A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Bilbao vs. Montreal for Attractions, Food, Nightlife, and Old Town

Should you visit Bilbao or Montreal?

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 Montreal. 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 food. See Bilbao travel costs.

Montreal

Montreal is a vibrant, colorful, and cultural 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. See Montreal travel costs.

Bilbao and Montreal: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Bilbao or Montreal?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Montreal than Bilbao, as it is bigger with more sights, attractions, and activities for visitors. Montreal is more popular for its museums and attractions, nightlife, music, historical sights, shopping, and big city activities, while Bilbao is known for its food. Montreal is more touristy than Bilbao and is popular for its music, fashion, and cultural activities. It is also home to Notre-Dame Basilica. Bilbao is popular for it's world-class culinary scene, its modern museums, and its lovely parks.

How is Bilbao different from Montreal?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Montreal 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 Montreal are among the most recognizable in the world. The city is filled with world-class museums and historic sites such as Notre-Dame Basilica, St. Joseph's Oratory, the Biosphere, and the Fine Arts Museum.

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 Bilbao or Montreal? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Bilbao is terrific for its local flavors and cuisine. Also, Montreal is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its local cuisine and restaurants.

Bilbao has long been recognized as a culinary destination with great restaurants. 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.

With its innovative style combined with traditional elements, Montreal makes for a great culinary experience. There are both local and international restaurants that serve up excellent dishes. Some of the local recipes that you should try include tourtiere (a meat pie), a smoked meat sandwich, and, of course, poutine.

Is Bilbao or Montreal Better for Nightlife?

Montreal is an amazing city to visit for nightlife and partying. Also, Bilbao is still popular, but not quite as popular for its evening party scene.

Montreal has a colorful and one-of-a-kind nightlife scene. The city's nightlife scene is centered around its live music scene, which is excellent. There are also many bars and clubs, as well as a young population that keep evenings lively.

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.

Is Bilbao or Montreal Better for Music?

Montreal is an amazing city to visit for its live music scene. However, Bilbao is not a live music destination.

Live music, and music in many other forms, is everyone in Montreal The music scene is thriving and world class. One of the most unique aspects of the city's music scene is its impromptu nature. You'll find many talented street performers and you'll likely stumble into many high quality performers. There's also a great indie scene as well as hip hop, classical, jazz, and heavy metal at the many live music venues.

Bilbao is not a live music destination.

Is Bilbao or Montreal Better for its Old Town?

Montreal is well known for its old town. Also, Bilbao is still popular, but not quite as popular for its historic old town charm.

There are many historical things to see in the old town of Montreal. Vieux-Montreal is the historic part of the city, and it's filled with cobblestone streets and historic buildings. This is also where you'll find the Old Port, which has a waterfront promenade.

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 Bilbao or Montreal?

Montreal is an amazing city to visit for its shopping opportunities. Also, Bilbao is still popular, but not quite as popular for its shopping areas.

The abundance of shops in Montreal make it a world-class shopping destination. It's known for its fashion scene and there are many independent and local vendors around town. Bonsecours Market is both historic and fascinating, but also make sure you check out Mont-Royal Avenue, which is the main shopping and dining street in town.

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.

Is Bilbao or Montreal Better for Families?

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

Montreal is a very kid-friendly city. Kids and teens will love the many science museums, parks and gardens, and the nearby La Ronde Amusement Park. If your kids are music lovers, there are many talented street performers in the city that will entertain the young and old alike.

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 Montreal Better for Couples?

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

Couples visit Montreal frequently as it offers plenty of romantic activities. The city is filled with romance, from the world class music scene to the romantic restaurants and sunset river cruises. If you're in town during the fall months, check out the Botanical Gardens, which come to life with the annual Gardens of Light.

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 Bilbao or Montreal Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Bilbao and Montreal are good places to visit for backpackers and budget travelers.

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.

Plenty of budget travelers visit Montreal. There's a decent number of hostels as well as a great nightlife scene and plenty of younger visitors looking to meet other travelers.

Is Bilbao or Montreal Better for Students?

Montreal is an amazing city to visit for students. Also, Bilbao is still popular, but not quite as popular for its student-friendly activities.

Montreal is a very popular place to visit for students. It's regularly ranked as one of the top cities in North America for students. There are many students around town, a great nightlife scene, and plenty of opportunities to receive a world-class education.

