Which place is cheaper, Rome or Bilbao?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Bilbao and Rome. 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 is a colorful, friendly, and industrial city. Because this is such a big city, visitors will find many sights and attractions around town. Other popular activities here include museums, nightlife, and shopping.
Rome is a archeological, bustling, and fun-filled city. With plenty of activities and things to do, it's a huge city that draws plenty of visitors. The famous beauty of this place is one of the main draws. And you can't forget about the live music, food, and shopping.
Travelers will usually find more to do in Rome than Bilbao, as it is bigger with more sights, attractions, and activities for visitors. Rome is more popular for its museums, food, nightlife, music, shopping, big city activities, and impressive beauty, while Bilbao is known for its historical sights. Rome is more touristy than Bilbao and is known for its iconic archaeological sites such as the Colosseum and the Roman Forum, as well as its gelato, Italian cuisine, and strong religious roots. It is also home to The Colosseum. Bilbao is popular for it's world-class culinary scene, its modern museums, and its lovely parks.
Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Rome and Bilbao. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.
Rome 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 Rome are among the most recognizable in the world. The historical sights around the city are among the most impressive in the world. Almost anywhere you look you'll find a notable landmark but some of the most famous include the Colosseum, the Pantheon, the Trevi Fountain, the Vatican, and the Roman Forum.
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.
Rome is an amazing city to visit for its restaurant scene. However, Bilbao is not a culinary destination.
Eat your way through Rome, as it has many local or world renowned restaurants to choose from. Homemade pasta, fresh sauces, and fine wine all make the food scene among the best. Also make sure you try the gelato.
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.
Rome 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.
Rome has a colorful and one-of-a-kind nightlife scene. You'll find a huge concentration of bars and clubs in the Testaccio area. There are late night clubs with salsa dancing, merengue, and live DJ's spinning every type of music.
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.
Rome 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 Rome Popular music venues include Live Alcazar, Atlantico Live, and Beba do Samba.
Bilbao is not a live music destination.
Bilbao is a city with good options for its historic old town charm. However, Rome does not have a historic old town.
Bilbao offers a nice historic old town area. The old town, often called Casco Viejo, is filled with historic architecture, great local bars, and some interesting shopping.
Rome does not have a historic old town.
Rome 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 Rome make it a world-class shopping destination. For the biggest brand names, head to Via del Corso, which is near the Spanish Steps. Popular items to buy include Italian ceramics, shoes, leather goods, and jewelry.
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.
Rome is well known for its family-friendly activities. Also, Bilbao is still popular, but not quite as popular for its kid-friendly activities.
Rome is a very kid-friendly city. What kid wouldn't be thrilled to be surrounded by pizza and spaghetti restaurants? In addition to kid-friendly food options, there are also a number of great activities that the whole family can enjoy including exploring the Colosseum, taking a gladiator class, and eating gelato.
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.
Rome is well known for its romantic activities. Also, Bilbao is still popular, but not quite as popular for couples.
Couples visit Rome frequently as it offers plenty of romantic activities. With many beautiful buildings, world class restaurants, and world renowned sights, this city makes a great romantic destination.
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.
Rome is an amazing city to visit for backpackers. Also, Bilbao is still popular, but not quite as popular for backpackers and budget travelers.
Backpackers and budget travelers come from all over the world to visit Rome. Backpackers will find no shortage of hostels where they can stay, particularly near the main train station where accommodation is particularly cheap (but not always the best quality).
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.
Rome is an amazing city to visit for students. Also, Bilbao is still popular, but not quite as popular for its student-friendly activities.
Rome is a very popular place to visit for students. The city is a popular study abroad destination and you'll find plenty of international students here.
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.
Rome 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 Rome is top-notch. There's a metro system, trams, and a comprehensive bus system that goes around the city.
Many visitors use the public transit system in Bilbao. The metro system has three lines. There is also a tram and bus system.
Rome 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 Rome on foot is easy. You'll find many of the most popular sights in a compact area that's easily explored on foot. Do watch out for traffic, which can be a bit chaotic at times.
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 Rome Worth Visiting?.
Both Bilbao and Rome have a number of activities to choose from. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Rome than in Bilbao. Usually, 2-3 days is a good amount of time for Bilbao, and 3-7 days is enough time in Rome.
Families should spend more time in Rome than Bilbao. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Rome, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.
Couples should spend more time in Rome than Bilbao. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Rome that are perfect for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.
Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Rome 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 Rome.
Visitors enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Bilbao. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything.
Rome 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.
Bilbao is a fun place to experience. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. A weekend is often enough time to do most activities. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.
