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

Should you visit Bilbao or New Orleans?

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 New Orleans. 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 food, shopping, and museums.

New Orleans

New Orleans is a fun-filled, festive, and vibrant city. It's a large city, so you'll find plenty of things to do around town. This destination also has one of those special and quaint feelings. And you can't forget about the live music, food, and nightlife.

Bilbao and New Orleans: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Bilbao or New Orleans?

Tourists will generally find more to do in New Orleans than Bilbao. It is bigger and it has more sights, attractions, and activities for travelers. New Orleans is very popular for its nightlife, music, historical sights, and quaint atmosphere, while Bilbao attracts visitors for its museums & sights and shopping. New Orleans is more touristy than Bilbao and is popular for its jazz festivals, local cuisine, quaint balconies, and world class Mardi Gras parties. It is also well known for The French Quarter. Bilbao is famous for it's world-class culinary scene, its modern museums, and its lovely parks.

The French Quarter

How is Bilbao different from New Orleans?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Bilbao is an excellent place to visit for its museums and history. However, New Orleans does not have 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.

New Orleans does not have museums and landmarks.

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

Picking the best cuisine and restaurants between Bilbao and New Orleans can be difficult as they are each fantastic in their own way.

Eat your way through Bilbao, as it has many local or world renowned restaurants to choose from. 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.

For foodies, New Orleans is an obvious choice, as it is one of the food capitals of the world. It has rapidly grown into one of the United State's most well known foodie destinations. It's the birthplace of bananas foster and popular for it's gumbo, crawfish etouffee, jambalaya, and red beans and rice. While there are a number of celebrity chefs from New Orleans, you'll also find many local restaurants that aren't as well known but are equally worth visiting.

Is Bilbao or New Orleans Better for Nightlife?

New Orleans 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.

New Orleans has a colorful and one-of-a-kind nightlife scene. The nightlife scene is at its best during Mardi Gras. But year-round you'll find Bachelor and Bachelorette parties, spring breakers, and anyone who wants to enjoy a crazy time heads to New Orleans. New Orleans is a destination that attracts partiers any time of the year, and the French Quarter is the place to be if you're looking for a party.

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 New Orleans Better for Music?

New Orleans 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 New Orleans The city is known for its music festivals that feature jazz, blues, and many other types of live music. The Jazz Festival is a great time to visit.

Bilbao is not a live music destination.

Is Bilbao or New Orleans Better for its Old Town?

New Orleans 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 New Orleans. The French Quarter is filled with old architecture and beautiful historic landmarks.

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 New Orleans?

Bilbao is an excellent place to visit for shopping. However, New Orleans is lacking in 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, New Orleans has some nice offerings. New Orleans shopping is mostly centered around shopping malls and chain stores.

Is Bilbao or New Orleans Better for Families?

Bilbao is a city with good options for its kid-friendly activities. However, New Orleans is lacking in options for its family-friendly activities.

Bilbao is a family-friendly city. 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.

New Orleans doesn't usually come to mind when thinking about kid-friendly destinations. While there are some family-friendly activities in New Orleans like a zoo and several great parks, the city is more known for its parties and nightlife scene. Particularly during certain seasons, most people choose to visit New Orleans without kids.

Is Bilbao or New Orleans Better for Couples?

Bilbao and New Orleans 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.

New Orleans is a good city for couples to visit. Couples who enjoy a lively evening, fun festivals, and exploring absolutely amazing restaurants will enjoy a visit to New Orleans. It has a festive and unique atmosphere any time of the year. There are also nice hotels and beautiful parks.

Is Bilbao or New Orleans Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Bilbao is a city with good options for backpackers and budget travelers. However, New Orleans is lacking in options for backpackers.

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

New Orleans is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. There are a handful of hostels in New Orleans that are good options for backpackers who want to meet other travelers.

Is Bilbao or New Orleans Better for Students?

Bilbao and New Orleans 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 New Orleans. Students head to New Orleans to enjoy spring break and Mardi Gras.

