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

Should you visit Bilbao or Nashville?

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 Nashville. 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 authentic, colorful, and friendly city. Since it's a large city, you'll find plenty of things to do. Other reasons to visit include nightlife, shopping, and museums.

Nashville

Nashville is a southern, country music lovers, and eclectic 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, museums, and nightlife.

Bilbao and Nashville: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Bilbao or Nashville?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Nashville than Bilbao. It is bigger and it has more sights, attractions, and activities for travelers. Nashville is very popular for its food, music, and resorts, while Bilbao attracts visitors for its museums, historical sights, and shopping. Bilbao is famous for it's world-class culinary scene, its modern museums, and its lovely parks. Nashville is famous for its influence in country music and its many live music venues. It is also well known for The Grand Ole Opry.

How is Bilbao different from Nashville?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Bilbao is a very popular place for its museums and history. Also, Nashville is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its museums and landmarks.

You'll find a good number of museums and monuments packed into 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.

Nashville offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. It is famous as the home of the Grand Ole Opry. It's also where you'll find the Country Music Hall of Fame and the unique Johnny Cash Museum.

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

Nashville 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 Nashville. The city is known for some southern favorites including southern barbecue, mac and cheese, and biscuits and gravy.

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 Nashville Better for Nightlife?

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

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 Nashville for the nightlife scene. The city is popular for it's music scene, particularly the country music scene. You can take in one of the free Honky Tonks or head to a rooftop bar. It's also a popular destination for bachelor and bachelorette parties.

Is Bilbao or Nashville Better for Music?

Nashville 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 Nashville The city is famous for country music, blues, and rock and roll. Popular venues include The Basement, The 5 Spot, and The Cannery Complex.

Bilbao is not a live music destination.

Is Bilbao or Nashville Better for Resorts?

Nashville is a good destination for its resorts. However, Bilbao is not a resort destination.

With a selection of resorts, Nashville makes a nice vacation spot. There are a couple of famous resorts in the area including the Gaylord Opryland Resort, the Hermitage Hotel, and the Omni Nashville Hotel.

Bilbao is not a resort destination.

Is Bilbao or Nashville Better for its Old Town?

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

Bilbao is a good destination for visiting its old town. The old town, often called Casco Viejo, is filled with historic architecture, great local bars, and some interesting shopping.

Nashville does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Bilbao or Nashville?

Bilbao is a very popular place for shopping. However, Nashville is lacking in good options for its shopping opportunities.

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.

If you're looking to go shopping, Nashville has some nice offerings. The town has a number of boutique shops as well as major department stores. You'll find all of the major American chains around town.

Is Bilbao or Nashville Better for Christmas?

Nashville is a good destination for its Christmas activities. However, Bilbao does not offer Christmas activities.

Nashville offers some nice Christmas activities. Several different venues decorate beautifully for the Christmas season including the Gaylord Opryland.

Bilbao does not offer Christmas activities.

Is Bilbao or Nashville Better for Families?

Both Bilbao and Nashville are nice 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.

Nashville offers lots of family activities. The city has a handful of kid-friendly activities like a science center and kid-friendly music venues.

Is Bilbao or Nashville Better for Couples?

Bilbao and Nashville 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.

Nashville is a good city for couples to visit. For music lovers, this is the ultimate couple's destination. There are also a number of romantic activities around town including horse drawn carriage rides through the downtown. To enjoy the beautiful weather, head to Centennial Park or take a hike in Forest Hills.

Is Bilbao or Nashville Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Bilbao and Nashville are nice 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 Nashville. There are one or two hostels around town and there's a great live music scene that attracts a young crowd.

Is Bilbao or Nashville Better for Students?

Bilbao is a city with good options for its student-friendly activities. However, Nashville is lacking in good options for students.

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

Nashville is a decent spot for students. Several universities bring in international students, but the city is smaller and it isn't the most popular student destination in America.

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

Bilbao is a very popular place for times when you don't have a car. However, Nashville is lacking in good options for its public transit.

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

Public transit is limited or non-existant in Nashville. Public transportation is very limited and you really need a car to explore the city in depth.

