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

Should you visit Cape Sounion or Bilbao?

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

Should I visit Cape Sounion 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.

Cape Sounion

Cape Sounion is a iconic, impressive, and spectacular destination. It's a beautiful place to visit, too. And you can't forget about the beaches, museums, and food.

Bilbao

Bilbao is a authentic, colorful, and friendly city. Because this is such a big city, visitors will find many sights and attractions around town. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and shopping.

Cape Sounion and Bilbao: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Cape Sounion or Bilbao?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Bilbao. Although Cape Sounion and Bilbao are both popular with visitors, Bilbao has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Bilbao is more popular for its nightlife, historical sights, shopping, and big city activities, while Cape Sounion is known for its museums, food, beaches, and impressive beauty. Cape Sounion is popular for its link to Greek mythology and its stunningly beautiful sunsets. Bilbao is popular for it's world-class culinary scene, its modern museums, and its lovely parks. It is also home to The Guggenheim Museum.

How is Cape Sounion different from Bilbao?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Cape Sounion or Bilbao?

Cape Sounion is an amazing destination 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 Cape Sounion are among the most recognizable in the world. The Temple of Poseidon is the main attraction here, but also nearby you'll find the Temple of Athena. The views, history, and connection to mythology fascinates most visitors who consider this to be a spectacular sight.

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 Cape Sounion or Bilbao? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Cape Sounion is a good destination for its restaurant scene. However, Bilbao is not a culinary destination.

Visitors will find a budding food and restaurant scene in Cape Sounion. There are cafes as well as fine dining restaurants which are mostly located in hotels. Seafood is the cuisine of choice with many delicious Greek dishes available.

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 Cape Sounion or Bilbao Better for Nightlife?

Bilbao is an excellent place to visit for its evening party scene. However, Cape Sounion is lacking in options for nightlife.

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.

Cape Sounion is generally a quiet destination but there are options around. There are some bars and lounges that are connected to hotels. If you're spending the night, these are nice places to enjoy a drink in a beautiful setting.

Is Cape Sounion or Bilbao Better for Beaches?

Cape Sounion is a good destination for the beache. However, Bilbao is not a beach destination.

Cape Sounion offers a nice beach destination. If you allow enough time, there are a couple of beaches where you can swim while enjoying views of the temple.

Bilbao is not a beach destination.

Is Cape Sounion or Bilbao Better for its Old Town?

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

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.

Cape Sounion does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Cape Sounion or Bilbao?

Bilbao is an excellent place to visit for its shopping areas. However, Cape Sounion is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

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.

Cape Sounion is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Cape Sounion or Bilbao Better for Families?

Kids will enjoy a visit to either Cape Sounion or Bilbao.

Cape Sounion is a family-friendly destination. Kids who like mythology will appreciated a trip to the famed Temple of Poseidon. It dates back to the 5th century and is dedicated to the God of the Sea. Also nearby is the Temple of Athena.

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 Cape Sounion or Bilbao Better for Couples?

With fun activities for couples, both Cape Sounion and Bilbao make for a good place to visit.

Cape Sounion is a good destination for couples to visit. Couples should definitely stay for the stunning sunset which provides dramatic oranges, pinks, and reds at the sun dips below the horizon.

Bilbao is a nice destination for couples. 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 Cape Sounion or Bilbao Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Cape Sounion and Bilbao are both good destinations for backpackers.

Plenty of budget travelers visit Cape Sounion. The Temple of Poseidon is an iconic site about an hour and a half outside of Athens. It appeals to all types of travelers, including backpackers and budget travelers.

Bilbao is popular with backpackers and budget travelers. There are plenty of hostels to choose from and a good social scene that makes it easy to meet other backpackers.

Is Cape Sounion or Bilbao Better for Students?

Bilbao is a popular place for its student-friendly activities. However, Cape Sounion 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.

Cape Sounion is not popular with students.

Is Cape Sounion 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, Cape Sounion is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its public transit.

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

You'll find some public transit in Cape Sounion, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. There are local buses that travel from Athens to Cape Sounion and take between 2 and 3 hours.

Is Cape Sounion or Bilbao a more walkable city?