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

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

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.

Many visitors use the public transit system in Montreal. There's an efficient and reliable metro and bus system.

Is Bilbao or Montreal a more walkable city?

Montreal is well known for its high level of walkability. Also, Bilbao is still popular, but not quite as popular for its ease of walking around.

Montreal is a very walkable city. The city is very walkable, particularly in the areas that are popular with tourists.

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 Bilbao Worth Visiting? and Is Montreal Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Montreal or Bilbao?

How long in Bilbao or Montreal?

In either Bilbao or Montreal, you'll find plenty of activities to fill your time. Most visitors tend to spend more time in Montreal than Bilbao because of the overall number of sights and activities. Usually, 2-3 days is a good amount of time for Bilbao, and 3-5 days is enough time in Montreal.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Montreal 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 Montreal.

One day in Bilbao or Montreal?

The city of Bilbao offers food 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.

Montreal is a bustling city that offers something for everyone. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

A weekend in Bilbao or Montreal?

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.

Montreal 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.

Five days in Bilbao or Montreal?

Bilbao is a popular choice for travelers. It's no surprise that food is why people visit. 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.

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

A week in Bilbao or Montreal?

Bilbao is a great place to explore. It's no surprise that food is why people visit. 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.

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and live music when visiting the cultural big city of Montreal. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Spain, The Best Luxury Tours to Spain, The Best Northern Lights Tours in Canada, and The Best Luxury Tours to Canada.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Bilbao and Montreal, we can see that Montreal 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 Montreal 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 Montreal would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Montreal 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 Montreal Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Bilbao or Montreal?

Montreal has a larger population, and is about 9 times larger than the population of Bilbao. When comparing the sizes of Bilbao and Montreal, 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 Montreal?

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 Montreal in the Summer?

Both Montreal and Bilbao during the summer are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Bilbao for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences. Also, many visitors come to Montreal in the summer for the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Bilbao is around the same temperature as Montreal. Typically, the summer temperatures in Bilbao in July average around 20°C (68°F), and Montreal averages at about 21°C (69°F).

In Montreal, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the summer, Bilbao often gets less sunshine than Montreal. Bilbao gets 188 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Montreal receives 276 hours of full sun.

Bilbao usually gets less rain in July than Montreal. Bilbao gets 51 mm (2 in) of rain, while Montreal receives 91 mm (3.6 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Bilbao or Montreal in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Bilbao and Montreal. Many visitors come to Bilbao in the autumn for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene. Also, most visitors come to Montreal for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the music scene during these months.

In October, Bilbao is generally much warmer than Montreal. Daily temperatures in Bilbao average around 16°C (62°F), and Montreal fluctuates around 8°C (47°F).

Bilbao usually receives less sunshine than Montreal during autumn. Bilbao gets 125 hours of sunny skies, while Montreal receives 141 hours of full sun in the autumn.

Bilbao gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Bilbao usually receives more rain than Montreal. Bilbao gets 111 mm (4.4 in) of rain, while Montreal receives 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Bilbao or Montreal in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Bilbao as well as Montreal. Most visitors come to Bilbao for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months. Also, the winter months attract visitors to Montreal because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

The weather in Montreal can be very cold. Bilbao is much warmer than Montreal in the winter. The daily temperature in Bilbao averages around 9°C (48°F) in January, and Montreal fluctuates around -10°C (14°F).

In the winter, Bilbao often gets less sunshine than Montreal. Bilbao gets 77 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Montreal receives 103 hours of full sun.

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

Should I visit Bilbao or Montreal in the Spring?

Both Montreal and Bilbao are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The spring months attract visitors to Bilbao because of the activities around the city. Also, the activities around the city are the main draw to Montreal this time of year.

In the spring, Bilbao is much warmer than Montreal. Typically, the spring temperatures in Bilbao in April average around 12°C (54°F), and Montreal averages at about 6°C (43°F).

Bilbao usually receives less sunshine than Montreal during spring. Bilbao gets 117 hours of sunny skies, while Montreal receives 183 hours of full sun in the spring.

It's quite rainy in Bilbao. In April, Bilbao usually receives more rain than Montreal. Bilbao gets 129 mm (5.1 in) of rain, while Montreal receives 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Montreal and Bilbao