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

Should you visit Frankfurt or Bilbao?

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

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Frankfurt and Bilbao can help you decide which place is right for you.

Frankfurt

Frankfurt is a dynamic, diverse, and accessible city. Travelers will also find plenty of sights and attractions here, as it's a big city that attracts lots of visitors. And you can't forget about the shopping, museums, and nightlife.

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.

Frankfurt and Bilbao: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Frankfurt or Bilbao?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Frankfurt than Bilbao, as it is bigger with more sights, attractions, and activities for visitors. Frankfurt is popular for its financial industry, its popularity as a transportation hub, and its active nightlife. It is also home to The Old Town Center. Bilbao is popular for it's world-class culinary scene, its modern museums, and its lovely parks.

The Old Town Center

How is Frankfurt different from Bilbao?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

You'll find a number of high quality museums and attractions in both Bilbao and Frankfurt.

Many visitors head to Frankfurt specifically to visit some of its top-rated museums and other sights. Many sights are concentrated in the old town center. Highlights include the Historical Museum and St. Nicholas Church. Elsewhere, make sure you check out Maintower, the Städel Museum, and the Museum District.

With a variety of museums, monuments, and historical sights, a trip to Bilbao can be an interesting and educational experience. 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 Frankfurt or Bilbao? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

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

Eating is part of the travel experience when you visit Frankfurt. In addition to a number of international restaurants, the city also has a strong regional cuisine. Some of the most interesting local dishes include Frankfurter Sausage, Rindwurst, Grüne Soße (an herb sauce), and Handkäse mit Musik (marinated sour milk cheese). Also make sure you sample the Apfelwein.

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 Frankfurt or Bilbao Better for Nightlife?

Both Frankfurt and Bilbao have high quality vibes after the sun sets.

Frankfurt has a lively atmosphere and nightlife is popular here. It's a vibrant city with many trendy clubs, cocktail bars, music venues, and more. You can enjoy techno, hip hop, and almost any style of music. There are also festivals, beer halls, and classic pubs.

The people in Bilbao know how to have a good time. 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 Frankfurt or Bilbao Better for its Old Town?

Frankfurt and Bilbao are both popular destinations with charming historical areas.

Frankfurt has an old town worth visiting. Many museums and cafes are concentrated in the old town area.

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.

Is the Shopping Better in Frankfurt or Bilbao?

Shoppers can find a variety of high quality stores in both Frankfurt and Bilbao.

Many visitors explore the shopping areas in Frankfurt. It's a financial capital in Europe, and as such there are plenty of high end shopping opportunities. MyZeil is a major shopping mall in the city and Kleinmarkthalle is a more classic market. Popular shopping neighborhoods and streets include Goethestrasse, Sachsenhausen and Berger Strasse.

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.

Is Frankfurt or Bilbao Better for Families?

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

Frankfurt is a very kid-friendly city. In town there's a zoo, a children’s museum, a math and technology museum (EXPERIMINTA), and a number of parks, natural areas, and playgrounds. If you're willing to head out of town then you can visit Taunus Wunderland, which is an amusement park with about 50 rides and attractions.

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 Frankfurt or Bilbao Better for Couples?

Both Frankfurt and Bilbao are good destinations to visit as a couple.

Frankfurt is a good city for couples to visit. The iconic spot of romance in the city is the Iron Footbridge, which is a traditional spot to attach a "love lock" and take a selfie. The city also offers river cruises, winery tours, and beautiful parks and natural areas.

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 Frankfurt or Bilbao Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

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

Frankfurt is a great city to visit for backpackers. You'll find a number of hostels in town. The city is also a major transportation hub so many backpackers pass through the area at some point on their trip through Germany.

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 Frankfurt or Bilbao Better for Students?

Frankfurt is an amazing city to visit for students. Also, Bilbao is still popular, but not quite as popular for its student-friendly activities.

Frankfurt is a very popular place to visit for students. The city offers prestigious universities and a world class education. The economy offers many internships and job opportunities and you'll find students from around the world studying here. Frankfurt is also well connected to the rest of Europe, so it's easy to explore the region.

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

Frankfurt is an amazing city to visit for its public transit. Also, Bilbao is still popular, but not quite as popular for times when you don't have a car.

