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

Should you visit Bilbao or Brescia?

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

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Bilbao and Brescia. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Bilbao

Bilbao is a colorful, friendly, and industrial city. Since it's a large city, you'll find plenty of things to do. It's also known for nightlife, shopping, and museums.

Brescia

Brescia is a undisovered, authentic, and under-rated city. It's a beautiful place to visit, too. And you can't forget about the shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Bilbao and Brescia: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Bilbao or Brescia?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Bilbao than Brescia. It is bigger and it has more sights, attractions, and activities for travelers. Bilbao is very popular for its museums, nightlife, historical sights, and big city activities, while Brescia attracts visitors for its food and impressive beauty. Bilbao is famous for it's world-class culinary scene, its modern museums, and its lovely parks. It is also well known for The Guggenheim Museum. Brescia is famous for its historic and archeological sights.

How is Bilbao different from Brescia?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Bilbao is well known for its museums and landmarks. Also, Brescia is still popular, but not quite as popular for its historical sights.

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.

Brescia offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. There are some great museums and historic sights around town such as the Museum of Art and History, Tempio Capitolino, the Roman Theater, and Duomo Nuovo.

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

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

Eating is part of the travel experience when you visit Brescia. Much of the cuisine has its roots in peasant recipes, but many have been incorporated into fine dining and specialty experiences. The dishes come from the countryside and use many local ingredients. Bigoi Col Pestöm (a local pasta), Casoncelli Alla Bresciana (stuffed pasta), and polenta are all favorites in the area.

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 Bilbao or Brescia Better for Nightlife?

Bilbao is well known for nightlife. Also, Brescia is still popular, but not quite as popular for nightlife and partying.

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 Brescia has a few options to choose from. The city has a number of clubs and bars that make for a fun night out.

Is Bilbao or Brescia Better for its Old Town?

Bilbao is a nice place to visit for its historic old town. However, Brescia does not have a historic old town.

Many visitors go to Bilbao to see the historical old town. The old town, often called Casco Viejo, is filled with historic architecture, great local bars, and some interesting shopping.

Brescia does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Bilbao or Brescia?

Shopping is a popular activity in both Brescia and Bilbao.

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.

Many visitors explore the shopping areas in Brescia. It's a small city, but there are a number of fashion brands found around town. Via Gramsci, Corso Magenta, Via Mazzini, and Via X Giornate are among the best shopping streets.

Is Bilbao or Brescia Better for Families?

Bilbao is a nice place to visit for its family-friendly activities. However, Brescia is not particularly known for its kid-friendly activities.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Bilbao. 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.

For families, Brescia is not always the best place to visit. There are several parks and swimming pools that the kids will enjoy as well as a castle and lots of archeology.

Is Bilbao or Brescia Better for Couples?

Bilbao and Brescia both nice destinations for a couple.

Bilbao makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. 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.

Brescia is a good city for couples to visit. It's location near Lake Garda and its rich history and plethora of archeological sites make this a nice destination for couples.

Is Bilbao or Brescia Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Bilbao is a nice place to visit for backpackers. However, Brescia is not particularly known for backpackers and budget travelers.

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.

Brescia is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. It's not a particularly popular backpacker destination but there are some affordable guesthouses.

Is Bilbao or Brescia Better for Students?

Bilbao and Brescia are nice places to visit for students.

Bilbao is popular with students. This is a popular study abroad destination with many great museums and educational opportunities for international students.

It's common for students to visit Brescia. This is an affordable and interesting city for students. It's also in a beautiful setting, which makes for a nice experience.

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

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

Visitors to Bilbao can move around easily with public transportation. The metro system has three lines. There is also a tram and bus system.

While Brescia offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. There are buses and light rail to help you get around town.

Is Bilbao or Brescia a more walkable city?

Bilbao and Brescia both are nice when exploring on foot.

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

Brescia is a somewhat walkable city. Parts of the city are easy to walk around.

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

Should I spend more time in Brescia or Bilbao?

How long in Bilbao or Brescia?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Bilbao or Brescia to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Bilbao than Brescia because of the number of activities and things to do in the area. Usually, 2-3 days is a good amount of time for Bilbao, and 1-2 days is enough time in Brescia.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Bilbao than Brescia 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 Bilbao or Brescia?

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.

Many travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Brescia. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

A weekend in Bilbao or Brescia?

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.

Brescia 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.

Five days in Bilbao or Brescia?

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.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Brescia. 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.

A week in Bilbao or Brescia?

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.

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

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best G Adventures Tours to Spain, The Best 3-Day Tours from Madrid, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Italy, and The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in Italy.

When comparing the travel costs between Bilbao and Brescia, we can see that Brescia 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 Bilbao Expensive? and Is Brescia Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Bilbao or Brescia?

Bilbao has a larger population, and is about 87% larger than the population of Brescia. When comparing the sizes of Bilbao and Brescia, 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 Bilbao or Brescia?

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 Bilbao or Brescia in the Summer?

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

In July, Bilbao is generally cooler than Brescia. Daily temperatures in Bilbao average around 20°C (68°F), and Brescia fluctuates around 24°C (75°F).

It's quite sunny in Brescia. Bilbao usually receives less sunshine than Brescia during summer. Bilbao gets 188 hours of sunny skies, while Brescia receives 286 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Bilbao usually receives less rain than Brescia. Bilbao gets 51 mm (2 in) of rain, while Brescia receives 73 mm (2.9 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Bilbao or Brescia in the Autumn?

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

Bilbao is a little warmer than Brescia in the autumn. The daily temperature in Bilbao averages around 16°C (62°F) in October, and Brescia fluctuates around 14°C (58°F).

In the autumn, Bilbao often gets less sunshine than Brescia. Bilbao gets 125 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Brescia receives 137 hours of full sun.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Bilbao. Bilbao usually gets more rain in October than Brescia. Bilbao gets 111 mm (4.4 in) of rain, while Brescia receives 84 mm (3.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Bilbao or Brescia in the Winter?

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

It's quite cold in Brescia in the winter. In the winter, Bilbao is much warmer than Brescia. Typically, the winter temperatures in Bilbao in January average around 9°C (48°F), and Brescia averages at about 1°C (35°F).

Bilbao usually receives less sunshine than Brescia during winter. Bilbao gets 77 hours of sunny skies, while Brescia receives 98 hours of full sun in the winter.

Bilbao gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In January, Bilbao usually receives more rain than Brescia. Bilbao gets 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain, while Brescia receives 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Bilbao or Brescia in the Spring?

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

In April, Bilbao is generally around the same temperature as Brescia. Daily temperatures in Bilbao average around 12°C (54°F), and Brescia fluctuates around 13°C (55°F).

In the spring, Bilbao often gets less sunshine than Brescia. Bilbao gets 117 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Brescia receives 169 hours of full sun.

Bilbao receives a lot of rain in the spring. Bilbao usually gets more rain in April than Brescia. Bilbao gets 129 mm (5.1 in) of rain, while Brescia receives 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Brescia and Bilbao