Rome 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.
You'll find shopping and museums around the friendly destination of Bilbao. This city offers something for everyone. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.
It's hard to know how much time to spend in Rome. 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.
The authentic city of Bilbao offers museums and nightlife. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. One week 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.
Rome 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 G Adventures Tours to Spain, The Best 3-Day Tours from Madrid, The Best Luxury Tours to Italy, and The Best Budget Tours to Italy.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Bilbao is €137, while the average daily cost in Rome is €170. 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 Rome in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Bilbao or Rome? 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.
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Bilbao:
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Rome:
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Rome:
Prices for flights to both Rome 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.
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Bilbao.
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Rome:
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Rome.
Here are a few actual costs in Bilbao for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
Here are a few typical costs in Rome for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
Here are a few actual costs in Rome for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
Also in Bilbao, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Rome:
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Rome:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Bilbao and Rome, we can see that Rome 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 Rome would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Rome 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 Rome Expensive?.
Rome has a larger population, and is about 7 times larger than the population of Bilbao. When comparing the sizes of Bilbao and Rome, 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.
Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Both Rome and Bilbao are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Bilbao for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences during these months. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Rome because of the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.
In the summer, Bilbao is cooler than Rome. Typically, the summer temperatures in Bilbao in July average around 20°C (68°F), and Rome averages at about 25°C (77°F).
It's quite sunny in Rome. Bilbao usually receives less sunshine than Rome during summer. Bilbao gets 188 hours of sunny skies, while Rome receives 338 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Bilbao usually receives more rain than Rome. Bilbao gets 51 mm (2 in) of rain, while Rome receives 19 mm (0.7 in) of rain each month for the summer.
Both Rome and Bilbao during the autumn are popular places to visit. The autumn months attract visitors to Bilbao because of the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene. Furthermore, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Rome this time of year.
In October, Bilbao is generally around the same temperature as Rome. Daily temperatures in Bilbao average around 16°C (62°F), and Rome fluctuates around 17°C (63°F).
In the autumn, Bilbao often gets less sunshine than Rome. Bilbao gets 125 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Rome receives 198 hours of full sun.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Bilbao. Bilbao usually gets more rain in October than Rome. Bilbao gets 111 mm (4.4 in) of rain, while Rome receives 94 mm (3.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Bilbao and Rome. The museums and the shopping scene are the main draw to Bilbao this time of year. Furthermore, many travelers come to Rome for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Bilbao is a little warmer than Rome in the winter. The daily temperature in Bilbao averages around 9°C (48°F) in January, and Rome fluctuates around 8°C (47°F).
Bilbao usually receives less sunshine than Rome during winter. Bilbao gets 77 hours of sunny skies, while Rome receives 127 hours of full sun in the winter.
Bilbao gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In January, Bilbao usually receives more rain than Rome. Bilbao gets 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain, while Rome receives 81 mm (3.2 in) of rain each month for the winter.
The spring brings many poeple to Bilbao as well as Rome. Many travelers come to Bilbao for the activities around the city. Additionally, many visitors come to Rome in the spring for the activities around the city and the natural beauty.
In the spring, Bilbao is cooler than Rome. Typically, the spring temperatures in Bilbao in April average around 12°C (54°F), and Rome averages at about 14°C (57°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Rome. In the spring, Bilbao often gets less sunshine than Rome. Bilbao gets 117 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Rome receives 204 hours of full sun.
Bilbao receives a lot of rain in the spring. Bilbao usually gets more rain in April than Rome. Bilbao gets 129 mm (5.1 in) of rain, while Rome receives 50 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.
Bilbao | Rome | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | 9°C (48°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) | 8°C (47°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) |
Feb | 10°C (50°F) | 108 mm (4.3 in) | 9°C (49°F) | 76 mm (3 in) |
Mar | 11°C (51°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) |
Apr | 12°C (54°F) | 129 mm (5.1 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
May | 15°C (59°F) | 92 mm (3.6 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 42 mm (1.6 in) |
Jun | 18°C (64°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) | 22°C (71°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) |
Jul | 20°C (68°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 19 mm (0.7 in) |
Aug | 20°C (68°F) | 89 mm (3.5 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 36 mm (1.4 in) |
Sep | 19°C (66°F) | 75 mm (3 in) | 22°C (71°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) |
Oct | 16°C (62°F) | 111 mm (4.4 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) |
Nov | 12°C (54°F) | 152 mm (6 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 105 mm (4.1 in) |
Dec | 10°C (50°F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) | 9°C (49°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) |