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

Bilbao is an excellent place to visit for times when you don't have a car. However, New Orleans is lacking in options for its public transit.

Public transit in Bilbao is fairly effecient and thorough. The metro system has three lines. There is also a tram and bus system.

Public transit is generally limited in New Orleans. The city has streetcar lines and bus lines that you can use, but you'll want to have a car if you want to venture outside of these main areas.

Is Bilbao or New Orleans a more walkable city?

Bilbao and New Orleans both are nice when exploring on foot.

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

New Orleans is a somewhat walkable city. If you stick to the French Quarter and downtown areas, most things are walkable in New Orleans.

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

Should I spend more time in New Orleans or Bilbao?

How long in Bilbao or New Orleans?

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

Families should spend more time in Bilbao than New Orleans. 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.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Bilbao than New Orleans 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 New Orleans?

Visitors enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the authentic city of Bilbao. Most people visit for the food. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

Many travelers enjoy the live music and food when visiting the destination of New Orleans. 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 New Orleans?

Visitors enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the industrial destination of Bilbao. This city offers something for everyone. Plenty of people spend a weekend in the area when traveling. If you enjoy all that's offered here, then a weekend is just the right amount of time to spend here.

New Orleans 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 New Orleans?

The authentic city of Bilbao offers shopping and museums. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in New Orleans. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. 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 New Orleans?

Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Bilbao. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Most people visit for the food. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

Travelers enjoy the live music and food when visiting the fun-filled destination of New Orleans. 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 Sightseeing Tours in Spain, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Spain, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to United States of America, and The Best Wildlife Tours to United States of America.

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

Which is Bigger, Bilbao or New Orleans?

New Orleans has a larger population, and is about 38% larger than the population of Bilbao. When comparing the sizes of Bilbao and New Orleans, 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 New Orleans?

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 New Orleans in the Summer?

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

In July, Bilbao is generally cooler than New Orleans. Daily temperatures in Bilbao average around 20°C (68°F), and New Orleans fluctuates around 82°F (28°C).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in New Orleans. In the summer, Bilbao often gets less sunshine than New Orleans. Bilbao gets 188 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while New Orleans receives 264 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in New Orleans. Bilbao usually gets less rain in July than New Orleans. Bilbao gets 51 mm (2 in) of rain, while New Orleans receives 5.9 inches (149 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Bilbao or New Orleans in the Autumn?

Both New Orleans 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 New Orleans this time of year.

Bilbao is cooler than New Orleans in the autumn. The daily temperature in Bilbao averages around 16°C (62°F) in October, and New Orleans fluctuates around 69°F (21°C).

It's quite sunny in New Orleans. Bilbao usually receives less sunshine than New Orleans during autumn. Bilbao gets 125 hours of sunny skies, while New Orleans receives 240 hours of full sun in the autumn.

It's quite rainy in Bilbao. In October, Bilbao usually receives more rain than New Orleans. Bilbao gets 111 mm (4.4 in) of rain, while New Orleans receives 3 inches (77 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Bilbao or New Orleans in the Winter?

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

In the winter, Bilbao is cooler than New Orleans. Typically, the winter temperatures in Bilbao in January average around 9°C (48°F), and New Orleans averages at about 51°F (11°C).

In the winter, Bilbao often gets less sunshine than New Orleans. Bilbao gets 77 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while New Orleans receives 158 hours of full sun.

New Orleans 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 January as New Orleans. Bilbao gets 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain, while New Orleans receives 5.2 inches (131 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Bilbao or New Orleans in the Spring?

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

In April, Bilbao is generally much colder than New Orleans. Daily temperatures in Bilbao average around 12°C (54°F), and New Orleans fluctuates around 68°F (20°C).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in New Orleans this time of the year. Bilbao usually receives less sunshine than New Orleans during spring. Bilbao gets 117 hours of sunny skies, while New Orleans receives 254 hours of full sun in the spring.

New Orleans 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 New Orleans. Bilbao gets 129 mm (5.1 in) of rain, while New Orleans receives 4.5 inches (114 mm) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for New Orleans and Bilbao