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

Should you visit Cork or Bilbao?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Cork and Bilbao can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Cork

Cork is a cultural, seaside, and youthful city. It's a large city, so you'll find plenty of things to do around town. And you can't forget about the shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Bilbao

Bilbao is a industrial, authentic, and colorful city. Since it's a large city, you'll find plenty of things to do. It's also known for nightlife, shopping, and museums.

Cork and Bilbao: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Cork or Bilbao?

Visitors will generally find more to do in Cork than Bilbao. While Bilbao is larger than Cork, Cork has more sights, attractions, and activities for tourists. Cork is very popular for its food, while Bilbao attracts visitors for its historical sights. Cork is famous for its friendly personality, its thriving art scene and its local craft beer. It is also well known for The Blarney Castle and Stone. Bilbao is famous for it's world-class culinary scene, its modern museums, and its lovely parks.

How is Cork different from Bilbao?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Both Cork and Bilbao have very good landmarks and museums for visitors.

You'll find a good number of museums and monuments packed into Cork. The city is filled with historic sights and landmarks. Most notable is the Blarney Castle and Blarney Stone, but also make sure you check out St. Fin Barre's Cathedral, the Cork Public Museum, Cork City Gaol Heritage Centre, and St. Anne's Church.

Visitors can fill many days exploring the museums and attractions around Bilbao. 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 Cork or Bilbao? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

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

Eating is part of the travel experience when you visit Cork. You'll find charming seaside cafes and award winning restaurants. Also make sure you check out the English Market, which is among the best in Ireland.

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 Cork or Bilbao Better for Nightlife?

Evening events are very good in both Cork and Bilbao.

Cork has plenty to do after the sun goes down. It's a university city, so you'll find plenty of students, bars, clubs, and cheap beer. Many pubs also have live music with everything from rock to Irish folk music.

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.

Is Cork or Bilbao Better for its Old Town?

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

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

Cork does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Cork or Bilbao?

Both Cork and Bilbao are very good shopping destinations.

Cork is an extremely popular place for shoppers. It offers a mix of high street shops and boutique vendors. Head to St. Patrick’s Street for some of the city's best shopping. Also check out Opera Lane and Oliver Plunkett Street.

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.

Is Cork or Bilbao Better for Families?

Both Cork and Bilbao are nice to visit with kids.

Cork is a family-friendly place to visit. For a bit of outside time, head to Fota Wildlife Park, Regional Park Ballincollig, or Inchydoney Beach. Kids will also enjoy exploring Cork City Gaol which is a heritage museum, or the Toy Soldier Factory. And of course, there's the Blarney Castle and the Blarney Stone.

Bilbao is a family-friendly city. 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 Cork or Bilbao Better for Couples?

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

Couples visit Cork frequently as it offers plenty of romantic activities. Visiting Blarney Castle is a highlight, but you can also wander along the river or do the Ballycotton Cliff Walk. There are also several gardens to explore or small theaters where you can see a play.

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 Cork or Bilbao Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Both Cork and Bilbao are nice destinations for backpackers.

Cork is a good city to visit for backpackers. There are plenty of hostels as well as a large student population and an active nightlife.

Plenty of backpackers visit Bilbao. There are plenty of hostels to choose from and a good social scene that makes it easy to meet other backpackers.

Is Cork or Bilbao Better for Students?

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

Many students visit Cork. It's a university town with many students and plenty to do. The city plays host to many international students.

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

Bilbao is notable for its public transit. However, Cork is a mediocre city for times when you don't have a car.

Visitors to Bilbao can move around easily with public transportation. The metro system has three lines. There is also a tram and bus system.

Public transit is mostly limited in Cork. In town you'll find bus service but if you want to explore anywhere else in the county you really need your own vehicle.

Is Cork or Bilbao a more walkable city?

Cork and Bilbao both are nice when exploring on foot.

Cork is somewhat walkable. The city center is compact and easy enough to explore 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 Cork Worth Visiting? and Is Bilbao Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Bilbao or Cork?

How long in Cork or Bilbao?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Cork and Bilbao. In our opinion, Cork has more to see and do, so we recommend that you spend more time in Cork than Bilbao. In general, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Cork, and 2-3 days is enough time in Bilbao.

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

One day in Cork or Bilbao?

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

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 Cork or Bilbao?

Cork 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 Cork or Bilbao?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Cork. 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 friendly 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 Cork or Bilbao?

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the seaside destination of Cork. 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 industrial 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 Family-Friendly Tours to Ireland, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Ireland, 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 Cork and Bilbao, we can see that Bilbao is more expensive. And not only is Cork much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Cork would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Cork 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 Cork.

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

Which is Bigger, Cork or Bilbao?

Bilbao has a larger population, and is about 86% larger than the population of Cork. When comparing the sizes of Cork 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 Cork or Bilbao?

Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Cork or Bilbao in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Cork and Bilbao. The city activities and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Cork this time of year. Furthermore, many travelers come to Bilbao for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Cork is cooler than Bilbao. Typically, the summer temperatures in Cork in July average around 16°C (60°F), and Bilbao averages at about 20°C (68°F).

Cork usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Bilbao during summer. Cork gets 178 hours of sunny skies, while Bilbao receives 188 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Cork usually receives around the same amount of rain as Bilbao. Cork gets 53 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Bilbao receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Cork or Bilbao in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Cork as well as Bilbao. Many travelers come to Cork for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene. Additionally, many visitors come to Bilbao in the autumn for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene.

In October, Cork is generally cooler than Bilbao. Daily temperatures in Cork average around 11°C (52°F), and Bilbao fluctuates around 16°C (62°F).

In the autumn, Cork often gets less sunshine than Bilbao. Cork gets 90 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Bilbao receives 125 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Bilbao. Cork usually gets less rain in October than Bilbao. Cork gets 97 mm (3.8 in) of rain, while Bilbao receives 111 mm (4.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Cork or Bilbao in the Winter?

Both Bilbao and Cork are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Cork in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, most visitors come to Bilbao for the museums and the shopping scene during these months.

Cork is cooler than Bilbao in the winter. The daily temperature in Cork averages around 6°C (43°F) in January, and Bilbao fluctuates around 9°C (48°F).

Cork usually receives less sunshine than Bilbao during winter. Cork gets 60 hours of sunny skies, while Bilbao receives 77 hours of full sun in the winter.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Bilbao. It's quite rainy in Cork. In January, Cork usually receives less rain than Bilbao. Cork gets 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain, while Bilbao receives 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Cork or Bilbao in the Spring?

Both Bilbao and Cork during the spring are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Cork for the activities around the city during these months. Also, the spring months attract visitors to Bilbao because of the activities around the city.

In the spring, Cork is cooler than Bilbao. Typically, the spring temperatures in Cork in April average around 9°C (48°F), and Bilbao averages at about 12°C (54°F).

In the spring, Cork often gets more sunshine than Bilbao. Cork gets 157 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Bilbao receives 117 hours of full sun.

Bilbao gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Cork usually gets less rain in April than Bilbao. Cork gets 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Bilbao receives 129 mm (5.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Bilbao and Cork