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

Should you visit Giverny or Bilbao?

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

Should I visit Giverny 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.

Giverny

Giverny is a inspiring, picturesque, and peaceful town. Don't miss this spot, as it's a charming small town with plenty of activities. The famous beauty of this place is one of the main draws. And you can't forget about the food and museums.

Bilbao

Bilbao is a friendly, industrial, and authentic city. It's a large city, so you'll find plenty of things to do around town. Visitors also love the shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Giverny and Bilbao: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Giverny or Bilbao?

Visitors will usually find more to do in Bilbao than Giverny, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Bilbao is better known for its nightlife, historical sights, shopping, and big city activities, while Giverny is more popular for its food, small town charm, and impressive beauty. Giverny is more touristy than Bilbao and is popular for being the home and inspiration for Claude Monet. Bilbao is well known for it's world-class culinary scene, its modern museums, and its lovely parks. Also, Bilbao is famous for The Guggenheim Museum.

How is Giverny different from Bilbao?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Visiting museums and landmarks is a fun activity in both Giverny and Bilbao.

Giverny offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. The town is most notable as the home of Claude Monet between 1883 and 1926. Highlights of a visit include visiting Jardin d'Eau (The Water Garden), The Normandy Garden, and Monet's House.

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 Giverny or Bilbao? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Giverny 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 Giverny. There are cozy cafes and charming restaurants in the town. If you visit as part of a tour, a restaurant stop may be included.

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 Giverny or Bilbao Better for Nightlife?

Bilbao is great for nightlife and partying. However, Giverny is not a destination with noteworthy nightlife.

Many people head to Bilbao for the nightlife scene. 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.

Giverny is not a destination with noteworthy nightlife.

Is Giverny or Bilbao Better for its Old Town?

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

Plenty of visitors enjoy exploring the old town in Bilbao. The old town, often called Casco Viejo, is filled with historic architecture, great local bars, and some interesting shopping.

Giverny does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Giverny or Bilbao?

Bilbao is great for its shopping opportunities. However, Giverny is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

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.

Giverny is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Giverny or Bilbao Better for Families?

Bilbao is a popular place for its kid-friendly activities. However, Giverny is not a good destination for its family-friendly activities.

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.

Giverny is not the most family-friendly destination. The gardens are stunning and the house is impressive, but it's best to prepare younger kids with some activities beforehand. Even the most art-minded children will appreciate a hands-on activity that helps bring the experience to life.

Is Giverny or Bilbao Better for Couples?

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

Couples visit Giverny frequently as it offers plenty of romantic activities. The setting seeped in romance and the gardens bring art to life. On occasion you may even see a young couple get engaged during their visit.

Bilbao is a good town 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 Giverny or Bilbao Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

For backpackers, both Giverny and Bilbao are notable places to visit.

Plenty of budget travelers visit Giverny. Many people, backpackers included, visit the town as a day trip from Paris. It's possible to visit by train and shuttle bus.

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 Giverny or Bilbao Better for Students?

Bilbao is a popular place for its student-friendly activities. However, Giverny is not popular with 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.

Giverny is not popular with students.

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

Bilbao is great for times when you don't have a car. Also, Giverny is not as popular, but is still a nice town for its public transit.

Bilbao has some very good public transit options. The metro system has three lines. There is also a tram and bus system.

Giverny has a few public transit options. You can reach Giverny by train from Paris. You'll leave from the Gare Saint-Lazare train station in Paris and arrive in the town of Vernon. The trip is about 45 minutes. From there you can take a bus or taxi on to Giverny.

Is Giverny or Bilbao a more walkable city?

Giverny and Bilbao are notable when it comes to walkability.

Giverny is a somewhat walkable place. Many people choose to walk between the town of Vernon and Giverny, both of which are worth visiting. They're separated by about 6 kilometers (3.5 miles).

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 Giverny Worth Visiting? and Is Bilbao Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Bilbao or Giverny?

How long in Giverny or Bilbao?

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

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

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

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

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

In Bilbao, you'll find museums and nightlife. This city offers something for everyone. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do.

A weekend in Giverny or Bilbao?

Giverny 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.

In Bilbao, you'll find nightlife and shopping. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Bilbao has to offer.

Five days in Giverny or Bilbao?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Giverny. 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 great place to explore. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. Anyone can find something fun to do here.

A week in Giverny or Bilbao?

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

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Bilbao. Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Bilbao. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Giverny or Bilbao?

Bilbao has a larger population, and is about 620 times larger than the population of Giverny. When comparing the sizes of Giverny 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 Giverny 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 Giverny or Bilbao in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Giverny as well as Bilbao. Most visitors come to Giverny for the small town charm and the family-friendly experiences during these months. Additionally, the summer months attract visitors to Bilbao because of the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.

Giverny is around the same temperature as Bilbao in the summer. The daily temperature in Giverny averages around 20°C (68°F) in July, and Bilbao fluctuates around 20°C (68°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Giverny this time of the year. In the summer, Giverny often gets more sunshine than Bilbao. Giverny gets 241 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Bilbao receives 188 hours of full sun.

Giverny usually gets more rain in July than Bilbao. Giverny gets 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Bilbao receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Giverny or Bilbao in the Autumn?

Both Bilbao and Giverny are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The autumn months attract visitors to Giverny because of the small town atmosphere and the natural beauty of the area. Also, the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene are the main draw to Bilbao this time of year.

In the autumn, Giverny is cooler than Bilbao. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Giverny in October average around 13°C (56°F), and Bilbao averages at about 16°C (62°F).

Giverny usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Bilbao during autumn. Giverny gets 127 hours of sunny skies, while Bilbao receives 125 hours of full sun in the autumn.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Bilbao. In October, Giverny usually receives less rain than Bilbao. Giverny gets 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Bilbao receives 111 mm (4.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Giverny or Bilbao in the Winter?

Both Bilbao and Giverny during the winter are popular places to visit. The museums and the cuisine are the main draw to Giverny this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Bilbao for the museums and the shopping scene.

It's quite cold in Giverny in the winter. In January, Giverny is generally much colder than Bilbao. Daily temperatures in Giverny average around 5°C (40°F), and Bilbao fluctuates around 9°C (48°F).

In the winter, Giverny often gets less sunshine than Bilbao. Giverny gets 62 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Bilbao receives 77 hours of full sun.

Bilbao gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Giverny usually gets less rain in January than Bilbao. Giverny gets 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Bilbao receives 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Giverny or Bilbao in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Giverny and Bilbao. Many travelers come to Giverny for the small town charm and the natural beauty. Also, many visitors come to Bilbao in the spring for the activities around the city.

Giverny is around the same temperature as Bilbao in the spring. The daily temperature in Giverny averages around 11°C (52°F) in April, and Bilbao fluctuates around 12°C (54°F).

Giverny usually receives more sunshine than Bilbao during spring. Giverny gets 172 hours of sunny skies, while Bilbao receives 117 hours of full sun in the spring.

Bilbao receives a lot of rain in the spring. In April, Giverny usually receives less rain than Bilbao. Giverny gets 50 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Bilbao receives 129 mm (5.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Bilbao and Giverny