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

Should you visit Bilbao or Ottawa?

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 Ottawa. 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. 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.

Ottawa

Ottawa is a friendly, welcoming, and cultural city. And you can't forget about the shopping, museums, and food.

Bilbao and Ottawa: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Bilbao or Ottawa?

Travelers will generally find more things to do in Bilbao than Ottawa. While Ottawa is larger than Bilbao, Bilbao has more sights and attractions for tourists. Bilbao is more popular for its nightlife, historical sights, shopping, and big city activities, while Ottawa is known for its food. Bilbao is more touristy than Ottawa and is popular for it's world-class culinary scene, its modern museums, and its lovely parks. It is also home to The Guggenheim Museum. Ottawa is popular for its history, politics, and green space.

How is Bilbao different from Ottawa?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Plenty of people visit the superb sights and museums in both Bilbao and Ottawa.

Visitors can fill many days exploring the museums and attractions around 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.

Ottawa offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. As the country's capital, there are a large number of museums to explore. There are summer national museums in town which include the National Gallery of Canada, the Museum of History, the Science and Technology Museum, the Aviation and Space Museum, the Agriculture and Food Museum, the Museum of Nature, and the War Museum.

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

Ottawa 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 Ottawa. The culinary scene highlights many Canadian classics like poutine and maple donuts (and, of course, the classic Tim Horton's), but you'll also find plenty of international options like shawarma.

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 Ottawa Better for Nightlife?

Bilbao is a very popular place for its evening party scene. However, Ottawa is lacking in good options for nightlife.

Bilbao has a large number of nightlife venues. 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.

Ottawa is generally a quiet destination but there are options around. It's not the first place that comes to mind when you think about partying, but there are live music venues and a some great bars around town.

Is Bilbao or Ottawa Better for its Old Town?

Bilbao is a popular place for its historic old town charm. However, Ottawa 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.

Ottawa does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Bilbao or Ottawa?

Bilbao is a very popular place for its shopping areas. Also, Ottawa is not quite as popular, but is fairly good 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.

Ottawa is a great destination for shopping. You'll find large malls, outlets, and shopping streets that are fun to browse. Some of the favorite shopping areas include ByWard Market, Sparks Street, and CF Rideau Centre.

Is Bilbao or Ottawa Better for Families?

Both Bilbao and Ottawa 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.

Ottawa offers lots of family activities. As the country's capital, you'll find a number of museums that will keep a kid's attention. In particular, check out the aviation, science, and nature museums. If you have a car, you can head out to Calypso Water Park, which is fun as well.

Is Bilbao or Ottawa Better for Couples?

Bilbao and Ottawa 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.

Ottawa is a good city for couples to visit. The city is filled with parks and green spaces where you can enjoy flowers or peaceful walks. Commissioners Park is particularly nice and known for its tulips during the spring season. Dow's Lake is a nice place for ice skating in the winter or kayaking in the summer. The city also offers a number of romantic restaurants and charming hotels.

Is Bilbao or Ottawa Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Bilbao and Ottawa 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 Ottawa. Although the city is often overlooked by tourists, there are a surprising number of hostels around town.

Is Bilbao or Ottawa Better for Students?

Bilbao and Ottawa are good 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 Ottawa. It appeals to international and Canadian students alike. It's known for its livability and diverse cultural scene.

Is Bilbao or Ottawa 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. Also, Ottawa is not quite as popular, but is fairly good 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.

You'll find some public transit in Ottawa, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. There is both a public bus and light rail system.

Is Bilbao or Ottawa a more walkable city?

Bilbao and Ottawa both are good when exploring on foot.

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

Ottawa is a somewhat walkable city. Many of the urban neighborhoods are very walkable.

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

Should I spend more time in Ottawa or Bilbao?

How long in Bilbao or Ottawa?

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

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

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

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

A weekend in Bilbao or Ottawa?

Bilbao 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.

Ottawa 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 Ottawa?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Bilbao. 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.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Ottawa. 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 Ottawa?

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the industrial destination of Bilbao. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the friendly destination of Ottawa. 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 Sightseeing Tours in Spain, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Spain, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Canada, and The Best Coach Bus Tours in Canada.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Bilbao and Ottawa, we can see that Bilbao is more expensive. And not only is Ottawa much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Bilbao is in Europe and Ottawa 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 Ottawa would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Ottawa 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 Bilbao would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Bilbao than you might in Ottawa.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Bilbao Expensive? and Is Ottawa Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Bilbao or Ottawa?

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

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 Ottawa in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Bilbao as well as Ottawa. The city activities and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Bilbao this time of year. Additionally, many travelers come to Ottawa for the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Bilbao is around the same temperature as Ottawa. Typically, the summer temperatures in Bilbao in July average around 20°C (68°F), and Ottawa averages at about 21°C (71°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Ottawa. In the summer, Bilbao often gets less sunshine than Ottawa. Bilbao gets 188 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ottawa receives 268 hours of full sun.

Bilbao usually gets less rain in July than Ottawa. Bilbao gets 51 mm (2 in) of rain, while Ottawa receives 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Bilbao or Ottawa in the Autumn?

Both Ottawa and Bilbao are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Bilbao for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene. Also, many visitors come to Ottawa in the autumn for the shopping scene.

In October, Bilbao is generally much warmer than Ottawa. Daily temperatures in Bilbao average around 16°C (62°F), and Ottawa fluctuates around 9°C (48°F).

Bilbao usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Ottawa during autumn. Bilbao gets 125 hours of sunny skies, while Ottawa receives 116 hours of full sun in the autumn.

It's quite rainy in Bilbao. In October, Bilbao usually receives more rain than Ottawa. Bilbao gets 111 mm (4.4 in) of rain, while Ottawa receives 75 mm (3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Bilbao or Ottawa in the Winter?

Both Ottawa and Bilbao during the winter are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Bilbao in the winter for the museums and the shopping scene. Also, most visitors come to Ottawa for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.

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

In the winter, Bilbao often gets less sunshine than Ottawa. Bilbao gets 77 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ottawa receives 93 hours of full sun.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Bilbao. Bilbao usually gets more rain in January than Ottawa. Bilbao gets 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain, while Ottawa receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Bilbao or Ottawa in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Bilbao and Ottawa. Most visitors come to Bilbao for the activities around the city during these months.

In the spring, Bilbao is much warmer than Ottawa. Typically, the spring temperatures in Bilbao in April average around 12°C (54°F), and Ottawa averages at about 6°C (44°F).

Bilbao usually receives less sunshine than Ottawa during spring. Bilbao gets 117 hours of sunny skies, while Ottawa receives 180 hours of full sun in the spring.

Bilbao gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Bilbao usually receives more rain than Ottawa. Bilbao gets 129 mm (5.1 in) of rain, while Ottawa receives 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Ottawa and Bilbao