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

Should you visit Carcassonne 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 Carcassonne 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.

Carcassonne

Carcassonne is a historical, fairytale, and medieval town. Don't miss this spot, as it's a charming small town with plenty of activities. It's a beautiful place to visit, too. And you can't forget about the food and museums.

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.

Carcassonne and Bilbao: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Carcassonne or Bilbao?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Bilbao. Although Carcassonne and Bilbao are popular destinations, Bilbao has more sights and attractions for tourists. Bilbao is very popular for its nightlife, shopping, and big city activities, while Carcassonne attracts visitors for its food, small town charm, and impressive beauty. Carcassonne is more touristy than Bilbao and is popular for its medieval history, walled fortifications, and well-known castle. 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 Carcassonne different from Bilbao?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

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

Visitors can fill many days exploring the museums and attractions around Carcassonne. The town is filled with medieval sights including the Château Comtal, the Basilica of Saints Nazarius and Celsus, and the Carcassonne Cathedral.

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 Carcassonne or Bilbao? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

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

Eating is part of the travel experience when you visit Carcassonne. There are a number of local restaurants that serve regional specialties such as cassoulet. You can spend a few hours exploring the castle and then grab a delicious bite to eat.

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 Carcassonne or Bilbao Better for Nightlife?

Bilbao is a very popular place for nightlife. However, Carcassonne is not a destination with noteworthy nightlife.

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.

Carcassonne is not a destination with noteworthy nightlife.

Is Carcassonne or Bilbao Better for its Old Town?

Visitors enjoy the nice old town areas in both Carcassonne and Bilbao.

Carcassonne is a good destination for visiting its old town. The medieval walled city is seeped in history and filled with atmosphere. Cars are not allowed in town.

Many people head to Bilbao to see the old town. The old town, often called Casco Viejo, is filled with historic architecture, great local bars, and some interesting shopping.

Is the Shopping Better in Carcassonne or Bilbao?

Bilbao is a very popular place for shopping. However, Carcassonne 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.

Carcassonne is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Carcassonne or Bilbao Better for Families?

Both Carcassonne and Bilbao are nice family-friendly destinations.

Carcassonne is a family-friendly town. Kids who love castles will enjoy wandering the maze of rooms and getting lost in the medieval atmosphere.

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 Carcassonne or Bilbao Better for Couples?

Carcassonne and Bilbao both nice destinations for a couple.

Carcassonne is a nice destination for couples. It's a medieval city with an impressive castle and walled fortifications. It's a uniquely European sight that is great for couples who enjoy history.

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 Carcassonne or Bilbao Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

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

Carcassonne is a great town to visit for backpackers. There are interesting hostels in the area including a converted 17th century convent.

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 Carcassonne or Bilbao Better for Students?

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

Carcassonne is not popular with students.

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

Bilbao is a very popular place for times when you don't have a car. Also, Carcassonne is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its public transit.

Public transit in Bilbao is fairly effecient and thorough. The metro system has three lines. There is also a tram and bus system.

You'll find some public transit in Carcassonne, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. You can reach the town by train from Dijon, Lyon, Marseille, Toulouse, or Bordeaux and many people visit the town as a day trip.

Is Carcassonne or Bilbao a more walkable city?

Carcassonne is an amazing town to visit for its high level of walkability. Also, Bilbao is still popular, but not quite as popular for its ease of walking around.

Getting around Carcassonne on foot is easy. Cars aren't allowed in the medieval city so it's best to explore on foot.

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

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

Should I spend more time in Bilbao or Carcassonne?

How long in Carcassonne or Bilbao?

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

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

Couples should spend more time in Bilbao than Carcassonne. 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 Carcassonne 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 Carcassonne.

One day in Carcassonne or Bilbao?

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

Visitors enjoy the nightlife and shopping when visiting the colorful city of Bilbao. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

A weekend in Carcassonne or Bilbao?

Carcassonne 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.

Visitors enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the industrial destination of Bilbao. This city offers something for everyone. Plenty of people spend a weekend in the area when traveling. If you enjoy all that's offered here, then a weekend is just the right amount of time to spend here.

Five days in Carcassonne or Bilbao?

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

The friendly city of Bilbao offers museums and nightlife. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel.

A week in Carcassonne or Bilbao?

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

Many people enjoy the nightlife and shopping when visiting Bilbao. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in France, The Best Historical Tours in France, The Best G Adventures Tours to Spain, and The Best 3-Day Tours from Madrid.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Carcassonne or Bilbao?

Bilbao has a larger population, and is about 7 times larger than the population of Carcassonne. When comparing the sizes of Carcassonne 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 Carcassonne 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 Carcassonne or Bilbao in the Summer?

Both Bilbao and Carcassonne during the summer are popular places to visit. The summer months attract visitors to Carcassonne because of the small town charm 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, Carcassonne is a little warmer than Bilbao. Typically, the summer temperatures in Carcassonne in July average around 24°C (75°F), and Bilbao averages at about 20°C (68°F).

It's quite sunny in Carcassonne. In the summer, Carcassonne often gets more sunshine than Bilbao. Carcassonne gets 275 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Bilbao receives 188 hours of full sun.

Carcassonne usually gets less rain in July than Bilbao. Carcassonne gets 17 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while Bilbao receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Carcassonne or Bilbao in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Carcassonne and Bilbao. The small town atmosphere and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Carcassonne this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Bilbao for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene.

In October, Carcassonne is generally around the same temperature as Bilbao. Daily temperatures in Carcassonne average around 17°C (62°F), and Bilbao fluctuates around 16°C (62°F).

Carcassonne usually receives more sunshine than Bilbao during autumn. Carcassonne gets 161 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, Carcassonne usually receives less rain than Bilbao. Carcassonne gets 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain, while Bilbao receives 111 mm (4.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Carcassonne or Bilbao in the Winter?

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

Carcassonne is around the same temperature as Bilbao in the winter. The daily temperature in Carcassonne averages around 8°C (47°F) in January, and Bilbao fluctuates around 9°C (48°F).

In the winter, Carcassonne often gets more sunshine than Bilbao. Carcassonne gets 88 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Bilbao receives 77 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Bilbao. Carcassonne usually gets less rain in January than Bilbao. Carcassonne gets 51 mm (2 in) of rain, while Bilbao receives 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Carcassonne or Bilbao in the Spring?

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

In the spring, Carcassonne is a little warmer than Bilbao. Typically, the spring temperatures in Carcassonne in April average around 14°C (56°F), and Bilbao averages at about 12°C (54°F).

Carcassonne usually receives more sunshine than Bilbao during spring. Carcassonne gets 178 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, Carcassonne usually receives less rain than Bilbao. Carcassonne gets 56 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Bilbao receives 129 mm (5.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Bilbao and Carcassonne