Which place is cheaper, Playa del Ingles or Bilbao?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Bilbao or Playa del Ingles?
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 Playa del Ingles. 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.
Where Should I go: Bilbao or Playa del Ingles?
Bilbao
The industrial city of Bilbao is located on a port of the Nervión River in northern Spain, an important location of Basque country. While the downtown is filled with skyscrapers and innovative architecture, it sits between a river and mountains of natural allure. A city of hard-workers to the core, Bilbao displays remnants of its industrial past, though in more recent years it has transformed into a center for art. It is now a popular location for visitors looking to experience art galleries and museums.
Playa del Ingles
Translating to "Englishman's Beach," Playa del Ingles is a sea resort located on the south coast of the Gran Canaria island of Spain's Canary Islands. Since the 1960s it has been built up to accommodate tourists from around the world, especially from Europe. Some of the most popular attractions include an abundance of bars and clubs as well as beachside activities like swimming, surfing, scuba, and snorkeling.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best G Adventures Tours to Spain, The Best 3-Day Tours from Madrid, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Madrid, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Barcelona.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBilbao €137Playa del Ingles €180
The average daily cost (per person) in Bilbao is €137, while the average daily cost in Playa del Ingles is €180. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Bilbao and Playa del Ingles in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBilbao €72Playa del Ingles €93
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBilbao €144Playa del Ingles €186
Compare Hotels in Bilbao and Playa del Ingles
Looking for a hotel in Bilbao or Playa del Ingles? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Bilbao Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Bilbao €26Playa del Ingles €61
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bilbao
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Bilbao:
- Private transfer from Bilbao City Center to Bilbao Airport (BIO): $33
- Private transfer from Bilbao Airport (BIO) to Bilbao City Center: $33
- Private one way arrival OR departure transfer in Bilbao from/to airport: $67
- Private Transfer on arrival and departure in Bilbao: $72
- Private Transfer from the Airport to Vitoria city: $84
- Private Transfer from Vitoria to San Sebastian: $291
- Private Transfer from Vitoria to Pamplona: $229
- Private Transfer from Vitoria to Logroño: $245
- Private Transfer from Vitoria to Laguardia town: $199
- Private Transfer from Vitoria to Elciego town: $199
- Private Transfer from Vitoria to Bilbao: $153
- Private Transfer from Vitoria city to San Sebastian Airport: $291
Is it cheaper to fly into Bilbao or Playa del Ingles?
Prices for flights to both Playa del Ingles and Bilbao change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayBilbao €45Playa del Ingles €49
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Bilbao
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Bilbao.
- Basque Food Tour with Guide: $86
- The Original Bilbao Food Tour with Wine Pairings: $102
- Pintxos and Tapas Cooking Class in Bilbao : $109
- Basque Pintxos and Tapas Cooking Class with Open Bar: $112
- The Original Bilbao Food Tour with Wine Pairing: $115
- Basque Flavours: High End Food Tour of Bilbao with a Local: $120
- Paella Cooking Class with Sangria in Bilbao: $134
- Private Food Tour, Food Lovers with Tastings: $134
- Paella Cooking Class (with Basque Sangria) in Bilbao: $142
- Traditional Basque Cooking Class with Wine Tasting: $155
- Guggenheim Museum Visit & Private Walking Food Tour: $197
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Bilbao €29Playa del Ingles €33
Tours and Activities in Bilbao
Here are a few actual costs in Bilbao for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- PRIVATE San Sebastian and Basque Coast Tour from Bilbao: $290
- Pintxos Tasting in Bilbao Small Group or Private Walking Tour: $81
- 2 Hours Private Family Guided Walking Tour in Bilbao: $197
- 3-day Bilbao Bike Tour and Guggenheim Museum Ticket: $257
- Awesome Bilbao – Private Family Walking Tour: $384
- BILBAO-City Highlights Bike Tour: $36
- Basque Country 7-Day Guided Tour from Bilbao: $1,144
- Bike tour with Pintxos & Drinks in Getxo (Scenic Bilbao Seaside): $60
- Bilbao & Guggenheim Museum Private Walking Tour with guide: $286
- Bilbao & Guggenheim Private Walking Tour from Hotel/Center: $279
- Bilbao - Private Historic walking tour: $374
- Bilbao 3-Day Package: Guggenheim, Hotel Stay and Bike Tour: $251
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBilbao €21Playa del Ingles €7.86
Sample the Local Flavors in Bilbao
Also in Bilbao, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Pub Crawl Bilbao: $25
- Immersive Evening Spanish Wine Tasting w/ Sommelier: $53
- Spanish Wine Tasting with Sommelier (close to Guggenheim museum): $54
- Pintxos and Wine Tasting Tour with Local Guide: $79
- Txakoli, Gaztelugatxe, & Urdaibai with wine tasting: $80
- Guided tour of Txakoli wine tasting and tasting of wine and typical products: $148
- Bilbao Txakoli Wine Tour: $176
- Guided Txacoli Wine Tasting: $187
- Rioja Wine Tour: 2 Wineries From Vitoria: $240
- From Rioja Architecture and Wine Tour: $241
- Rioja Wine Tour: 2 Wineries From Bilbao: $246
- Architectural Rioja Small Group Wine Tour with Lunch from Bilbao : $246
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Bilbao and Playa del Ingles, we can see that Playa del Ingles is more expensive. And not only is Bilbao much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. 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 Playa del Ingles would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Playa del Ingles 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 Playa del Ingles Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Bilbao or Playa del Ingles?
