A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Bilbao vs. New York City for Attractions, Food, Nightlife, and Couples

Should you visit Bilbao or New York City?

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 York City. 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. See Bilbao travel costs.

New York City

New York City is a vibrant, energetic, and cosmopolitan city. With plenty of activities and things to do, it's a huge city that draws plenty of visitors. New York City is a beautiful place to visit, too. And you can't forget about the museums, theater, and nightlife. See New York City travel costs.

Bilbao and New York City: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Bilbao or New York City?

Tourists will generally find more to do in New York City than Bilbao. It is bigger and it has more sights, attractions, and activities for travelers. New York City is very popular for its museums and attractions, theatre productions, nightlife, music, shopping, christmas markets, big city activities, and impressive beauty, while Bilbao attracts visitors for its historical sights. New York City is more touristy than Bilbao and is popular for its high-reaching skyscrapers, iconic landmarks, world-class theater scene, and endless energy. It is also well known for The Statue of Liberty. Bilbao is famous for it's world-class culinary scene, its modern museums, and its lovely parks.

How is Bilbao different from New York City?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

New York City 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 New York City are among the most recognizable in the world. The sights and museums around the city are too numerous to list, but some of the most famous include the Statue of Liberty, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Museum of Modern Art, Central Park, and the Empire State Building. This is a city that is filled with iconic landmarks and you could spend weeks here and still not see it all.

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 Bilbao or New York City Better for Theater?

New York City is an amazing city to visit for its theatre productions. However, Bilbao is not a theatre destination.

New York City is considered to be a world-class theater destination. Visiting Broadway is a quintessential NYC experience. Whether you enjoy the theater or simply want to experience something new, seeing a Broadway show is a true bucket list activity.

Bilbao is not a theatre destination.

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

Picking the best cuisine and restaurants between Bilbao and New York City can be difficult as they are each terrific 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 York City is an obvious choice, as it is one of the food capitals of the world. The city has a diverse variety of restaurants, with everything from local dives to Michelin star options. There are many neighborhoods that are notable for their ethnic cuisine, particularly Little Italy and Chinatown. Quintessential NYC dishes include NYC pizza, NYC hot dogs, bagels, and Chinese dim sum.

Is Bilbao or New York City Better for Nightlife?

New York City 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 York City has a colorful and one-of-a-kind nightlife scene. Known as the city that never sleeps, you can be assured that NYC has some of the best nightlife in the world. There are world class bars and clubs, but also local venues that have a more relaxed atmosphere. Several famous clubs include Paul's Cocktail Lounge, Le Bain, and Avant Gardner.

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 York City Better for Music?

New York City 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 York City Popular music venues include Music Hall of Williamsburg, Radio City Music Hall, Beacon Theatre, and Forest Hills Stadium.

Bilbao is not a live music destination.

Is Bilbao or New York City Better for its Old Town?

Bilbao is a good destination for its historic old town. However, New York City 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.

New York City does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Bilbao or New York City?

New York City 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 New York City make it a world-class shopping destination. The shopping is as diverse as the city itself. Head for Fifth Avenue for high end shopping or check out any of the many street markets for local items. New York is known for its many flea markets where you can find vintage items at a good price. And if you're looking to pick up a souvenir shirt or knick knack, there are plenty of souvenir shops around town as well.

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 New York City More Beautiful?

New York City is a good destination for its scenery and beauty. However, Bilbao is not a destination known for its beauty.

New York City is a beautiful place to visit, too. The beauty of the skyline at night or the views from the top of the Empire State Building will take your breath away.

Bilbao is not a destination known for its beauty.

Is Bilbao or New York City Better for Families?

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

New York City is a very kid-friendly city. The city has many activities for kids of all ages including world class museums, beautifully designed playgrounds, and theater shows designed just for young ones. There are many kid-friendly restaurants as well and older kids will enjoy visiting the iconic landmarks in this world-class city.

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 New York City Better for Couples?

New York City is an amazing city to visit for its romantic activities. Also, Bilbao is still popular, but not quite as popular for couples.

New York City is fantastic couple's destination with fun and romantic activities. From a beautiful carriage ride through Central Park, to a romantic river cruise at night, there is an endless list of unique activities that couples can enjoy in the city. Whether you're interested in theater, the arts, music, or nightlife, this city has it all.

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 New York City Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

New York City is well known for backpackers. Also, Bilbao is still popular, but not quite as popular for backpackers and budget travelers.

