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

Should you visit Canberra or Bilbao?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Canberra or Bilbao? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Canberra

Canberra is a cultural, diverse, and under-rated 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, hiking, and shopping.

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.

Canberra and Bilbao: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Canberra or Bilbao?

Visitors will usually find more to do in Canberra than Bilbao, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Canberra is better known for its food and hiking, while Bilbao is more popular for its nightlife, historical sights, and shopping. Bilbao is more touristy than Canberra and is popular for it's world-class culinary scene, its modern museums, and its lovely parks. Canberra is well known for its educational museums and the nearby nature reserves. Also, Canberra is famous for the Australian War Memorial.

How is Canberra different from Bilbao?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Visiting museums and landmarks is a fun activity in both Canberra and Bilbao.

Canberra offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. As Australia's capital, there are a large number of museums around town that focus on everything from history and culture to science and nature. Some of the most interesting are the Australian War Memorial, the New Parliament House, the Museum of Australian Democracy, the National Gallery of Australia, and the National Science and Technology Centre, but there are many more.

Many visitors head to Bilbao specifically to visit some of its top-rated museums and other sights. 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 Canberra or Bilbao? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

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

Eating is part of the travel experience when you visit Canberra. There's a trendy culinary scene as well as nearby vineyards that provide great wine. You'll find everything from family-friendly and casual to upscale and fine dining.

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 Canberra or Bilbao Better for Nightlife?

Bilbao is an excellent place to visit for nightlife and partying. Also, Canberra is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its evening party scene.

Bilbao has a lively atmosphere and nightlife is popular here. 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.

Canberra has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. There are local pubs and music venues that offer fun entertainment in the evening. You can sip wine or practice your dance moves at one of the city's clubs.

Is Canberra or Bilbao Better for its Old Town?

Bilbao is a popular place for its old town. However, Canberra does not have a historic old town.

Plenty of visitors enjoy exploring the old town in Bilbao. The old town, often called Casco Viejo, is filled with historic architecture, great local bars, and some interesting shopping.

Canberra does not have a historic old town.

Is Canberra or Bilbao Better for Hiking?

Canberra is a good destination for its hiking experiences. However, Bilbao is not a hiking destination.

Canberra offers some nice hiking trails. There's one national park - Namadgi, as well as green space, rolling hills, and hiking trails just outside of town.

Bilbao is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Canberra or Bilbao?

Bilbao is an excellent place to visit for its shopping opportunities. Also, Canberra is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its shopping areas.

Bilbao is well-known for its shopping. Gran Vía is the most popular shopping street in town. There are also historic boutique shops around the old town.

Many visitors go to Canberra to go shopping. Caberra Centre is the city's largest shopping centre and it has all of the usual international brands.

Is Canberra or Bilbao Better for Families?

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

Canberra is a very kid-friendly city. There are interactive museums and science centers such as Questacon, the National Dinosaur Museum, and the National Zoo and Aquarium. There are also cultural and historical museums such as the Australian War Memorial, the Museum of Australian Democracy, and the National Museum of Australia. The city also has plenty of outdoor space and hands on crafts that kids will enjoy.

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 Canberra or Bilbao Better for Couples?

With fun activities for couples, both Canberra and Bilbao make for a notable place to visit.

Canberra makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. As the city has plenty of date night activities like nice restaurants, interesting shows, and trendy wineries. During the day you can explore the outdoor setting, have a picnic, or visit a vineyard.

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 Canberra or Bilbao Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Bilbao is a popular place for backpackers and budget travelers. However, Canberra is lacking in options for 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.

Canberra is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. Despite being the capital city, few backpackers actually spend much time in town. There are some budget-friendly motels if you're stopping by.

Is Canberra or Bilbao Better for Students?

Canberra is well known for students. Also, Bilbao is still popular, but not quite as popular for its student-friendly activities.

Many students visit Canberra. It's a welcoming city that is a fairly popular study abroad destination. Many students appreciate the friendly atmosphere, safe environment, and great economic setting.

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

Bilbao is an excellent place to visit for times when you don't have a car. Also, Canberra is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its public transit.

Bilbao has some very good public transit options. The metro system has three lines. There is also a tram and bus system.

You'll find some public transit in Canberra, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. There are public buses as well as a light rail system. The Red Explorer Loop bus goes by many of the city's sights.

Is Canberra or Bilbao a more walkable city?

Canberra and Bilbao are notable when it comes to walkability.

Canberra is a somewhat walkable place. There are parts of the city that are walkable and possible to explore on foot, but in general this is a very car-centered city.

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 Canberra Worth Visiting? and Is Bilbao Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Bilbao or Canberra?

How long in Canberra or Bilbao?

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

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

Couples should spend more time in Bilbao than Canberra. 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 Canberra 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 Canberra or Bilbao?

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

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.

A weekend in Canberra or Bilbao?

Canberra 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 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.

Five days in Canberra or Bilbao?

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

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.

A week in Canberra or Bilbao?

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

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.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Walking Tours in Australia, The Best Eco Tours in Australia, The Best G Adventures Tours to Spain, and The Best 3-Day Tours from Madrid.

When comparing the travel costs between Canberra 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. Even though Canberra is in Pacific and Bilbao is in Europe, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.

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

Which is Bigger, Canberra or Bilbao?

Bilbao has a larger population, and is about 7% larger than the population of Canberra. When comparing the sizes of Canberra 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 Canberra or Bilbao?

Even though both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, they experience these seasons at different times of the year. Canberra is in the southern hemisphere and summer is in January and winter is in July, but Bilbao has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].

Should I visit Canberra or Bilbao in the Summer?

Both Bilbao and Canberra during the summer are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Canberra for the hiking, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences during these months. Furthermore, the summer months attract visitors to Bilbao because of the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.

Canberra is around the same temperature as Bilbao in the summer. The daily temperature in Canberra averages around 20°C (68°F) in January, and Bilbao fluctuates around 20°C (68°F)in July.

Canberra usually gets more rain in January than Bilbaoin July. Canberra gets 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain, while Bilbao receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Canberra or Bilbao in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Canberra and Bilbao. The autumn months attract visitors to Canberra because of the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, and the shopping scene. Furthermore, the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene are the main draw to Bilbao this time of year.

In the autumn, Canberra is around the same temperature as Bilbao. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Canberra in April average around 17°C (63°F), and Bilbao averages at about 16°C (62°F)in October.

Bilbao receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Canberra gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Canberra usually receives around the same amount of rain as Bilbaoin October. Canberra gets 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain, while Bilbao receives 111 mm (4.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Canberra or Bilbao in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Canberra as well as Bilbao. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Canberra this time of year. Additionally, many travelers come to Bilbao for the museums and the shopping scene.

In July, Canberra is generally a little warmer than Bilbaoin January. Daily temperatures in Canberra average around 11°C (52°F), and Bilbao fluctuates around 9°C (48°F).

It's quite rainy in Bilbao. Canberra usually gets less rain in July than Bilbaoin January. Canberra gets 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Bilbao receives 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Canberra or Bilbao in the Spring?

Both Bilbao and Canberra are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Canberra for the activities around the city. Also, many visitors come to Bilbao in the spring for the activities around the city.

Canberra is a little warmer than Bilbao in the spring. The daily temperature in Canberra averages around 15°C (60°F) in October, and Bilbao fluctuates around 12°C (54°F)in April.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Bilbao. In October, Canberra usually receives less rain than Bilbaoin April. Canberra gets 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Bilbao receives 129 mm (5.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Bilbao and Canberra