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

Should you visit Glasgow or Bilbao?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Glasgow or Bilbao, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Glasgow

Glasgow is a historic, high energy, and friendly city. It's a large city, so you'll find plenty of things to do around town. And you can't forget about the live music, food, and shopping.

Bilbao

Bilbao is a friendly, industrial, and authentic 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.

Glasgow and Bilbao: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Glasgow or Bilbao?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Glasgow than Bilbao, as it is bigger with more sights, attractions, and activities for visitors. Glasgow is more popular for its food, nightlife, and music, while Bilbao is known for its shopping. Glasgow is popular for its rich culture, its beautiful Victorian and art nouveau architecture, and its large student population. It is also home to Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum. Bilbao is popular for it's world-class culinary scene, its modern museums, and its lovely parks.

How is Glasgow different from Bilbao?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

You'll find a number of great museums and attractions in both Bilbao and Glasgow.

With a variety of museums, monuments, and historical sights, a trip to Glasgow can be an interesting and educational experience. The city is rich in culture and offers many fascinating sights including the Glasgow Cathedral, Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, and the Necropolis.

You'll find a good number of museums and monuments packed into 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 Glasgow or Bilbao? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Glasgow 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 Glasgow. The city's food scene continues to grow and innovate. You'll find plenty of seafood options as well as international cuisine and everything from fine dining to local cafes.

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 Glasgow or Bilbao Better for Nightlife?

Glasgow is an amazing city to visit for nightlife and partying. Also, Bilbao is still popular, but not quite as popular for its evening party scene.

Glasgow has a colorful and one-of-a-kind nightlife scene. The city has some of the best nightlife in the entire country. There are clubs, bars, techno warehouses and more. Some of the best clubs include Sub Club, The Berkeley Suite, and The Garage.

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.

Is Glasgow or Bilbao Better for Music?

Glasgow is an amazing city to visit for its live music scene. However, Bilbao is not a live music destination.

Live music, and music in many other forms, is everyone in Glasgow Known to some as "the city of music", you'll find a wide range of music venues, live shows, festivals, and even a great underground music scene.

Bilbao is not a live music destination.

Is Glasgow or Bilbao Better for its Old Town?

Glasgow and Bilbao both have good historical old towns that attract visitors.

Glasgow has an old town worth visiting. High Street is one of the oldest and most well known streets in the city.

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 Glasgow or Bilbao?

Bilbao is great for its shopping areas. Also, Glasgow is not as popular, but is still a nice city for shopping.

Many visitors explore the shopping areas in Bilbao. Gran Vía is the most popular shopping street in town. There are also historic boutique shops around the old town.

Glasgow is a great destination for shopping. The city has independent boutique shops as well as major brands. Head to the "Style Mile" for some of the best shopping. It's a district that offers pedestrian-friendly shopping and includes high end boutiques and independent markets. Also check out The Barras Market, Buchanan Street, and High Street.

Is Glasgow or Bilbao Better for Families?

Glasgow and Bilbao are both good destinations for the whole family.

Glasgow offers lots of family activities. The city has some family-friendly museums including the hands on The Burrell Collection, the Glasgow Science Center, and The Riverside Museum. If you have older kids who enjoy the water, there are some water activities in town. Check out Pinkston Watersports, Glasgow Wake Park or Outdoor Pursuits. There are also climbing gyms and skate parks.

Bilbao is a family-friendly place to visit. 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 Glasgow or Bilbao Better for Couples?

Glasgow and Bilbao are both good to visit as a couple.

Glasgow is a good city for couples to visit. Couples can enjoy a museum or one of the parks around town. There are also river cruises and spas. For a more locally specific activity, check out the Bothwell Castle.

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 Glasgow or Bilbao Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

For backpackers, both Glasgow and Bilbao are good places to visit.

It's common for backpackers to visit Glasgow. There are a good number of hostels around town as well as a good social scene, making this a decent option for backpackers.