Is Bilbao or Nashville a more walkable city?

Bilbao is a city with good options for its walkability. However, Nashville is lacking in good options for its high level of walkability.

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

Nashville is not a walkable city. There aren't many parts of the city that are pedestrian-friendly.

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

Should I spend more time in Nashville or Bilbao?

How long in Bilbao or Nashville?

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

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

You'll find shopping and museums around the city of Bilbao. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

Many travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Nashville. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

A weekend in Bilbao or Nashville?

You'll find museums and nightlife around the industrial destination of Bilbao. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend.A weekend should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from.

Nashville is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. Don't miss the live music, as that's what most people do. 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 Nashville?

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and shopping when visiting the colorful city of Bilbao. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Nashville. Don't miss the live music, as that's what most people do. 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 Nashville?

Bilbao is a popular choice for travelers. One week 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. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

Travelers enjoy the food and museums when visiting the southern destination of Nashville. 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 Cultural Tours in United States of America, and The Best Photography Tours in United States of America.

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

Which is Bigger, Bilbao or Nashville?

Nashville has a larger population, and is about 51% larger than the population of Bilbao. When comparing the sizes of Bilbao and Nashville, 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 Nashville?

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 Nashville in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Bilbao as well as Nashville. Most visitors come to Bilbao for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences during these months. Additionally, the summer months attract visitors to Nashville because of the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Bilbao is generally cooler than Nashville. Daily temperatures in Bilbao average around 20°C (68°F), and Nashville fluctuates around 81°F (27°C).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Nashville. In the summer, Bilbao often gets less sunshine than Nashville. Bilbao gets 188 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Nashville receives 276 hours of full sun.

Bilbao usually gets less rain in July than Nashville. Bilbao gets 51 mm (2 in) of rain, while Nashville receives 3.9 inches (99 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Bilbao or Nashville in the Autumn?

Both Nashville and Bilbao are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The autumn months attract visitors to Bilbao because of the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene. Also, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the music scene are the main draw to Nashville this time of year.

Bilbao is around the same temperature as Nashville in the autumn. The daily temperature in Bilbao averages around 16°C (62°F) in October, and Nashville fluctuates around 62°F (17°C).

It's quite sunny in Nashville. Bilbao usually receives less sunshine than Nashville during autumn. Bilbao gets 125 hours of sunny skies, while Nashville receives 212 hours of full sun in the autumn.

It's quite rainy in Bilbao. In October, Bilbao usually receives more rain than Nashville. Bilbao gets 111 mm (4.4 in) of rain, while Nashville receives 2.6 inches (67 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Bilbao or Nashville in the Winter?

Both Nashville and Bilbao during the winter are popular places to visit. The museums and the shopping scene are the main draw to Bilbao this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Nashville for the museums, the Christmas ambience, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Nashville. In the winter, Bilbao is much warmer than Nashville. Typically, the winter temperatures in Bilbao in January average around 9°C (48°F), and Nashville averages at about 38°F (4°C).

In the winter, Bilbao often gets less sunshine than Nashville. Bilbao gets 77 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Nashville receives 134 hours of full sun.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Bilbao. Bilbao usually gets more rain in January than Nashville. Bilbao gets 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain, while Nashville receives 3.4 inches (87 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Bilbao or Nashville in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Bilbao and Nashville. Many travelers come to Bilbao for the activities around the city. Also, many visitors come to Nashville in the spring for the activities around the city.

In April, Bilbao is generally cooler than Nashville. Daily temperatures in Bilbao average around 12°C (54°F), and Nashville fluctuates around 62°F (16°C).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Nashville this time of the year. Bilbao usually receives less sunshine than Nashville during spring. Bilbao gets 117 hours of sunny skies, while Nashville receives 234 hours of full sun in the spring.

Nashville receives a lot of rain in the spring. Bilbao gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Bilbao usually receives more rain than Nashville. Bilbao gets 129 mm (5.1 in) of rain, while Nashville receives 4.3 inches (110 mm) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Nashville and Bilbao