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

Should you visit Bilbao or Phoenix?

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 Phoenix. 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 shopping.

Phoenix

Phoenix is a desert, laid back, and sprawling city. And you can't forget about the food, hiking, and shopping.

Bilbao and Phoenix: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Bilbao or Phoenix?

Travelers will generally find more things to do in Bilbao than Phoenix. While Phoenix is larger than Bilbao, Bilbao has more sights and attractions for tourists. Bilbao is more popular for its museums, nightlife, historical sights, shopping, and big city activities, while Phoenix is known for its food and hiking. Bilbao is more touristy than Phoenix 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. Phoenix is popular for its desert landscapes, high number of golf courses, and year round warm weather.

How is Bilbao different from Phoenix?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Bilbao is a great city for its historical sights. Also, Phoenix is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its sights and museums.

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.

Phoenix is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. You'll find art, science, and cultural museums around town. Favorites include the Heard Museum, the Phoenix Art Museum, S'edav Va'aki Museum, and the Arizona Science Museum.

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

Phoenix 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 Phoenix. There are many mom-and-pop shops around town that serve everything from casual meals to quality steaks. There's also a huge selection of Mexican restaurants, as well as other international options such as sushi, dim sum, and Italian.

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 Phoenix Better for Nightlife?

Bilbao is a great city for its evening party scene. Also, Phoenix is not as popular, but is still a nice city for nightlife.

The nightlife in Bilbao has something for everybody. 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.

There's a variety of activities in the evening in Phoenix. The best nightlife scene is found in downtown and central Phoenix. There are bars, restaurants, and venues where you can catch a show. North Phoenix also has grown into a popular evening spot with cocktail bars and pubs.

Is Bilbao or Phoenix Better for its Old Town?

Bilbao is a city with good options for its historic old town charm. However, Phoenix 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.

Phoenix does not have a historic old town.

Is Bilbao or Phoenix Better for Hiking?

Phoenix is a good destination for its hiking experiences. However, Bilbao is not a hiking destination.

Phoenix offers some nice hiking trails. You don't have to head far out of town for impressive hiking opportunities. You'll find trails that range from easy to challenging, and many pass through other-worldly landscapes. You'll find popular trails in Usery Mountain Regional Park, Papago Park, White Tank Mountain Regional Park, South Mountain Park and many others.

Bilbao is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Bilbao or Phoenix?

Bilbao is a great city for its shopping areas. Also, Phoenix is not as popular, but is still a nice city 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.

Phoenix is a great destination for shopping. There are plenty of shopping centers, outlets, and malls where you'll find the standard chain stores. You'll also find farmer's markets around town.

Is Bilbao or Phoenix Better for Families?

Both Bilbao and Phoenix 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.

Phoenix offers lots of family activities. Kids will love the Phoenix Zoo, the Arizona Science Center, the SEA LIFE Arizona Aquarium, and the Bearizona Wildlife Park. There's also a number of parks and gardens as well as a children's museum and several other interactive museums for kids.

Is Bilbao or Phoenix Better for Couples?

Bilbao and Phoenix 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.

Phoenix is a good city for couples to visit. There are many parks and gardens in town as well as beautiful hikes and outdoor activities that couples will enjoy. In the evening, there's theater, shows, and many romantic restaurants.

Is Bilbao or Phoenix Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Bilbao is a city with good options for backpackers and budget travelers. However, Phoenix is not known 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.

Phoenix is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. There is a hostel or two around town for budget travelers.

Is Bilbao or Phoenix Better for Students?

Bilbao is a city with good options for its student-friendly activities. However, Phoenix is not popular with students.

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.

Phoenix is not popular with students.

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

Bilbao is a great city for times when you don't have a car. However, Phoenix is not known for its public transit.

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

Public transit is generally limited in Phoenix. There's a bus and light rail system, but you really need your own vehicle to get around.

Is Bilbao or Phoenix a more walkable city?

Bilbao is a city with good options for its ease of walking around. However, Phoenix is not known for its walkability.

