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

Should you visit Caen or Bilbao?

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 Caen and Bilbao. 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.

Caen

Caen is a park-filled, important, and historic city. It's a large city, so you'll find plenty of things to do around town. And you can't forget about the food, museums, and nightlife.

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 nightlife, shopping, and museums.

Caen and Bilbao: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Caen or Bilbao?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Bilbao than Caen. It is bigger and it has more sights, attractions, and activities for travelers. Bilbao is very popular for its nightlife, historical sights, and shopping, while Caen attracts visitors for its food. Caen is famous for its role in World War II and its memorials and historical buildings. Bilbao is famous for it's world-class culinary scene, its modern museums, and its lovely parks. It is also well known for The Guggenheim Museum.

How is Caen different from Bilbao?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Bilbao and Caen. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Caen or Bilbao?

Spend time exploring the excellent sights and museums in either Caen or Bilbao.

Visitors can fill many days exploring the museums and attractions around Caen. There are many monuments around town commemorating the city's long history. You'll want to see Château de Caen, Pegasus Bridge, Mémorial de Caen, Musée de Normandie, and Musée des beaux-arts de Caen.

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 Caen or Bilbao? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Caen is well known for its restaurant scene. However, Bilbao is not a culinary destination.

Eating is part of the travel experience when you visit Caen. There's a market that's at its best on Sundays where you'll find fresh produce and other local ingredients. There are also Michelin starred restaurants, seafood restaurants, and other traditional dishes. Head to the Vaugueux Quarter for traditional dishes.

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 Caen or Bilbao Better for Nightlife?

Bilbao is a very popular place for nightlife. Also, Caen is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for nightlife and partying.

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.

Caen has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. The nightlife scene stays active thanks to the 30,000 students living in town. Head to the Rue Ecuyère for a pub crawl or hit up any of the other bars around town.

Is Caen or Bilbao Better for its Old Town?

Bilbao is a good destination for its historic old town. However, Caen 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.

Caen does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Caen or Bilbao?

Bilbao is a very popular place for shopping. However, Caen is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Bilbao. Gran Vía is the most popular shopping street in town. There are also historic boutique shops around the old town.

Caen is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Caen or Bilbao Better for Families?

Both Caen and Bilbao are nice family-friendly destinations.

Caen is a family-friendly city. There are museums, parks, monasteries, and castles that kids and adults alike with enjoy visiting.

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.

Is Caen or Bilbao Better for Couples?

Caen and Bilbao both nice destinations for a couple.

Caen is a nice destination for couples. Couples that are fascinated by history will enjoy a visit to this town in Normandy. There are also abbeys, castles and parks.

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.

Is Caen or Bilbao Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Caen and Bilbao are both nice destinations for backpackers.

Plenty of backpackers visit Caen. You'll find more apartments and bed and breakfasts than hostels in town, but backpackers still make their way here.

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 Caen or Bilbao Better for Students?

Bilbao is a good destination for its student-friendly activities. However, Caen 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.

Caen is not popular with students.

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

Visitors will find excellent public transit in both Caen and Bilbao.

Many visitors rely on the effecient and affordable public transportation in Caen. There are buses and trams that travel throughout the city.

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.

Is Caen or Bilbao a more walkable city?

Caen and Bilbao are nice when it comes to walkability.

Caen is somewhat walkable. The city center is best explored on foot.

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

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

Should I spend more time in Bilbao or Caen?

How long in Caen or Bilbao?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Caen and Bilbao. In our opinion, Bilbao has more to see and do, so we recommend spending more time in Bilbao than Caen. However, 2-3 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Bilbao than Caen 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 Caen or Bilbao?

Many travelers enjoy the food and museums when visiting the destination of Caen. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

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.

A weekend in Caen or Bilbao?

Caen 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.

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.

Five days in Caen or Bilbao?

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

You'll find shopping and museums around the authentic destination of Bilbao. This city offers something for everyone. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

A week in Caen or Bilbao?

Travelers enjoy the food and museums when visiting the park-filled destination of Caen. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

The colorful 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.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in France, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in France, The Best G Adventures Tours to Spain, and The Best 3-Day Tours from Madrid.

When comparing the travel costs between Caen and Bilbao, we can see that Bilbao is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Europe, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

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

Which is Bigger, Caen or Bilbao?

Bilbao has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Caen. When comparing the sizes of Caen and Bilbao, 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 Caen or Bilbao?

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 Caen or Bilbao in the Summer?

Both Bilbao and Caen during the summer are popular places to visit. The summer months attract visitors to Caen because of the city activities and the family-friendly experiences. Also, the city activities and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Bilbao this time of year.

In the summer, Caen is cooler than Bilbao. Typically, the summer temperatures in Caen in July average around 18°C (64°F), and Bilbao averages at about 20°C (68°F).

It's quite sunny in Caen. In the summer, Caen often gets more sunshine than Bilbao. Caen gets 227 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Bilbao receives 188 hours of full sun.

Caen usually gets around the same amount of rain in July as Bilbao. Caen gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Bilbao receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Caen or Bilbao in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Caen and Bilbao. The city's sights and attractions are the main draw to Caen this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Bilbao for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene.

In October, Caen is generally cooler than Bilbao. Daily temperatures in Caen average around 12°C (54°F), and Bilbao fluctuates around 16°C (62°F).

Caen usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Bilbao during autumn. Caen gets 128 hours of sunny skies, while Bilbao receives 125 hours of full sun in the autumn.

Bilbao receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Caen usually receives less rain than Bilbao. Caen gets 68 mm (2.7 in) of rain, while Bilbao receives 111 mm (4.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Caen or Bilbao in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Caen as well as Bilbao. Many travelers come to Caen for the museums and the cuisine. Also, many visitors come to Bilbao in the winter for the museums and the shopping scene.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Caen. Caen is much colder than Bilbao in the winter. The daily temperature in Caen averages around 5°C (41°F) in January, and Bilbao fluctuates around 9°C (48°F).

In the winter, Caen often gets less sunshine than Bilbao. Caen gets 70 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Bilbao receives 77 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Bilbao. Caen usually gets less rain in January than Bilbao. Caen gets 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Bilbao receives 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Caen or Bilbao in the Spring?

Both Bilbao and Caen are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Caen in the spring for the activities around the city. Also, most visitors come to Bilbao for the activities around the city during these months.

In the spring, Caen is cooler than Bilbao. Typically, the spring temperatures in Caen in April average around 9°C (49°F), and Bilbao averages at about 12°C (54°F).

Caen usually receives more sunshine than Bilbao during spring. Caen gets 171 hours of sunny skies, while Bilbao receives 117 hours of full sun in the spring.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Bilbao. In April, Caen usually receives less rain than Bilbao. Caen gets 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Bilbao receives 129 mm (5.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Bilbao and Caen