Attractions, Nightlife, Backpackers, and Families

Should you visit Beijing or Bilbao?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Beijing and Bilbao can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Beijing

Beijing is a massive, jam-packed, and cultural city. With plenty of activities and things to do, it's a huge city that draws plenty of visitors. It's a beautiful place to visit, too. And you can't forget about the shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Bilbao

Bilbao is a colorful, friendly, and industrial city. Because this is such a big city, visitors will find many sights and attractions around town. Other popular activities here include museums, nightlife, and shopping.

Beijing and Bilbao: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Beijing or Bilbao?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Beijing than Bilbao, as it is bigger with more sights, attractions, and activities for visitors. Beijing is more popular for its museums, food, big city activities, and impressive beauty, while Bilbao is known for its historical sights. Beijing is more touristy than Bilbao and is known for its rich culture, many historical landmarks, its long running history, and its world class cuisine. It is also home to The Forbidden City. Bilbao is popular for it's world-class culinary scene, its modern museums, and its lovely parks.

How is Beijing different from Bilbao?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Beijing is an amazing city to visit for its museums and landmarks. Also, Bilbao is still popular, but not quite as popular for its historical sights.

The museums, monuments, and landmarks in Beijing are among the most recognizable in the world. The city is filled with iconic landmarks including the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, and The Temple of Heaven. It's also essential that you plan a trip outside of town to the world renowned Great Wall of China. The trip takes about an hour and you can organize a tour through almost any hotel or tour company.

Bilbao offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. 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 Beijing or Bilbao? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Beijing is an amazing city to visit for its restaurant scene. However, Bilbao is not a culinary destination.

Eat your way through Beijing, as it has many local or world renowned restaurants to choose from. The city has a number of iconic dishes that have put it on the culinary map. The most notable dish is Peking Duck, which is a delectable crispy roast duck that is usually served with cucumber, scallions, sweet bean sauce and pancakes or other steamed buns. Hot pots are another must-try experience in the city, and, of course, you have to experience the dumplings. A huge part of a visit to Beijing is experiencing its long running culinary history.

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 Beijing or Bilbao Better for Nightlife?

It's hard to distinguish whether Beijing or Bilbao has a better nightlife scene.

The people in Beijing know how to have a good time. Live performances are popular in the city, and range from concerts to magic shows and acrobatics. There is also an active bar scene around town. Some of the most popular nightlife areas include Sanlitun and Houhai.

The nightlife in Bilbao has something for everybody. 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.

Is Beijing or Bilbao Better for its Old Town?

Bilbao is a city with good options for its historic old town charm. However, Beijing does not have a historic old town.

Bilbao offers a nice historic old town area. The old town, often called Casco Viejo, is filled with historic architecture, great local bars, and some interesting shopping.

Beijing does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Beijing or Bilbao?

Shopping is a popular activity in both Bilbao and Beijing.

Browsing through shops is a popular activity in Beijing. There are many unique handicrafts that you can purchase around town. Popular souvenirs include silk, pearls, and snuff bottles with pictures inside. The city has many shopping streets as well as markets and shopping malls that are worth visiting.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Bilbao. Gran Vía is the most popular shopping street in town. There are also historic boutique shops around the old town.

Is Beijing or Bilbao Better for Families?

Both Beijing and Bilbao are good to visit with kids.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Beijing. The city offers a unique cultural immersion that kids and adults can enjoy. Wander through the Forbidden City or watch your kids be mesmerized by a Chinese acrobatics show. It's also fun to get lost in the Hutongs or test their culinary palates by visiting a snack street.

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 Beijing or Bilbao Better for Couples?

Both Beijing and Bilbao are good destinations for a couple's getaway.

Beijing is a good city for couples to visit. The culture, history, and food all make this a stunning place to visit. While romance doesn't immediately spring to mind when you think of Beijing, there are shows and fine dining restaurants that couples will enjoy. There are also many luxury hotels with spas and other amenities.

Bilbao is a nice destination for couples. 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 Beijing or Bilbao Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Beijing is well known for backpackers. Also, Bilbao is still popular, but not quite as popular for backpackers and budget travelers.

Beijing is a great city to visit for backpackers. The city has many hostels and budget-friendly options. There isn't the backpacker community vibe that you may get in other Asian cities, but if you organize an excursion through your hostel, you're sure to make a few friends along the way.

Plenty of budget travelers visit Bilbao. There are plenty of hostels to choose from and a good social scene that makes it easy to meet other backpackers.

Is Beijing or Bilbao Better for Students?

Beijing is well known for students. Also, Bilbao is still popular, but not quite as popular for its student-friendly activities.

Many students visit Beijing. Students will enjoy the culture, food, and academic opportunities that the universities offer. There is also a decent nightlife scene and affordable places where students can live.

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

You'll find somewhat comparable public transit options in both Beijing and Bilbao.

