A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Bilbao vs. Sarajevo for Old Town, Attractions, Nightlife, and Backpackers

Should you visit Bilbao or Sarajevo?

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 Sarajevo. 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. It's a large city, so you'll find plenty of things to do around town. Visitors also love the shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Sarajevo

Sarajevo is a cultural, beautiful, and overlooked city. It's a large city, so you'll find plenty of things to do around town. The beauty of this spot is also one of the main reasons why visitors come. And you can't forget about the food, hiking, and shopping.

Bilbao and Sarajevo: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Bilbao or Sarajevo?

You'll generally find more things to do in Sarajevo than Bilbao. Sarajevo is bigger than Bilbao, and it also has more attractions and activities for travelers. Sarajevo is better known for its food, historical sights, hiking, and impressive beauty, while Bilbao is more popular for its nightlife. Bilbao is more touristy than Sarajevo and is popular for it's world-class culinary scene, its modern museums, and its lovely parks. Sarajevo is well known for its worn torn past, but today it is a city that is filled with culture, natural beauty, and incredible food. Also, Sarajevo is famous for The Old Town.

How is Bilbao different from Sarajevo?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Plenty of people visit the excellent sights and museums in both Bilbao and Sarajevo.

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.

Sarajevo offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. The sights in the city reflect its history and culture. Famous places to visit include Gazi Husrev-beg Mosque, the Latin Bridge, Kovači Memorial Cemetery, and the Sarajevo Tunnel Museum.

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

Sarajevo is an amazing city to visit for its restaurant scene. However, Bilbao is not a culinary destination.

Eat your way through Sarajevo, as it has many local or world renowned restaurants to choose from. Bosnia isn't the first place that comes to mind when you think of food, but it is actually among the best. The dishes are heavy on meat and pastry, with the perfect amount of seasoning. Favorite dishes include Bosnian burek and cevapi. And it's easy to dine your way through this beautiful city as restaurants are very affordable.

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 Sarajevo Better for Nightlife?

Bilbao is a very popular place for nightlife and partying. Also, Sarajevo is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its evening party scene.

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.

Sarajevo has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. After immersing yourself in history for the day, the nighttime offers the perfect opportunity to unwind. Locals and tourists come together at the city's many bars and nightclubs where you can listen to music, dance, or chat with locals over a cold beer.

Is Bilbao or Sarajevo Better for its Old Town?

Sarajevo is an amazing city to visit for its old town. Also, Bilbao is still popular, but not quite as popular for its historic old town charm.

Sarajevo offers visitors a world-class historical old town to explore. The city's old town, which is known as Baščaršija, is filled with a history charm that is unlike any other European city. The wooden shops, wandering lanes, and striking minarets highlight the area's beautiful culture and long-running history.

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.

Is Bilbao or Sarajevo Better for Hiking?

Sarajevo is an amazing city to visit for its hiking experiences. However, Bilbao is not a hiking destination.

Sarajevo is well-known for its hiking and trekking. If you have a way to get out of town, you'll be rewarded with a natural beauty that is untouched and pristine - a rare find in Europe. There are a number of popular trails that are popular with locals and tourists alike. While landmines remain a concern in off-the-beaten-path areas, if you stay on marked trails, they pose no real threat.

Bilbao is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Bilbao or Sarajevo?

Shopping is a popular activity in both Sarajevo and Bilbao.

Bilbao is a popular shopping destination with plenty of stores. Gran Vía is the most popular shopping street in town. There are also historic boutique shops around the old town.

Many visitors explore the shopping areas in Sarajevo. This city offers a unique opportunity to shop for traditional hand-crafted good in the old town. The goods are handmade and reflect the city's long running history as a center for trade. Popular items for purchase include coffee sets, jewelry, and handmade carpets.

Is Bilbao or Sarajevo Better for Families?

Bilbao is a good destination for its kid-friendly activities. However, Sarajevo is lacking in good options for its family-friendly activities.

Bilbao is a family-friendly city. 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.

Sarajevo doesn't usually come to mind when thinking about kid-friendly destinations. Older kids will really benefit from the history and cultural lessons that coincide with a visit to this beautiful city. There are also some fun activities that they can enjoy including a zoo, an indoor play area, and an amusement park not far outside of town.

Is Bilbao or Sarajevo Better for Couples?

Bilbao is a good destination for its romantic activities. However, Sarajevo is lacking in good options for couples.

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.

Sarajevo is not always the best place to visit for a couple. Romance isn't the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Sarajevo, but the city has amazing food and world class cultural sights that will make for a truly rewarding trip.

Is Bilbao or Sarajevo Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

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

Sarajevo is a great city to visit for backpackers. This city is among the most culturally captivating places in Europe. Although it's often overlooked by tourists and backpackers, the affordability, stunning beauty, and unique personality make it a truly amazing place to visit.

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 Sarajevo Better for Students?

Bilbao is a good destination for its student-friendly activities. However, Sarajevo is not popular with students.