Bilbao has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Playa del Ingles. When comparing the sizes of Bilbao and Playa del Ingles, 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 Playa del Ingles?
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 Playa del Ingles in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Bilbao as well as Playa del Ingles. Many visitors come to Bilbao in the summer for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Bilbao is generally around the same temperature as Playa del Ingles. Daily temperatures in Bilbao average around 20°C (68°F), and Playa del Ingles fluctuates around 22°C (72°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Playa del Ingles. In the summer, Bilbao often gets less sunshine than Playa del Ingles. Bilbao gets 188 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Playa del Ingles receives 293 hours of full sun.
Bilbao usually gets more rain in July than Playa del Ingles. Bilbao gets 51 mm (2 in) of rain, while Playa del Ingles receives 0 mm (0 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyBilbao 20°C (68°F)Playa del Ingles 22°C (72°F)
Should I visit Bilbao or Playa del Ingles in the Autumn?
Both Playa del Ingles and Bilbao are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Bilbao for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene during these months.
Bilbao is cooler than Playa del Ingles in the autumn. The daily temperature in Bilbao averages around 16°C (62°F) in October, and Playa del Ingles fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).
It's quite sunny in Playa del Ingles. Bilbao usually receives less sunshine than Playa del Ingles during autumn. Bilbao gets 125 hours of sunny skies, while Playa del Ingles receives 213 hours of full sun in the autumn.
It's quite rainy in Bilbao. In October, Bilbao usually receives more rain than Playa del Ingles. Bilbao gets 111 mm (4.4 in) of rain, while Playa del Ingles receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberBilbao 16°C (62°F)Playa del Ingles 23°C (73°F)
Should I visit Bilbao or Playa del Ingles in the Winter?
Both Playa del Ingles and Bilbao during the winter are popular places to visit. The winter months attract visitors to Bilbao because of the museums and the shopping scene.
In the winter, Bilbao is much colder than Playa del Ingles. Typically, the winter temperatures in Bilbao in January average around 9°C (48°F), and Playa del Ingles averages at about 17°C (63°F).
In the winter, Bilbao often gets less sunshine than Playa del Ingles. Bilbao gets 77 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Playa del Ingles receives 187 hours of full sun.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Bilbao. Bilbao usually gets more rain in January than Playa del Ingles. Bilbao gets 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain, while Playa del Ingles receives 17 mm (0.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryBilbao 9°C (48°F)Playa del Ingles 17°C (63°F)
Should I visit Bilbao or Playa del Ingles in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Bilbao and Playa del Ingles. The activities around the city are the main draw to Bilbao this time of year.
In April, Bilbao is generally much colder than Playa del Ingles. Daily temperatures in Bilbao average around 12°C (54°F), and Playa del Ingles fluctuates around 19°C (66°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Playa del Ingles this time of the year. Bilbao usually receives less sunshine than Playa del Ingles during spring. Bilbao gets 117 hours of sunny skies, while Playa del Ingles receives 225 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 Playa del Ingles. Bilbao gets 129 mm (5.1 in) of rain, while Playa del Ingles receives 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilBilbao 12°C (54°F)Playa del Ingles 19°C (66°F)
Typical Weather for Playa del Ingles and Bilbao
| Bilbao | Playa del Ingles | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 9°C (48°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 17 mm (0.7 in) |
| Feb | 10°C (50°F) | 108 mm (4.3 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 22 mm (0.9 in) |
| Mar | 11°C (51°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Apr | 12°C (54°F) | 129 mm (5.1 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) |
| May | 15°C (59°F) | 92 mm (3.6 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Jun | 18°C (64°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 0 mm (0 in) |
| Jul | 20°C (68°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 0 mm (0 in) |
| Aug | 20°C (68°F) | 89 mm (3.5 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 0 mm (0 in) |
| Sep | 19°C (66°F) | 75 mm (3 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 9 mm (0.4 in) |
| Oct | 16°C (62°F) | 111 mm (4.4 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Nov | 12°C (54°F) | 152 mm (6 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) |
| Dec | 10°C (50°F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) |
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.