Cape Sounion and Bilbao are good when it comes to walkability.

Cape Sounion is a somewhat walkable destination. You can walk around the archeological site and the bus stops close enough that it is accessible.

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

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

Should I spend more time in Bilbao or Cape Sounion?

How long in Cape Sounion or Bilbao?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Cape Sounion and Bilbao. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Bilbao than in Cape Sounion. Usually, 1-2 days is a good amount of time for Cape Sounion, and 2-3 days is enough time in Bilbao.

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

Couples should spend more time in Bilbao than Cape Sounion. 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 Cape Sounion 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 Cape Sounion or Bilbao?

Many travelers enjoy the museums and food when visiting the destination of Cape Sounion. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

In Bilbao, many people enjoy the shopping and museums that this industrial city offers. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything.

A weekend in Cape Sounion or Bilbao?

Cape Sounion is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. Don't miss the museums, as that's what most people do. 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. It will give you the chance to have new experiences. So, a weekend is just the right amount of time to spend here.

Five days in Cape Sounion or Bilbao?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Cape Sounion. Don't miss the museums, as that's what most people do. 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 nightlife and shopping around the authentic destination of Bilbao. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days.

A week in Cape Sounion or Bilbao?

Travelers enjoy the food and museums when visiting the spectacular destination of Cape Sounion. This destination 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 popular place to visit. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Coach Bus Tours in Greece, The Best Adventure Tours to Greece, The Best G Adventures Tours to Spain, and The Best 3-Day Tours from Madrid.

When comparing the travel costs between Cape Sounion and Bilbao, we can see that Cape Sounion 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 Cape Sounion Expensive? and Is Bilbao Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Cape Sounion or Bilbao?

Bilbao has a larger population, and is about 350 times larger than the population of Cape Sounion. When comparing the sizes of Cape Sounion 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 Cape Sounion 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 Cape Sounion or Bilbao in the Summer?

Both Bilbao and Cape Sounion during the summer are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Cape Sounion for the beaches 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.

In July, Cape Sounion is generally a little warmer than Bilbao. Daily temperatures in Cape Sounion average around 27°C (81°F), and Bilbao fluctuates around 20°C (68°F).

It's quite sunny in Cape Sounion. In the summer, Cape Sounion often gets more sunshine than Bilbao. Cape Sounion gets 357 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Bilbao receives 188 hours of full sun.

Cape Sounion usually gets less rain in July than Bilbao. Cape Sounion gets 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Bilbao receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Cape Sounion or Bilbao in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Cape Sounion and Bilbao. The autumn months attract visitors to Cape Sounion because of the natural beauty of the area. Furthermore, the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene are the main draw to Bilbao this time of year.

Cape Sounion is a little warmer than Bilbao in the autumn. The daily temperature in Cape Sounion averages around 19°C (67°F) in October, and Bilbao fluctuates around 16°C (62°F).

In Cape Sounion, it's very sunny this time of the year. Cape Sounion usually receives more sunshine than Bilbao during autumn. Cape Sounion gets 206 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, Cape Sounion usually receives less rain than Bilbao. Cape Sounion gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Bilbao receives 111 mm (4.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Cape Sounion or Bilbao in the Winter?

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

In the winter, Cape Sounion is a little warmer than Bilbao. Typically, the winter temperatures in Cape Sounion in January average around 10°C (51°F), and Bilbao averages at about 9°C (48°F).

In the winter, Cape Sounion often gets more sunshine than Bilbao. Cape Sounion gets 143 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Bilbao receives 77 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Bilbao. Cape Sounion usually gets less rain in January than Bilbao. Cape Sounion gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Bilbao receives 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Cape Sounion or Bilbao in the Spring?

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

In April, Cape Sounion is generally a little warmer than Bilbao. Daily temperatures in Cape Sounion average around 16°C (60°F), and Bilbao fluctuates around 12°C (54°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Cape Sounion. Cape Sounion usually receives more sunshine than Bilbao during spring. Cape Sounion gets 226 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, Cape Sounion usually receives less rain than Bilbao. Cape Sounion gets 25 mm (1 in) of rain, while Bilbao receives 129 mm (5.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Bilbao and Cape Sounion