Plenty of students visit Bilbao. This is a popular study abroad destination with many great museums and educational opportunities for international students.

Sarajevo is not popular with students.

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

You'll find somewhat comparable public transit options in both Bilbao and Sarajevo.

Public transit in Bilbao can get you to some places easily. The metro system has three lines. There is also a tram and bus system.

Many visitors use the public transit system in Sarajevo. It includes a tram, trolleybus, bus and minibus network.

Is Bilbao or Sarajevo a more walkable city?

Bilbao and Sarajevo both are notable when exploring on foot.

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

Sarajevo is a somewhat walkable city. Most of the touristy areas in the central part of the city are walkable, but there are also some sights outside of town that you will need a taxi to visit.

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

Should I spend more time in Sarajevo or Bilbao?

How long in Bilbao or Sarajevo?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Bilbao and Sarajevo. You can spend similar amounts of time exploring each one. In general, 2-3 days is a good amount of time for Bilbao, and 1-3 days is enough time in Sarajevo.

Families should spend more time in Bilbao than Sarajevo. 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 Sarajevo. 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 Sarajevo 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 Sarajevo.

One day in Bilbao or Sarajevo?

The city of Bilbao offers nightlife and shopping. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

Many travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Sarajevo. Hikers are also drawn to this area. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

A weekend in Bilbao or Sarajevo?

Bilbao is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have a weekend, this city makes for a great vacation. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Bilbao, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Sarajevo 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 Sarajevo?

Bilbao is a popular choice for travelers. 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. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Sarajevo. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. 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 Sarajevo?

Bilbao is a great place to explore. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. This city offers something for everyone.

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the beautiful destination of Sarajevo. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Many travelers plan to spend time hiking while in the area. 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 Cultural Tours in Bosnia and Herzegowina, and The Best Budget Tours to Bosnia and Herzegowina.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Bilbao and Sarajevo, we can see that Bilbao is more expensive. And not only is Sarajevo much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Sarajevo would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Sarajevo 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 Sarajevo.

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

Which is Bigger, Bilbao or Sarajevo?

Sarajevo has a larger population, and is about 98% larger than the population of Bilbao. When comparing the sizes of Bilbao and Sarajevo, 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 Sarajevo?

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 Sarajevo in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Bilbao as well as Sarajevo. The summer months attract visitors to Bilbao because of the city activities and the family-friendly experiences. Additionally, the hiking, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Sarajevo this time of year.

Bilbao is cooler than Sarajevo in the summer. The daily temperature in Bilbao averages around 20°C (68°F) in July, and Sarajevo fluctuates around 26°C (78°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Sarajevo. In the summer, Bilbao often gets less sunshine than Sarajevo. Bilbao gets 188 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Sarajevo receives 323 hours of full sun.

Bilbao usually gets around the same amount of rain in July as Sarajevo. Bilbao gets 51 mm (2 in) of rain, while Sarajevo receives 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Bilbao or Sarajevo in the Autumn?

Both Sarajevo 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 Sarajevo for the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.

In the autumn, Bilbao is around the same temperature as Sarajevo. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Bilbao in October average around 16°C (62°F), and Sarajevo averages at about 17°C (62°F).

Bilbao usually receives less sunshine than Sarajevo during autumn. Bilbao gets 125 hours of sunny skies, while Sarajevo receives 178 hours of full sun in the autumn.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Sarajevo. It's quite rainy in Bilbao. In October, Bilbao usually receives less rain than Sarajevo. Bilbao gets 111 mm (4.4 in) of rain, while Sarajevo receives 153 mm (6 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Bilbao or Sarajevo in the Winter?

Both Sarajevo and Bilbao during the winter are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Bilbao for the museums and the shopping scene. Also, many visitors come to Sarajevo in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

In January, Bilbao is generally much warmer than Sarajevo. Daily temperatures in Bilbao average around 9°C (48°F), and Sarajevo fluctuates around 6°C (42°F).

In the winter, Bilbao often gets less sunshine than Sarajevo. Bilbao gets 77 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Sarajevo receives 113 hours of full sun.

Sarajevo gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Bilbao. Bilbao usually gets less rain in January than Sarajevo. Bilbao gets 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain, while Sarajevo receives 148 mm (5.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Bilbao or Sarajevo in the Spring?

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

Bilbao is cooler than Sarajevo in the spring. The daily temperature in Bilbao averages around 12°C (54°F) in April, and Sarajevo fluctuates around 14°C (58°F).

Bilbao usually receives less sunshine than Sarajevo during spring. Bilbao gets 117 hours of sunny skies, while Sarajevo receives 174 hours of full sun in the spring.

Sarajevo receives a lot of rain in the spring. Bilbao gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Bilbao usually receives around the same amount of rain as Sarajevo. Bilbao gets 129 mm (5.1 in) of rain, while Sarajevo receives 127 mm (5 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Sarajevo and Bilbao