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

Should you visit Bilbao or Livorno?

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 Livorno. 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 friendly, industrial, and authentic city. Because this is such a big city, visitors will find many sights and attractions around town. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and shopping.

Livorno

Livorno is a waterfront, friendly, and down-to-earth port city. It's a large city, so you'll find plenty of things to do around town. And you can't forget about the food, shopping, and nightlife.

Bilbao and Livorno: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Bilbao or Livorno?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Bilbao than Livorno, as it is bigger with more sights, attractions, and activities for visitors. Bilbao is more popular for its museums, nightlife, historical sights, and shopping, while Livorno is known for its food and beaches. Bilbao is popular for it's world-class culinary scene, its modern museums, and its lovely parks. It is also home to The Guggenheim Museum. Livorno is popular for its large port and its great seafood.

How is Bilbao different from Livorno?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Bilbao is great for its historical sights. However, Livorno is not a good destination for its sights and museums.

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.

Livorno offers a handful of options for museums and historical sights. The waterfront promenade and New Venice are nice to explore. There's an aquarium in town as well as a fun central market.

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

Livorno 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 Livorno. As a port city, this is the place to try seafood. Many dishes include calamari, shrimp, or freshly caught fish. The city is less touristy than most in Italy, so even the food has an authentic and down-to-earth vibe.

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 Livorno Better for Nightlife?

Bilbao is great for its evening party scene. Also, Livorno is not as popular, but is still a nice port city for nightlife.

Many people head to Bilbao for the nightlife scene. 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.

There's a variety of activities in the evening in Livorno. Most visitors arrive by cruise ship, and depart in the evening, but the city is large and for those that stay the night, there are a number of bars and clubs around town.

Is Bilbao or Livorno Better for Beaches?

Livorno is a port city with a few options for the beache. However, Bilbao is not a beach destination.

You can check out the beach in Livorno. The beaches are pebbly or rocky, so you won't really find a long stretch of sandy beach where you can relax. They can also stay very crowded.

Bilbao is not a beach destination.

Is Bilbao or Livorno Better for its Old Town?

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

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.

Livorno does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Bilbao or Livorno?

Bilbao is great for its shopping areas. Also, Livorno is not as popular, but is still a nice port city for shopping.

Many visitors explore the shopping areas in Bilbao. Gran Vía is the most popular shopping street in town. There are also historic boutique shops around the old town.

Livorno is a great destination for shopping. The main shopping street in town is Via Grande. It's generally filled with major chain stores and familiar brands.

Is Bilbao or Livorno Better for Families?

Both Bilbao and Livorno are good family-friendly destinations.

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.

Livorno offers lots of family activities. The city has a nice aquarium as well as outdoor recreational activities like cycling and boating. There's a beach and parks where kids can stretch their legs and run around as well.

Is Bilbao or Livorno Better for Couples?

Bilbao and Livorno both good 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.

Livorno is a good city for couples to visit. There are some nice museums as well as parks and boat rides that couples can enjoy. There's also an aquarium and a beach.

Is Bilbao or Livorno Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Bilbao is a nice place to visit for backpackers and budget travelers. However, Livorno is not a good destination for backpackers.

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.

Livorno is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. Most backpackers skip this city, so you won't find many hostels around town. It's a relatively affordable place to stay with some fun entertainment options if you do pass through.

Is Bilbao or Livorno Better for Students?

Bilbao is a nice place to visit for its student-friendly activities. However, Livorno is not popular with students.

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.

Livorno is not popular with students.

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

Bilbao is great for times when you don't have a car. Also, Livorno is not as popular, but is still a nice port city for its public transit.

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

Livorno has a few public transit options. There are buses around town including lines that run from the central train station to the port.

Is Bilbao or Livorno a more walkable city?

Bilbao and Livorno both are good when exploring on foot.

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

Livorno is a somewhat walkable city. Parts of the city are walkable, but if you're arriving by cruise ship, you'll want to take a shuttle bus from the port.

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

Should I spend more time in Livorno or Bilbao?

How long in Bilbao or Livorno?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Bilbao or Livorno to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Bilbao than Livorno 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 Livorno.

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

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 food and shopping when visiting the destination of Livorno. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

A weekend in Bilbao or Livorno?

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.

Livorno 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 Livorno?

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 Livorno. 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 Livorno?

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 food and shopping when visiting the waterfront destination of Livorno. This port 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 Luxury Tours to Italy, and The Best Budget Tours to Italy.

When comparing the travel costs between Bilbao and Livorno, 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 Bilbao Expensive? and Is Livorno Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Bilbao or Livorno?

Bilbao has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Livorno. When comparing the sizes of Bilbao and Livorno, 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 Livorno?

Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Bilbao or Livorno in the Summer?

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

In the summer, Bilbao is cooler than Livorno. Typically, the summer temperatures in Bilbao in July average around 20°C (68°F), and Livorno averages at about 23°C (73°F).

In Livorno, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the summer, Bilbao often gets less sunshine than Livorno. Bilbao gets 188 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Livorno receives 316 hours of full sun.

Bilbao usually gets more rain in July than Livorno. Bilbao gets 51 mm (2 in) of rain, while Livorno receives 24 mm (0.9 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Bilbao or Livorno in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Bilbao and Livorno. 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 Livorno because of the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene.

In October, Bilbao is generally around the same temperature as Livorno. Daily temperatures in Bilbao average around 16°C (62°F), and Livorno fluctuates around 16°C (61°F).

Bilbao usually receives less sunshine than Livorno during autumn. Bilbao gets 125 hours of sunny skies, while Livorno receives 177 hours of full sun in the autumn.

Livorno receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Bilbao gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Bilbao usually receives less rain than Livorno. Bilbao gets 111 mm (4.4 in) of rain, while Livorno receives 120 mm (4.7 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Bilbao or Livorno in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Bilbao as well as Livorno. 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 Livorno this time of year.

Bilbao is a little warmer than Livorno in the winter. The daily temperature in Bilbao averages around 9°C (48°F) in January, and Livorno fluctuates around 7°C (45°F).

In the winter, Bilbao often gets less sunshine than Livorno. Bilbao gets 77 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Livorno receives 105 hours of full sun.

Bilbao receives a lot of rain in the winter. Bilbao usually gets more rain in January than Livorno. Bilbao gets 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain, while Livorno receives 74 mm (2.9 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Bilbao or Livorno in the Spring?

Both Livorno and Bilbao are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The activities around the city are the main draw to Bilbao this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Livorno for the beaches and the activities around the city.

In the spring, Bilbao is around the same temperature as Livorno. Typically, the spring temperatures in Bilbao in April average around 12°C (54°F), and Livorno averages at about 13°C (55°F).

Bilbao usually receives less sunshine than Livorno during spring. Bilbao gets 117 hours of sunny skies, while Livorno receives 192 hours of full sun in the spring.

It's quite rainy in Bilbao. In April, Bilbao usually receives more rain than Livorno. Bilbao gets 129 mm (5.1 in) of rain, while Livorno receives 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Livorno and Bilbao