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

Should you visit Graz or Bilbao?

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

Should I visit Graz 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.

Graz

Graz is a beautiful, medieval, and cultural city. It's a beautiful place to visit, too. And you can't forget about the shopping, museums, and nightlife.

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.

Graz and Bilbao: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Graz or Bilbao?

You'll generally find more things to do in Bilbao than Graz. Bilbao is bigger than Graz, and it also has more attractions and activities for travelers. Bilbao is better known for its big city activities, while Graz is more popular for its food, historical sights, and impressive beauty. Graz is more touristy than Bilbao and is popular for its many cultural activities, its impressive old town, and its beautiful Baroque architecture. 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 Graz different from Bilbao?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

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

Graz offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. The old town is among the largest in Europe and it's filled with sights and museums. The Schlossberg and the Clock Tower are among the most iconic sights but other highlights include the GrazMuseum, the Mohren Apotheke's Theriak Museum, a Gothic Franciscan Church, and the Robert Stolz Museum.

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 Graz or Bilbao? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

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

Eating is part of the travel experience when you visit Graz. There's a huge focus on sustainable dining in town, so you'll find many restaurants that use a farm to table approach. Local ingredients are heavily valued and it's fun to sample the many local flavors. Backhendl is a classic fried chicken dish that you must try.

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 Graz or Bilbao Better for Nightlife?

The vibe at night is superb in both Graz and Bilbao.

Many people head to Graz for the nightlife scene. The large student population means that there's an active nightlife scene that is diverse and fun. There's a wide variety of bars and pubs with almost any music genre you could want. There are also dance clubs for those who are looking for a party.

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.

Is Graz or Bilbao Better for its Old Town?

Graz is an amazing city to visit for its old town. Also, Bilbao is still popular, but not quite as popular for its historic old town charm.

Graz offers visitors a world-class historical old town to explore. The medieval city center is very well preserved and one of the largest in Europe. The city has a lot of hidden charm and quaint streets to explore.

Bilbao has an old town worth visiting. The old town, often called Casco Viejo, is filled with historic architecture, great local bars, and some interesting shopping.

Is the Shopping Better in Graz or Bilbao?

If you're looking to go shopping, Graz and Bilbao both offer plenty of superb spots.

Graz is well-known for its shopping. You'll find a lot of shopping around both Jakominiplatz and Hauptplatz Squares. There are also a number of shopping streets in town including Herrengasse which is filled with shops, restaurants, and more.

Browsing through shops is a popular activity in Bilbao. Gran Vía is the most popular shopping street in town. There are also historic boutique shops around the old town.

Is Graz or Bilbao Better for Families?

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

Graz is a very kid-friendly city. Kids will love the fairytale train and there's also a 4D cinema that is fun for the whole family. In Schlossberg Hill, families should check out The Slide, which is the largest underground slide in the world. Other highlights include a Children's Museum, a Folklife Museum, and a Natural History Museum.

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 Graz or Bilbao Better for Couples?

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

Couples visit Graz frequently as it offers plenty of romantic activities. It's filled with culture, history, and amazing food. Couples will appreciate the romantic old town and the many world class sights around town.

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 Graz or Bilbao Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

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

Plenty of budget travelers visit Graz. There are hostels and budget-friendly hotels around town that make this a nice town to explore as a backpacker.

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 Graz or Bilbao Better for Students?

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

Many students visit Graz. It's long been an education center in Austria and students make up a significant portion of the population. It's also a chill city with a relaxed and student-friendly vibe.

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

Graz and Bilbao both offer superb public transit to get you around.

The public transit in Graz can get you around easily. There are buses and trams that travel around the town.

Bilbao offers a very effecient public transportation network. The metro system has three lines. There is also a tram and bus system.

Is Graz or Bilbao a more walkable city?

Graz is an amazing city to visit for its high level of walkability. Also, Bilbao is still popular, but not quite as popular for its ease of walking around.

Getting around Graz on foot is easy. You'll find everything you'd want to see in the old town, which is large, but still compact enough to explore 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 Graz Worth Visiting? and Is Bilbao Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Bilbao or Graz?

How long in Graz or Bilbao?

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

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

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

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

One day in Graz or Bilbao?

Many travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Graz. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

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 Graz or Bilbao?

Graz 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 Graz or Bilbao?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Graz. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. 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 colorful 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 Graz or Bilbao?

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the medieval destination of Graz. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

The authentic 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 Christmas Market Tours in Austria, The Best Bicycle Tours in Austria, 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 Graz and Bilbao, we can see that Bilbao is more expensive. And not only is Graz much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Graz would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Graz 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 Graz.

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

Which is Bigger, Graz or Bilbao?

Bilbao has a larger population, and is about 58% larger than the population of Graz. When comparing the sizes of Graz 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 Graz 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 Graz or Bilbao in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Graz as well as Bilbao. Most visitors come to Graz for 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.

Graz is a little warmer than Bilbao in the summer. The daily temperature in Graz averages around 23°C (73°F) in July, and Bilbao fluctuates around 20°C (68°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Graz this time of the year. In the summer, Graz often gets more sunshine than Bilbao. Graz gets 236 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Bilbao receives 188 hours of full sun.

Graz receives a lot of rain in the summer. Graz usually gets more rain in July than Bilbao. Graz gets 126 mm (5 in) of rain, while Bilbao receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Graz or Bilbao in the Autumn?

Both Bilbao and Graz are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The autumn months attract visitors to Graz because of the shopping scene 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, Graz is cooler than Bilbao. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Graz in October average around 13°C (55°F), and Bilbao averages at about 16°C (62°F).

Graz usually receives more sunshine than Bilbao during autumn. Graz gets 139 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, Graz usually receives less rain than Bilbao. Graz gets 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Bilbao receives 111 mm (4.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Graz or Bilbao in the Winter?

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

It's quite cold in Graz in the winter. In January, Graz is generally much colder than Bilbao. Daily temperatures in Graz average around 1°C (34°F), and Bilbao fluctuates around 9°C (48°F).

In the winter, Graz often gets more sunshine than Bilbao. Graz gets 95 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. Graz usually gets less rain in January than Bilbao. Graz gets 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Bilbao receives 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Graz or Bilbao in the Spring?

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

Graz is around the same temperature as Bilbao in the spring. The daily temperature in Graz averages around 13°C (55°F) in April, and Bilbao fluctuates around 12°C (54°F).

Graz usually receives more sunshine than Bilbao during spring. Graz gets 158 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, Graz usually receives less rain than Bilbao. Graz 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 Graz