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

Should you visit Bilbao or Houston?

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 Houston. 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. 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.

Houston

Houston is a one-of-a-kind, diverse, and sprawling city. With plenty of activities and things to do, it's a huge city that draws plenty of visitors. And you can't forget about the live music, food, and shopping.

Bilbao and Houston: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Bilbao or Houston?

You'll generally find more things to do in Houston than Bilbao. Houston is bigger than Bilbao, and it also has more attractions and activities for travelers. Houston is better known for its food, music, and big city activities, while Bilbao is more popular for its historical sights and shopping. Bilbao is more touristy than Houston and is known for it's world-class culinary scene, its modern museums, and its lovely parks. Houston is well known for its sprawling size, its local Texas restaurants, and being the home to NASA. Also, Houston is famous for The Space Center Houston.

How is Bilbao different from Houston?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Houston 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 Houston?

Plenty of people visit the excellent sights and museums in both Bilbao and Houston.

Visitors can fill many days exploring the museums and attractions around Bilbao. 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.

Houston offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. Head to Houston's Museum District to explore 19 different museums in a walkable area. A highlight of a trip to the city is a visit to the Space Center, but other popular museums include the Houston Museum of Natural Science, the Museum of Fine Arts, and the Houston Children's Museum.

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

Houston is a good destination for its restaurant scene. However, Bilbao is not a culinary destination.

Visitors will find a budding food and restaurant scene in Houston. The city is famous for its Texas barbecue, Mexican food, and a wide diversity of other different ethnic foods. It's a surprisingly diverse city and this is reflected in the restaurant selection around town.

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 Houston Better for Nightlife?

Party-goers will find similar levels of energy in Bilbao and Houston.

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.

Many people head to Houston for the nightlife scene. The nightlife is at its best on weekends when bars, dance clubs, and concert halls come to life. There are a diversity of venues around town including dance clubs, Honky Tonks, and cocktail bars. Some of the most active nightlife areas are Downtown, Midtown, Montrose, Washington Avenue, and Rice Village.

Is Bilbao or Houston Better for Music?

Houston is a good destination for its live music scene. However, Bilbao is not a live music destination.

You don't have to look far to find a unique music venue in Houston. Popular music venues include Fitzgerald's, Walter's Downtown, and The Continental Club.

Bilbao is not a live music destination.

Is Bilbao or Houston Better for its Old Town?

Bilbao is a good destination for its old town. However, Houston does not have a historic old town.

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

Houston does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Bilbao or Houston?

Bilbao is well known for its shopping opportunities. Also, Houston 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.

Houston has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. There are a number of upscale malls and shopping centers that have brand names, chain stores, and the occasional local shop where you can pick up items.

Is Bilbao or Houston Better for Families?

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

Houston is a very kid-friendly city. It is a large city with plenty of things that kids can enjoy including museums, theaters, a zoo, and even the Space Center. The Children's Museum of Houston is perfect for a rainy day. For science loving kids there's the Health Museum and the Museum of Natural Science. Houston also has a Six Flags nearby which the whole family can enjoy.

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 Bilbao or Houston Better for Couples?

Bilbao and Houston both notable 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.

Houston is a good city for couples to visit. There's a surprising diversity of restaurants around the city. There are also performing arts productions and many outdoor parks and gardens.

Is Bilbao or Houston Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Bilbao is a good destination for backpackers. However, Houston is not a backpacker-friendly destination.

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

Houston is not a backpacker-friendly destination.

Is Bilbao or Houston Better for Students?

Bilbao and Houston are notable 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 Houston. It's a large city with a number of universities and a large student population.

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

Bilbao is well known for its public transit. However, Houston is not particularly known for times when you don't have a car.

Public transit in Bilbao can get you to some places easily. The metro system has three lines. There is also a tram and bus system.

Public transit is mostly limited in Houston. The system includes buses and a limited light rail. Houston is known as a car-centric city and you really need a car to fully experience it.

Is Bilbao or Houston a more walkable city?

Bilbao is a good destination for its high level of walkability. However, Houston is not particularly known for its ease of walking around.

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

Houston is generally not a very walkable city. The most walkable neighborhood is the historic Houston Heights, but most parts of the city aren't very walkable.

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

Should I spend more time in Houston or Bilbao?

How long in Bilbao or Houston?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Bilbao and Houston. In our opinion, Bilbao has more to see and do, so we recommend that you spend more time in Bilbao than Houston. However, 2-3 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

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

Couples should spend more time in Bilbao than Houston. 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 Houston 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 Houston?

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.

Houston 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.

A weekend in Bilbao or Houston?

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.

Houston 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 Houston?

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 Houston. 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 Houston?

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 nightlife and live music when visiting the diverse big city of Houston. 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 One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Los Angeles, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from New York City.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Bilbao and Houston, we can see that Houston is more expensive. And not only is Bilbao much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Bilbao is in Europe and Houston is in North America, 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 Bilbao would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Bilbao 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 Houston would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Houston than you might in Bilbao.

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

Which is Bigger, Bilbao or Houston?

Houston has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of Bilbao. When comparing the sizes of Bilbao and Houston, 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 Houston?

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 Houston in the Summer?

Both Houston and Bilbao are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The summer months attract visitors to Bilbao because of the city activities and the family-friendly experiences. Also, the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Houston this time of year.

Bilbao is cooler than Houston in the summer. The daily temperature in Bilbao averages around 20°C (68°F) in July, and Houston fluctuates around 84°F (29°C).

It rains a lot this time of the year in Houston. In July, Bilbao usually receives less rain than Houston. Bilbao gets 51 mm (2 in) of rain, while Houston receives 4.8 inches (122 mm) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Bilbao or Houston in the Autumn?

Both Houston and Bilbao during the autumn are popular places to visit. The city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene are the main draw to Bilbao this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Houston for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the music scene.

In the autumn, Bilbao is cooler than Houston. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Bilbao in October average around 16°C (62°F), and Houston averages at about 71°F (22°C).

Houston gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Bilbao. Bilbao usually gets around the same amount of rain in October as Houston. Bilbao gets 111 mm (4.4 in) of rain, while Houston receives 4.2 inches (107 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Bilbao or Houston in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Bilbao and Houston. Many travelers come to Bilbao for the museums and the shopping scene. Also, many visitors come to Houston in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

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

Bilbao gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In January, Bilbao usually receives more rain than Houston. Bilbao gets 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain, while Houston receives 3.6 inches (91 mm) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Bilbao or Houston in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Bilbao as well as Houston. Many visitors come to Bilbao in the spring for the activities around the city. Also, most visitors come to Houston for the activities around the city during these months.

Bilbao is much colder than Houston in the spring. The daily temperature in Bilbao averages around 12°C (54°F) in April, and Houston fluctuates around 70°F (21°C).

Bilbao receives a lot of rain in the spring. Bilbao usually gets more rain in April than Houston. Bilbao gets 129 mm (5.1 in) of rain, while Houston receives 3.1 inches (78 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Houston and Bilbao