New York City is a great city to visit for backpackers. It isn't a particularly budget-friendly destination, but it does get its share of backpackers, so you'll find a nice list of hostels and affordable hangouts that are perfect for the backpacker crowd. This is probably one of the most popular cities for backpackers in the entire United States.

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

Is Bilbao or New York City Better for Students?

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

New York City is a very popular place to visit for students. The city has a diverse population, and international students will feel right at home here exploring the city. There are also plenty of major universities including NYU, Columbia University, and Cornell University.

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 New York City Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

New York City is an amazing city to visit for its public transit. Also, Bilbao is still popular, but not quite as popular for times when you don't have a car.

Public transit in New York City is top-notch. The city has one of the largest subway systems in the world. There's also an elaborate bus system, ferry system, and yellow taxis all around town.

Many visitors use the public transit system in Bilbao. The metro system has three lines. There is also a tram and bus system.

Is Bilbao or New York City a more walkable city?

New York City is an amazing city to visit for its high level of walkability. Also, Bilbao is still popular, but not quite as popular for its ease of walking around.

Getting around New York City on foot is easy. The majority of the neighborhoods in Manhattan are very walkable and easy to explore on foot. Most people prefer not to drive here as it can be overwhelming and chaotic.

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 New York City Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in New York City or Bilbao?

How long in Bilbao or New York City?

Both Bilbao and New York City have a number of activities to choose from. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in New York City than in Bilbao. Usually, 2-3 days is a good amount of time for Bilbao, and 3-7 days is enough time in New York City.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in New York City 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 New York City.

One day in Bilbao or New York City?

Many travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the colorful destination of Bilbao. Don't miss the food, as that's what most people do. Your budget might influence how long you stay. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it.

New York City 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 New York City?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Bilbao. Don't miss the food, as that's what most people do. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. A weekend is usually enough time to experience most activities.

New York City 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 New York City?

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the industrial destination of Bilbao. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. 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.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in New York City. For many, it makes a great getaway for five days. 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 New York City?

You'll find food and shopping around the city of Bilbao. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.

New York City is a bustling city that offers something for everyone. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. If you have one week, this is a great place to go. This would be the perfect place to spend one week, as it has just the right amount of activities.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Sightseeing Tours in Spain, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Spain, The Best 2-Week Tours from New York City, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Anchorage.

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

Which is Bigger, Bilbao or New York City?

New York City has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Bilbao. When comparing the sizes of Bilbao and New York City, 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 York City?

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 York City in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Bilbao as well as New York City. 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 New York City this time of year.

In July, Bilbao is generally cooler than New York City. Daily temperatures in Bilbao average around 20°C (68°F), and New York City fluctuates around 77°F (25°C).

It's quite rainy in New York City. Bilbao usually gets less rain in July than New York City. Bilbao gets 51 mm (2 in) of rain, while New York City receives 4.5 inches (114 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Bilbao or New York City in the Autumn?

Both New York City and Bilbao are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. 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 New York City for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area.

Bilbao is a little warmer than New York City in the autumn. The daily temperature in Bilbao averages around 16°C (62°F) in October, and New York City fluctuates around 57°F (14°C).

It's quite rainy in Bilbao. In October, Bilbao usually receives more rain than New York City. Bilbao gets 111 mm (4.4 in) of rain, while New York City receives 3.1 inches (78 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Bilbao or New York City in the Winter?

Both New York City and Bilbao during the winter are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Bilbao for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Furthermore, many visitors come to New York City in the winter for the museums, the Christmas ambience, the shopping scene, the theater shows, and the cuisine.

New York City can get quite cold in the winter. In the winter, Bilbao is much warmer than New York City. Typically, the winter temperatures in Bilbao in January average around 9°C (48°F), and New York City averages at about 31°F (-1°C).

It rains a lot this time of the year in Bilbao. Bilbao usually gets more rain in January than New York City. Bilbao gets 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain, while New York City receives 3.4 inches (86 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Bilbao or New York City in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Bilbao and New York City. Many visitors come to Bilbao in the spring for the activities around the city. Furthermore, most visitors come to New York City for the activities around the city and the natural beauty during these months.

In April, Bilbao is generally around the same temperature as New York City. Daily temperatures in Bilbao average around 12°C (54°F), and New York City fluctuates around 52°F (11°C).

Bilbao gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Bilbao usually receives more rain than New York City. Bilbao gets 129 mm (5.1 in) of rain, while New York City receives 3.8 inches (98 mm) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for New York City and Bilbao