Beijing offers a very effecient public transportation network. The system can be crowded and confusing at first, but it's one of the most convenient and affordable ways to get around town. There's a subway system as well as buses, trolleybuses, and suburban rail.

Many visitors rely on the effecient and affordable public transportation in Bilbao. The metro system has three lines. There is also a tram and bus system.

Is Beijing or Bilbao a more walkable city?

Bilbao is a city with good options for its ease of walking around. However, Beijing is a city with minimal options for its walkability.

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

Beijing is generally not a very walkable city. While parts of the city are fun to explore on foot, the city itself is very large with long blocks that aren't pedestrian-friendly.

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

Should I spend more time in Bilbao or Beijing?

How long in Beijing or Bilbao?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Beijing and Bilbao. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Beijing than in Bilbao. Usually, 3-7 days is a good amount of time for Beijing, and 2-3 days is enough time in Bilbao.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Beijing than Bilbao 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 Beijing.

One day in Beijing or Bilbao?

Beijing is a bustling city that offers something for everyone. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

In Bilbao, you'll find museums and nightlife. This city offers something for everyone. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do.

A weekend in Beijing or Bilbao?

Beijing is a great place to explore. With so much to do, a weekend is probably not enough time to see everything. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

In Bilbao, you'll find nightlife and shopping. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Bilbao has to offer.

Five days in Beijing or Bilbao?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Beijing. For many, it makes a great getaway for five days. With all of its activities, you can easily fill five days here. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

Bilbao is a great place to explore. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. Anyone can find something fun to do here.

A week in Beijing or Bilbao?

Beijing is a bustling city that offers something for everyone. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. If you have one week, this is a great place to go. This would be the perfect place to spend one week, as it has just the right amount of activities.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Bilbao. Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Bilbao. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours from Beijing, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to China, The Best G Adventures Tours to Spain, and The Best 3-Day Tours from Madrid.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Beijing and Bilbao, we can see that Bilbao is more expensive. And not only is Beijing much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Beijing is in Asia and Bilbao is in Europe, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Beijing would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Beijing and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Bilbao would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Bilbao than you might in Beijing.

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

Which is Bigger, Beijing or Bilbao?

Beijing has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Bilbao. When comparing the sizes of Beijing 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 Beijing 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 Beijing or Bilbao in the Summer?

Both Bilbao and Beijing are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The city activities and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Beijing this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Bilbao for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Beijing is generally a little warmer than Bilbao. Daily temperatures in Beijing average around 27°C (80°F), and Bilbao fluctuates around 20°C (68°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Beijing. Beijing usually receives more sunshine than Bilbao during summer. Beijing gets 224 hours of sunny skies, while Bilbao receives 188 hours of full sun in the summer.

It's quite rainy in Beijing. In July, Beijing usually receives more rain than Bilbao. Beijing gets 176 mm (6.9 in) of rain, while Bilbao receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Beijing or Bilbao in the Autumn?

Both Bilbao and Beijing during the autumn are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Beijing for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area. Furthermore, many visitors come to Bilbao in the autumn for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene.

Beijing is cooler than Bilbao in the autumn. The daily temperature in Beijing averages around 14°C (56°F) in October, and Bilbao fluctuates around 16°C (62°F).

It's quite sunny in Beijing. In the autumn, Beijing often gets more sunshine than Bilbao. Beijing gets 227 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. Beijing usually gets less rain in October than Bilbao. Beijing gets 19 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while Bilbao receives 111 mm (4.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Beijing or Bilbao in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Beijing and Bilbao. Many visitors come to Beijing in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Furthermore, most visitors come to Bilbao for the museums and the shopping scene during these months.

Beijing can get quite cold in the winter. In the winter, Beijing is much colder than Bilbao. Typically, the winter temperatures in Beijing in January average around -4°C (26°F), and Bilbao averages at about 9°C (48°F).

In Beijing, it's very sunny this time of the year. Beijing usually receives more sunshine than Bilbao during winter. Beijing gets 201 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, Beijing usually receives less rain than Bilbao. Beijing gets 3 mm (0.1 in) of rain, while Bilbao receives 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Beijing or Bilbao in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Beijing as well as Bilbao. Most visitors come to Beijing for the activities around the city and the natural beauty during these months. Additionally, the spring months attract visitors to Bilbao because of the activities around the city.

In April, Beijing is generally a little warmer than Bilbao. Daily temperatures in Beijing average around 14°C (57°F), and Bilbao fluctuates around 12°C (54°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Beijing this time of the year. In the spring, Beijing often gets more sunshine than Bilbao. Beijing gets 247 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Bilbao receives 117 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Bilbao. Beijing usually gets less rain in April than Bilbao. Beijing gets 26 mm (1 in) of rain, while Bilbao receives 129 mm (5.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Bilbao and Beijing