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

Should you visit Bilbao or Toronto?

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 Toronto. 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. Since it's a large city, you'll find plenty of things to do. Other reasons to visit include food, shopping, and museums. See Bilbao travel costs.

Toronto

Toronto is a diverse, vibrant, and cultural city. With plenty of activities and things to do, it's a huge city that draws plenty of visitors. And you can't forget about the shopping, museums, and nightlife. See Toronto travel costs.

Bilbao and Toronto: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Bilbao or Toronto?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Toronto than Bilbao. It is bigger and it has more sights, attractions, and activities for travelers. Toronto is very popular for its museums and attractions, nightlife, shopping, and big city activities, while Bilbao attracts visitors for its food and historical sights. Toronto is more touristy than Bilbao and is popular for its art and culture, diverse cuisine, and multi-cultural population. It is also well known for the CN Tower. Bilbao is famous for it's world-class culinary scene, its modern museums, and its lovely parks.

How is Bilbao different from Toronto?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Toronto 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 Toronto are among the most recognizable in the world. The city is filled with landmarks and museums such as the CN Tower and the Royal Ontario Museum. Ripley's Aquarium is a highlight for many visitors. It's near the CN Tower and has an underwater tunnel. The city is also filled with art galleries and cultural sights. Another must is a visit to Casa Loma and, of course, the Toronto Zoo.

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.

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

Bilbao is terrific for its restaurants. Also, Toronto is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its restaurant scene.

Many restaurants in Bilbao have been singled out for their culinary prowess. 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.

Eating is part of the travel experience when you visit Toronto. The food scene is as diverse as the city itself. You'll find classic Canadian favorites like peameal bacon sandwiches and beavertails, as well as almost any international cuisine you could want. Make sure you try the dim sum, roti, and street hot dogs.

Is Bilbao or Toronto Better for Nightlife?

Toronto 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.

Toronto has a colorful and one-of-a-kind nightlife scene. It's a diverse nightlife scene, with upscale lounges, dive bars, live music, and high energy nightclubs. Popular areas for nightlife include King Street, the Ossington Strip, College Street, and Kensington Market.

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.

Is Bilbao or Toronto Better for its Old Town?

Bilbao is a city with good options for its historic old town. However, Toronto does not have a historic old town.

Bilbao is a good destination for visiting its old town. The old town, often called Casco Viejo, is filled with historic architecture, great local bars, and some interesting shopping.

Toronto does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Bilbao or Toronto?

Toronto 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 Toronto make it a world-class shopping destination. Shopping is huge here, with plenty of options available that range from large malls to vintage stores or flea markets. Eaton Center on Yonge Street is a major shopping area. Yonge Street is also home to more than 600 retail stores.

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.

Is Bilbao or Toronto Better for Families?

Toronto is well known for its family-friendly activities. Also, Bilbao is still popular, but not quite as popular for its kid-friendly activities.

Toronto is a very kid-friendly city. Kids will enjoy the city's many family-friendly museums like the Royal Ontario Museum or the Ontario Science Center. Younger kids will have fun playing at the Centreville Theme Park while all ages will love a day at Canada's Wonderland. Black Creek Pioneer Village is a highlight for many families as well.

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.

Is Bilbao or Toronto Better for Couples?

Toronto is well known for its romantic activities. Also, Bilbao is still popular, but not quite as popular for couples.

Couples visit Toronto frequently as it offers plenty of romantic activities. This city is full of energy, and couples can enjoy amazing meals, impressive shows, and romantic outings. You can picnic at a park or check out the view from CN Tower. There are also dinner cruises and live theater.

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.

Is Bilbao or Toronto Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

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

Toronto is a great city to visit for backpackers. There are a number of hostels around town and there's often a good crowd of backpackers.

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 Toronto Better for Students?

Toronto is an amazing city to visit for students. Also, Bilbao is still popular, but not quite as popular for its student-friendly activities.

Toronto is a very popular place to visit for students. The city has a good number of universities that attract students from around the globe. This is a very livable city with a lot of diversity and plenty of entertainment options.