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

Is Glasgow or Bilbao Better for Students?

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

Many students visit Glasgow. The city has the second largest student population in the UK, so you'll find plenty of students to hang out with.

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

Glasgow and Bilbao both offer great public transit to get you around.

Many visitors use the public transit system in Glasgow. The subway is convenient in the city center, west end, and southside. There are also buses throughout the city.

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

Is Glasgow or Bilbao a more walkable city?

Glasgow 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.

Glasgow is a very walkable city. The city center is generally walkable and can be explored on foot.

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 Glasgow Worth Visiting? and Is Bilbao Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Bilbao or Glasgow?

How long in Glasgow or Bilbao?

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

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

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

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

One day in Glasgow or Bilbao?

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

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 Glasgow or Bilbao?

Glasgow 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 Glasgow or Bilbao?

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

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and live music when visiting the historic destination of Glasgow. This city 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 2-Week Tours from Edinburgh, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to United Kingdom, 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 Glasgow and Bilbao, we can see that Glasgow is more expensive. And not only is Bilbao much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Bilbao would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Bilbao 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 Glasgow would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Glasgow than you might in Bilbao.

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

Which is Bigger, Glasgow or Bilbao?

Glasgow has a larger population, and is about 74% larger than the population of Bilbao. When comparing the sizes of Glasgow 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 Glasgow 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 Glasgow or Bilbao in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Glasgow as well as Bilbao. Many travelers come to Glasgow for the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences. Additionally, many visitors come to Bilbao in the summer for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Glasgow is generally cooler than Bilbao. Daily temperatures in Glasgow average around 15°C (59°F), and Bilbao fluctuates around 20°C (68°F).

In the summer, Glasgow often gets less sunshine than Bilbao. Glasgow gets 159 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Bilbao receives 188 hours of full sun.

Glasgow usually gets more rain in July than Bilbao. Glasgow gets 99 mm (3.9 in) of rain, while Bilbao receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Glasgow or Bilbao in the Autumn?

Both Bilbao and Glasgow are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Glasgow in the autumn for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the music scene. Also, most visitors come to Bilbao for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene during these months.

Glasgow is much colder than Bilbao in the autumn. The daily temperature in Glasgow averages around 10°C (49°F) in October, and Bilbao fluctuates around 16°C (62°F).

Glasgow usually receives less sunshine than Bilbao during autumn. Glasgow gets 69 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. It's quite rainy in Glasgow. In October, Glasgow usually receives more rain than Bilbao. Glasgow gets 163 mm (6.4 in) of rain, while Bilbao receives 111 mm (4.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Glasgow or Bilbao in the Winter?

Both Bilbao and Glasgow during the winter are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Glasgow for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months. Also, the winter months attract visitors to Bilbao because of the museums and the shopping scene.

Glasgow can be very cold during winter. In the winter, Glasgow is much colder than Bilbao. Typically, the winter temperatures in Glasgow in January average around 3°C (38°F), and Bilbao averages at about 9°C (48°F).

In the winter, Glasgow often gets less sunshine than Bilbao. Glasgow gets 40 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. It rains a lot this time of the year in Glasgow. Glasgow usually gets more rain in January than Bilbao. Glasgow gets 165 mm (6.5 in) of rain, while Bilbao receives 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Glasgow or Bilbao in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Glasgow and Bilbao. The spring months attract visitors to Glasgow because of the activities around the city. Also, the activities around the city are the main draw to Bilbao this time of year.

In April, Glasgow is generally much colder than Bilbao. Daily temperatures in Glasgow average around 7°C (45°F), and Bilbao fluctuates around 12°C (54°F).

Glasgow usually receives more sunshine than Bilbao during spring. Glasgow gets 134 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, Glasgow usually receives less rain than Bilbao. Glasgow gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Bilbao receives 129 mm (5.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Bilbao and Glasgow