Public transit in Frankfurt is top-notch. It is a huge transportation hub with a major international airport and a number of international train connections. Locally, the city has a subway, trams, commuter trains and buses.

Many visitors use the public transit system in Bilbao. The metro system has three lines. There is also a tram and bus system.

Is Frankfurt or Bilbao a more walkable city?

Frankfurt is well known for its high level of walkability. Also, Bilbao is still popular, but not quite as popular for its ease of walking around.

Frankfurt is a very walkable city. It has a compact city center that is generally pedestrian-friendly.

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 Frankfurt Worth Visiting? and Is Bilbao Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Bilbao or Frankfurt?

How long in Frankfurt or Bilbao?

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

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Frankfurt 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 Frankfurt.

One day in Frankfurt or Bilbao?

Frankfurt is a bustling city that offers something for everyone. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

You'll find shopping and museums around the city of Bilbao. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A weekend in Frankfurt or Bilbao?

Frankfurt 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.

You'll find museums and nightlife around the industrial destination of Bilbao. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend.A weekend should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from.

Five days in Frankfurt or Bilbao?

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

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and shopping when visiting the industrial city of Bilbao. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

A week in Frankfurt or Bilbao?

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the modern big city of Frankfurt. 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 popular choice for travelers. 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. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

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

When comparing the travel costs between Frankfurt 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. 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 Frankfurt Expensive? and Is Bilbao Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Frankfurt or Bilbao?

Frankfurt has a larger population, and is about 85% larger than the population of Bilbao. When comparing the sizes of Frankfurt 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 Frankfurt 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 Frankfurt or Bilbao in the Summer?

Both Bilbao and Frankfurt during the summer are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Frankfurt in the summer for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences. Furthermore, most visitors come to Bilbao for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences during these months.

In July, Frankfurt is generally around the same temperature as Bilbao. Daily temperatures in Frankfurt average around 19°C (67°F), and Bilbao fluctuates around 20°C (68°F).

It's quite sunny in Frankfurt. In the summer, Frankfurt often gets more sunshine than Bilbao. Frankfurt gets 225 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Bilbao receives 188 hours of full sun.

Frankfurt usually gets more rain in July than Bilbao. Frankfurt gets 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Bilbao receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Frankfurt or Bilbao in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Frankfurt and Bilbao. Most visitors come to Frankfurt for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene during these months. Furthermore, the autumn months attract visitors to Bilbao because of the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene.

Frankfurt is much colder than Bilbao in the autumn. The daily temperature in Frankfurt averages around 11°C (51°F) in October, and Bilbao fluctuates around 16°C (62°F).

Frankfurt usually receives less sunshine than Bilbao during autumn. Frankfurt gets 103 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, Frankfurt usually receives less rain than Bilbao. Frankfurt gets 51 mm (2 in) of rain, while Bilbao receives 111 mm (4.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Frankfurt or Bilbao in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Frankfurt as well as Bilbao. The winter months attract visitors to Frankfurt because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Additionally, the museums and the shopping scene are the main draw to Bilbao this time of year.

The weather in Frankfurt can be very cold. In the winter, Frankfurt is much colder than Bilbao. Typically, the winter temperatures in Frankfurt in January average around 1°C (34°F), and Bilbao averages at about 9°C (48°F).

In the winter, Frankfurt often gets less sunshine than Bilbao. Frankfurt gets 41 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Bilbao receives 77 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Bilbao. Frankfurt usually gets less rain in January than Bilbao. Frankfurt gets 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Bilbao receives 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Frankfurt or Bilbao in the Spring?

Both Bilbao and Frankfurt are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The activities around the city are the main draw to Frankfurt this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Bilbao for the activities around the city.

In April, Frankfurt is generally cooler than Bilbao. Daily temperatures in Frankfurt average around 10°C (50°F), and Bilbao fluctuates around 12°C (54°F).

Frankfurt usually receives more sunshine than Bilbao during spring. Frankfurt gets 163 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, Frankfurt usually receives less rain than Bilbao. Frankfurt gets 52 mm (2 in) of rain, while Bilbao receives 129 mm (5.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Bilbao and Frankfurt