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

Phoenix is generally not very walkable. It's a sprawling city and the only real area that's walkable is the downtown.

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

Should I spend more time in Phoenix or Bilbao?

How long in Bilbao or Phoenix?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Bilbao and Phoenix. In our opinion, Bilbao has more to see and do, so we recommend that you spend more time in Bilbao than Phoenix. In general, 2-3 days is a good amount of time for Bilbao, and 1-3 days is enough time in Phoenix.

Families should spend more time in Bilbao than Phoenix. 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.

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

In Bilbao, you'll find museums and nightlife. This city offers something for everyone. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do.

Many travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Phoenix. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

A weekend in Bilbao or Phoenix?

In Bilbao, you'll find nightlife and shopping. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Bilbao has to offer.

Phoenix 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 Phoenix?

Bilbao is a great place to explore. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. Anyone can find something fun to do here.

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

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Bilbao. Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Bilbao. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the sprawling destination of Phoenix. 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 2-Week Tours from Anchorage, and The Best 2-Week Tours from San Francisco.

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

Which is Bigger, Bilbao or Phoenix?

Phoenix has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Bilbao. When comparing the sizes of Bilbao and Phoenix, 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 Phoenix?

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 Phoenix in the Summer?

Both Phoenix and Bilbao during the summer are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Bilbao for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences during these months. Furthermore, the summer months attract visitors to Phoenix because of the hiking and the family-friendly experiences.

Phoenix can become quite hot in the summer. In the summer, Bilbao is much colder than Phoenix. Typically, the summer temperatures in Bilbao in July average around 20°C (68°F), and Phoenix averages at about 98°F (36°C).

In Phoenix, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the summer, Bilbao often gets less sunshine than Phoenix. Bilbao gets 188 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Phoenix receives 380 hours of full sun.

Bilbao usually gets more rain in July than Phoenix. Bilbao gets 51 mm (2 in) of rain, while Phoenix receives 0.8 inches (21 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Bilbao or Phoenix in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Bilbao and Phoenix. The autumn months attract visitors to Bilbao because of the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene. Furthermore, the hiking trails and the shopping scene are the main draw to Phoenix this time of year.

In October, Bilbao is generally much colder than Phoenix. Daily temperatures in Bilbao average around 16°C (62°F), and Phoenix fluctuates around 79°F (26°C).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Phoenix this time of the year. Bilbao usually receives less sunshine than Phoenix during autumn. Bilbao gets 125 hours of sunny skies, while Phoenix receives 305 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 Phoenix. Bilbao gets 111 mm (4.4 in) of rain, while Phoenix receives 0.7 inches (17 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Bilbao or Phoenix in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Bilbao as well as Phoenix. The museums and the shopping scene are the main draw to Bilbao this time of year. Additionally, many travelers come to Phoenix for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Bilbao is much colder than Phoenix in the winter. The daily temperature in Bilbao averages around 9°C (48°F) in January, and Phoenix fluctuates around 58°F (14°C).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Phoenix. In the winter, Bilbao often gets less sunshine than Phoenix. Bilbao gets 77 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Phoenix receives 254 hours of full sun.

Bilbao receives a lot of rain in the winter. Bilbao usually gets more rain in January than Phoenix. Bilbao gets 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain, while Phoenix receives 0.7 inches (17 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Bilbao or Phoenix in the Spring?

Both Phoenix and Bilbao are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Bilbao for the activities around the city.

In the spring, Bilbao is much colder than Phoenix. Typically, the spring temperatures in Bilbao in April average around 12°C (54°F), and Phoenix averages at about 74°F (23°C).

It's quite sunny in Phoenix. Bilbao usually receives less sunshine than Phoenix during spring. Bilbao gets 117 hours of sunny skies, while Phoenix receives 355 hours of full sun in the spring.

It's quite rainy in Bilbao. In April, Bilbao usually receives more rain than Phoenix. Bilbao gets 129 mm (5.1 in) of rain, while Phoenix receives 0.2 inches (6 mm) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Phoenix and Bilbao