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

Should you visit Dijon or Bilbao?

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

Should I visit Dijon 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.

Dijon

Dijon is a culinary, relaxing, and historical city. It's a large city, so you'll find plenty of things to do around town. It's a beautiful place to visit, too. 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.

Dijon and Bilbao: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Dijon or Bilbao?

Visitors will generally find more to do in Dijon than Bilbao. While Bilbao is larger than Dijon, Dijon has more sights, attractions, and activities for tourists. Dijon is very popular for its food and impressive beauty, while Bilbao attracts visitors for its nightlife, historical sights, and shopping. Dijon is more touristy than Bilbao and is known for its cuisine, wine, and nearby vineyards. It is also well known for The Ducal Palace. Bilbao is famous for it's world-class culinary scene, its modern museums, and its lovely parks.

How is Dijon different from Bilbao?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Both Dijon and Bilbao have superb landmarks and museums for visitors.

Dijon offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. This historic city is filled with sights worth checking. Palais des Ducs and the Musée des Beaux-Arts, Cathédrale Saint-Bénigne, and Eglise Notre-Dame are among the favorites.

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 Dijon or Bilbao? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Dijon is an amazing city to visit for its restaurant scene. However, Bilbao is not a culinary destination.

Eat your way through Dijon, as it has many local or world renowned restaurants to choose from. It is one of the top foodie destinations in France, and you'll find amazing local markets, award winning restaurants, and world class cuisine. Make sure you check out Les Halles Market to try local flavors. In addition to its famous mustard, the city is also popular for gingerbread, truffles, escargot, and, of course, wine.

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 Dijon or Bilbao Better for Nightlife?

Bilbao is notable for nightlife. Also, Dijon is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for nightlife and partying.

Bilbao has plenty to do after the sun goes down. 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.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Dijon. While it's not a active as the larger European cities, there's still an fun nightlife scene that is driven mostly by the large student population.

Is Dijon or Bilbao Better for its Old Town?

Bilbao is a popular place for its historic old town. However, Dijon 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.

Dijon does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Dijon or Bilbao?

Bilbao is notable for shopping. Also, Dijon is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its shopping opportunities.

Bilbao is an extremely popular place for shoppers. Gran Vía is the most popular shopping street in town. There are also historic boutique shops around the old town.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Dijon. For the best shopping in town, head to the main shopping street - Rue de la Liberté. It's lined with everything from clothing stores to wine shops and larger department stores. You'll even be able to pick up some of the famed mustard while you're in town.

Is Dijon or Bilbao Better for Families?

Kids will enjoy a visit to either Dijon or Bilbao.

Dijon is a family-friendly place to visit. Kids will enjoy the open space that the city offers. There are parks where they can run around, like The Parc de la Colombieres which has a carousel and a ropes course. There are also many museums including two favorites for young ones - Musee de la Vie Bourguignonne and Musee d'Histoire Naturelle.

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 Dijon or Bilbao Better for Couples?

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

Couples visit Dijon frequently as it offers plenty of romantic activities. Art, palaces, gardens, and fine wine make it a perfect couple's getaway. There is some of the best food in France, as well as a welcoming culture and many beautiful sights to explore.

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 Dijon or Bilbao Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Both Dijon and Bilbao are nice destinations for backpackers.

Plenty of budget travelers visit Dijon. It's a beautiful city with a touristy vibe, so you'll likely meet other travelers while you're in town.

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 Dijon or Bilbao Better for Students?

Dijon and Bilbao are both nice destinations for students and younger travelers.

Dijon is a good city to visit for students. While it's quieter than the bigger cities, you'll find a young vibe and enough of a nightlife scene to keep it interesting.

Plenty of students visit Bilbao. This is a popular study abroad destination with many great museums and educational opportunities for international students.

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

Bilbao is notable for its public transit. Also, Dijon is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit 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.

Dijon has some public transit options. Tram and buses offer access to many parts of the city.

Is Dijon or Bilbao a more walkable city?

Dijon and Bilbao both are nice when exploring on foot.

Dijon is somewhat walkable. Most of the inner city is walkable.

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 Dijon Worth Visiting? and Is Bilbao Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Bilbao or Dijon?

How long in Dijon or Bilbao?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Dijon and Bilbao. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Dijon than in Bilbao. Usually, 2-4 days is a good amount of time for Dijon, and 2-3 days is enough time in Bilbao.

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

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

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

In Bilbao, many people enjoy the nightlife and shopping that this colorful destination offers. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it.

A weekend in Dijon or Bilbao?

Dijon is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. Don't miss the food, 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.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Bilbao. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. This would be the perfect place to spend a weekend, as it has just the right amount of activities. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.

Five days in Dijon or Bilbao?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Dijon. Don't miss the food, 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.

Bilbao is a fun place to experience. Travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Bilbao. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything.

A week in Dijon or Bilbao?

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

You'll find nightlife and shopping around the authentic destination of Bilbao. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Dijon or Bilbao?

Bilbao has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Dijon. When comparing the sizes of Dijon 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 Dijon 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 Dijon or Bilbao in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Dijon and Bilbao. Most visitors come to Dijon for 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.

In the summer, Dijon is around the same temperature as Bilbao. Typically, the summer temperatures in Dijon in July average around 21°C (70°F), and Bilbao averages at about 20°C (68°F).

In Dijon, it's very sunny this time of the year. Dijon usually receives more sunshine than Bilbao during summer. Dijon gets 266 hours of sunny skies, while Bilbao receives 188 hours of full sun in the summer.

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

Should I visit Dijon or Bilbao in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Dijon as well as Bilbao. The autumn months attract visitors to Dijon because of the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area. Additionally, the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene are the main draw to Bilbao this time of year.

In October, Dijon is generally cooler than Bilbao. Daily temperatures in Dijon average around 13°C (55°F), and Bilbao fluctuates around 16°C (62°F).

In the autumn, Dijon often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Bilbao. Dijon gets 121 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Bilbao receives 125 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Bilbao. Dijon usually gets less rain in October than Bilbao. Dijon gets 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Bilbao receives 111 mm (4.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Dijon or Bilbao in the Winter?

Both Bilbao and Dijon are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Dijon this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Bilbao for the museums and the shopping scene.

It's quite cold in Dijon in the winter. Dijon is much colder than Bilbao in the winter. The daily temperature in Dijon averages around 3°C (38°F) in January, and Bilbao fluctuates around 9°C (48°F).

Dijon usually receives less sunshine than Bilbao during winter. Dijon gets 53 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. In January, Dijon usually receives less rain than Bilbao. Dijon gets 59 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Bilbao receives 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Dijon or Bilbao in the Spring?

Both Bilbao and Dijon during the spring are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Dijon for the activities around the city and the natural beauty. Also, many visitors come to Bilbao in the spring for the activities around the city.

In the spring, Dijon is around the same temperature as Bilbao. Typically, the spring temperatures in Dijon in April average around 11°C (53°F), and Bilbao averages at about 12°C (54°F).

In the spring, Dijon often gets more sunshine than Bilbao. Dijon gets 178 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. Dijon usually gets less rain in April than Bilbao. Dijon gets 52 mm (2 in) of rain, while Bilbao receives 129 mm (5.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Bilbao and Dijon