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.

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

Toronto 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 Toronto is top-notch. Union Station is the hub of the city's transportation system, which includes subways, buses and streetcars.

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

Is Bilbao or Toronto a more walkable city?

Toronto is well known for its high level of walkability. Also, Bilbao is still popular, but not quite as popular for its ease of walking around.

Toronto is a very walkable city. It's a pedestrian-friendly city that is great for exploring on foot. The waterfront area has a walkway and there are cycling trails around town as well.

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 Toronto Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Toronto or Bilbao?

How long in Bilbao or Toronto?

Both Bilbao and Toronto have a number of activities to choose from. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Toronto than in Bilbao. Usually, 2-3 days is a good amount of time for Bilbao, and 3-7 days is enough time in Toronto.

Families should spend more time in Toronto than Bilbao. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Toronto, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Toronto than Bilbao. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Toronto that are perfect for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Toronto 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 Toronto.

One day in Bilbao or Toronto?

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

Toronto 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.

A weekend in Bilbao or Toronto?

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

Toronto 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.

Five days in Bilbao or Toronto?

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 Toronto. 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.

A week in Bilbao or Toronto?

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

Toronto 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 Sightseeing Tours in Spain, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Spain, The Best Northern Lights Tours in Canada, and The Best Luxury Tours to Canada.

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

Which is Bigger, Bilbao or Toronto?

Toronto has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Bilbao. When comparing the sizes of Bilbao and Toronto, 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 Toronto?

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 Toronto in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Bilbao as well as Toronto. Most visitors come to Bilbao for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences during these months. Additionally, the summer months attract visitors to Toronto because of the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Bilbao is generally around the same temperature as Toronto. Daily temperatures in Bilbao average around 20°C (68°F), and Toronto fluctuates around 21°C (70°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Toronto. In the summer, Bilbao often gets less sunshine than Toronto. Bilbao gets 188 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Toronto receives 281 hours of full sun.

Bilbao usually gets less rain in July than Toronto. Bilbao gets 51 mm (2 in) of rain, while Toronto receives 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Bilbao or Toronto in the Autumn?

Both Toronto and Bilbao are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The autumn months attract visitors to Bilbao because of the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene. Also, the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene are the main draw to Toronto this time of year.

Bilbao is much warmer than Toronto in the autumn. The daily temperature in Bilbao averages around 16°C (62°F) in October, and Toronto fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).

Bilbao usually receives less sunshine than Toronto during autumn. Bilbao gets 125 hours of sunny skies, while Toronto receives 153 hours of full sun in the autumn.

It's quite rainy in Bilbao. In October, Bilbao usually receives more rain than Toronto. Bilbao gets 111 mm (4.4 in) of rain, while Toronto receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Bilbao or Toronto in the Winter?

Both Toronto and Bilbao during the winter are popular places to visit. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Bilbao this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Toronto for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Toronto. In the winter, Bilbao is much warmer than Toronto. Typically, the winter temperatures in Bilbao in January average around 9°C (48°F), and Toronto averages at about -4°C (25°F).

In the winter, Bilbao often gets less sunshine than Toronto. Bilbao gets 77 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Toronto receives 87 hours of full sun.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Bilbao. Bilbao usually gets more rain in January than Toronto. Bilbao gets 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain, while Toronto receives 52 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Bilbao or Toronto in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Bilbao and Toronto. Many travelers come to Bilbao for the activities around the city. Also, many visitors come to Toronto in the spring for the activities around the city.

In April, Bilbao is generally much warmer than Toronto. Daily temperatures in Bilbao average around 12°C (54°F), and Toronto fluctuates around 7°C (44°F).

Bilbao usually receives less sunshine than Toronto during spring. Bilbao gets 117 hours of sunny skies, while Toronto receives 179 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 Toronto. Bilbao gets 129 mm (5.1 in) of rain, while Toronto receives 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Toronto and Bilbao